HOn3 and HOn30 stub switch bridle bars

[Kevin Fall]

Happy New Year!

I think its a fairly noteworthy that a friend of mine, George Sebastian-Coleman created some HOn30 code 55 bridle bars and HOn30 code 40 bridle bars for me about two months ago for use for my stub switches. They work perfectly keeping the track in gauge and connected to either a Tortoise switch machine or a Precision Scale harp switchstand if throwing by hand. They are easy to install. This is a much needed item for this scale and it works just like the prototype and I think HO and HON30 (N) modelers would appreciate these items.

As George says on the Shapeways site:
This is a bridle for stub switches. It gauges the rail and provides a hole for an operating lever from the switchstand (Usually a harp style). There are 20 per unit. I usually use four per turnout, trimming off the throw arm on three of them that are spaced every other tie.

I have taken 3 photos to show how they come from Shapeways and how they were used on my layout. Hope you find these as useful as I have.

Happy modeling!



bridle bars installed on stub switch



And finished stub switch

[Jim Courtney]

Great work Kevin!

I too have purchased some of George's HOn3 bridle bars -- they are perfect.

Now tell how you made the chairs on the main throw tie . . .

[Kevin Fall]

Jim,

So what I did was to cut a notch .025 deep in the wide wood tie to accept a trimmed piece of some .025 x 1/4" brass stock from K&S. The 1/4" width of the stock just happens to be the correct width to fit under the two end rails of the stub switch. I soldered this under the two end rails while I was building the switch, then soldered a smaller piece of the same brass stock up against both sides of the outside rails for a rail stop. Then I painted some 30 year old Hobby Black on the brass. I then added some NBW's to the top of the plate but also see that I neglected to add some NBW's on the inside rail side of the plate. Although my harp switch stands will be not operating because I use Tortoise machines, I will somehow add a rod connection from the switch stand to the main bridle bar.  I basically followed Jeff Young's ideas for building stub switches elsewhere in the forum but using George's bridle bars.

And here is a photo of the HOn30 bridle bars in use with a manually operated switch and a PSC brass switch stand. The rail is code 40. The targets still need to be painted and ties weathered. All rail is code 40 attached to PC ties where needed.

Happy Modeling!
Kevin