Anyone have any good tips on how to "integrate" the switch mech from an Altas turnout into local scenery? I thought I heard once that you could flip the mech upside down? Photos please if you've done this. Thx in advance! .
Here is the article I remember reading... http://www.2guyzandsumtrains.com/Content/pa=showpage/pid=79.html .
I use the atlas ho under the table switch michines on my N scale switches,it requires an smale hole in the table,or if you are using foam, dig an hole in the foam.This works for me. JIM(bigpine)
You'll want to very carefully consider how you're going to cover that. If you using ballast glue, diluted white glue, etc.... water sprays for setting, etc., you REALLY want to protect that switch area. That's a great technique, but figuring out how to protect the machine during scenicing is the issue. I did stuff like that on my prior N layout. I'd do ballast and turf on pieces of brown-painted .015 styrene, and then lightly rubber-cement the 'patch' over top of the machine hole. Rubber cement will allow the scenic patch to be lifted if you have to, and it isn't affected by moisture.
I figured I'd "wrap" it with cling wrap stuff before applying scenery. As for the machine, I don't have enough room underneath
I have a rant...I want to share it with you but first here's a little history. Back in the mid 60's the issue of hiding those UGLY HO Atlas switch machines was tantamount or better said of primary concern. We hid them in small railroad buildings along the right of way, stacks of railroad ties, trash, dirt mounds, and even under streets. The nice thing about HO is Atlas did provide some extenders so the switch machine could be pushed out and away from the switch. Not so in N scale. Brake down, rusted and other wise failed parts: When one of them failed and they did... with predictable frequency. I had to dig them out and replace them. Then someone came up with the bright idea of "UNDER THE TABLE" and we were off and running with all kinds of homemade gizzmos. The model rail wig wags of the time carried umpteen articles on how to hide the darn things. We pretty much tired of the whole thing and someone got the bright idea that these slap happy, anything but realistic, ugly looking (Ok I've started my rant...in case you haven't....well....you know....figured it out) AND monster point smashing, bending machines. It was time for something different. We yelled, screamed, wrote letters to Atlas, the editors of all the then known Model Trains/Model Rail wig wags. Some of the haves...who could afford phone calls got busy and called friends and enemies. I mean if you want someone who is effective at making change... call your enemy. Atlas, wouldn't listen. Here we are...how many years later and we still have the most horrific of switch machines and we are still asking how can we hide them? Fortunately, Kato was listening and built a switch/turnout with the switch machine buried into the roadbed of the track. Others heard and they two have followed suit. The best solution I felt was the Slow Motion... Tortoise, an under the table switch machine. The switches don't slap shut with a lout CLICK, pending the points, they close respectfully...just like they should, prototypical. I've heard that Atlas did put out some new track but I haven't seen it yet. Hoping they've finally found a way to forever leave behind a switch machine that was nothing but bothersome and frustrating to hide...a curse or cursed at switch machine...frustrating the poggiebies out of every newbie, that's come along...since. Shoot, they even followed us into N Scale. So, now that I've ranted and raved a little maybe you two can see the lack of progressive thinking here and we can only hope the quality of these old...anything but reliable, point smashing machines will finally be put to rest. In the meantime...you tooooo can have some of the same fun... that those before you have had and try your expertise at hiding them. I wonder if you will sound like me at some point in the future? LOL Have fun!
Well, try one rather than doing everything at once to make sure your technique works. At least in the old days the throw wire was steel, and so was the solenoid. It took almost no moisture at all to get it to corrode up to the point where the machine was inoperable. So go through the test on one switch, not the entire layout, so we don't loose you as an N scaler out of frustration! I think that the various 'other guys' approach to putting the solenoid under the roadbed, etc., is great, until you want to ballast. That's usually the moment where things go horribly, terribly wrong. If you aren't planning on ballasting, I think you'll be fine. Pretty much my entire layout is done with Lambert HO (think Rix) solenoids under the table. Very loud. The linkages I make with .015 steel wire prevent damage, but the Tortise machines I've used (along with the extra electrical contacts) are my favorites.
