Fluesheet's Shelf Layout

[Fluesheet]

I've also experimented with two types of manual turnout controllers: The Bluepoint from Newrailmodels (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.newrailmodels.com/">http://www.newrailmodels.com/</a><!-- m -->) and the Bullfrog from FastTracks (<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.handlaidtrack.com/BullFrog-Manual-Turnout-Control-s/2087.htm">http://www.handlaidtrack.com/BullFrog-M ... s/2087.htm</a><!-- m -->)

Cost
Bullfrogs are $6 as a kit and $9 pre-built
Bluepoints range between $12 and under $9, depending on where you get them and whether you buy multi-packs or not.

Features
Besides (obviously) moving your points, both types have micro switches - the bullfrog has one, the bluepoint has two. The switches can be used to power route frogs and provide signalling. Although the Bullfrog comes with only one switch, it is designed to be able to be used with two, though you have to purchase the extra one.

As an aside, these two devices work opposite of one another - that is, with the Bluepoint, pulling the linkage pulls the turnout's points toward you. With the Bullfrog, pulling the linkage pushes the points away from you.

Dimensions
Bluepoint - 2 3/8" deep
Bullfrog - 2"

3/8" doesn't sound like much, but is a significant difference if you are conserving space.

Other
Bluepoints, in my opinion, are easier to mount. Though neither are especially difficult, they (Bluepoints) allowed a straighter shot to the screws, which lessens the chance of boogering them up.

vs.


Linkage
Both kits come with the actuating wire that goes through the roadbed - the Bullfrog with wire about .036" diameter, the Bluepoint with ~.032". In my few installations, I've found (generally) that my turnouts work better if the Bluepoint wire is thicker and the Bullfrog is thinner. Four of my Bluepoints now have .039" wire, both bullfrogs have .032".

Neither mechanism comes with the push - pull linkage, though both offer kits for that. I used a "Z" bend connector that Fast Tracks sells to connect to the Bullfrog mechanism, and a flexible push-pull rod that threads onto the Z connector. For the Bluepoint, I bought some nylon clevises from the local R/C hobbyshop to attach to the mechanism, then threaded some 2-56 threaded rod into the clevis. So far, this works fine.

Expensive one on the left, spring steel in the center, cheap but perfectly adequate nylon on the right




Mounted