Illuminated Switch Stands

Dennis,

I use the Ross #50 illuminated brass stands at every switch/turnout. They look really nice.  All my Ross switches are driven by a Tortoise.

I originally had all stands physically connected by a spring/music wire to the switch throw bar. In theory, the throw bar--which moves in a linear direction (back and forth)--pushes or pulls the wire to the stand causing its colored lens to rotate.

In practice, this did not work well. Sometimes the spring wire would snag causing the movement of the switch throw bar to be restricted thus preventing points closure; hence, a derailment!   Also, the constant push and pull of the spring wire upon the stand would cause the stand to tear loose from the switch's wooden ties.

So one day I removed all the spring wires from the switch to the stand. While my stands no longer operate in prototype manner, the red/green lighting effect still looks great.

Bruce,

Thanks for the info... exactly what I was looking for!   Additionally,  I just read that only the Ross' lantern turns... it does not have a functioning throw.   I guess I'll try one of the the Right of Way switch stands and see how it goes.  My understanding is that it's throw is operational (the lantern moves with the throw).  Thanks Again!!!

dennis

hummmmmmmmm     a 3D print?

@Dennis-LaRock posted:

Bruce,

Thanks for the info... exactly what I was looking for!   Additionally,  I just read that only the Ross' lantern turns... it does not have a functioning throw.   I guess I'll try one of the the Right of Way switch stands and see how it goes.  My understanding is that it's throw is operational (the lantern moves with the throw).  Thanks Again!!!

dennis

Like Bruce, I use Ross #50s with Tortoise machines. Look fine and move with the switch. They do require a bit of fiddling to get rotation to 90 degrees for a given point move but are reliable after that. I have them on my portable modules and haven’t lost one yet.

Pete

@AlanRail posted:

hummmmmmmmm     a 3D print?

I'm game Alan!   Maybe incorporate a brass rod/sleeve to offer some stress relief from the movement.

Pete,  I like the look of that!  Thank you!

I was just looking at the Tomar Switch Stands... they look identical to the Ross #50.  In this thread https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...0-brass-switch-stand there is some discussion of the Ross having a common weak point... as shown below.

using the same clear Fresnel lens pieces that I used for Chugman's Searchlight signals.

clear resin painted red and green

OK!!!  You got my attention Alan!  Let's talk... I've PM'd you.

The current price for a brass switch-stand at $29 each;

my resin cost to print resin switch stands is likely $0.29 each plus the cost of an LED.

Alan,

This is awesome!

Alan, you are amazing, love the switch stands.

Alan, when will you send that project in for inclusion in the OGR 3D Project Catalog? 

It is fantastic!

Alan, where do you get the colored lenses, do you print those as well?

John

the lenses are 3D printed in clear. these are the same ones I printed before for the searchlight signals on Chugman's layout.  To color the resin, FormLabs has coloring kit with a red and green pigments.

That's cool, they thought of everything.

Alan, just dropped the wife off at the airport!  Now, on to more important work... mounting.  I just grabbed a switch and the calipers... I'll PM you in a little bit.