Are there any different aspects I need to know about these turnouts? I have used Atlas code 100 for years, and I was wondering about the frogs on these other turnouts.
Are you talking about the latest versions of these, or the older versions? The older versions did not have insulated frogs. This occasionally causes short circuit problems with engines if operating with DCC. I think the newer versions have insulated frogs and are “DCC friendly”.
I haven’t seen any of the recent Shinohara code 100 turnouts, but the older ones had a hot frog which required insulating rail joiners in order to prevent short circuits. The code 83 turnouts are properly insulated to not require any special precautions.
I have just installed 5 of the NEW Shinohara code 100 turnouts in my layout and they STILL have the Hot Frog - I know that they are the new run as they now have the all black boses instead of the old brown 2 piece boxes that had years ago.
As for using them on my DCC layout I just cut the frog with a Dremel cutting disk and make the frog as short as possible and then I do not have to have the big long sections of insulated rail.
This way if and when the points begin to get dirty the engines won’t stall on the long sections of dead track (made when the frog area has the insulators in the rail - as the points power the frog area from the factory).
If my engines will run across all of my Atlas turnouts (with the dead frog) then they will run across my Shinohara turnouts.
I probably have 25 or so of the Shinohara #8 and #6 double curved turnouts on my layout both old and new!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
You can solder a wire to the frog and power it via switch. Then you have no dead spots.
Wolfgang