I wonder if you can help me with something related to a control panel circuitry: I've a large analog HO Marklin layout and I want to make a control panel (meaning by this a back lighted plexiglass screen showing the layout diagram) where I can easily look at where the turnouts are pointing (forward or turning, by using LEDs). The thing is, I don't know how the circuitry should be made in order to do that. I know that every time I push the red or green button on the control box 7072 to move the turnout, I should be able to recognize that signal and activate, for example, the LED that is indicating that the turnout is going straight and, the next time I push the button and the turnout moves, that LED should be off and the LED showing the turning direction should be on and so on. At least, that is the way I imagine the thing. Any thoughts or advice that anyone can give me will be very much appreciated! Thanks

Hi dodo57 (Funny first name )
Creating a control panel for an analog train takes a lot of cabling.
Just to give you an idea here is what my control panel looked like


This was using a Roco product called MCS (1984). Very interesting but expensive.
The control panel was made of a laminate with pre-cut horizontal and diagonal holes (and a brushed aluminum surface into which you would clip LEDs bars and a matrix-arranged set of contact scanning for switches etc.
Loads of people wanted to have a control panel in the 1980-1990 but most gave-up because of huge wiring.
Now it is very easy in digital and a control software such as Rocrail. Here is my "control panel:

All activated itineraries light in yellow and loco image can show in blocks
When this is combined with a touch-screen display it is just great.

Now all this does not solve your issue. My suggestions are:
- you have to do all from scratch: flat panel with brushed aluminum coating
- for lights, either you use round LEDs (easy to drill) or rectangular LEDs (more difficult to cut in the panel) similar to these
https://www.ebay.de/itm/20-Piece...7aa38:g:J~MAAOSwHnFVxMvp
- use micro push switches to control switches.
- be prepared for a heavy and non flexible (in case you change your layout) piece of work.
Cheers
Jean

Thank you for your answer!

Thank you for sharing your experiences!

Hi, Morsing. I'm not sure if I understand your question: if you refer about how do I change the turnout, I'm using the Marklin control box 7072. I'm not using an electronic/mechanical switch.

Rgds

Hi,

I can't tell from your post but is this old M-track with electric points?

Henrik

If I were to stop using the Marklin boxes I guess I need to find a momentary toggle switch (on off on) so that after switching the switch 'lever' still shows which way the point is set. In other words the lever is never central

Regarding the switch, do I have my terminology correct and does such a thing exist?

You can find a switch that is on-off-on with momentary contact but the toggle will always go back to the center.position. That is why you need a activate a relay to power a light to show position and that is why it gets complicated, not to mention expansive. Using a signal would be about the same price (I guess) and simpler to wire.

Yes, Fleischmann did that with their controls!
It *WAS* pretty common for its time, so maybe should be easy to find on Ebay?!

I can make it work, but not sure precisely what it is supposed to do apart from turn one of the lamps on for a short time.

The schematic is badly drawn, it would be easier to follow if better drawn.

To operate click on the switch over by the battery on the right (the device at the top of the diagonal grey wire).

Hi – here is an example of a control panel I made in the beginning of the 90, s as I planned analog layout. I still use it as only my trains run digital. As you see there is a lot of throttles and led for turnouts(relay) and signals. All sidings incl. overhead can be turned off/on. I can select analog or digital. It was a lot of soldering and wiring; you don’t get a better track plan idea after this job. Work perfect after nearly 30 years

Torstein