Position the hole at the end of the housing arm over the prong at the end of the points control arm. Change the point a few times by hand to make sure that the housing is not restricting the movement of the point. Once you are happy with its positioning mark its position and that of the screw holes onto the board. You also need to mark where the large centre holes are for the wires from the point motor to be fed through your baseboard.

Remove the housing and drill two pilot holes for the fixing screws and one 6mm hole all the way through your baseboard for the point motors wires to be thread through where you have marked. Then put the housings base back into position and screw it down. At this stage its best to check that the point still moves correctly (I found its best not to screw the housing down to tight as this can restrict movement in some cases). If all is still working well you can fit the point motor to the housing base. Its best to thread the wires through first and then position the point motor. You will need to make sure that the point motor arm is fitted into the hole in the housings control arm. Last of all pop the housings lamp hut cover on and wire it up to check it works.

Directly to the point (Standard Hornby and PECO point motor)

Hornby Point Motor R8014

Tools: Marker, Ruler, Drill, Jigsaw, pliers.

This is probably the best method for fitting standard point motors as the point motor is fitted directly to the point ensuring consistent and reliable operation.

First of all you need to mark the position of the points control arm onto your layout. Then remove the point and using the marking for the point control arm as a centre line mark a 40mm X 25mm square (see above shot of the point). This is the area you will need to remove. Before cutting make sure there is nothing beneath the board like wires or the baseboard frame that you might cut through. The easiest way to remove this area is to drill a hole through the board and use a jigsaw to cut out the square. Check the hole with the point motor to make sure it fits and is square to the point. If it is, fit the point motor to the bottom of the point making sure the point motor wires are threaded through the hole in the points control arm. Using pliers, carefully bend the prongs of the point motors out to stop the point motor breaking free.

Place the point and the fitted motor onto the layout so that the point motor fits in its hole. Connect up the track and test its operation. You may need to adjust the hole if it effects the positioning of the point.

Alternative - Fit a piece of card between the point and the motor to help hide the motor from view and to make it easy to ballast the point.

For an example of fitting point motors below your board read "Edward Holmes" article. Click Here

Fixed to the bottom of the board (Standard Hornby PECO and SEEP point motor)

SEEP Point Motor

Tools: Marker, Drill and/or Jigsaw, Pliers, Screws and Screwdriver or Glue Gun,

Note: If you are using the SEEP point motors you will have to use this method.

First of all you need to mark the position of the points control arm onto your layout. Then remove the point and using a drill or jigsaw make a hole in your board. This needs to be large enough to allow the point motor arm to move fully.

Now put the point back into the correct position making sure its control arm is over the hole you have made in the board. The next step depends on the point motor you are using.

Hornby - You will need to attach the extension arm onto the point motor. I would advise you use some glue as well as crimping the brass connector, to ensure it stays together. Using pliers bend over the prongs on the point motor (see picture above) to give you a flat surface to either screw or glue the point motor to the board.

SEEP - This point motor needs no modifying although you may wish to solder the wires to it as soldering under the board is difficult.

PECO (PL-10E)- You will need to make sure you buy the long arm version (PL-10E not PL-10) of the PECO point motor as the short version comes with no extension. If you are not using the PECO connectors you may wish to solder the wires to the point motor as soldering under the board is difficult. Using pliers bend over the prongs on the point motor (see picture above) to give you a flat surface to either screw or glue the point motor to the board.

From under the board thread the point motors arm through the hole in the points control arm.

Mark on the point motor arm just above where it appears from the hole in the points control arm. Use this as a guide to cut the point motors arm to length. If you plan to use glue remember to leave a bit of extra length to take into account the thickness of the glue. I find it best to have about 1mm extra to ensure you don't cut it too short.

Then refit the point motor ensuring the point motor still has the full range of movement and the point motors arm is not too long. Last of all secure the point motor to the bottom of the board either by glue or screws.

Surface Mounted Point Motors (Hornby R8243 and Peco PL-11)

Hornby Surface Mounted Point Motors (R8243)

Designed to be positioned either side of any Hornby point, this surface mounted point motor allows for the convenient electrical operation of points. Can be used with the Hornby R8216 Digital Point / Accessory decoder or for DC analogue operation, the R044 Lever Switch. May not be suitable for use with points which are incorporated into certain track configurations.

Peco Surface Mounted Point Motors (PL-11)

(picture and information from "chrisalddin" forum member)

Probably the most simplest method of automating your points. Its just a matter of positioning the motor on your point, pinning/gluing it to the board and drilling a hole to allow the wires to go under the layout.

According to a forum member the wires cannot be hidden without the use of scenery and it requires PECO track pins as the holes are too small for Hornby track pins without modification.

Approximate Size: 61mm "long" 10mm "wide" (21mm if you count the part for the pin holes) 10mm "High"

Please note that the wire colours are not the same as Hornby with green (I believe) being the common.

Point motor Positioning / mounting

Point motor switching

Fitting Point Motors directly beneath you points.