Has anyone experimented with installing Tortoise machines on top of a layout? I have a clearance problem underneath and I believe I could hide the machines behind a building. Any thoughts on the matter? [:D]
Roger W.
The Tortoise will work in almost any position. Upside down is not a problem since there are no parts inside that have to be in a particular orientation for proper operation. The thing you need to worry about is whether the throw wire can move the turnout points and it swings in a plane that parallels the surface of the Tortoise that the throw link comes out of.
I’ve seen a layout with staging so close to the surface deck, tortoises couldn’t be mounted under the table. What was done is a grove was made in the homosote and a brass tube placed in there. The tubes extended from the turnouts to a couple of buildings. Inside each tube was piano wire connected to the turnout and on the other end connected to the tortoise. The tortoises were mounted upsidedown. The regular piano wire was in place as it would in the “normal” position except it did not go through the plywood. The wire from the turnout’s end was formed into a loop which the tortoise wire fit in.
I’ve seen simular things done with hand throws too.
I will probably have to do that for my staging yard as well. Normally I mount them IN the benchwork - I use 2" extruded foam. Mounting them from the top makes only an inch or so stick out underneath, plenty of room to solder but all surrounded by a cocoon of foam [:D].
–Randy
there was an article in last year’s MR mag. that explained how to mount them above the table…which issue?..i don’t know… but it was in one from last year…chuck
The article about mounting the tortoise switch machine above the layout, appeared in the August 2004 MR magazine, page 28. Pictures are included.