Turnout motors; choices?

[videobruce]

This will be my 2nd 'real' layout in N scale. I plan on using Peco 55 flex track & turnouts. I have older locos & rolling stock so Atlas 55 is out.

My 1st layout used Atlas custom switch motors (all Atlas track & turnouts) that have been around for decades. One problem (a huge headache that I don't want to repeat) was trying to mount and position at the same time a motor under the layout, upside down into plywood. A beyond frustrating exercise that was hard to tolerate. Drilling holes for the screws without moving the exact position of the motor was not easy.

Anyway, I'm looking for pros & cons of the few available switch motors. My concerns are;

1. Cost,
2. Ability to work with DCC,
3. Ability to have position contacts for panel lighting if I don't use DCC,
4. Ease of mounting,
5, Able to work with Peco turnouts.

What I have found are;

1. Peco (2 versions, no position contacts);
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Peco-HO-N-PL11-Side-Mounting-Turnout-Motor-p/pec-pl11.htm
http://www.peco-uk.com/product.asp?strParents=3309&CAT_ID=3337&P_ID=17682
2. Tortoise;
http://www.blwnscale.com/Circuitron.htm
3. Atlas new style;
https://secure.atlasrr.com/mod1/itemdesc.asp?ic=2065&eq=&Tp=
4. Atlas old style (no position contacts);
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product...ailroad-HO-N-Gauge-Under-Table-Switch-Machine
5. Rix;
http://www.bakatronics.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=488 (plus adapter plate)

The original Peco design would be the obvious choice except for this;
http://nscaleadventures.blogspot.com/search/label/Track work

I don't want to drill & then try to conceal a huge hole for every turnout.
Not sure about this side mounted Peco design.

I'm leaning towards the newer Atlas design with position contacts. Tortoise seems to be somewhat more pricey.

 

[Motley]

You didn't say, but do you have the benchwork and track already in place?

You could just add 2" layer of foam.

And get the Peco's. They are really easy to cut holes if you have foam.

That's what I use, and I have 24 switches on my layout.

And they are all have NCE snap-it stationary decoders, and are all controlled with my NCE throttle.

It's a nice setup.

 

[videobruce]

Layout is not built yet.
Funny you mention foam over plywood. I automatically figured to just use 3/8" plywood, no foam.

 

[videobruce]

Anyone else??

 

[Rico]

I'm in HO but I use Tortoise machines powered by NCE switch 8's and have LED's in line for signaling. I remove the springs from the Peco switches.
The club went with the Peco machines and the gapping holes under the track are very ugly.

 

[Motley]

I'm in HO but I use Tortoise machines powered by NCE switch 8's and have LED's in line for signaling. I remove the springs from the Peco switches.
The club went with the Peco machines and the gapping holes under the track are very ugly.

What gaping holes? I bet you can barely spot mine. I'm using Peco switch machines.

I know a lot of people prefer tortoises. But to me, that's too much work, having all those machines under the layout, I bet that's fun to install andmanage.

 

[CMMR]

Has anyone used Micro-Mark's Switch Tenders? It looks like they would be fairly easy to mount and are DCC compatible.

http://www.micromark.com/Switch-Tender-Switch-Machine,8394.html

 

[videobruce]

Anyone use Rix??

 

[Rico]

Motley you did a much better job concealing the machines than the guys at the club!
They mounted them directly to the underside of the switch and dropped them in.

 

[Motley]

Motley you did a much better job concealing the machines than the guys at the club!
They mounted them directly to the underside of the switch and dropped them in.

Aha, that explains it. I just use a small piece of cork, as you can see in my photo. Once I ballast it, it's hard to tell, unless you are looking directly over the switch.

 

[videobruce]

Has anyone had experience with these RC servo motors using Peco turnouts?