I worry about attaching switch machines to foam as well.
Is there any way you can cut into the foam so there's only a half-inch or inch below the track? You could then glue a piece of board to the foam and mount the Tortoise on that. (note : probable access problems).
The worst bit about mounting switch machines below is sticking the wire through the hole in the throwbar.
David Moderato ma non troppo
Perth & Exeter Railway Company
Esquesing & Chinguacousy Radial Railway In model railroading, there are between six and two hundred ways of performing a given task.
Most modellers can get two of them to work.
I tried that on the test bench, access would be the problem. I'll just have to trust the final gluing and ballast will tighten it up...you are sooooo right...not easy to thread wire into an N scale throw bar, .039 hole is not visible to my soon to be 54 yr eyes hock:
Haven't had much time for the T&A lately, things have been busy at the dive shop lately...
Just got the last of the turnouts from LHS...thought I would show you the mock up of my control panel...starts out with basic computer slide tray from my desk. Built it up a bit to create a little room for spaghetti....
Then I pretty much followed our friend Mike Fifer's video http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HdjpUyc9w6s...djpUyc9w6swith clear plexi with styrene strips and LEDs lighting up the schematic. I used rocker switches to throw the tortoises (torti?) and block signals ....
Finished panel will also have the Digitrax Zephyr recessed into the panel. Mount it under the bench work and should be good to go...I'll post the finished panel in a few days, 5 wires per switch x 33 should take a while...
Well a few days turned into a couple of weeks...been off Cozumel for some dives...
Started the final version of the control panel, no more practicing...the acrylic panel is difficult to drill into...a drill press is a real good idea. With a lot of patience, I managed to get all the holes drilled without cracking
The LEDs and trim bezels fit nicely in a 9/32 hole...
The mini-toggle dpdt on-on switches will also drop into the same sized holes...
Wires, wires, and more wires to come
Next will be to use a mini hacksaw blade to cut out the square hole for the Digitrax Zephyr
Hard to believe almost a whole summer since last post....busy time for an old Divemaster....I haven't done much with wiring and such, gotta walk away from that after a while...but I have been working on structures .....almost finished with the summer Kitbuild challenge which will be used outside of town... I have been laying out the town square for the Town of Athens which includes the Old Red Courthouse, which will be my version using the Model Power Victorian House...I'll detail and turn it into a nice courthouse...
Again, time moves quicker than I do....been a rough month, my Mom died suddenly and been spending a lot of time helping Dad learn how to be a bachelor after 57 years of marriage...
Did manage to start with lighting the layout....probably should have done this first, but I've never been known to do things the easy way....one side down, three more to go
Richard- I really like how your layout is progressing. Looks like it be a lot of fun to operate.
One comment if I may-on the first page of this thread you show 3 turnouts that appear to be on the risers. Have you tested any
cars to make sure that they can get through them without any problems? If it were me (and this is just my opinion) I would not locate them there.
Anyway,can't wait to see some more progress shots.
Bob
I had the same concerns Bob, but I have had this whole layout up and running and had no issues. Actually there is only 1 turnout on risers...the curved turnout heading into the sawmill is just barely on the first inch or so of the riser. The 3 heading into the coal mine and the interchange are actually on level ground.
I've also been working my way back around the layout turning temporary wiring into something a little more manageable...
Richard-thanks for clearing that up. To tell you the truth,the older I get the worse my eyesight gets,even with glasses.
Anyway,as I said before I am e=really liking your layout and your control panel WOW!! You did one heck of a job on it.
Looks real professional.
Bob
hock:
WOW!! You did one heck of a job on it.