A quick update on progress with the point rodding so far. Things have been progressing steadily if somewhat slowly. Having received the single rod cradles from Alan at Modelu I have been able to finish the linking run to the second point on the test track and link the two runs together.
I have had a bash at a prototype compensator which I think with a little tweeking and refinement can be made to look like a fairish representation of those on the Monsal Dale line. On the next itteration I will ditch the metal sides creating a simple armature for the pivot frame.
I have used a fairly simple linkage approach between the two sets of rodding runs. I soldered together along the length two off cuts of 0.5mm capillary tube and set them one above the other. The main rod length is set higher than the crank for the length crossing the tracks. I then soldered in to the lower tube a length of 0.45 wire with a 90 degree dropper. I then threaded the upper tube onto the main rodding run and soldered into place. The stools hold the 90 degree dropper into the crank very effectively. The dropper length will eventually be reduced so it is less visible but I am currently using it to actuate the system via a pair of tweezers.
(the soldering could be a little neater and the length of tubes shorter but even as is viewed with the naked eye the set up is very discreet - close up photography is pretty unforgiving ... hey ho!)The intention is now to fabricate a simple lever to fix at the end of the run to activate the points in tandem. On the actual model rather than this test piece I will run the rodding into the signal box and then link it through the base board onto an array of the society's lever frames ... but that is for the future.
The rodding has now been complete and up and running for about a fortnight of quite heavy use and so far appears pretty robust and all is functioning as hoped. The two omega loops ensure that positive pressure is transferred to both sets of switch blades and the drag within the system means that the positive pressure is maintained once the switch has been thrown. The omega loops also ensure that the rodding is protected from excessive force/shocks as they damp the system. They are discreet enough to be easily hidden under judiciously placed boards along the track.
Given how successful to date the simple right angle bend linkage has been to the cranks (in tandem with the cradles holding the rodding true), I am pondering a similar linkage as a possible solution to base board joints - again to be hidden by boards.