Covering Turnout Movement Holes

I'm looking for ideas on how to cover the hole on top of the layout where the movement rod connects with turnout rod for the point movement. I plan on ballasting my track so the hole would need some kind of covering that allows the rod to move yet not allow ballast inside it. I'd like it to look good when done as well. I'm working in N Scale with code 80 track, so the holes are to the side of the track not directly under the center of the points. Any scale on how you do this area is welcome though. I'd like to know.

 

I do see his mounts for the servo under the layout. I cannot see something that hides the hole on the top of the layout. That is what I'm after.

 

Wouldn't the switch machines you designed do that?

The ones Hemi posted are for hiding a SPDT slide switch so I think not what you want. I'm thinking you are using a switch machine under the layout.

Sumner

 

My switch machines won't cover a 1/4 hole. I'm using your servo mounts Sumner! You can't improve upon perfection. I think I have something designed that will work to cover the hole a bit so I can rest a couple of ties and my switch machine on. I'll need to test first and that is a bit down the road. Still I'm hoping to be able to run trains by the end of the month!

 

What is the surface of the layout? What type of material is the quarter inch hole going through? I guess I'm asking is there way instead of having a quarter inch round hole that you have a slot that is a quarter inch long and very narrow?

Sumner

 

pics of said hole would help a lot .................................

 

Maybe cover the hole with card-stock that has a slit in it? Then ground cover over that,

Sumner

 

Here is what I'm dealing with and here is what I've come up with so far. Base is 2mm cork roadbed, 1-inch pink foam then 1/8-inch hardboard. I should be able to paint and lightly ballast over the part. I'd like to drill and have the hole in the middle of the points and hidden under the track but code 80 is not made for it. I'm guessing other typically don't use Atlas code 80 anymore and have this issue.

 

That looks good to me.

Sumner

 

On our club layout (although it is HO scale) we usually bring the wire up in between the tracks rather than using the hole provided on one side or the other. having the hole underneath the tracks obscures it pretty well.

 

looks like you have a fix.. Thank you for the pics that helps tremendously. gives a good look at what your dealing with....