Guidelines for the Construction of HOn3 Modulesh0n3-amors.ch/onewebmedia/@HOn3_AMORS_Guidelines_latest (01).pdfHOn3 AMORS Update 26.05.2010/DS Page 8 Appendix 2 This is the male and

V 29.05.10

HOn3 American Modular Railroaders Switzerland (HOn3 AMORS)

Guidelines for the Construction of HOn3 Modules

Material and Dimensional Guidelines

Scale Height from

Floor to Top of Rail

Hand Laid or Commercial Rail Code

Interface Track Clearances

H = Horizontal V = Vertical

Track Center Lines from Front of Module

Track Centers Parallel Tracks

Center Lines on Curves

HOn3 (10.5 mm)

1'320 mm 70 and 55 H = 26 mm V = 60 mm

Gl. 1 = 127 mm Gl. 2 = 178 mm

51 mm 51 mm

HOn30" (9.0 mm)

1'320 mm 55 H = 26 mm V = 56 mm

Gl. 1 = 127 mm Gl. 2 = 170 mm

46 mm 51 mm

Scale Min. Parallel

Tangent Track Length*

Maximum Mainline Grade

Minimum Mainline Turnout

Minimum Mainline Radius

HOn3 (10.5 mm)

50 mm 2.5% #6 508 mm

HOn30" (9.0 mm)

50 mm 2.5% #6 508 mm

*) Tangent track length is the distance from the end of the module to the first deviation in

mainline, i.e., a switch, curve, crossover, etc.

1. The above dimensions are mandatory to ensure proper interface between the modules.

2. If modules not meeting the above dimensional criteria shall be incorporated in a modular

layout, transition modules are required at both ends.

HOn3 AMORS

Update 26.05.2010/DS Page 2

3. Module construction should preferably be of 12 mm plywood to meet the mandatory

specifications of point 6 without modification.

4. The recommended module width is 500 mm, the minimum width 280 mm (for bookshelf

modules).

5. The module frame height shall be 100 mm at both ends.

6. The profile of the module end frames is flat towards the front (public viewing side) and

slightly elevated* to the rear.

* some members of the HOn3 AMORS prefer to build theirs completely flat.

7. Connection of the modules will be by means of 3 each M5x50 hex head screws with washers on both sides and winged nuts inserted in 6 mm holes, thus permitting minor track

alignment. Templates for the shape of the module end and the position of the three 6 mm

holes for the connecting screws are available and can be borrowed (see also point 16).

8. The space within the frame of the 500 mm wide modules must have an unobstructed width of 476 mm and a height of 70 mm from the lower edge within 100 mm from each

end to permit insertion of the module legs and access from both sides to the bolts and nuts

holding them. For narrower modules it is suggested to suspend them between 500 mm wide modules. If this is not possible, custom made legs have to be provided for them.

9. The suggested material for the sub-roadbed is 30 mm hard insulating foam. N gauge cork

roadbed or cork sheet of the same thickness will be glued to the sub-roadbed. It extends right to the module end. Two brass flathead wood screws will be inserted as close as possible to

the module end below the track profiles and the latter will be soldered to the screw heads

(FREMO interface). As an alternative to the brass screws, a piece of PC board can be firmly attached to the module and the rails ends soldered to it, whereby an insulating gap must be

cut into the PC boards between the two rails.

HOn3 AMORS


10. The HOn3 AMORS recommend module lengths in increments of 3’ (914 mm), 4’ (1’219 mm), 6’ (1'829 mm) or 8’ (2'438 mm) respectively, at builders’ discretion.

11. Recommended roadbed is either cork roadbed for N gauge or cork sheet of the same thickness.

12. If backdrops are used, recommended height is either 400 mm from bottom edge of frame (i.e.

300 mm above top edge of frame) or 600 mm from bottom (500 mm from top); scenery dividers are optional. Preferred material for backdrops is white Forex Classic® of 2 mm

thickness, painted light blue (color specification: ………….).

13. Forward extensions modules, i.e. those protruding toward the public viewing side rather than

inward toward the back of module, will mark the ”front edge of module“ reference point as the

point at which the front edge would be located if it were not extended outward. This is the point

of reference for center lines of mains.

14. If uncoupler magnets are used on the mainlines, they should be of the electromagnetic type. It

is recommended that permanent magnets NOT be used on mainlines.

15. All trackage behind the mainlines is not covered by Standards.

HOn3 AMORS


16. Legs are 1’255 mm long with M8 impacting nuts and M8x100 adjustable feet in leg bottom, permitting adjustment of ±25 mm. Two each legs are permanently connected as follows: a) at

the upper end by a 474 mm wide and 130 mm high bracing plate flush with the legs’ ends, b)

near the lower end by a horizontal brace and c) in between by a diagonal brace.

H1: H1 can be freely selected - recommendation AMORS: 130mm

H2: H2 can be freely selected - H2min >100mm to avoid interferences between

screw and levelling feet

17. For storing and safe transport of modules of equal length it is furthermore recommended to

use stacking boards (see Appendix 4).

HOn3 AMORS


Electrical Guidelines

A. Track power (16V DCC) is carried under modules using min. 1.0 mm2 stranded wire.

B. Track feed lines shall be firmly attached to each module and shall terminate at each end in a

vertically mounted terminal block. Interconnect lines to track shall be as prescribed above. Terminal blocks will have connection to rail and connection to other module end, and must be

a 4 pin connector cut down from a 12-pin male and female terminal block (“Steck- und

Buchsenklemme” 0.5-2.5 mm2 6A/300V, available at Jumbo hardware stores, see Appendix 2)

The female connector is located at the left interface (from the public viewing side). The male

connector at the right interface (from same viewing side) is wired to the terminal block using

500 mm lengths of 1.0 mm2 stranded cable. All electrical connections shall be soldered and taped or otherwise insulated.

C. The 12 V DC power for the turnout motors is supplied from a different central power supply.

D. On the terminal blocks, from top to bottom, the buses are connected as follows:

• #1 cable is red and supplies the track power for the external rail.

• #2 cable is blue and supplies the track power for the internal rail.

• #3 cable is yellow and supplies the power for the switch machines. • #4 cable is black and supplies the power fort the switch machines.

E. Use 0.2 mm2 to 0.3 mm2 solid wire soldered to the outside of rails for connection to track power leads. “Solder Terminal Strips“ make an easy to trouble shoot connection point. Use as

many power feeds per tracks as needed.

Note: A single large DCC power supply is used with the many throttles on large layouts.

I. Power

A. Full throttle voltage available at railhead shall not be less than 16 volts DCC at maximum

anticipated load.

B. High frequency current superimposed upon the rails shall not interfere with the normal

operation of Powered Equipment.

II. Control

Control is by DCC.

III. Powered Equipment

A. Shall be equipped with a decoder responsive to the Direction and Speed Controls of II.

above.

B. Metallic couplers shall be insulated from the rails.

IV. Non-Powered Equipment

A. Wheel sets shall be insulated to prevent undue conductance between rails.

B. Metallic couplers shall be insulated from the rails.

HOn3 AMORS


V. Command Systems

1. The layout will be DCC controlled. For this purpose, all modules containing turnouts,

turntables or transfer tables must be equipped with at least one Lenz LA152* adapter, which shall be mounted recessed in the module front, thereby keeping a minimum distance

of 10 cm from the module ends to permit insertion of the module legs.

2. Module groups which can only be used together must be equipped with at least one Lenz LA152* adapter for two modules each.

3. Pure “running modules“ (i.e. without turnouts etc.) do not need any adapters.

4. The control cables will be crossed and equipped with RJ12 plugs.

* (this adapter was chosen to permit the alternative use of either Digitrax or Lenz DCC systems and throttles at different times)

NOTES:

Steam type locomotives may use uninsulated front couplers with due care not to couple two

such locomotives head-to-head.

HOn3 AMORS


Appendix 1

Special Versions Fully Meeting the Guidelines

1. Example: A module with an integrated “water” drawer (inspired by a harbor module built by Ed

Weldon). With the drawer pushed back, the module has the standard width of 500 mm; when

pulled out, the drawer permits to place some boats along the mooring.

2. A module’s scenery cannot only extend upward, but also downward as per the sketch below.

As long as the mainline interfaces and the grades meet the HOn3 AMORS Guidelines, such modules are fully compatible.

500 mm 150

HOn3 AMORS


Appendix 2

This is the male and female terminal block (Steck- und Buchsenklemme) which was selected for the modules

of the HOn3 AMORS (available at the JUMBO

hardware stores).

It has 12 poles and can easily be split up into 4-pole

units as used .

HOn3 AMORS


Appendix 3

Left module end

Right module end

• The bus and the terminal blocks shall be mounted on the inside of the module front, because

the track is closer to the front.

• The bus consists of stranded cables with a cross section of 1 mm2, whereby the following colors are used from top to bottom:

• Red: Track power, external rail,

• Blue: Track power, internal rail,

• Yellow: Power for turnout motors, • Black: Power for turnout motors.

• The four cables shall either be affixed with staples or (Kabelbriden) (as on picture) or tucked

into a cable duct.

• The track feeders are solid wire.

• One end shall be soldered to the outside of the rail web (in order to easily recognize broken

wires).

• The other end shall be soldered to the corresponding track power bus and insulated.

Innenseite Modul-Frontwand

Einspeisung hintere Schiene Einspeisung vordere Schiene

Buchsenleiste

min. 100 mm

min. 100 mm für Beinpaar


Einspeisung hintere Schiene Einspeisung vordere Schiene

Kabelschwanz 500 mm lang

Normale Lüsterklemme

Steckleiste

HOn3 AMORS


When the female terminal blocks are mounted on the modules, the male terminal blocks cannot be

inserted the wrong way by mistake.

These pictures show that nothing must be mounted inside the module ends and on the last 100

mm of the module sides, as otherwise the legs cannot be inserted. This applies to both module ends, because it is not known in advance on which side the legs must be mounted. Due to the

braces legs can sometimes not be inserted in corner modules and thus corner modules often just

“hang“ between the adjacent modules.

Overall view of the underside


Beinpaar

Buchsenleiste

Lüsterklemme

Kabelschwanz

Steckleiste (lose)

Lötstellen

Lötstellen


Buchsenleiste

Lüsterklemme

Kabelschwanz

Steckleiste (eingesteckt)

Lötstelle

Rückseite

Frontseite

Rechte Stirnwand

Linke Stirnwand

Kabelschwanz

HOn3 AMORS


Appendix 4

Storage and Transport

To permit stacking of the modules for storage and/or transport and to protect the module ends, the

HOn3 AMORS encourage the use of stacking boards. Their height varies, depending on the height

of the structures on the modules.

100 mm

500 mm

Documents

Guidelines for the Construction of HOn3 Modulesh0n3-amors.ch/onewebmedia/@HOn3_AMORS_Guidelines_latest (01).pdfHOn3 AMORS Update 26.05.2010/DS Page 8 Appendix 2 This is the male and