www.proto87.com
PROTO:87 STORES TM

INTRODUCING

  The new Ultimate TM 

"SWITCH-WORKS" tm

 Your own, Personal, Affordable, RTR "Switch Factory in a Box".
 
"SWITCH-WORKS" is a completely new and outstandingly simple, way of making
 exceptionally dependable and accurately detailed
RTR NMRA STANDARD HO STRAIGHT AND CURVABLE SWITCHES
 in the comfort and convenience of your own home.

LATE-BREAKING NEWS ITEM!  "SWITCH-WORKS" Factories and Switch Kits now INCLUDE Ultra-Precision Gluing tools to make gluing the tieplates and small components even faster and easier.

     
A Syringe supplied with each "Factory" set and a Disposable Micro Application Nozzle provided in each Switch Kit, allow glue application to be as tiny, controlled and precise as the details themselves

The same "SWITCH-WORKS" Factory builds
BOTH regular NMRA HO and PROTO:87,
PLAIN or FULL MUSEUM QUALITY switches
using a exceptionally simple,  three step process.



STEP ONE: Lay the Ready-Cut Ties in the Tie Frame Slots
 


 STEP: TWO  Cut up the Tieplate fret with ordinary good quality scissors.
 Lay and glue the tieplates in the Tieplate Template.
 


As simple as adding pieces to jig-saw!



NOTE: The precisely positioned tie plates
 have realistic raised dummy spike heads,
 that then accurately and precisely locate all the key rails
 to the correct position and gauge.



If desired, the Tie Base can now be curved at this stage to suit a particular design or location.

 The extensive engineering design work that went into "SWITCH WORKS" is intended to allow the user to rapidly and easily assemble an exceptionally wide range of accurate, fully detailed, highly realistic, and extremely reliable, HO switches, with minimal skill and effort, and  WITHOUT the need for construction soldering.  The next step merely requires the use of a flexible contact adhesive to complete the rail laying.



STEP THREE: Glue the Rail, frog, etc., in the Guiding Slots!



 The new "SWITCH-WORKS"  lets you construct a
 COMPLETE and ACCURATE, FINISHED SWITCH,
by properly locating ALL the TIES, RAIL, DETAILS and OPERATING PARTS for you,

 BUT WITHOUT any need for PAPER TEMPLATES, JIGS
  or OTHER SPECIALIZED ASSEMBLY FIXTURES.

PLEASE NOTE: For those who have already taken delivery of their "Switch-Works", there are draft  "work-in-progress", more detailed, instructions accessible by clicking here.
Meets all applicable NMRA Standards including S3.2 for regular HO and S3.1 for Proto:87  specifications.

LIST OF BENEFITS AND MANY UNIQUE FEATURES INCLUDE:

SWITCH-WORKS IS PRECISION MANUFACTURED FROM CORROSION RESISTANT, STAINLESS STEEL.

SWITCH-WORKS BUILDS A COMPLETE, AND FULLY DETAILED SWITCH, WITH BOTH RAIL AND ALL TIES PROPERLY POSITIONED

SWITCH-WORKS DESIGNS ARE REALLY PROTOTYPICALLY ACCURATE TO AAR DRAWINGS,
WITH CORRECT VARIABLE TIE SPACING AND PROPER, SMOOTH TRANSITION, SWITCH ANGLES.

SWITCH-WORKS CAN ALSO MAKE A SELF-CONTAINED RTR SWITCH THAT YOU CAN PICK UP AND RE-USE.

 SWITCH-WORKS' INGENIOUS, BUT SIMPLE TOOLS, HANDLE ALL THE PRECISION LOCATION REQUIRED DURING ASSEMBLY.  SO YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE ANY SPECIAL SKILLS.

SWITCH-WORKS ALLOWS YOU TO FIX EVERY RAIL AND ALL THE TIES ACCURATELY,
WITHOUT THE NEED FOR SOLDERING

SWITCH-WORKS EVEN ALSO FUNCTIONS AS A TRACK PLANNING GUIDE
AND AN EXACT SWITCH CUTTING IN, POSITION TOOL.

JUST ONE SWITCH-WORKS "FACTORY" SIZE MAKES BOTH LH AND RH SWITCHES, IN BOTH  STRAIGHT or CURVABLE VERSIONS

JUST ONE SWITCH-WORKS "FACTORY" SIZE WILL WORK WITH EVERY SCALE SIZE RAIL -Code 40, 55, 70 and 83.  YET ALL THE RAILS SELF-POSITION AND ALIGN, REGARDLESS OF THEIR CODE.

SWITCH-WORKS ALSO ALLOWS you to CUSTOMIZE your preferred form of construction,
whether GLUING, SPIKING, SOLDERING WITH PC TIES, or ANY MIXTURE of those methods.

SWITCH-WORKS IS DUAL-PURPOSE.  USE ON THE BENCH, OR IN SITU, ON YOUR LAYOUT.

SWITCH-WORKS EVEN HELPS YOU MARK, CUT AND ALIGN REGULAR BULK TIES,
 At a fraction of the cost of other tie base systems.

OR SWITCH-WORKS CAN USE OUR TOP-QUALITY, MACHINE SAWN, INDIVIDUALLY PRE-CUT TIES.
Either way, there are NO UNSIGHTLY WEBS BETWEEN THE TIES.

SWITCH-WORKS ALLOWS YOU TO USE ANY TYPE OR STYLE OF  FROG,
WHETHER CAST, MILLED or HAND MADE, STANDARD, RB MANGANESE or SELF GUARDING.

YOUR RESULTS WITH SWITCH-WORKS CAN EQUAL the VERY BEST in RTR or MUSEUM QUALITY products.

Available initially in HO curvable numbers 6, 7, 8, 10,

PRICING and AVAILABILITY

Except as noted, "SWITCH-WORKS" tools and all other "Ultimate" trackwork items are kept in stock for immedate delivery. 

Ultimate SWITCH-WORKS "Factory in a Box" Sizes:

SWITCH-WORKS Factory # 6     $49.95            available NOW

SWITCH-WORKS Factory # 7     $69.95            available NOW

SWITCH-WORKS Factory # 8     $79.95            available NOW

SWITCH-WORKS Factory # 10   $89.95            available NOW

SWITCH-WORKS Division HQ (6, 7, 8 and 10 Factories combined)
Limited Time Offer     $274.95      available NOW


Ultimate SWITCHES  -  Individual Parts and Materials

For those who want to scratch build switches from parts, all the frogs, ties and tieplates, etc., are also available separately.
These will allow you scratch build switches to any chosen level of detail and the lowest cost for your particular application.

In particular we also supply the following for any size switches: 
#6, 7, 8 and 10 as standard and #4, 5, 12, 14, 16, 20 etc. to order.

Complete Sets of precision, pre-sawn, wood Switch ties, starting at just $2.99 a set.
 
Complete Sets of Switch Tieplates starting at $7.99  a set

 See the Ultimate Section of the Proto:87 Stores catalog later in January
 for specific individual Parts and Materials listings and prices. 

Ultimate SWITCHES  - Complete Switch Parts and Materials Kits

Specify either NMRA Standard HO (H) or Proto:87 (P) and your rail size (code 40, 55, 70 or 83) .
Each kit can be used to build either a LH or RH switch .

These conveniently comprehensive parts kits include a complete set of solid wood ties, all pre-sawn to exact size, all the necessary rail, all the special and regular tieplates required,  a cast frog HO (H) or milled preformed metal frog P:87 kit (P),
a SWRD type throw bar for "Craftsman" kits and a proposed SWDET1 throw bar and indicator set for "RTA" kits

Choose  from "Craftsman" ( make your own points)
or Ready to Assemble (RTA - supplied with shaped and prepared cast points).
Select NMRA Standard HO (H) or Proto:87 (P)

SWITCH-WORKS Craftsman Kit #6               (P OR H)    $16.95      available NOW

SWITCH-WORKS RTA Kit #6                        (P OR H)    $24.95      coming soon

SWITCH-WORKS Craftsman Kit #7               (P  )            $18.95       available NOW

SWITCH-WORKS RTA Kit #7                        (P  )            $27.95       coming soon

SWITCH-WORKS Craftsman Kit #8               (P OR H)    $19.95       available NOW

SWITCH-WORKS RTA Kit #8                        (P OR H)    $29.95       coming soon

SWITCH-WORKS Craftsman Kit #10             (P OR H)    $24.95       available NOW

SWITCH-WORKS RTA Kit #10                      (P OR H)    $34.95       coming soon


This WEB page last updated on 12/05/05. All illustrations, products and product designs are copyright of their respective owners, whether acknowledged or otherwise. All rights reserved.