A T Gauge Switch

[David K. Smith]

Lacking a specific place to put this, I figured the Z scale section was as good as any.

A T Gauge switch:



Construction details: http://1-450.blogspot.com/2008/10/3mm-switch.html

[John]

you are a sick man

[tom mann]

Nicely done.  Very nicely done.

[3rdrail]

I agree with both John and Tom.

[Chris333]

Just nuts!

As I read it hit me again that the rails are steel.  I planned on laying my own track in hidden portions of a layout. Will they run on nickle silver?

[David K. Smith]

As I read it hit me again that the rails are steel.  I planned on laying my own track in hidden portions of a layout. Will they run on nickle silver?

Maybe, but probably not well. They use steel, plus magnetized wheels, to improve both electrical pickup and traction.

[Rowan]

Thats very nicely done. Incredible in fact.

 

[davefoxx]

David,

Absolutely outstanding!  As usual, we're not worthy!  I don't know how you do what you do.  Amazing.  What I do know is that you usually post right before or after me on Sunday Night Photo Fun, making my modeling look not-so-good.  Thanks.   

However, if I may, I'd like to point out one possible gauge problem, hopefully, without insulting you.  In the picture, it would seem that the gauge of the diverging route might be tight just before the frog.  It could be just the quality of the picture on my computer screen, but it appears that the closure rail doesn't line up through the frog.  If, however, you have tested the switch and it operates fine, then nevermind.

Hope this helps,
Dave Foxx

[David K. Smith]

David,

Absolutely outstanding!  As usual, we're not worthy!  I don't know how you do what you do.  Amazing.  What I do know is that you usually post right before or after me on Sunday Night Photo Fun, making my modeling look not-so-good.  Thanks.   

However, if I may, I'd like to point out one possible gauge problem, hopefully, without insulting you.  In the picture, it would seem that the gauge of the diverging route might be tight just before the frog.  It could be just the quality of the picture on my computer screen, but it appears that the closure rail doesn't line up through the frog.  If, however, you have tested the switch and it operates fine, then nevermind.

Hope this helps,
Dave Foxx

Thanks for the kind words, all. Dave, it happens to work, despite its slightly wonky appearance (so, no insults here). Tolerances can be amazingly sloppy and still be OK, mostly due to the fact that the wheel treads are quite wide relative to the gauge. This is good, because getting the geometry of those tiny parts right was a major PITA. I believe it would have actually been easier to hand-lay the turnout from scratch on PC board ties. It would certainly look better if I had, anyway.

[David K. Smith]

In working order:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzbDAiFS9Yc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzbDAiFS9Yc</a>

[Caleb Austin]

Geez man, your not going to give anyone else a chance to do anything ground breaking are you?

[tom mann]

Wow...

[up1950s]

Works perfectly , and is so cleanly built . Maybe if you gave that video to the T track producers they might just produce turnouts , thus growing the the T line , and interest in it .

[David K. Smith]

Works perfectly , and is so cleanly built . Maybe if you gave that video to the T track producers they might just produce turnouts , thus growing the the T line , and interest in it .

Thanks for the kind words, all. As for submitting this to Eishindo, I don't think it would be practical, as the design doesn't lend itself to mass-production. Anyway, apparently they have one in the works.