Jon Fitness Posted May 8, 2012 Author Share Posted May 8, 2012 That is very impressive Jon! Cheers! Got a couple more GW sigs to do then its back to upper quadrants! JF Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted May 8, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 8, 2012 Cheers! Got a couple more GW sigs to do then its back to upper quadrants! JF All good things must come to an end sometime I suppose. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
N15class Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 Modelling SR ex LSWR I will have the choice of upper and or lower quadrant ones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted May 8, 2012 Author Share Posted May 8, 2012 (edited) Fitted this little chap to the layout last night. Worked by one lever and selected by a microswitch on the points. Unfortunately, due to many baseboard joists the pont motors and microswitches on rather than under the board so its all a bit messy round the base of the signal. I think some sort of shunters cabin or similar may be suitable to hide all the gubbins.JF Edited June 4, 2015 by Jon Fitness 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted May 11, 2012 Author Share Posted May 11, 2012 (edited) The paint was still wet on this one when I took these pics this afternoon. Hopefully all will be dry for me to take this and 3 other signals to the Reading ALSRM "do" for delivery tomorrow.Lots of lovely signal pictures on this site (Adrian the Rock's Roscalen), check it out! I'm quite sure those interested in signalling are familiar with it but if you haven't seen it, have a look.I was kindly given permission to use these photos by Adrian to illustrate the basis for my next and final GW signal (for now!). It'll be similar but with a distant under the main line stop arm (and none of the modern H&S handrail carbuncles!).More soonJon F. Edited June 4, 2015 by Jon Fitness 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted May 19, 2012 Author Share Posted May 19, 2012 (edited) Finally fired up the soldering iron for the final GW Bracket. Firstly, GW purists look away now as the etches I have aren't really the right ones for this job but are are only an approximation. They are the Scale signal Supply ones for a wooden posted bracket.Once I'd perused pics/drawings I altered the basic brackets with a bit of snipping and bending to get the curve at the bottom edge. I added a bit of rivet detail and a flange along the bottom edge and this is the result so far.The post was then fitted to the base and the brackets set up with some bits of brass to set the brackets out from the post. Fortunately, I just remembered to drill a hole in the main post for the wires to come down before I soldered the top plate on! The dolls were then prepared with near enough all the bits on and the holes drilled for the wires.After fitting the LEDs and wires (and testing them!!) all the wires were carefully fed down the post and the dolls soldered to the brackets. Made quite a neat job of getting the doll spacing wrong so the larger one had to come off again as the distant caught on the left arm! (Dozy p*****k, slow down and concentrate! )All seems in order so far so it's off to fire up the iron again now...More soonJF Edited June 4, 2015 by Jon Fitness 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted May 20, 2012 Author Share Posted May 20, 2012 (edited) A big push today has seen the signal ready for the paint shop.Angle cranks for the left doll were prepared and mounted on 14BA bolts soldered to the doll and over a gap in the supports.The handrail stanchions were soldered to crossbeams which will eventually have wooden planks on them.The doll ladder has been soldered at the top but left loose at the bottom and will be glued to the planks on completion.The drive rods for the signals will come up between the brackets and will need to be a little thicker than usual as there is a bit of a kink in them.All the servos are now stacked in position but I can't test them yet as once I have bent the drive rods to go through the arms, they won't come out for painting... I'll just have to be confident!After a good blast of Halfords finest...Time for the fiddly painty bits now.........Nearly there.More soon JF. Edited June 4, 2015 by Jon Fitness 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted May 20, 2012 Author Share Posted May 20, 2012 (edited) And this shows how much masking off is need before the black's sprayed on!Believe me, it's still easier than trying to hand paint those brackets and ladders and still get a decent finish..... Should have it finished by tuesday.JF Edited June 4, 2015 by Jon Fitness 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted May 22, 2012 Author Share Posted May 22, 2012 (edited) Right. When it comes to plankage, as much as I like the convenience of brass strip, there's nowt like real wood to get the right look. These planks were going to be coffee stirrers but I hadn't allowed enough space under the angle cranks (like me, they were a bit thick...) so strips of 1mm ply were cut, trimmed and superglued on.Here's a shot out in the sun, still awaiting final painting..And heres a quick function test.GW bracktest..wmvAnd it's all finished bar the chevrons on the distant. I usually print them on to waterslide transfer paper and varnish them on. I'm waiting for an experimental batch made from cut black vinyl, but if they take too long I'll print meself off another batch of waterslides...More soonJon F. Edited June 4, 2015 by Jon Fitness 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
N15class Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 Very good as usual. So are you back to upper quadrants now? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted May 22, 2012 Author Share Posted May 22, 2012 A couple of days to re-set the workbench and yes, back to the u-q's! JF. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Beautiful Jon, just beautiful.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted May 23, 2012 Author Share Posted May 23, 2012 Beautiful Jon, just beautiful.... Cheers! This last GW one has been my favourite of the recent batch. Don't know why, theres just something about the shape of it. Jon F. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted May 23, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 23, 2012 Cheers! This last GW one has been my favourite of the recent batch. Don't know why, theres just something about the shape of it. Jon F. It's all a matter of taste Jon - like good wine, you have to get used to things and build up experience 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted May 23, 2012 Author Share Posted May 23, 2012 (edited) It's all a matter of taste Jon - like good wine, you have to get used to things and build up experience Well yes, this last case of "Chateau Reading" was quite tasty but I'm happier with a pint of "Ellemar" bitter meself... JF Edited May 23, 2012 by Jon Fitness 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted May 24, 2012 Author Share Posted May 24, 2012 (edited) BFB signal posts. Balanced bracket, 11ft doll spacing.In an attempt to reduce costs, and before the advent of use of larger diameter tubes, the LMS tried signal posts made from what is effectively a length of girder. These were known as Broad Flanged Beam types. Quite a lot were installed but even though they were cheaper to construct and maintain than lattice posts, their tendency to twist meant they needed guy wires to keep them straight. They were superceded by larger diameter tubes after WW2.As there is no "off the shelf" brass section for this job, I make them from 3 strips of K&S 1/4" x 0.5mm thick strip. It comes out a little overscale but still shows all the twisty characteristics of the real thing!Nothing exciting to show here but here we go...The strip is cut to approximate length and cleaned up with a glassfibre brush. I then tinned 2 strips with (plenty) flux and 188 solder. Not much is required, just enough to coat it.The centre strip was then rested at 90 degrees in the middle of the tinned strip and more flux applied. A nice clean hot 40w soldering iron was then slowly run along the joint until the solder flowed. Occasional checks for straightness showed a quick re-alignment was necessary in one or two places, so the iron was run past again and the strip moved as needed until it looked right.It was then turned over and the job repeated with the other flange.I needed to add just a little solder in the areas where the tinning was a bit too thin!This was then soldered directly to the base plate, checking for straightness with the set square. I couldn't keep the square on while I was soldering as it acted as a heat sink!More soonJon F. Edited June 4, 2015 by Jon Fitness 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 GWR Postscript Not had much chance to do any signal building for a couple of days but... Had a friend get me some machine cut vinyl chevrons for the distant signal. (he works for a sign making co.) I think they're nearly right, so I took the opportunity to phot the signal finally finished in the sunshine during a break at work..... Look OK to you lot? More soon (when I've finished these 12 hour shifts ) Jon Z. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted May 26, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 26, 2012 By golly those arms don't 'arf come off Jon - you must have a very keen Lineman on your patch 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 By golly those arms don't 'arf come off Jon - you must have a very keen Lineman on your patch Ooh I always keep me wires tight missus ! I generally set the test board up give them a good swing, if only to test the mechanical bits. I believe 55-60 degrees is the required arc isn't it? My customer will set them up with his own driver board once it's installed on the layout. I'll be taking this last one down to him personally (by train of course) so I can have a look at his layout. And check if he's put them in the right place........ JF Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted May 26, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 26, 2012 Ooh I always keep me wires tight missus ! I generally set the test board up give them a good swing, if only to test the mechanical bits. I believe 55-60 degrees is the required arc isn't it? My customer will set them up with his own driver board once it's installed on the layout. I'll be taking this last one down to him personally (by train of course) so I can have a look at his layout. And check if he's put them in the right place........ JF The correct arc - according to the Western's good book - is between 45 & 60 degrees below the horizontal line (well it would be below on almost all Western signals of course ). A latitude of 5 degrees above or below the horizontal line was allowed with the arm at danger/caution but I'm sure any good Lineman would be out with a level to make sure things were much better than that (I suspect the 5 degrees tolerance was allowed for expansion or contraction of the signal wire and was not a permissible adjustment although I've no documentary evidence to support that opinion). Incidentally the horizonrtal line is as taken through the arm pivot. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 I've already commented on the photo you posted in the gallery section Jon, but there's no harm in re-iterating it here - this really does 'hit the spot', especially so when seen against a natural blue sky, everything about it is just so 'right'. I'll wager your client's layout will be rather special when it's finished... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 The correct arc - according to the Western's good book - is between 45 & 60 degrees below the horizontal line (well it would be below on almost all Western signals of course ). A latitude of 5 degrees above or below the horizontal line was allowed with the arm at danger/caution but I'm sure any good Lineman would be out with a level to make sure things were much better than that (I suspect the 5 degrees tolerance was allowed for expansion or contraction of the signal wire and was not a permissible adjustment although I've no documentary evidence to support that opinion). Incidentally the horizonrtal line is as taken through the arm pivot. I've already commented on the photo you posted in the gallery section Jon, but there's no harm in re-iterating it here - this really does 'hit the spot', especially so when seen against a natural blue sky, everything about it is just so 'right'. I'll wager your client's layout will be rather special when it's finished... Ah right.. I think I'm within the 60 degree mark on these! I also fit arm stops to avoid them going above horizontal although careful adjustment of the servo boards is necessary to avoid straining or loading the servos. They're powerful little ######! They do twitch a bit when the power is first applied but the latest version of the board has a mod that reduces or eliminates it (depending on the make/model of servo used) . Thanks for the comments about the pic! The weather was too nice to ignore this morning and yes, this last signal is the culmination of what was quite a large order for a large loft layout (22 signals in all including a gantry ) Jon F. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 'A large loft layout' ....... that's it Jon, you've sent me over the edge now, if only, if only etc...! Did you photograph all of the signals for your customer's layout before letting them go...? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted May 26, 2012 Author Share Posted May 26, 2012 Did you photograph all of the signals for your customer's layout before letting them go...? Ooooh yes (said in a Churchill dog type voice). I've uploaded a few (but not all) into the thread and the gallery. A sample one.... 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted May 26, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 26, 2012 Ooooh yes (said in a Churchill dog type voice). I've uploaded a few (but not all) into the thread and the gallery. A sample one.... Excellent stuff - one of my favourite forms of signal arm (I've got one in the shed as it happens) and probably mounted on a greater variety of signal (& other) structures than any other Western semaphore arm. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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