Weekend Update 4/20/25

[garethashenden]

Gareth,
What size tube are you using and is there any slop in the rack & pinion? I use Tam Valley Products for my servo control and I guess the control of the Quad-Pic/Octopus
would take care of this.

It is 1mm tube with a 0.5mm ID and 0.5mm wire.

I'm not sure the Tam Valley controllers will work. The only ones I've used are the Signlets, but they move the servo too much for this application. I think there is a choice between 180° and 90°, but these only need about 30° of rotation.
I'm using the Servo5 controller from Mollehem in Sweden. They are very affordable and give a good range of customizability, but require Loconet. http://www.mollehem.se/index.php/en/loconet-components/servodecoder-5-detail

[bbussey]

It is 1mm tube with a 0.5mm ID and 0.5mm wire.

I'm not sure the Tam Valley controllers will work. The only ones I've used are the Signlets, but they move the servo too much for this application. I think there is a choice between 180° and 90°, but these only need about 30° of rotation.
I'm using the Servo5 controller from Mollehem in Sweden. They are very affordable and give a good range of customizability, but require Loconet. http://www.mollehem.se/index.php/en/loconet-components/servodecoder-5-detail

Tam Valley Singlets and Octos both would work, and would be adjusted by using the built-in automatic calibration. The calibration routine uses the rail resistance of the point rails pressing against the main rails to determine the throw travel, and the servo speed can be adjusted. Aurdino controllers also can be used as they have servo control functions, but you’d have to program the throw range yourself.

[peteski]

This throwbar design discussion would make a very handy informative thread (not be buried in the WU).

[Sumner]

.... but they move the servo too much for this application. I think there is a choice between 180° and 90°, but these only need about 30° of rotation......

Nice idea on the points!!

If you don't want DCC control of the turnout you can use....



.... the $2 servo controllers shown above to control the throw.  I use them .....



... with the switch box shown above that are easy to wire.  What is in the box could be panel mounted also.

Using the wiring in the box and a slight modification to the controller....



... adding a resistor and a pot you...

... can control the throw very accurately and it is repeatable as shown in the video above.  I think I'd still like to build a little bit of flex in the throw some how.  Maybe down in mount itself that you built with a small soft spring in there to cushion the throw in both directions.

I'm using the system shown above around the layout as I want to throw turnouts while I'm with the train.   More about it all here....

https://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/Servo%20Control/Servo%20Control-Index.html

Sumner

[Scottl]

Thanks all for the suggestions regarding throw bars.  Lots of good ideas and some interesting solutions.  My interest here would be something more to scale and realistic than a PCB tie.  I like the idea of flattening a length of brass wire at the points for a solder base.  That might be the basis for something more realistic.  If I have to suffer with a PCB tie or ties, it kind of defeats the purpose of having wood ties IMO and I would just do a slick 3D printed turnout jig like @Chris333 has done.

BTW, servo control with Arduino is very easy and cheap and you have 1 degree control over the movement with a few lines of code.  @Sumner has identified some simple and inexpensive solutions, but my 30 home-brew Arduino servos and controllers work flawlessly and didn't require any of the expensive commercial solutions.  But I want things to be nice and simple for this little On30 project, maybe a power switch throw mechanism (for frog power as well) and a dummy turnout stand to hide it.

[Lemosteam]

Got excited about the new barge off my new printer, so I weathered it, decaled the IS herald, and finalized its placement. Love my new printer!

Here is a low angle waterfront shot of the west side of the channel.


This scene needs humans!


The new barge:


Overhead of the new barge:


Overhead of the entire west side:


Meanwhile on the east side of the channel, I am preparing for ground cover filth in and around the scrap yard.

[up1950s]

I bought myself a new piece of rolling stock…

Wow , lucky for you . Are you going to make it glossy ?

[Pizzaparty]

As a former conductor I approve of the laziness here.

[jpwisc]

I’m working on detailing a couple of MILW GP40s. These two have the dynamic fan removed, but the housing still in place (Milwaukee did this on the GP40s and at least one SD45). I also removed the drop steps, and hope to have them in primer as soon as the proper bells arrive. I’ll try and get the rest of the details added tomorrow
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[ednadolski]

I bought myself a new piece of rolling stock…

Oh, you let the factory air out of the jewel case!  ::crying::

Ed

[Dave V]

[mu26aeh]

Spent Friday night and better part of Saturday wiring turnouts in Spring Grove.  Made a scrap load for an old beat up coalveyor before calling it a night

[CBQ Fan]

As a former conductor I approve of the laziness here.

Aren’t they bypassing a track scale here?  Isn’t that a scale house?  I have seen this photo before with a caption.

[Rasputen]

I received a set of BLI F-7s, but one of the A units had a strange grinding noise that would happen only in one direction.
I narrowed the source down to the rear truck.  After disassembling it, I found an ejector pin had left some flash on the inside of the gearbox, so that the axle gear would rub on it.
In one direction, the gear teeth would simply push the flash out of the way, but in the other direction the gear teeth would catch on the plastic flash and make a strange noise.

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[altohorn25]

Working on some Commissary Department wagons for my 1947 RBBB train.

From what I've read, the Commissary Department wagons were painted green in case they were requistioned by the War Department during WWII.

Wagons are 3D prints by Circus City Decals that I bought a few years ago at the Mad City Train Show. Decals are also by Circus City.

Paint is Tamiya British Green.

Rubber tires are metal castings by Detail Associates.

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