Ray Von Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 I have several sets of points and un-couplers controlled by brass push-pull rod method. I have added some plastic trim to the control panel of the layout, and the ends of the brass rods now poke through (protection from eye-pokes and scratches provided by Blue-tak!) I will be disguising and beautifying the (large-ish) holes that the rods protrude through with small sections of thin plastic sheet. All I need to finish the job is something to pop on to the ends of the brass rods. Any ideas? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ITG Posted February 8, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 8, 2021 I always manage to find such bits and bobs on eBay. Just be creative in what you search for...... kitchen unit knobs, mixer slider knobs? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Von Posted February 8, 2021 Author Share Posted February 8, 2021 39 minutes ago, ITG said: I always manage to find such bits and bobs on eBay. Just be creative in what you search for...... kitchen unit knobs, mixer slider knobs? Cheers, I like the slider idea - the throw of the switches is pretty small (about 3mm) so I'm I'm thinking of something "fingertip" controlled. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamsRadial Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 Coloured beads, the glass type? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doilum Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 (edited) Wooden dowels. Cut in half and centre drill. That set of old felt pens. Bin them. Fill the caps with epoxy. Drill and secure with super glue. Golf tees.......... My solution is shown below. Or you could find a true artisan to custom turn them from billet aluminium! Edited February 8, 2021 by doilum 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 Control knobs for electronic equipment* or, really penny-pinching the end caps from mains fuses (take care removing the glass part!) or even a brass nut. https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=control+knobs&_sacat=92074&_sop=15 * Usually 6mm/¼" dia. but a bit of dowel will sort that. Here in Italy, the metal parts of mains plugs and sockets are a possibility, but the British design does not really lend itself to this use. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doilum Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 (edited) Bicycle spoke nipples. Better still, motorcycle spoke nipples. Edited February 9, 2021 by doilum 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Steven B Posted February 9, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 9, 2021 How about something scenic? Something like a Wills Relay box or the Ratio sacks & barrels set filled to be solid and then drilled to fit the wire? Steven B. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
crompton 33 Posted February 9, 2021 Share Posted February 9, 2021 Valve caps as used for car tyres. Fill with epoxy when dry drill small hole and push on. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Harlequin Posted February 9, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 9, 2021 (edited) How about going a bit further with the mechanism and using a lever to move the rod rather than grasping the rod through a knob? With the lever pivot above the rod connection you would reverse the movement so that pulling the top of the lever towards you would push the tiebar away and thus direct trains towards you, same as the lever. Might be useful? Something like that arrangement would magnify the movement as well, making it a bit more "user-friendly". Edited February 9, 2021 by Harlequin 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Von Posted March 3, 2021 Author Share Posted March 3, 2021 On 09/02/2021 at 15:37, crompton 33 said: Valve caps as used for car tyres. Fill with epoxy when dry drill small hole and push on. Quick update, aluminium valve caps (car/bike) colours also available - less than six quid for 12 on eBay: Thanks! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doilum Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 On 09/02/2021 at 15:37, crompton 33 said: Valve caps as used for car tyres. Fill with epoxy when dry drill small hole and push on. Some nice alloy units available from boy racer emporiums 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCB Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 On 09/02/2021 at 16:02, Harlequin said: How about going a bit further with the mechanism and using a lever to move the rod rather than grasping the rod through a knob? With the lever pivot above the rod connection you would reverse the movement so that pulling the top of the lever towards you would push the tiebar away and thus direct trains towards you, same as the lever. Might be useful? Something like that arrangement would magnify the movement as well, making it a bit more "user-friendly". There seems to be huge non scenic area in front of the layout. I don't think I have seen anything like that before. I go the opposite way, to maximise use of the available space the baseboard edge is the railway boundary wall. The controls are below the baseboard or through the baseboard framing. I would plagiarise Harlequins idea and mount it up the other way so the control lever is below the baseboard with a prominent mark on the face to show where to grope around to find it... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Von Posted March 4, 2021 Author Share Posted March 4, 2021 12 hours ago, DavidCBroad said: There seems to be huge non scenic area in front of the layout. I don't think I have seen anything like that before. I go the opposite way, to maximise use of the available space the baseboard edge is the railway boundary wall. The controls are below the baseboard or through the baseboard framing. I would plagiarise Harlequins idea and mount it up the other way so the control lever is below the baseboard with a prominent mark on the face to show where to grope around to find it... The front panel is only 8cm deep - as I planned this layout, it seemed (being N Gauge) that it barely needed 20cm depth to accommodate it. Coupling together the fact that I had an old homebase bookcase still in it's box and a long offcut of (pretty good quality) plastic trim, bringing the materials together with the design seemed like a no-brainer. I really like the "clean" lines that the white sections provide - with their chromed toggle switches and shiny buttons, the clinical simplicity of the traverser deck - in contrast to the grubby urban-ness of the layout. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDR Posted March 5, 2021 Share Posted March 5, 2021 I've just taken apart a dead old-style telly. A cornucopia of goodies! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
60159 Posted March 5, 2021 Share Posted March 5, 2021 Would soft plastic push-fit coloured toggle switch covers from such as Squires do the trick? Choice of 7 colours and I guess about 15p each 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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