One of the challenges I’ve been trying to solve over the last few months is what to use as turnout controls on the WGR. While foam bench work offers many design advantages (ease of construction, weight etc.), its solid structure complicates installing switch machines – a practice greatly simplified in open-grid bench work designs.

I wanted to avoid the use of manual turnout controls – for appearance reasons only – so I’ve spent the last while trying to develop a cheap/reliable controller. Likewise, the isolated frogs on the A55 switches need power routing – an additional benefit of using the slide switches.

I developed my first controller using a slide switch to control the points, and a ‘choke-cable’ arrangement to activate the switch. The ‘choke-cable’ is made from small-diameter gas line tubing and aircraft cable. I assembled a temporary test switch and was happy with the results.

I refined the design further such that the controller consisted only of a slide switch epoxied to a small scrap of styrene, with the aircraft cable drilled/glued to the slide, and the point-control wire.

I installed the controllers by carefully carving a small 1” deep cavity directly beneath each turnout throw-bar, and affixing the entire assembly into position using hot clue. Each of the control lines were embedded in channels carved in the foam, and covered with very thin styrene.

I am surprised how well these controllers work. I’ve since finished the track work and the choke cables work flawlessly. Once I’ve installed the fascia, I’ll add some knobs to the ends of the controller cables.

Rather then write more on the assembly; I hope the pictures will suffice.