7mm Driving The Switch Rails

[Dog Star]

[whilst the prefix to the title is "7mm", this topic is applicable to all layouts which use code 125 rail in hand-built trackwork... so O-FS, 32mm, S7, Irish S7.... narrow gauge... ]

There are several questions which crop up continually in discussions about hand-built turnouts in 7mm scale, being:-
* how to move the switch blades?
* manual or motor-driven?
* what make of motor to drive the switches?

My current method is to use the Exactoscale Tortoise mounting plate, which is under the baseboard, and connect the switch blades to the under-board stretcher bar by brass rods which are soldered to the bottom of the switch rails. Although I use the Tortoise mounting plate - for the under-board stretcher - I prefer Fulgurex motors which are connected to the under-board stretcher by wire-in-tube methods. Yes, a photo would be a good idea... just need to clear the stuff from under the layout so that I can point the camera at the relevant tackle.

So, to all those who build track in 7mm, what is the driving force for your switch blades and how is that "force" connected to the blades?

thanks, Graham

 

[BrushType4]

Graham, a picture is worth a thousand words....

 

[Dog Star]

How about this?

Tortoise mounting plate - instructions and diagram. What I do is to connect the Fulgurex motor at the free end of the under-board stretcher - where the stretcher protrudes from the mounting plate.

 

[iploffy]

Check out Cynric's designs for laser cutting and see what he has done for me

 

[Dog Star]

Thank you.