Planning a new train room
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The big picture: Update 11thApril 2006


First post of the year and still no photos to share, but have more text to read !

Since this guy who was to help me develop a way to use FDD's at point motoros has dissapeared, I want to do somehting about point motors. Why, because when I lay my first point to start track laying, I want to operate it.

Here in Australia these tortosises are so expensive, $25-35 AUD each. Add that to the point and things get expensive. So I want in a point motor:
  • cheap as I can
  • must have contact for track frog switching
  • can handle 'bladeless points
  • have extra contact for point indication
  • be operated by a simple on/off switch
Not much to ask?

Well commerially the other big point motor over here is the Peco one. At about $10 AUD they meet the price, but not really the other requiremnts.

So I have been thinking of other things. One was a small solenoid - was not powerful enough. I'm about to try central door lock actuators for cars. I have also toyed with the idea of manual fishing rod throws (much like Joe Fugate's) - thinking I could motorise them at any stage, they would let me get the railway up and running initially.But why do that work if you have to replace it later (I'm a lazy so & so aren't I)

More thoughts later.
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david@nmit.vic.edu.au