Since my layout is covered in 2" foam board, what is the best way of attaching the hand throws to my turnouts? Thanks for your help in advance.
I use caulk.
I’ve carved the foam out under where the switch is mounted and inserted a wood block to that height, but depending on what your road-bed is made of, you might extend that out around the switch and attach to that.
i use wood glue to attach homasote to foam and ties, and use small nails to hold the ground throw in place
i would use your favorite method for glueing a wood base at the appropriate level to the foam and just use some small nails or screws
Did you receive the reply you were looking for? I get the impression from your question that you are laying the track directly on foam without any roadbed. I have done that also for several “temporary” layouts to check out operational and other characteristics including the use of Caboose Hobbies ground throws (#218S for HO).
The important aspect is to keep the ground throw rigid relative to the turnout. I laid a piece of .015" thick styrene under the area and secured both turnout and ground throw with track nails. Here’s a photo showing both the points and ground throw in mid-position as you would see during installation.
If this is what you want, adding ballast to the area should add further rigidity to the relationships. Hope this helps.
I would suggest painting the styrene your ballast color. Makes it easier to hide the base color and not foul the moving parts. This can be done to whatever you have for roadbed. Can even do all roadbed, not just what is under the turnouts if you want.
Good luck,
Richard
I will have my track on roadbed, right now I am leaning towards caulk to hold down the throws.
Not sure if you want to attach ground throws to foam. You probably want to attach them to the turnout. There is a fair amount of force on the throw rod to hold the points against the stock rails. With the ground throw attached to the foam base, and the turnout attached to the not all the strong faomboard, you may have the turnout and the ground throw move too much. I’d try to do it like the prototype did, have a couple of long ties coming out of the turnout right about the points and mount the ground throw on the ties.