Keeping it simple: British Finescale N manual turnout switches…
The code 40 bullhead track and turnouts produced by British Finescale are a game changer for realism in British N scale. However, they do require a gentle turnout actuation and polarity switching for the frog…
On Gerald Road Mk1, my only previous attempt at using them (entirely successful I might add) I used a DCC Concepts ‘Cobalt SS’ system. This wasn’t cheap and meant extra wiring. Those who read here regularly will recognise my desire to keep things manual, tactile and as a result, simple.
Cwmbach, my latest ‘larger’ N scale shelf layout has two turnouts - but again is a shelf mounted layout so no depth for under board turnout motors. The thought of the wiring for the Cobalt system still fresh in my memory I wondered if I could create a manual system. I needed it compact, and ideally, directly fitted to the turnout for some sense of reliability. It needed to be less than 6mm deep, and work every time.
I bought some ultra-sub miniature micro switches that are barely 3mm deep and some Evergreen section. I’d assembled something similar in the past - so this all came together quickly - and works.
It works well.
The base of the layout will be 6mm MDF for the road bed, and a bit will be cut out for these switches and the under track uncoupling magnets - channels for brass rod to the edge of the baseboard will allow them to be operated from the baseboard front edge. All simple, proven stuff. Nothing new. None of this is rocket science, but it does work - so I’m sharing it.
A productive weekend, with these built and assembled I can move on to the under track magnets - I might be ready to mark up the baseboards over the holidays! Until next time, more soon…
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Hi James, a lovely solution, and edges me ever closer to buying an IKEA shelf and some of that British Fine Scale track and a little loco, a few wagons, etc…. Thanks as ever for a good post. Best, Jonathan
ReplyDeleteSlippery slope! Little loco? Class 08…?!
DeleteJames the concept of making it simple is justified in your work on the points. Lovely job James.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kevin.
DeleteThat really is an elegant solution, James!
ReplyDeleteI've been working on a turnout operating unit for the A5 ply-and-rivet point I built in the early 1990s, based on Iain Rice's design which uses PCB sleeper strip and copper tube, but there isn't really space under the (nearly as old) lightweight baseboard for it; I was considering using Plastruct sections (square rod sliding in square tube) instead, but couldn't quite figure out how to execute it...this is really helpful to my thought process, thank you!
Simon.
Happy to help - just sharing because I enjoy it - even better when others find it helpful, thanks Simon.
DeleteIn some ways this is an updated version of one used by Peter Denney, but with copper strip instead of a microswitch used here. Very low profile.
ReplyDeleteA simple, neat and elegant solution there James, very nicely done and described.
ReplyDeleteI'll squirrel that away for my future 2mm micro project (which might be N, might be 2mmFS) and I'll also try adapting it to H0 using the 3D-printed track on my evolving Irish project too.
Glad to help Alan!
Delete