Steve Hewitt

A Little Experiment............. Having delivered the GWR signals on our way to Cornwall I had a discussion with the layout owner about future requirements. These will include a couple of signals with Route Indicators. I previously built a single post signal with a Route Indicator, but it only had two Routes. The future ones will require four Routes each! Refeshed from the holiday and waiting for some material deliveries I thought it would be useful to experiment with the MSE Route Indicator etch and try to squeeze four Flags into it. The Indicators will both be mounted on Gantry siganals, below and adjacent to the Doll and its Stop arm. This means the Pull Wires will come to the Indicators from the side rather than the rear as in the Post Mounted style. I think I've managed it: The assembly has been constructed to to establish the geometry of the various linkages. I hope the indicator can be positioned close enough to the leg of the gantry for the operating wires to be attached directly to the rocking levers. The levers could easily be replaced with longer ones if necessary. Alternatively, small cranks or pullies might be needed if the horizontal distance is too great. The second flag from the front is raised. That's all for now folks...... Steve.

A Little Diversion..... Yesterday we had a "Crew Jolly" to Chester to visit the Catherdral and "Making Tracks", Pete Waterman's massive 00 model of the West Coast Mainline. Not quite all of it. After a brief shopping trip to the Chester Model Centre - a very well stocked emporium - it was time for lunch. Carluccio's was excellent. Short walk got us to the Cathedral which was comfortably busy. Pete's never short of words. He has quite strong views of the future of traditional exhibitions which is a subject we'll allmany of us will have to address. (Sad to hear that Warley has been cancelled again, along with Guildex and the Manchester show.) The layout ran very well whilst we were there, with Pete and his team augmented by Cathedral volunteers. The fiddle yard is only eight roads, but it holds a large number of trains. The view along the front fails to give a good impression of the size. Well worth a visit if you get the chance. That was a great day out................. Steve.

A few more items for the Station............... Whilst John is beavering away on the Ballasting etc. I've assembled a few items for the platforms: Two samples of each of the three sizes of LNWR Sack Trucks These little etched kits are quite fiddly. About twenty components in each one! This LMS 6ft Trolley is from a London Road Models etch. As supplied the brakes on the front wheels are integral with the wheels. In this one I separated them so I could make the wheels free to rotate on their axles. It could have been soldered up solid, as it will be static on the layout. Why? Because we can! Clean and polish then of to the paint shop. Steve.

Here's the short video of the signal being tested......... Hope you enjoy it. Steve.

And here we are, all finished.......... The arms are cleared in sequence: Hopefully the cranks I referred to previously are clear in this shot: And this one: The staging is stained wood: The servos and the LED are below ground: The overall height of the signal is some 130mm or 5 inches Video to follow shortly, I hope............. Steve.

Another GWR Bracket Signal for Acton Wells ............. A little more compact than the cantilevered bracket, but broadly similar in design, this signal again has three dolls with a Stop arm on each which are stepped down from left to right. The two tallest dolls also have a fixed distant arm. My construction sequence has been a little different this time in as much as I have built and painted several major sub-assemblies prior to final assembly and installing the operating wires etc. The main structure uses a modified MSE bracket etch. Theere are sockets for each doll built in between the trimmers. You can also see the two cranks which will link the operating wires to the weight bars for the two dolls along the bracket. Each doll has been completed and is ready to install in its socket. In addition I have prepared the ladders which will give access to the upper arms of the two tallest dolls. Next steps will be installing the dolls and completing the optical fibre/LED assembly. Then its on with the operating wires...... Steve.

Hi, Stehen Freeman has already answered your question about supply of components very well. As to build tips, my generfal advice would be to use Brass and Nickel Silver for the parts you have to fabricate yourself, and solder wherever possible rather than glue. Supplies of metal sections - strip, tube, angles etc. are available on-line from such as Hobby Holidays and Eilleens Emporium. The best starting point for any model is a good photograph of the prototype. Understand how the prototype was constructed and operates, and do the same in miniature where possible. For whichever Railway or BR Region you are modelling, obtain the appropriate Signalling Reference books. Excellent guides to model signal construction have been written by Derek Mundy, Mick Nicholson, Peter Squibb and they are well worth studying. Good luck, and please let us know on RMweb how you get on. Steve Hewitt.

Hello Tim, I can help with the following: 4MM66 x 1 9ft brit. 4MM63 x 2 27ft lattice post. 4MM64 x 3 23ft lattice post. 4MM62 x 1 36ft lattice post. 4MM84 x 1 SR brkt kit. MSE do a taller lattice post at about 45ft as well as most of the parts you will need for that tall bracket signal in the photo. If you want to buy any of the above please get I touch by a personal message. Steve .

Thanks Jon, Your 7mm models continue to inspire me. The new etches you are creating are exquisite, just too large! Steve.

The video at last....... Appolgies for the quality - I shot it all hand held on my phone. Steve.

Thanks Mike, Very helpful as always. Steve.

Thanks. The design is "free-lance" as the layout is based on a ficticious location. If it was a real design I'm sure significant Guying would have been necessary, most certainly opposite the bracket. The layout owner may well add another "tie bar" when he installs the signal, but I don't know the precise details of the site. Steve.

A Cantilevered bracket for Acton Wells....... This model is located in a very tight part of the railway and consequently requires a large overhang from the main post. This would normally have been a balanced bracket, but sighting requirements demanded this design. The model follows my usual methods, with the main post being 4mm square brass tube, the bracket is a modified MSE etch, the dolls are 3D prints from Les Green's shop on Shapeways. The operating wires are routed up the R.H. side of the main post to three cranks mounted between the trimmers. Each of these cranks is conneted to one weight bar: The main doll, which also carries a fixed distant arm. The second doll with a single arm: The third doll has a short arm to a goods siding: Each of the arms in turn showing their "Clear" position: I have a few shaky video clips which I'll try to edit together and put on YouTube...... Steve.

Latest contribution.......... Many years ago I built a DJH 8F kit in 00 gauge for the Blackburn club's "Oxenholme" layout. The layout is now sadly just a memory, so I've converted the 8F to EM gauge and relivieried it into Wartime Black. Here's a little video of it being tested prior to asking Rob to touch up the paintwork and weather it. Steve.

A little more progress........ John has been working on enhancing the Loco Servicing area of the station. The latest devlopment is a small building/workshop/lamp room????? The model was 3D printed by Les Green, painted and weathered by Rob Harrison and the interior completed by John. He has sent the following information about the lighting and the building's installation. "The first shot shows the footprint of the building, note that it straddles the two baseboards. The far pin is purely for location, and the near pins locate and provide power from the three phase gas supply." I have used veroboard to wire the lights up, two internal ones and one wall lamp on the gable end. They are LEDs, you can see a capacitor on the end of the board to convert the gas effect to an electric light effect. Finally the building in place lit up ! I believe there are a few more deatails to be added, such as a Bike Shed, but no doubt I'll reprort on those as and when. Steve.

This weekend the Layout has been taking part in the EM Gauge Society's virtual Spring EXPO. See it here: Enjoy, Steve.

And finally ??................. Tony has requested an additional signal for Churminster & Stowe Magna. This is a Rail Built Bracket with the two Starters for the little terminus at the Aerodrome. And finally a little video: I now have a total of some 16 signals ready for delivery. They vary in size from Ground discs to a bracket with four arms. Original plans for delivery and installation of the Churminster signals got put back by the first Covid Lockdown. Let's hope the relaxation of restrictions allow our current plan to proceed in a few week's time. Steve.

Painted and re-assembled............... Less than half an inch total height! Clear to go. Here's a little video:

Or 'a little something on the side'................... The Westinghouse ground signal was very widely used on the SR/BR(S). Its "semi-circular" disc making it quite distinctive. The model I am building here is based on a Les Green 3D printed signal body and foundations with the moving parts from a MSE/Wizard kit. The reason for the 3D print rather than the assembled etch provided in the kit is avoiding a quite fiddly soldering job and the built in features I have standardised on for lights and signal installation. Here is the basic 3D print: View looking onto the front face. The large boss under the base fits into a 5/16th in Brass Tube to form the foundations. Looking at the L.H side, the pivot for the weight bar can be seen. This view shows the hole through the base of the signal which will locate the Guide Tube for the operating wire. The 1/16in Brass guide tube is a push fit in the base. The optical fibre is routed up through the base and then through the signal body. The hole through the body is printed on a curve to facilitate alignment with the spectacles on the Disc. The weight bar is assembled from etched components in the kit. The operating wire - 0.31mm N/S - is formed to move the weight bar and locate in the Disc. The hole for the operating wire is seen just below and to the right of the Disc's axle. The wire passes thru' the weight bar en-route to the disc. Here the weight bar has been mounted on its axle - a 0.45mm dia lace pin glued into its printed bearing. The operating wire is waiting for the disc to be fitted. This shot also shows quite well how the optical fibre is routed. The Disc has now been added, with its axle in its printed bearing and operating wire through its hole in the disc. Here's the Foudation Tube which will locate the signal in the baseboard and also align the servo motor when it is fitted. The foundation tube fits its printed boss very well and is secured with a drop of Sper-Glue. To prevent any buckling of the operating wire it is sleeved with 1/32in brass tube which is a sliding fit in the guide tube. The small hole in the lower end of the tube is to make soldering easier. The tube in place. Trying it out by hand. STOP! CLEAR! This shows the routing of the various components as they pass up through the signal. The Back Blinder is still on the etch and will be fitted after apinting and final assembly. Once secured on the Disc's axle the Blinder will prevent everything coming apart. Now to take it all apart for cleaning and painting....... Steve. p.s. A few more shots which might make some of the features a bit clearer.

Hi Jonathan, I'm not sure what "Brian's" square posts are? Did you mean "Les's" - i.e. what I am using? My method is to make a socket out of brass into which the bottom of the post is a good fit. This brass socket is turned up to also support the Guide Tubes for the operating wires and has a shoulder or flange to allow it to be fixed immediately below the baseplate. This ensures that everything is square and vertical. The 3D printed post is turned at the bottom to make a spigot which closely fits the Socket. I use Super Glue to finally fix the post in place. This photo shows the Brass Socket soldered into the baseplate. The Guide Tube (1/16in Brass tube) can be seen adjacent to it. I hope this answers your question. Steve.

More for Stowe Magna....... With the bracket signal completed, I've decided to deal with the other signals as a batch. I have progressed as far as the "static" assemblies: I showed the Rail Built post previously when describing its foundations. Here it is ready for cleaning etc. prior to painting. The other three signals are ex-LBSCR square posts with SR Upper Quadrant arms. The posts are 3D Printed by Shapeways - from Les Green's Shop : https://www.shapeways.com/product/P6AYJMKN5/2015-11-05-square-signal-post-v2?optionId=58364585&li=shops as are the Lamp-Bracket-Bearing These posts are hollow to allow the optical fibre to be concealed. The other components are from MSE/Wizard, Masokits etc. Just one Westinghouse Ground Disc to add before cleaning, painting and adding the moving parts.......... Steve.

Hi Mike, It's all to do with ensuring the servo and the signal are in a position from which adjustments can be made. The maximum throw of the servo is very large compared to the amount of throw required to operate the signal. The servo has some fine movements at the end of each opertion. Starting from Danger, the movement is slow, with a pause for the signaller to adjust their grip. When the Clear prosition is reached, the servo travels a tiny amount beyond the end point and then sets back to simulate the signaller releasing their pull on the lever. To return to Danger, the servo first moves the tiny amount of "overpull" before returning to Danger quite quickly. This simulates the signaller pulling the lever to ease releasing the catch. When the signal reaches Danger, there is a small amount of Bounce built into the software. Some don't like it, but the majority do. The "Bounce" and "Pause" feature is switchable in the GF Controller. If the servo travels to the end of its throw, these fine movements are (or can be) lost. In order to protect the signal from excessive movement which can be quite damaging, the "Safe" or Mid-throw position is selectable in the GF Controller and I recommend it is used whenever the signal is removed from the layout. The software also minimises any "Twitch" at power up, which can be a problem with some controllers. Hope this makes everything clear? Steve.

Here's the video........... Steve.

Moving on............. The moving parts are in two sections. The first are those parts of the signal "above ground" which the observer sees, and which I attempt to represent the prototype as closely as possible. True scale modelling isn't feasible because gravity and strength don't scale down at the same rate as linear dimensions. The means that to achieve reliability and durability the moving components are of necessity over scale. This applies particularly to the operating wires, which have to Push as well as Pull. Consequently, connections of wires to cranks etc. have to be beefed up a little. I have standardised on 0.4mm dia. Nickel Silver wire for all the above ground links to weight bars, cranks, signal arms etc. This is blackened with "gun blue" and formed to shape with pliers and fingers. The first arm on this signal is reached directly, but the other two require cranks to transfer the pull across the bracket. Planning ahead for once I installed the two cranks during initial construction: The two cranks share a common axle, one operating between the trimmers and the other on the facing side. This shot was taken prior to cleaning and tidying up of the soldering! The cranks are from a Masokits etch and are well designed for smooth operation. The outer crank which connects to the right hand doll. The connection from the inner crank to the centre doll can be seen here, as can the connection to the signal arm. The second section of "Moving Parts" concern the Below Ground items which are focussed on ease of Installation of the model, and quality and reliability of signal movement. Final assembly of the signal is done on the Transport & Test Frame, which represents its location on the layout as far as baseboard thickness is concerned. This means the signal can tested on receipt and easily transferred to the layout. Here is the basic frame: It is sized to be a tight fit in an A4 Really Usefull Box. The baseboard is 13mm thick, so I have added 0.5mm plastic to the top of the 12.5mm thick MDF surface. The operation of the signal is by small servo motors, for which I make a bespoke mount: These servos are 3.7gm Digital Servos. The svervos have to positioned accurately below the signal, which you will recall is built on a 1/2in dia Foundation Tube. I therefore prepare a small "sub-board" which will be located accurately by the Foundation Tube: The sub-board ready to be screwed underneath the baseboard. The completed servo mount. Alignment of the parts is by "rack of th' eye". A further piece of 1/2in tube is used to align everything during construction. Aligning the servos with the Foundation Tube. The signal is transferred to the T&T Frame: I have previously described how I strenghten the operaing wires where they pass below ground by sleeving the 0.4mmN/S in 1/32in Brass Tube. This in turn being a sliding fit inside the Guide Tubes built into the signals foundations. The three 1/32in tubes, each containing one operating wire. The first has the connection to its servo being tried for size. It is made from 1/16in Brass Tube. The horn of the servo motor is drilled 1/16in to be a good fit on the tube. The servo is set to "Safe" i.e. mid-throw, and the signal arm set between On and Off prior to soldering the joint. Repeat for the other two servos/arms: Ready for operational testing. The signal in its Box: Just waiting for a mate or two before delivery. I'll try to take some video of it shortly. Steve.

The LED to Optical Fibre connectors are available from Les Green's shop on Shapeways. https://www.shapeways.com/product/QRZ3TDVSC/led-connectors-for-printing-v4?optionId=74139707&li=shops Yes, I put a 1k ohm resistor in line with the feed. This is suitable for supply voltages from 9v to 15v. On installation I recommend using a 12v ring to supply all the signals on a layout. Hope this is helpful. Steve.