Skip to main content

Reply to "Need help with this layout for five year old"

Hi John, please see my comments in Orange below inside the quote box.

- SteveH

@Craftech posted:

Finally got all the parts I need for this layout.  The 042 Gargraves Manual Switches had been on backorder, but I received them today.  I have a few questions:

1.  What is the extra track piece for that came with the switches?  My guess is that is would be used to extend the Switch's curve length to be equal to a standard GGO42 curve, maybe similar to the extra partial curve pieces included with some FasTrack switches.

2.  I ordered Woodland Scenics roadbed to raise up the Gargaves track and switches to match the height of the Menards O  Gauge tubular track and the Fastrack and some foam pins (T-Pins) to hold it down to the 2" foam.

3.  The clearances for the switch don't look like the SCARM plan.  It looks too close to the Fastrack roadbed. The side of the Fastrack transition pieces roadbed could be trimmed to provide clearance for the GG straight.

  20210805_142236

4.  I may use the garage type foam tiles on top of the rigid foam - not sure (would be much quieter).  It certainly is quiet on my 027 tubular layout on plywood.

The whole thing will stand vertically behind a door in his room when not in use and on top of his bed when he is using it.

5.  The Atlas plastic bumpers seem pretty flimsy for the two dead end spurs.  Any way to reinforce them?

6.  How would you wire this layout to electrically separate the inner and out loops IF he wanted to run two trains at some point?  Turn it on and off.  Toggle switch on the center rail at the two outer switches?  After cutting the center rail to provide electrical isolation between the loops, there would be many options for powering the loops independently, including toggle switch(es).  You might also want to isolate the spurs.  An economical and compact solution for utilizing two independent power supplies (transformer channels) would be the Atlas#215 Selector.  It will control up to four independent tracks (loops and spurs) and allow either power source to control each track.  For each track, each of the 4 switches can be set to select Source A, Off, or B.  If you decide you want to control more than 4 tracks, the #215's can be daisy chained side by side with the included hardware.

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
×