I'm wanting to use Atlas code 55 on my switching layout and need to come up with inexpensive turnout control. I don't need electric motors, so was thinking of using slide switches with a wire underneath the scenery to move the turnouts back and forth. Have any of you done this? Is there another thread with a tutorial on doing this I might look at? Was thinking of using small brass or clear flexible plastic tubing with the wire inside underneath the scenery going to a slide witch mounted on the front edge of the layout. I don't think I need a "control pannel" since it's only a 3'x4 1/2' layout. Any help or suggestions are appreciated as always!
Thanks, I'll take a look. Have any of you here used this technique and if so would you post some pics?
I just picked up that magazine because of that article. It looks like a good how-to. I am thinking about using those on a Code 55 test/switching layout that I am wanting to build. I have zero (0) experience with Code 55 or with the slide switches, which is why I want to build the test layout.
Here is another possibility http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/1326 Also RC servos www.tamvalleydepot.com Check out the Jan 2011 issue of MRR about using servos.
I had my small N-scale layout (11 turnouts) completely wired with slide switches for turnout control before deciding to use the Tam Valley R/C servo system instead. There was nothing wrong with the slide switches; they worked well. However, the Tam Valley system interested me, and I already had a bunch of servos, so I made the tough decision to take out the switches and install servos. Below are some photos of the slide switches. I used miniature DPDT slide switches. One side of each switch was used for changing frog polarity, while the other side was reserved for future use, such as signaling. I used several colors of wire to keep things organized. I shortened the actuator of each switch and drilled a hole through it for the music wire which connects to the throwbar of the turnout. I glued the slide switches to small pieces of 1/16" plywood which were in turn glued to the foam base board. As you can see, I chose to mount the slide switches close to the turnouts. The idea was to make the switches as unobtrusive as possible so they would not look too much like strange giant objects sitting next to the track! There was one congested area in my yard where I had to run the music wire under another track to reach the slide switch. That was a little tricky. This slide switch method seemed reliable and was fairly easy to install. I removed all of the slide switches when I converted to the Tam Valley system. Maybe one day I'll figure out a use for DPDT slide switches with color-coded wiring attached! - Jeff
