Model Railroading > N Scale Ground Throws in HO

If my point throw for my HO turnouts are within range for the Caboose Industries N scale ground throws do they look closer to scale for HO?

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/20 14:19 by wabash2800.

Considering how oversized the HO ones are the N scale ones would have to be closer to scale size in HO.
But how compatable are your fingers with the N scale levers?

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Considering how oversized the HO ones are the N
> scale ones would have to be closer to scale size
> in HO.
> But how compatable are your fingers with the N
> scale levers?

We have some N scale throws on our club layout.  They work.  The 1:1 fingers can be an issue.

Dan, can you provide a photo (including something in the photos like your fingers and the track to make a visual comparison)?

My other idea was modifying my hand built HO (code 55) turnouts with a spring mechanism that can be finger aligned similar to Peco's turnouts. I want to align the turnouts manually like the real thing on my around the walls bedroom size test layout in progress.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

santafedan Wrote:
-> We have some N scale throws on our club layout.
>  They work.  The 1:1 fingers can be an issue.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/20 16:14 by wabash2800.

The key dimension is the distance of the throw on the points; neither the N nor the HO is exactly a fine scale model, but they are pretty reliable. We use the sprung N scale version on hand-made Fast Tracks turnouts. I don't know the dimensions for the other brands but it's in their literature.
We recently retired an O scale throw that had a long enough throw to handle an old curved Shinohara switch.
Painting the throw to match it's surrounding reduces the visual impact.  Mounting a Caboose Industries throw below the level of the switch helps.  If the track is on thick "HO scale" cork underlay, mount the throw on the tabletop and bend up a zig-zagged wire linkage to give it a low profile.

Thanks Grahamline. That's the kind of info I'm looking for. Of course, a photo would be interesting too.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

Model Railroad Hobbyist had some photos back when they had a tips and questions column. You could search for "ground throws" or "HO track switches" on their home page at www dot mrhmag dot com

Here's the Caboose Industries product page with the amount of travel for he throws: https://www.cabooseind.com/product-info

I bought a few today in different scales at the hobby shop but they were all the kind with electrical contacts,  which are more obtrusive. 

Victor A Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublicatons.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/20 14:30 by wabash2800.