Installing Walthers Turnouts Step-By-Step (337)

[@TheDCCGuy]

I forgot to mention in the video that I regularly replace the 0.025” dia wire that comes with the Tortoise with 0.032” wire sourced at the local Hobbytown. I have been doing this for years since my layout roadbed is over 1” thick and the thicker wire gives it a bit more leverage. I need to see how that works with the new Walthers straight turnouts as I suspect they too may need some extra “encouragement”.

[@michaelsmodelrailroading7665]

I recently installed a pair of Walthers horizontal switch motors (942-102) for a crossover. I chose these because of their shallow depth. They worked out very well. Their actuator wires are VERY stiff, sufficiently so to reliably actuate Peco turnouts which still had their springs installed. One nice thing about the Walthers machines - they come with a small plastic jig that centers the points during installation, The initial position of the actuating servo is also centered, which significantly simplifies installation.

[@earlwidmeyer2654]

Yes, now with the new type turnout we did the same , but we don't have a thick base so I'll try your tip to add the dogleg! Cheers Earl

[@markwakeley3835]

Great tip. Thanks

[@earlwidmeyer2654]

Larry, Thanks for the tip about adding the dog-leg to the wire. I appreciate you answering my specific question back from your original review. We adjusted the fulcrum but never got a good throw and we just ended up doubling the wire. Since then we have purchased some heavier gauge "Piano " wire. But I like your tip better. For anybody else who are building a layout, these turn-outs are the cats meow!! they are great! Cheers Earl

[@michaeldenoncourt1526]

The time of this video fits right in to the building of my new addition. I am using some of the Walthers' turnouts so the tip on how to install with Tortoise and related source for heavier throw wire is most timely and appreciated. Just love your programs.

[@rknudson1407]

I really do enjoy your videos, it makes me want to get back into the hobby again. I also miss my collection of Model Railroader magazines dating back to 1990 (my ex-wife threw them all out along with my trains, saying adults don't play with kids toys) along with alot of other things she didn't like..

[@earlwidmeyer2654]

LOL..I'm still with my wife now of 33 years. A long time back I used to do model cars and trucks. One day she said I love my models more than her.....within minutes I had created a pile of plastic rubble that I no longer needed!! They just don't understand.. Cheers Earl

[@avlisk]

My late wife was seeing a therapist who told her a man needs a "man cave" for his mental wellbeing. She gave up the spare bedroom so I could have it for my "man cave", which immediately became an HO layout room. Find a therapist who is also a model railroader!

[@TheDCCGuy]

I used to have paper copies back to the late 1940s and the wife constantly complained. So I donated them to the local club and bought the entire archive on CD. Takes up a lot less room and is searchable. Now that the entire archive is online I have a digital subscription and can access the entire collection anytime. More expensive but there is peace in the house!

[@sergioarroyoguerrero5434]

Yo tengo mi colección de revistas de Model Railroad. Aprendo a hacer maquetas de trenes. Gran catálogo de trenes a escala, incluyendo vías, desvios, cruces, túneles, estructuras y mucho más.

[@derekalexander4030]

Thank you, Larry. It was a great tutorial.

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing.👍

[@michaelsmodelrailroading7665]

The new model Walthers DCC-friendly turnouts are really a superior product, better than almost anything else I've seen. I think the one-piece point rails will prove to be superior to hinged points in long-term service. They are not susceptible to corrosion or other electrical interruption at the joint.

[@earlwidmeyer2654]

They also look more prototypical and above all the car ride is so much smoother! Cheers Earl

[@avlisk]

I ended all that fiddling with the cork roadbed, cutting and fitting, sanding and gluing, by using cork sheets. Simply cut out a pad to fit the turnout shape, beveling the edges as you cut if you want. You can get lots of cork in sheets at a big box store, or 12" X 12" sheets at art shops such as Michael's. Typically they come in 4 or 5mm thicknesses, just like cork roadbed.

[@southern207hobbies]

A tip for working with tortious switch machines use a terminal strip it makes life a lot easier plus if you paint your benchwork white it makes everything easier under the layout

[@stewarttrains98]

T pins can be purchased at walmart or any craft stores. The putty knives can often be found at dollar stores. For something that i will use like that, the dollar store is your friend for some hobby supplies.

[@davidshaw5979]

great video what is the base board material you are fixing the cork on to, i have never seen that base before? all the best.

[@southern207hobbies]

Foam sheet it's the kind you can buy form Lowes, home depot etc.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Standard 1/2” insulation foam board from Lowes.

[@sergioarroyoguerrero5434]

Istalling a Walthers curve switch track. Whi fixed with glue no more nails?? In my layout fixed the tracks. with Atlas nails. Good work my friend.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I never use track nails. Hammering them into a plywood base transmits wheel against rails vibrations to the plywood which creates a sound board effect magnifying the track noise.

[@dougwalck1282]

I bought some after your original video. They are nice, the only problem I had was that they are 1 to 2 mm lower in rail height compared with Peco code 83 track I am using.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Interesting, I assume it is a tie thickness issue and not rail height but will measure. I used MicroEngineering flex fir the short connector and the other turnout is ME as well. You can either file down the slight mismatch easily.

[@earlwidmeyer2654]

We noticed the same thing and it is just the tie thickness. A little shim is all it takes at install@@TheDCCGuy

[@timothyjohnston4083]

A question : Having pre-wired your Tortoise motors, do you use a terminal block to then make the final connections ? Or do you use some other method ?

[@TheDCCGuy]

I covered that beginning at about 12:45 in the video on pre-wiring Tortoises I provided a link to in this video.

[@johnnyeveritt5695]

Greetings Larry : The slight bending of the actuating rod to compensate for the lockin- bias on this Curved Turnout is a nice touch ! But looking at the rod .... This does NOT look like the flimsy / weak rod as supplied by Tortoise. What type of wire and what gauge are you using ? Cheers For Now / Johnny 🤙🤘

[@TheDCCGuy]

Because my layout is over an inch thick I have to replace the wire with 0.032” dia wire from Hobbytown.

[@BobMcAdory]

Have you ever installed a Peco insulfrog double slip switch?

[@TheDCCGuy]

No, I avoid double slips like the plague. They are a pain to install and control with switch machines and always seem to confuse users when used manually.

[@mikeseba7817]

👍👍👍

[@j.pedrorocha2573]

Forgot to take the price paper on the spatula 😂😂

[@cllines604]

what is a dog leg??

[@TheDCCGuy]

Take a look at a dogs leg and compare it to the bend I made in the wire.

[@earlwidmeyer2654]

C'mon Larry, you could have made a funny there!!! LOL@@TheDCCGuy

[@TheDCCGuy]

I sometimes end up offending with my offbeat sense of humor, so try to keep it straight here. That is especially true with an international audience that may not be familiar with a lot of American vernacular slang.

[@cllines604]

I still don't know @@TheDCCGuy

[@TheDCCGuy]

Do you watch Tiger Woods play golf, lots of dog leg fairways there.