N gauge newbie question (s)

[Mike W3]

As an N gauge (ex-OO modeller) newbie I have a quick question and may have more as I go along with N gauge modelling.

 

I'm starting a mini N gauge layout (4ft by 8 1/2 ins) and I don't want to motorise the 1 point in the scenic section or use wire in tube. What I was hoping to do is use Peco point motor adaptor base and disguise it with some kind of lineside building (it's towards the back of the layout). The question is, does the Peco point adaptor base work for an N gauge (Peco) point? The idea is that i'll put some kind of knob on it and access it through a hole in the back scene, so no wiring will be necessary.

 

thanks

Mike

[Kris]

It can work, but when I tried it (a long time ago), it had a habit of slipping off the attachment on the point. 

[Guest]

As Kris says, it's a sloppy fit and has a habit of detaching. I did something similar many moons ago. I took a piece of 5mm x 3mm plastic strip (Evergreen or similar) and drilled a hole in the end to make a snug fit over the point tie bar. Scraps of the same plastic strip were used to raise the operating rod to the correct height and create "tunnel guides" (see below) to the edge of the baseboard. I can't remember what I did to limit the travel but it worked well and was free as I had plenty of scrap plastic strip lying around. All that needed to be disguised was a length of plastic strip (I think paint and weeds did it, although a lineside hut would work well).

Edited November 2, 2017 by Pete 75C

[KalKat]

Why do you not want to employ something like wire in tube? It is a very simple an tidy means to an end.

 

Even a pushrod may do want you want, with a hole in the end of the tiebar and maybe something as simple as panel/moulding pins in pairs to create a guideway?

 

 

 

Emma

[Mike W3]

Why do you not want to employ something like wire in tube? It is a very simple an tidy means to an end.

 

Even a pushrod may do want you want, with a hole in the end of the tiebar and maybe something as simple as panel/moulding pins in pairs to create a guideway?

 

 

 

Emma

 

The baseboard is a 4ft by 8 1/2in piece of chipboard that I got for a mere £2 and the trackbed is the usual cork. Given the layout is so small, I'm not making a frame, as the intention is that it rests on a table or shelf, that means I can't have anything under the board, so everything has to go on top of the board. I remembered the about point motor adaptor and was thinking that might be the easiest thing to do, the layout will be kept as simple as possible. This first layout is a prototype or first foray into N gauge, I'm planning a 2nd layout with more usual framed baseboards that will have wire in tube points.  

 

thanks

Mike

[KalKat]

I thought that sort of scheme might be in the mix.  I think a length of wire (piano/bike spoke) would be the trick

 

 

Emma

[Mike W3]

I thought that sort of scheme might be in the mix.  I think a length of wire (piano/bike spoke) would be the trick

 

 

Emma

 

Wire in tube would be a plan B if Plan A fails. I have some brass rod which would do the trick, if the cork bed is deep enough for it! I'll figure something out either way

 

thanks

Mike

[Spitfire2865]

The baseboard is a 4ft by 8 1/2in piece of chipboard that I got for a mere £2 and the trackbed is the usual cork. Given the layout is so small, I'm not making a frame, as the intention is that it rests on a table or shelf, that means I can't have anything under the board, so everything has to go on top of the board. I remembered the about point motor adaptor and was thinking that might be the easiest thing to do, the layout will be kept as simple as possible. This first layout is a prototype or first foray into N gauge, I'm planning a 2nd layout with more usual framed baseboards that will have wire in tube points.  

 

thanks

Mike

On my layout, though 4mm scale with I believe 2mm thick cork, all the points are by wire in tube in slots in the cork. rather tidy, but requires a good bit of planning and measuring to ensure it all lines up.  Also, once track goes down you cant fix it if it breaks.