06-06-2012, 05:53 PM
Hello Big Blue.
I haven't had much interesting to report so I have been lax on updates.
The Wilderson division is in serious need of switch controls and Mr. Ralph posted a nifty little device that I really liked, except....I'm cheaper than Ralph. I didn't want the expense of a slide bolt and a hook for each switch so my brain has been hitting a wall.
Until last night..It come to me like one of those light bulbs in the cartoons.
One thing I wanted was a lever type operation, and a way to make the default position for track to be aligned for the main.
I knew I would need a bell crank to do this, so I made them out of 1/4 in plywood 3 inches long.
Next I drilled 3 3/16 in holes, one in the center, and two on the one end. I tied a medium sized rubber band to one hole in the end and about 18 inches of braided nylon 30 pound test fishing line to the other.
The next step cut 3/8 dowel rod to 6 inch lengths and drilled 3 3/16 inch holes in them, one hole has to be for a cotter pin for the inside of the frame of the layout.
I then used my band saw and a fine blade to cut the levers.
Next step was to use my 18 gauge pin nailer and drive a 1 1/4 in brad into the bell crank. this serves as the pin to move the points
I haven't had much interesting to report so I have been lax on updates.
The Wilderson division is in serious need of switch controls and Mr. Ralph posted a nifty little device that I really liked, except....I'm cheaper than Ralph. I didn't want the expense of a slide bolt and a hook for each switch so my brain has been hitting a wall.
Until last night..It come to me like one of those light bulbs in the cartoons.
One thing I wanted was a lever type operation, and a way to make the default position for track to be aligned for the main.
I knew I would need a bell crank to do this, so I made them out of 1/4 in plywood 3 inches long.
The next step cut 3/8 dowel rod to 6 inch lengths and drilled 3 3/16 inch holes in them, one hole has to be for a cotter pin for the inside of the frame of the layout.
Next step was to use my 18 gauge pin nailer and drive a 1 1/4 in brad into the bell crank. this serves as the pin to move the points