devondynosoar118 Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 http://www.cravenmodels.com/SIGNALBOXLEVERS.htm I saw these had come out, I understand that Black Country Blues will use them, so as anyone got their hands on a set yet? If so are they worth the money? They look to be a very clever product but I could not find the instructions for interlocking, maybe that bit isn't finished yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted January 22, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 22, 2013 I don't think they interlock, that's down to whatever means the builder wishes to use. Pity the photo shows the levers numbered 1 3 4 2 ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted January 22, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 22, 2013 Isn't that the firing sequence for an engine? These levers look terrific (ad in Model Rail delivered yesterday) and I shall certainly be considering them. Should be possible to do most interlocking via the switches as they have three sets of contacts. See that they are distributed by Gaugemaster so hopefully more details on their website. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 I had a play with one last time I was in DCC Concepts. It looked and felt very nice but I can't speak for its function or long term durability. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted January 22, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 22, 2013 Good to see a range of spare parts available from the start. Only thing that seems to be missing is a spare lever for the white ones in the frame. (I don't think that there will be any spares at Tamworth but have not yet got a signalbox diagram to verify that). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ELTEL Posted January 22, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 22, 2013 I saw them at Warley Show on the Gaugemaster stand and I think they were on sale on the Saturday Eltel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free At Last Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 DCDCP-CBS - Cobalt S - Lever with All Accessories (Single) Trade - £11.08 Retail - £19..95 DCDCP-CBS6 - Cobalt S - Lever with All Accessories (6 Pack) Trade - £63.86 Retail - £114.95 DCDCP-CBS12 - Cobalt S - Lever with All Accessories (12 Pack) Trade - £119.42 Retail - £214.95 Seeing the difference in the trade and retail prices makes you realise the savings that shopping around and buying bulk packs can make. Pack of 12 from Hattons at £165 works out at £13.75 each. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trains4U Posted January 22, 2013 Share Posted January 22, 2013 Trade price listings are often misleading at first glance. Don't forget, the Trade price excludes VAT - Retail price is inclusive of VAT Retail margin is 33% (£5.54 on a single lever) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
devondynosoar118 Posted January 22, 2013 Author Share Posted January 22, 2013 The Hattons price makes them look much better value. It would be a no brainer purchase if they can produce a programmable interlocking circuit board to go with them. Agreed the range of switches included looks useful as does the momentary or continuous switching. The levers appear to be all brass and given that I still have working Hornby Dublo levers from 1965 I think these should last! You also get the brass plaques which was a nice touch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted January 22, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 22, 2013 Good to see a range of spare parts available from the start. Only thing that seems to be missing is a spare lever for the white ones in the frame. (I don't think that there will be any spares at Tamworth but have not yet got a signalbox diagram to verify that). http://www.signalbox.org/diagrams.php?id=91 (a later diagram but probably pretty close to the colour light equivalent of yours) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_H Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Another thread mentioned Modratec Interlocking Lever Frames that may be of interest; A 6 Lever Frame (Interlocking) Kit is A$84.70 so a little over £56.00 + shipping and the rest.https://modratec.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_13&products_id=66&zenid=3c03d5e5285d21bf973345688060ed70 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jol Wilkinson Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 Seeing the difference in the trade and retail prices makes you realise the savings that shopping around and buying bulk packs can make. Pack of 12 from Hattons at £165 works out at £13.75 each. So it seems that Hattons are willing to work on 13% profit (on turnover), well below what a local shop in a high street location could afford to do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted January 25, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 25, 2013 So it seems that Hattons are willing to work on 13% profit (on turnover), well below what a local shop in a high street location could afford to do. Here are the Hattons ones but they are on order. http://www.ehattons.com/60420/DCC_Concepts_DCP_CBS12_Cobalt_S_Lever_with_all_accessories_pack_of_12_unpainted_/StockDetail.aspx I will be interested to see them in action and wonder if non dcc layouts can use them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
devondynosoar118 Posted January 27, 2013 Author Share Posted January 27, 2013 Yes they can be used on any control system, with the extra switches activating signals etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
csvt2004 Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 Just assembled my frame. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted February 18, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 18, 2013 The Hattons price makes them look much better value. It would be a no brainer purchase if they can produce a programmable interlocking circuit board to go with them. Agreed the range of switches included looks useful as does the momentary or continuous switching. The levers appear to be all brass and given that I still have working Hornby Dublo levers from 1965 I think these should last! You also get the brass plaques which was a nice touch. I'm some way off detailed consideration of control systems yet but am already adapting my plans to include these on my new layout. The separate connecting units should make it fairly simple to add electrical interlocking later on. I will leave that aspect until I have everything else up-and-running as the switches themselves will not be affected. As someone suggested earlier in the thread, a reasonable degree of electrical interlocking should be possible via unused contacts. A few additional relays should probably suffice to fill any gaps. My ability with electrical theory is such that I will find it easier to ensure the interlocking does what I want/expect if I can test its effects on a working layout as I go along! John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted February 18, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 18, 2013 So it seems that Hattons are willing to work on 13% profit (on turnover), well below what a local shop in a high street location could afford to do. No problem if ones turnover is high enough! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted February 18, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 18, 2013 http://www.signalbox.org/diagrams.php?id=91 (a later diagram but probably pretty close to the colour light equivalent of yours) Thanks for that link. I have used in the past on another research project but not yet checked whether Tamworth was there. Post electrification, a lot of infrastructure had gone so that diag. very different from what I will be looking at. Will have to check and see if earlier layout is also there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 18, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 18, 2013 I'm some way off detailed consideration of control systems yet but am already adapting my plans to include these on my new layout. The separate connecting units should make it fairly simple to add electrical interlocking later on. I will leave that aspect until I have everything else up-and-running as the switches themselves will not be affected. As someone suggested earlier in the thread, a reasonable degree of electrical interlocking should be possible via unused contacts. A few additional relays should probably suffice to fill any gaps. My ability with electrical theory is such that I will find it easier to ensure the interlocking does what I want/expect if I can test its effects on a working layout as I go along! John Judging by the link at the top of the thread, and as Beast has said above, there seems to be no sort of interlocking at all in the design of the lever frame itself. The levers could be used (in SPST/SPDT mode) to drive a solid state or relay interlocking which would interlock the outputs but not the levers themselves. And it is possible that the contacts within the frame could be used as interruptors to provide a very limited amount of output interlocking, but again no lever interlocking. From the look of the design and pictures of it the only way of interlocking the frame itself would appear to be by driving mechanical locking directly off the levers themselves unless there is room to incorporate some sort of electric lock within the casing (which I doubt) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium uax6 Posted February 18, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 18, 2013 Couldn't you add external electric locks to the frame, much like the real thing (well at least in the ER, not sure about the WR!)? A small hole drilled in the lever, connected to a bar that runs through a relay operated lock mounted at the rear of the frame. Andy G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 18, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 18, 2013 Couldn't you add external electric locks to the frame, much like the real thing (well at least in the ER, not sure about the WR!)? A small hole drilled in the lever, connected to a bar that runs through a relay operated lock mounted at the rear of the frame. Andy G Yes - just as good as a mechanical locking in many respects (and in some ways better as it would be more compact) - as long as you have enough lever contacts to do it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium uax6 Posted February 19, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 19, 2013 Yes - just as good as a mechanical locking in many respects (and in some ways better as it would be more compact) - as long as you have enough lever contacts to do it. I could see lots of relays under the frame to add extra contacts. Just like the real thing! Andy G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jol Wilkinson Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 No problem if ones turnover is high enough! Indeed. And in this price conscious economy it enables you to put your competitors out of business. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonME46 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Modratec now offers electrical interlocking. I understand that you can order the interlocking frame without the levers. Their software also helps design the interlocking, and Harold is very useful. I have no connection other than as a satisfied customer (with a completed 36 lever manual interlocking frame) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Chris Chewter Posted February 2, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 2, 2014 Came across this review on Youtube regarding the Cobalt system. I thought it might be of interest: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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