Peter,
I have 45 Atlas-O, 12 RCS turnouts, and Atlas track on my layout. If it hadn’t been because I needed curved turnouts that Atlas did not offer, I would have used all Atlas.
Bottom line: On retrospect, I wish I would have redesigned my layout with all Atlas turnouts and n RCS.
Atlas Turnouts
A couple of them had the small plastic link that attaches the solenoid arm/cam to the throw bar come loose during installation. I easily put them back in place by snapping the motor cover off to gain access to the link, and then snap it back in place.
I have had to redo or add a jumper to some of the wire connections under the turnouts, and this has been the only issue.
I have not had any problems with the operation of the turnouts, and no derailment issues either. Make sure to install the small plastic shoe that comes with the turnouts to insure that some of the pickup rollers do not hang up. Notice that although they look alike, there is a left and a right shoe.
RCS Turnouts
I bought them with the DZ-1000 motors. The DZs are not just solenoids, but have quite a few components to throw the points. There is a motor, a limit switch, some electronics, and cam, etc. In spite of a rather well-thought design, two or three of the 12 turnouts do not operate reliably even after all the remedies that have been recommended and that I have done. Sometimes the points do not throw all the way, other times they bounce back.
But my biggest problem with the RCS turnouts has been derailments of several cars, and invariably, three of my steam engine tenders, when backing up. I have tried filing sharp and protruding edges, and anything that would seem to cause the derailments, but still have derailments.
Construction
It has been said that the RCS are better because they are hand-made. It becomes obvious that they are hand-made when you see close-up the inconsistencies in construction. Some of the ties are split, many of the spikes are not down all the way and interfere with the flanges, and overall they look somewhat dirty. I bought the RCS turnouts two years ago from AM Hobbies. I looked at another RCS that was several years older, and the older one appeared to be built better. Perhaps mine came out of a batch when RCS was having Quality Control problems?
Good luck!
Alex
