Trackwork
Pembroke II: Switch Rods
I wrote before about my dislike of just about all the switch rods I've ever seen on model railways (including my own).
The standard PC board has two things wrong with it. First, it usually doesn't look much like the prototype, which is typically made of a flat steel bar a couple of inches wide and about half an inch thick. Now, there have been some very fine PC board switch rods that look great, but they will be even more exposed to the second problem.
Pembroke II: Finished Points on South Section
Just in case you begin to believe that energy on Pembroke has been diverted to Brio-Pembroke, I did actually finish installing the points on the south section of Proto:87-Pembroke last week. Each of the points needed only a little bit of judicious filing before it would sit perfectly against its stock rail and the test truck ran through the right way repeatedly.
Once I started, it went quite quickly, and I was done all four sets in about 90 minutes.
N Scale Turntable options
I have been searching online for what my options are for N scale turntables. Building one from scratch is beyond my newbie skills, so I need to purchase. I need three turntables on the main level of the layout:
- Dover NH. It will feed the old 6 stall Dover roundhouse. Trouble is, the 6 stalls are only around 10 to 12 degree arc spacing. So the Atlas turntable with 15 degree positions would not work for me for that one,
- Conway NH. That one could get away with 15 degree positions ok if necessary.
Unitrack Turnout control switches
Propose to use the Kato turnout control switches but not use the DC converter.Have an independant DC 16v supply. Can this be connected directly to the switch.I haven't actually seen the switches yet.I understand that they can be connected to one another to form a bank of switches. Thanks. Tom
Purchasing Strategy : "Stockpiling" VS "J-i-T"?
Dear MRHers,
As I plow thru my current layout-build project, I've necessarily been obtaining various parts and components to "git 'er done". Funnily enough though, I've found that I'm actually purchasing less than I imagined, as a quick look thru the "warehouse" reveals that I already have a significant number of the various required components on-hand.
Peco Insulfrog vs electrofrog
Looking for someone with knowledge of Peco crossings. I am in need of a Peco code 83 #6 crossing and there are two types, insulfrog and electrofrog. I am planning on using Tam Valley's Frog Juicers but the question is this; is the insulfrog isolated and metal whereby I can electrify or do I need the electrofrog, and if I do need the electrocfrog version are the frogs isolated? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Pembroke II: South Section Track Nearly Done
Tonight I dropped the last section of rail onto the Lee Manufacturing siding and declared the track laying done, except the points on the south section. Interestingly, this was the first time I used one of the Proto:87 Stores rail joiners, all the other rails on this section being only one length long for now. The rail joiner worked great.
Effective Grade
Designing a helix for a new layout. For the life of me I can not find a table that lists the effective slope induced by various radii. In other words, the smaller the radii of a helix, the more friction on the pulling force, thus a 2% slope at a 22" radius actually pulls like a 3.5% slope - or something. I remember using this table before. I believe it is from a J Armstrong book. Any help is welcomed Thanks
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