Under The Hood: Giraffe Actuators!

Too bad Lionel still doesn't make the Fastrack track clip for giraffe cars. P/N 630-6849-080.

Any idea(s) how to make this accessory work with Ross track?

Chuck Sartor posted:

Too bad Lionel still doesn't make the Fastrack track clip for giraffe cars. P/N 630-6849-080.

Which is why one has to improvise! 

 

Charlesp34 posted:

Any idea(s) how to make this accessory work with Ross track?

I'd suggest taking a similar approach to Lionel's suggestion for Super O track:  Remove a couple of ties and clip the base directly to the rails.  You can replace the ties under the base for extra support, if you'd like, though it probably wouldn't be necessary... 

Mitch

anyone have pictures of this with atlas track?

You might want to look at this older post by David Smith

https://ogrforum.com/t...23#47326445743008723

Dave does excellent work!

Reading the Sunday comics today, and this incident from my childhood was there:

https://www.gocomics.com/theargylesweater/2020/12/27

Explains Things, doesn't it? 

Mitch

For you guys using other types of track: Well, I use 027 tubular and I still make my own actuator rails. David from Dearborn makes his out of plexiglass. I make mine out of colored foam sheets like the ones sold at Michaels and Hobby Lobby. I use a color that it close to the ground color of the area it will be mounted. And because they're foam, they're easily bent to go inside curves and can be any length you want them to be. So, for example, I have made them for the inside of the Lionel MPC-era introduced short snap-together Truss Bridge... actually a little bit longer, so the giraffe pops his head down before the car enters the bridge.

PS: Cute cartoon Mitchell.

@brianel_k-lineguy posted:

For you guys using other types of track: Well, I use 027 tubular and I still make my own actuator rails. David from Dearborn makes his out of plexiglass. I make mine out of colored foam sheets like the ones sold at Michaels and Hobby Lobby. I use a color that it close to the ground color of the area it will be mounted. And because they're foam, they're easily bent to go inside curves and can be any length you want them to be. So, for example, I have made them for the inside of the Lionel MPC-era introduced short snap-together Truss Bridge... actually a little bit longer, so the giraffe pops his head down before the car enters the bridge.

Sounds intriguing!  Got pictures?

PS: Cute cartoon Mitchell.

Mitch

Here is Misc Info for "roll you own" cam plate:

Giraffe car cam plate
    Top outside rail to base-

MTH RealTrax    0.658
MTHScaleTrax   0.446
Gargraves Track w Wood Ties  0.446

Lionel 027    0.403
Lionel O tubular   0.641
Lionel Fastrack  0.653

Lionel 027          0.403     Activator Plate Height    1.020
MTHScaleTrax        0.446     Activator Plate Height    1.063
Gargraves Track     0.446     Activator Plate Height    1.063
Lionel O tubular      0.641      Activator Plate Height    1.157  
Lionel Fastrack       0.653
MTH RealTrax         0.658

Activator Plate Height    1.157
Lionel Cam Plate Height          0.876
          . 282

  This Cam Plate is designed for a curve and secured to your base.  See drawing below to adjust to your base.

I make my own out of heavy copper wire.  Nothing sez, actuator has to be solid.  Works with all types of track.  I bend the wire to the approximate shape of the original Lionel one, you can make it longer though.  Just leave the ends poking straight down through holes drilled in the roadbed or layout top.  I have even super glued them to Fasttrack with Superglue on the underside of the FastTrack to avoid the glue showing on the topside.  They work great and are crazy cheap to make, I think they look better than any solid actuator ramp.  I use a little metal sleeve or bushing to mount the telltale, friction fit so if I break it or just want to move it, I can just pull it out of the bushing.  Wire actuators bend around curves too.  I have a thing for these little cars, I must have about ten of them.  Fun to see them run all in a row.

Chris S.

butttttt, andddddd, what about...... the faux trucks on the ALCO Lionel post war. too close to the tracks and the train tips. .. .. far enough to clear and the GiRaffee misses the Actuator. Got the supervisors checking under the engine........ will post findings.....

Well Mitch, That 'Splains Volumes...... salute. great post thanks

@M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

Sounds intriguing!  Got pictures?

Okay, today was decent enough outside to do some photos. One day I will have to do a thread about my layout. Though I entirely understand why you don't see as many photos of smaller layouts: They're harder to make look interesting in a picture as compared to the human eye.

One of the challenges of a small layout is to make it interesting. So I've designed a bunch of things to be easily removed and replaced with other items. So instead of using the included base of the snap-together truss bridge, I glued wood strips (walkway) down each side, which fit perfectly over the track. In the shot above (and below) you can see the brown foam actuator, which is glued to one of the wood walkways.

On my layout, I use the same foam to make actuators, usually out of green foam. I hold them in place using double-sided sticky foam.

In the photo directly below, you might also notice Goofy hanging upside down, hoping he doesn't get wacked by the passing train. Inevitably though, he does.

In the photo below (on the theme of small layouts) is a girder bridge minus the sheet metal plate, but instead mounted on wood strips again like a walkway. This allows me to easily substitute one bridge for another, just for variety. No actuator one this one... gives the giraffe's a bit of a break!

Oh and Mitchell, you might want to keep on alert: I noticed this guy had slipped in on a train of giraffe cars and was causing some serious havoc!!