Bristol Barrow Road - Lawrence Hill Signal Box - Update 9 - Masokits levers & frame
Entry posted by barrowroad
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I have had a quiet week on the modelling front due to son number 2 going for a job interview and the mother in law going into hospital..................................
However on the positive side I now have a copy of George Pryers book 'Signal Box Diagrams of the LMS - Bristol Area' which gives details of Lawrence Hill Junction Signal Box for 1950. The book confirms that the frame is at the back of the box and that a M R tappet frame with 6" centres was installed in 1938. It also shows there were 47 rather than 45 levers at this time. Thanks Alex [stumytrain] for all this useful information. Alex has a very useful website which I can recommend for data on Bristol.
I have three sets of Masokits lever and frame etches and have two more on order - hopefully to arrive in the next few days - so armed with this new information I made a start on the Midland tappet frame for the box.
Now the Masokits kit is not for a MR frame and is in need of some modification but the top of the frame is too good to throw away and besides the spacing is conveniently at 6". The problem is it is 9mm wide rather than the 6mm needed.
To adapt the kit I decided to roll the upper etch to form a tighter curve and then add the cover plates for the interlocking using 6mm nickel silver strip - not yet fitted - see below.
So far I have formed the interlocking channel at the rear of the frame using U Channel brass - L section brass & nickel silver strip with pleasing results. I haven't scribed the 6mm top strip yet - top represent the 6" inspection covers - as someone has borrowed my scriber [ you know who you are].
The etched levers are wonderful - the two halves fold together to form the lever by carefully soldering the edges - and can be positioned in the on or off positions by soldering at tab into the base of the frame etch. The levers are too long for the M R frame but I raised the top of the frame by 3mm to give the extra height required - doing this effectively shortened the levers to the correct length.
Armed with the information about the levers I was able to position 10 levers into the frame as follows:-
29,30,37,39,42,43 [ Engine from shed to Up Main - towards Mangotsfield or Westerleigh]
24,31,32,33 [ Down train for Temple Meads]
So please Mr Masokits can I have the remaining 2 kits and I can finish the job.
The Masokits Etch:-
Three kits joined:-
New Nickel silver sides added:-
Rolled top added to base & U channel added for 47 lever length:-
Interlocking channel added from brass and nickel silver:-
10 levers added - see above:-
I will add the promised layout shots over the next few days.
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