Jon Fitness Posted August 20, 2018 Author Share Posted August 20, 2018 John, A few queries regarding some of the colours you have used. I have not come across the spectacle plates been painted the same colour as the arm before or the blinders being white? Whilst I have seen brackets and gantries in grey before, I had thought this was a fairly recent paint scheme? Can you enlighten me when these colours are appropiate? Mark Hi Mark, fairly standard LMS/ BR(M) colour schemes according to my books. The spectacle plates were enamelled as well as the arms but they seemed to get dirty/weathered/corroded quicker than the blades which were generally kept cleaner by the signal technichians. This may make them appear black in pictures. The grey for gantries is an LMS colour although which of the fifty shades is correct is beyond me! I think it was a mettalic grey, similar to that used for painting bridges although I'm willing to be corrected on that! Lattice brackets and the welded stem brackets were also grey but sometimes the front face of the main post was painted white for visibility. LMS/BR(M) back blinders were mostly white and only very occasionally black or grey. Heres' a standard upper quadrant arm at ground level. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted August 20, 2018 Author Share Posted August 20, 2018 Here's the test video of the (now weathered) LMS gantry CheersJF 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junctionmad Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 (edited) Jon, do you know anyone making GWR/BR( WR) ground signals in 7mm? ( kit or other wise ) regards Dave Edited August 29, 2018 by Junctionmad Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted August 29, 2018 Share Posted August 29, 2018 Dave Scale Signal Supply do a kit. best Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RedgateModels Posted August 29, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 29, 2018 Jon, do you know anyone making GWR/BR( WR) ground signals in 7mm? ( kit or other wise ) regards Dave Jon built mine for Fourgig East - starts around here in this very topic http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/11497-jon-fitness-average-7mm-signals-workbench/?p=1328694 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted September 14, 2018 Author Share Posted September 14, 2018 Jon, do you know anyone making GWR/BR( WR) ground signals in 7mm? ( kit or other wise ) regards Dave Hi Dave, depends which type of ground signal you need! The early cast pattern ones are available from bothe MSE and SSS but no-one as yet does one of the later tubular posted GW/BR(W) types. I'm hoping that Alan Buttler of Modelu will get the cance to scan one sometime and produce it as a 3D print. I have made my own castings to represent them but I think I need to improve on them! JF Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted September 14, 2018 Author Share Posted September 14, 2018 Time for a quick update methinks! The gantry has been installed in its new home and I have done a few more simpler signals to relax! Here's a GW centre balanced stop signal. Tubular post, LED lit and servo operated. A GWR co acting/slipping coach distant using SSS arms, a Borg Rail etched brass "wooden" post, LED lit and servo operated. An LMS 2 arm shunt signal, same sources as above! I'm now on to some signals for Bath Green Park shed layout (not mine!). This one is a bit weird, being an almost totally BR(W) structure with upper quadrant arms. It will even have GW pattern lamp cases and weightbars. All my GW lamps and finials are now from the excellent Modelu 3D printed range. More soon JF 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Steve Hewitt Posted September 14, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 14, 2018 Inspirational models once again Jon. Steve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted September 15, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 15, 2018 Lovely stuff as always John but one point about the GWR short arms. They were not centre balance but were centre pivot and didn't need a balance weight in order for the arm to return to danger as the weight of the spectacle plate and a metal strip commonly found on these arms would return them to danger if the down rod broke. If I put a rod through the pivot on the one I own the arm will become vertical due to the weight of the spectacle end. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted September 15, 2018 Author Share Posted September 15, 2018 Lovely stuff as always John but one point about the GWR short arms. They were not centre balance but were centre pivot and didn't need a balance weight in order for the arm to return to danger as the weight of the spectacle plate and a metal strip commonly found on these arms would return them to danger if the down rod broke. If I put a rod through the pivot on the one I own the arm will become vertical due to the weight of the spectacle end.Thanks Mike, informative as always! I must confess that I didn't copy the mechanical configuration of the real signal!Cheers Jon F 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 The gantry in its location looks fabulous. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted October 14, 2018 Author Share Posted October 14, 2018 (edited) Currently got a Midland Railway bracket signal on the go. All posts and dolls are etched brass. Edited October 20, 2018 by Jon Fitness 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted October 15, 2018 Author Share Posted October 15, 2018 (edited) The MR signal is now complete and very much in need of some serious weathering. I have several more signals to make in this batch so I'll weather them all together at the end. The little structure on the staging is in lieu of a ladder for the lampman and there are a couple of telegraph wire "pots" on a small bar fixed to the smaller doll. It also has a "D" sign indicating that the signal is fitted with a firemans call plunger that the fireman of any train detained there pressed to indicate the train's presence to the signalbox. Those and the slightly curious layout of the black and white are all gleaned from photos of the actual signal near Bath Green Park shed. More soon JF Edited October 20, 2018 by Jon Fitness 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted October 23, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 23, 2018 As superb as ever Jon! I've said this before, but your achievement and work never ceases to amaze me! Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted October 23, 2018 Author Share Posted October 23, 2018 Thanks Rich. Trying to raise my game but I'm having mixed success..! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted October 23, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 23, 2018 Thanks Rich. Trying to raise my game but I'm having mixed success..! I’d have thought you were near the top!! In what way are you having “mixed success”? Is this with your own etches? Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted October 24, 2018 Author Share Posted October 24, 2018 Yes, lots to learn about thickness and hole sizes and fold lines. And layers! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted October 24, 2018 Author Share Posted October 24, 2018 And my mechanical linkages just don't seem to get any better either. Tried quite a few different methods but they still end up clunky. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted October 25, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 25, 2018 Yes, lots to learn about thickness and hole sizes and fold lines. And layers! Practise makes perfect you know! And my mechanical linkages just don't seem to get any better either. Tried quite a few different methods but they still end up clunky. They certainly don't look chunky on the pictures you post on here!! Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Happy Hippo Posted October 26, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 26, 2018 And my mechanical linkages just don't seem to get any better either. Tried quite a few different methods but they still end up clunky. You can only scale wire and rod down so far before it becomes unfit for purpose. In the linkages you build, you have to make them 'frictionless' otherwise they'd not work, or would bind so much as to start bending out of shape. 'Frictionless' also translates into oversized clearances. Which will give you 'clunky' as the various cranks and push rods move one at a time rather than all together (Think a loose coupled freight moving off), even though it only takes a second or two. If I could achieve 50% of the standard you manage to get with your signals, I'd be over the moon! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted December 6, 2018 Author Share Posted December 6, 2018 Time for an update methinks... As the end of our first full year on the island approaches, it's probably time to take stock of where I'm up to. Happy as I am on the Isle of Wight, a certain element of frustration has oozed into my life. I now have a bigger backlog of jobs since I retired and am trying to enjoy one or three other distractions (building my O gauge garden railway, volunteering at both the Bus Museum and Steam Railway!) I also still have to finish my own bus restoration and revitalise an old motorcycle too! All problems of my own making of course but I think the model signal building biz is going to take a back seat for a year or so while I catch up. I still have a couple of months of signal work to do before I take my break. There are other factors too; my rather scatterbrained approach to modelling hasn't helped and whilst looking for something I thought I'd lost the other day, I unearthed a couple of scribbled notes from prospective customers who I'd managed to completely forget about amongst other things! One of my recent builds has produced some signals for someone who tragically never got to see them before he passed away. I also have two rather nice GWR signals for someone who paid me a deposit and is now, due to my not keeping proper records proving difficult to contact. (msb12 on here, wherever he is!) Anyway, grumble over.... For Bath Green Park...a strange combination of BRW structure and fittings with Upper Quadrant arms. It uses a BRW bracket etch I did the artwork for, Modelu lamps and finials and Scale Signal Supply arms. It is Servo operated and LED lit. A GWR earlier pattern ground signal with Modelu lamp case (huge improvement!) and is set up for manual operation and unlit. A GWR early type balanced bracket signal. The bracket is scratchbuilt and the signal is fitted with Modelu lamps and finials. For manual operation and unlit. Painted and Weathered.. And a rather ficticious but characterful GWR colour light gantry. Mostly scratchbuilt plus some rather nice etched brackets left over from a previous job and a couple of very nice 3D printed signal heads. Just started on some SR bracket signals, more of which next time! Pip Pip! JF 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper John Posted December 7, 2018 Share Posted December 7, 2018 You are a busy man Jon, enjoy your 'Gap' year but dont be a stranger on here, in fact put up some pics of the Bus restoration I saw a few at Telford very nice project. ATB John. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted December 8, 2018 Author Share Posted December 8, 2018 You are a busy man Jon, enjoy your 'Gap' year but dont be a stranger on here, in fact put up some pics of the Bus restoration I saw a few at Telford very nice project. ATB John. I've still quite a bit of signal work to do so hopefully I'll keep updating here. Not sure here is the right place for bus pics though!! JF 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper John Posted December 9, 2018 Share Posted December 9, 2018 (edited) Anything goes in wheeltappers Jon Edit: just came across this so there. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/122692-for-those-interested-in-old-buses-and-coaches/ Edited December 9, 2018 by Grasshopper John 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.hill64 Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 I shall miss the signals builds: perhaps I can follow a mogul build instead? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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