Thank you Carl for showing me how I could use the blue point controllers without having to buy all those other gadgets and accessories to operate them. It's an elaborate set up as designed but not the only way to do it.
Thanks for sharing that information Carl. I've been thought experimenting various turnout throwing methods for my own layout so I will put your method into the mix for seriuos consideration. Cheers, Jim
Hi Carl, many thanks for the advice. Do you or any of your viewers find that there is a real saving using the Blue Points over say, the Tortoise mechanisms? I personally like the idea of manual point/turnout control and have been looking for some scale manual point lever mechanisms (DCC Components in the U.K. produce working electric point levers, but not sure that they would work for manual - also very costly). A company in the U.S. used to produce excellent quality manual levers, but these seem to have been discontinued since about 2013. Your system however looks great. Cheers. EW
I didn't set out to save money over Tortoise. Rather I just liked the idea of a simple mechanical device that would hopefully be bulletproof (so far, OK). I suspect the costs are in the same range but have not done a real analysis. I have been using switch stands from Railway Engineering. While they are intended to throw a turnout, I use them the opposite way, with the Blue Point mechanism actually throwing the switch stand as the points move. My only criticism of this setup is that the geometry of the switch stands is such that the points do not rotate them a full 90 degrees. I've learned to live with that, as they look pretty good on the layout other wise.
The switch stands from Railway Engineering are intended to actuate the switch points via an actuating rod between the points and the switch stand. In my case, the actuation is being done with the Blue Point under-table mechanism. But since the actuating rod from the points to the switch stand is still in place, moving the points causes the switch stand to rotate. Sort of a backwards operation- instead of the switch stand actuating the points the points actuate the switch stand.
Dave, the layout is 30 inches deep, fascia to rear L-girder. There are a couple of turnouts near the back, but naturally with the dowel rod activation the distance doesn't matter as long as the dowel has a straight shot.
Thank you Carl for showing me how I could use the blue point controllers without having to buy all those other gadgets and accessories to operate them. It's an elaborate set up as designed but not the only way to do it.
Thank you for sharing. Very nice.
New sub here, very useful information, great design. Thanks for sharing. Dave
Excellent info Carl. You're a gentleman and a scholar, thank you kindly for the upload, it is saved for future reference. All the best. Brian.
Thanks for sharing that information Carl. I've been thought experimenting various turnout throwing methods for my own layout so I will put your method into the mix for seriuos consideration. Cheers, Jim
Hi Carl, many thanks for the advice. Do you or any of your viewers find that there is a real saving using the Blue Points over say, the Tortoise mechanisms? I personally like the idea of manual point/turnout control and have been looking for some scale manual point lever mechanisms (DCC Components in the U.K. produce working electric point levers, but not sure that they would work for manual - also very costly). A company in the U.S. used to produce excellent quality manual levers, but these seem to have been discontinued since about 2013. Your system however looks great. Cheers. EW
I didn't set out to save money over Tortoise. Rather I just liked the idea of a simple mechanical device that would hopefully be bulletproof (so far, OK). I suspect the costs are in the same range but have not done a real analysis. I have been using switch stands from Railway Engineering. While they are intended to throw a turnout, I use them the opposite way, with the Blue Point mechanism actually throwing the switch stand as the points move. My only criticism of this setup is that the geometry of the switch stands is such that the points do not rotate them a full 90 degrees. I've learned to live with that, as they look pretty good on the layout other wise.
Hey Carl! How did you get your switch stand to move with direction of the switch?
The switch stands from Railway Engineering are intended to actuate the switch points via an actuating rod between the points and the switch stand. In my case, the actuation is being done with the Blue Point under-table mechanism. But since the actuating rod from the points to the switch stand is still in place, moving the points causes the switch stand to rotate. Sort of a backwards operation- instead of the switch stand actuating the points the points actuate the switch stand.
How deep is your layout? Front to back
Dave, the layout is 30 inches deep, fascia to rear L-girder. There are a couple of turnouts near the back, but naturally with the dowel rod activation the distance doesn't matter as long as the dowel has a straight shot.
@@CarlBrainerd thanks for the info, amazing layout, love your videos....thanks so much for sharing with us all!