Modifying MTL Turnouts

Hi All,
I'm considering different ways to work my MTL turnouts using servos. Thought 1 is to drill a small hole through the manual turnout nub and use piano wire to throw the turnout. Thought 2 is to remove the internals and use the little molded channel that is already underneath the points for the throw. If I did this I'd need something to power the frog so I thought of using a SPDT or DPDT to control the frog tied into whatever electrical I use to throw the servo.

Of course, if I could find a frog juicer that works on DC and DCC I could loose some complexity.....

I was wondering if anyone has thoughts/experience with either option...
Ben

Drilling a hole in the manual operator works and I have done it with a Hoffman motor , but something to consider is both Hoffmann and Tortoise turnout controllers have auxiliary contacts to power the frog with if desired.

I've had some success drilling a hole in the manual throw bar of Rokuhan turnout and powered it with a tortoise switch machine.
I plan to use the extra contacts on the tortoise to change the signals. I don't see any reason why you couldn't do the same thing with MTL or Marlin turnouts.
As for using a servo you should be able to use the long cross horn with one end (piano wire) wired to the switch throw bar and the opposite end wired to a DPDT slide switch to power the frog and / or signals if wanted. Getting the throw distance just right for turnout and DPDT may be a little tricky but it is defiantly doable.

David

Hi Garthah,
Thanks for feedback on using the hole method. I'm not using Hoffmann or Tortoise, but hobby servos. Working on an Arduino controlled solution.

Ben