Semaphore Signals - 4mm Scale (Mainly)

[Rowsley17D]

 

Hi Steve, I'll need a number of Midland signals in future for my layout based on Buxton (Midland) where do you get the 3D printed posts from, please?

[Steve Hewitt]

Hi Jonathan,

 

All the 3D printed parts I use come from Shapeways.

They are created by Les Green, and many are available in his Shapeways shop:

https://www.shapeways.com/shops/railway-odds-and-ends

 

I don't think he's put the square signal posts in the shop yet, but I'll ask him to do so.

I know he's a bit busy at the moment so its not likely to be immediately.

 

Steve.

[Les Green]

I

 

Hi Jonathan,

 

All the 3D printed parts I use come from Shapeways.

They are created by Les Green, and many are available in his Shapeways shop:

https://www.shapeways.com/shops/railway-odds-and-ends

 

I don't think he's put the square signal posts in the shop yet, but I'll ask him to do so.

I know he's a bit busy at the moment so its not likely to be immediately.

 

Steve.

I have put the post on my shop, but don't order anything yet. The material spec seems to have changed. I need to do a test print with the new material to see what it is like. Can't do that till August!

[Steve Hewitt]

Thanks Les.

[Les Green]

Thanks Les.

 

The posts are now on my shop. I have contacted Shapeways and the Frosted Ultra Detail is now called Smooth Fine Detail Plastic. So all is well with the posts on my shop.

[Rowsley17D]

I

 

I have put the post on my shop, but don't order anything yet. The material spec seems to have changed. I need to do a test print with the new material to see what it is like. Can't do that till August!

 

Hi Les no rush the baseboards aren't built yet!! Just placed order so I have them in stock and noted for future reference, thanks

Edited June 26, 2018 by Rowsley17D

[it's-er]

Hi Steve

I've just come across this thread by serendipity, and I'm gobsmacked by the magnificent signals you are making - awesome!

 

From your post 965 above "You can also see the lamp man's staging made from stained strip wood from North Eastern Lumber.". I've googled, and found this link to North Eastern lumber stripwood

https://www.northeasternscalelumber.com/shop/stripwood.html

 

But there are all sorts of sizes! Which is the one you use for your staging, please? And do you really order a couple of pieces on line, from the States?

 

I'm also astonished at the detail and quality of your handrails round the staging. Perhaps you've already covered how you make this earlier in this thread (I haven't gone back through 40 pages, I'm afraid!), in which case if you can point us readily to the relevant page, that would be really helpful. Or perhaps you will cover the making of handrails in your forthcoming video?

 

John Storey

[Steve Hewitt]

Hello John,

Thanks for your kind comments.

I'm away from my workshop for a while so I'm not able to check the timber sizes just now.

The handrails are made from Lace Pins for the stanchions and 0.4mm Nickel Silver wire for the handrail itself.

I bought a wide selection of the timber when they were available at a local show.

There has been some discussion on RMWEB about a UK stockist, but I can't remember the details.

I'll get in touch again when I get home.

Steve

[Steve Hewitt]

Hi Steve

I've just come across this thread by serendipity, and I'm gobsmacked by the magnificent signals you are making - awesome!

 

From your post 965 above "You can also see the lamp man's staging made from stained strip wood from North Eastern Lumber.". I've googled, and found this link to North Eastern lumber stripwood

https://www.northeasternscalelumber.com/shop/stripwood.html

 

But there are all sorts of sizes! Which is the one you use for your staging, please? And do you really order a couple of pieces on line, from the States?

 

I'm also astonished at the detail and quality of your handrails round the staging. Perhaps you've already covered how you make this earlier in this thread (I haven't gone back through 40 pages, I'm afraid!), in which case if you can point us readily to the relevant page, that would be really helpful. Or perhaps you will cover the making of handrails in your forthcoming video?

 

John Storey

Hi John,

 

I'm home again from glorious Cornwall - fantastic.

 

I have a selection of some 10 assorted sizes of North Eastern Lumber, all from their packaged H0 scale range.

Remember, being American, all sizes are in inches.

Also being H0, they are a shade light on 4mm scale.

 

Their 3in x 8in size I find very useful, but my stock covers widths of 6, 8, 10 and 12 inches and thicknesses of 2, 3 and 4 inches.

 

 

Not sure what I can tell you about Handrails.

I fix the Stanchions in place first, then measuring carefully I bend the handrail itself from 0.3mm N/S wire, trying it for fit as I go.

The complete Handrail is then soldered to the stanchions, just below the head of the pin.

This can then be dressed with a very fine file if you wish to improve the look of it.

If the handrail surrounds a complete stage, as on a bracket signal, I make the join by sleeving a short length of 0.5mm OD x 0.3mm ID tube over the join and soldering in place.

Where the handrail is formed into a loop near the top of an access ladder, I form it using my "Brass Assist", or alternatively a suitable sized drill shank.

 

Don't expect to get each one correct first time.

 

Hope this helps, and don't hesitate to get back to me if anything isn't clear.

 

Steve.

[Steve Hewitt]

Carlisle - Moving North to Denton Holme South Jct..........

 

Next steps will be assembly of the main structure, painting and then final assembly and installation of the LED.

 

Steve.

 

Assembly.....

 

(Sorry for the wait, but Cornwall has been very pleasant )

 

Post installed in its foundations.

With the ladder in place.

 

A couple of shots with the lampman's staging in place:

Ready for the paintshop.

 

More soon..........

 

Steve.

[Steve Hewitt]

Another small signal before they go to the Paintshop together......

 

This one is a short LMS/BR round post adjacent to Dentonholme South box, controlling the South exit from the Dentonholme Joint Committee line, I believe.

 

First step is making the components:

 

The post is assembled from two brass tubes and a brass turning where it is to be "planted".

This is the baseplate for the signal.

(Note that the line controlled by the signal comes in from the Wall, and as such will be permanently "ON".

 

The weight bar bearing is made from a MSE etch, soldered to its fixing which is machined from square section brass bar.

This has been drilled to fit the base post and cut away to leave a representation of the clamps which fix it in place.

 

A length of etched ladder has been "improved" by adding 0.4mm N/S wire to the stiles.

 

Next I'll start on the assembly..........

 

Steve.

Edited August 9, 2018 by Steve Hewitt

[Steve Hewitt]

Assembly......

 

Not a lot to put together on this signal:

The turning on the base of the post (seen earlier) ensures the post is vertical in the baseplate.

Like so.

 

To fit the signal into the baseboard, my usual 1/2in dia brass tube is used:

 

The weight bar bearing we saw on the previous post is carefully aligned:

The ladder has also been fitted.

 

The weight bar is made up from some N/S etches made for me by Les Green:

 

I've added a Gibson turned finial, but failed to take a photo - sorry.

 

The Lamp, its Bracket and the Arm Bearing will be one of my usual 3D printed items, again from Les Green.

It won't be added until after the painting - it makes masking etc. so much easier.

 

This signal and the previous Fixed Distant will be off to the paintshop now............

 

Steve.

 

 

 

 

[Steve Hewitt]

Whilst waiting for the paint to dry.............

 

I'll make a start on the next pair of signals.

These are both tall lattice posts, one a Fixed Distant for Dentonholme South and the other a Non-working Starter for Dentonholme North.

 

I'm using MSE etches for the posts:

 

This is the turning I've made to fix the post in the baseplate:

 

This is the baseplate:

 

How to solder the turning in place:

 

 

Result:

 

The 1/2in brass tube which will locate the signal in the baseboard:

 

Soldered in the same way to give:

 

A post in its mounts:

 

The Non-working signal will still need a weight bar and bearing:

 

Again its an MSE etch.

 

As are the ladders, with 0.4mm N/S wire added to each stile:

 

 

With finials added (and lamp for the L/Q Distant):

 

The U/Q bearing, lamp etc. will be a 3D print, added after the painting.

 

Which is the next step............

 

Steve.

 

 

 

[Tony Teague]

You make it look so simple......and yet.....

 

Tony

[Compound2632]

The Midland Railway distance diagram sheet for Carlisle doesn't mark the signalboxes on the Goods Traffic Committee and Dentonholme Joint Committee lines but I understood at least the junctions between the two were controlled by Midland signalboxes, hence the ex-Midland signals you've been making. These lattice post signals have something of a Scottish look to them, though apparently worked from thouse boxes - are these signals of North British or perhaps Caledonian origin? 

 

It may be that I'm just confused by the complexities of the Carlisle goods lines.

[Steve Hewitt]

I think you've got it right.

There were so many pre-grouping companies involved with Carlisle in several joint ventures.

Thanks for your observations.

Steve.

[Steve Hewitt]

 

This signal and the previous Fixed Distant will be off to the paintshop now............

 

Steve.

 

 

Whilst waiting for the paint to dry.............

 

I'll make a start on the next pair of signals.

These are both tall lattice posts, one a Fixed Distant for Dentonholme South and the other a Non-working Starter for Dentonholme North.

.

 

.

The U/Q bearing, lamp etc. will be a 3D print, added after the painting.

 

Which is the next step............

 

Steve.

 

Just back from the Paintshop.................

 

 

The four non-working signals have been completed.

 

Next will be two working signals for Denton Holme North.

 

Steve.

[Steve Hewitt]

 

 

Next will be two working signals for Denton Holme North.

 

Steve.

And here we are...........

 

I've made a start on these two, they are a fairly standard LMS/BR round post stop signal and a less common LMS "welded stem" bracket signal.

 

First the round post:

 

There isn't anything special about this signal which I haven't described previously.

It now ready for a clean and paint before the Lamp/Bearing/Bracket  is added.

 

It will have to wait a while, to be joined by the bracket signal.

 

 

 

This was very much a scratch building exercise.

Brass Channel for the main stem, with N/S plates welded in place.

The nearest size I could buy for the channels was 5mm x 2mm.

The actual size, from Warburton's book on LMS signals, should be 5mm x 1.3mm (15in x 4in).

I had to machine the channel to reduce the 2mm size to 1.3mm:

 

The trimmers are also channel sections, but I was able to use 3mm x 1mm stock giving a prototype 9in x 3in size.

 

The rest of the model follows my usual methods.

[Steve Hewitt]

 

 

Next will be two working signals for Denton Holme North.

 

Steve.

And here we are...........

 

I've made a start on these two, they are a fairly standard LMS/BR round post stop signal and a less common LMS "welded stem" bracket signal.

 

First the round post:

 

There isn't anything special about this signal which I haven't described previously.

It now ready for a clean and paint before the Lamp/Bearing/Bracket  is added.

 

It will have to wait a while, to be joined by the bracket signal.

 

Waiting over:

 

 

 

This was very much a scratch building exercise.

Brass Channel for the main stem, with N/S plates welded in place.

The nearest size I could buy for the channels was 5mm x 2mm.

The actual size, from Warburton's book on LMS signals, should be 5mm x 1.3mm (15in x 4in).

I had to machine the channel to reduce the 2mm size to 1.3mm:

 

The trimmers are also channel sections, but I was able to use 3mm x 1mm stock giving a prototype 9in x 3in size.

 

The rest of the model follows my usual methods.

Brass angle, strip, Lace Pins, N/S sheet & wire. etc.

Again the round doll with 3D printed Lamp etc will be added after painting.

 

They are now off to the paintshop...............

 

Steve.

 

edited to remove unwanted photos.

Edited August 27, 2018 by Steve Hewitt

[Steve Hewitt]

Sorry for the previous two post being almost duplicates.

Must have been "finger trouble" on my part

 

Steve.

[Steve Hewitt]

Back from the paintshop...........

 

And the moving parts added:

 

First the home signal:

 

 

 

and the Bracket starter:

 

  

 

Finally for now, The last eight signals have all been packaged, ready for delivery at the ExpoEM North show this weekend:

 

 

I have a few video clips of the signals under test which I hope to be able to edit together shortly.....

 

Steve.

 

 

 

[Steve Hewitt]

The Video of the eight Carlisle Goods Lines signals...............

 

 

 

Steve.

[iands]

The Video of the eight Carlisle Goods Lines signals...............

 

 

https://youtu.be/rGio648xwes

 

Steve.

Hats off to you Steve, outstanding modelling skills (puts my feeble and inept efforts into perspective). I particularly like the "speed" at which the arms come "off" and the "bounce" when returning to "on" - very realistic.

 

Regards, Ian.

[Steve Hewitt]

Hats off to you Steve, outstanding modelling skills (puts my feeble and inept efforts into perspective). I particularly like the "speed" at which the arms come "off" and the "bounce" when returning to "on" - very realistic.

 

Regards, Ian.

Hi Ian,

 

Thanks for your appreciative comments.

The speed of movement is entirely from the GF Controls servo controller I use.

 

Steve.

[Steve Hewitt]

Moving south from Carlisle, the next signals are for Keswick No 2 Box on the Penrith to Cockermouth line....

 

I completed the signals for Keswick Box 1 as seen in this post from July last year:

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/59687-semaphore-signals-4mm-scale-mainly/page-35&do=findComment&comment=2777597

 

There are four upper quadrant signals, with five arms between them, plus four ground signals, in this project.

Here's the signalling diagram for Keswick:

 

Here are the prototypes:

 

Platform 1 Down Starter - signal 2-2

Looking at this photo and the signalling diagram, you can see that the original bracketed shunt signal has been replaced by a ground signal by this time.

The Weight Bar is mounted high on the post to be out of harms way and is served with its own ladder on the front of the post in addition to the normal ladder for the lampman's use.

 

This is the Ground Signal 2-3 and is a LNWR type:

(This photo shows a "pass at danger for other route" yellow signal, but the design is the same.)

 

Down Goods Starter signal 2-5:

This is an LMS welded stem bracket.

 

The Down Starter for Platform 3 is signal 2-13:

A conventional LMS/BR round post design.

 

The Up Home signals are 2-23 & 2-24:

This is an LMS round post balanced bracket controlling access to Platform 2 and 3.

It is unusual in that the two arms are Slotted with Box 1 levers 1-19 and 1-16 respectively.

 

The remaining Ground Signals are 2-4, 2-17 and 2-19.

I think 2-4 and 2-19 will be "Yellow - Pass at Danger for other route"????? (Expert opinion appreciated)

 

 

I've already made a start on the semaphore signals, so I hope to show some details of the models shortly.

 

Steve.