Semaphore Signals - 4mm Scale (Mainly)

[ianblenk]

And now back from the paint shop.......

 

Fibres fitted, and all the mechanical bits joined up:

 

 

RIMG2478.jpg

 

RIMG2463.jpg

 

I've mounted the two GF Controllers on a mini-panel with the operating switches for both these signals:

 

RIMG2479.jpg

 

You can just about make out the "interlocking", achieved by wiring the multi-pole switches to prevent an incorrect combination of arms being "pulled".

 

RIMG2480.jpg

The owner can transfer the switches and controllers and copy this wiring directly onto his layout.

 

 

A little video will follow.

 

Steve.

Hi Steve,

 

Very interested in the interlocking of the multipole switches any chance of a fuller explanation? (as if you haven't got plenty to do!!) 

 

Many Thanks

 

Ian B

[Steve Hewitt]

Hi Steve,

 

Very interested in the interlocking of the multipole switches any chance of a fuller explanation? (as if you haven't got plenty to do!!) 

 

Many Thanks

 

Ian B

Hi Ian,

Thanks for request.

I'll put something together shortly.

Steve.

[Steve Hewitt]

​Hope this was worth waiting for.........

 

 

Any further questions, just ask.

This is a JPG image from my CAD system, but I've got it in a Word document should you need one.

 

Fingers crossed I've got it right. 

Steve.

[Jon Fitness]

Excellent diagram Steve. Very clear and easy-to-use.

JF

[ianblenk]

Hi Ian,

Thanks for request.

I'll put something together shortly.

Steve.

Hi Steve,

 

I am very much obliged.

 

Ian B.

[ianblenk]

​Hope this was worth waiting for.........

 

Interlocking.jpg

 

Any further questions, just ask.

This is a JPG image from my CAD system, but I've got it in a Word document should you need one.

 

Fingers crossed I've got it right. 

Steve.

Hi Steve,

 

Thank-you very much for taking the time to do that, it is of great help to me and I suspect many others.

 

Thanks again

 

Ian

[Steve Hewitt]

More of the Welded Stem Bracket.......

 

The inside dimensions of the main stem are 4mm square.

To ensure accurate spacing and alignment when soldering the Plates, I inserted short lengths of 4mm square brass bar inside the channels.

 

 

The resulting assembly:

 

 

To ensure this will stand vertically, I turned its foundations from Brass to be a good fit on the corners of the two channels:

 

This will be fitted into the base plate and has a shoulder to like the 1/2in dia brass tube which will locate and secure it when installed on the layout:

 

Something along these lines:

 

On to the Trimmers next...........

 

Steve.

[Jon Fitness]

Cracking bit of work and so much better scratch built. Probably a lot easier to get a good result from this than building the kit. If I ever manage to learn CAD to prepare etch artwork, an easy-to-use 7mm version is top of my list!

Cheers

JF

[Steve Hewitt]

The Trimmers.....

 

These are to be made from 3.5 x 1.5mm channel.

Two lengths were cut slightly over length and lightly soldered together before facing to length in the lathe - nice and square.

 

 

 

Ensuring they are parallel when soldering on the plates which will support the Doll and the Smoke Shield can be tricky (form me at least).

I turned these two "buttons" from aluminium bar:

 

They are 5mm dia below the shoulder, and 3.5mm long.

They ensure correct spacing and keep the channels parallel in both planes.

 

Being aluminium they don't soak up much heat and won't get soldered.

The plates are more 4mm N/S strip.

 

The brackets to hold the Rocking Shaft are 7mm scale Hand Rail Knobs.

 

The Trimmers sub-assembly was then ready to attach to the Main Stem, checking carefully for squareness both ways.

 

So we now have:

 

Next will be the addition of the "cosmetic" bracing, plates etc. and preparation of the Doll.

 

That may have to wait a while as I'm unlikely to get in the shed for the next few weeks.  

 

Steve.

 

 

 

 

[Steve Hewitt]

Back again.......

 

A few weeks away in the caravan, followed by the removal of a cataract, are now behind me so I've made a little progress:

 

With apologies for no detailed "how to" photos.

 

 

The angle iron bracket work was added from 1mm Brass angle; the staging supports from 1mm x 0.5mm strip, with the stanchions from my favourite Lace Pins.

The tie rod is 1.5in dia on the prototype, so 0.5mm N/S on the model.

The "turnbuckle" is represented by a short length of fine tube, pinched in the middle.

 

 

The Ladder is a MSE etch, with 0.4mm N/S wire soldered to the stiles. The same wire is used for the handrails.

 

I made up the doll with its 3d-Printed Lamp& Bearing and resin cast "Shoes" as a sub-assembly.

The doll is 2mm brass tube, turned finial from Alan Gibson.

 

Secured in place:

 

 

A final clean and polish, the a bath of Cellulose Thinners before its off to the paint shop.......

 

 

Steve.

 

[Jon Fitness]

No apologies necessary Steve! Lovely work as usual and best wishes for a speedy recovery from the eye work!

Jon F.

[Steve Hewitt]

Thanks Jon,

Surgery went well, just waiting for the Optician to check me out and update my specs.

Steve.

[Vecchio]

Just looked through your thread - I love the work you are doing - and yes - you need a good eyesight for this!

All the best

 

Vecchio

[Steve Hewitt]

Back from the Paintshop......

 

and all the fiddly bits added:

 

​The Fibre Optic for the light has been threaded down through the doll, across the Trimmers, along the Bracket and down the Main Stem.

The top end of the fibre was threaded through the 3d-Printed lamp, cut short and its end heated by holding hot clean soldering iron near but not touching. This swells the end of the fibre to give a "Lens". This is pulled back into the Lamp and the fibre bent closely at the rear of the lamp. The light which leaks at this tight bend represents the "Back Light".

Where necessary the fibre is tie-wrapped to the structure with fine cotton thread.

 

The operating wires are 0.4mm N/S, blackened with "Gun Blue".

 

 

The "Rocking Shaft" is 0.5mm N/S with the cranks cut from an Alan Gibson etch and soldered to short lengths of brass tube to make fixing them to the wire so much easier.

 

Hidden away "underground" are the 5g servo and the Gaslight LED for the lighting.

Previous postings on this thread explain how I mount these items, so I'll not repeat it here.

 

Some more pics:

 

 

 

 

 

I hope this catches the feel of the prototype signal whose photograph I posted earlier.

(Note: I have made the smoke shield to go under the Trimmers, but that will be left for the layout owner to add when he's sure of the exact location. Much easier to align with the track at that stage.)

 

I'll post a little video of this signal and its partner shortly.

 

Steve.

[Dave Holt]

Hi Steve.

Yet another superb looking signal. I'm amazed at the quality of fine work you have achieved, as demonstrated in your posts (and the signals for Delph/Holt) despite an eyesight defect warranting surgery. I;m glad to hear it went well and wish you a full and speedy recovery. I can't imagine what you might achieve in future with clear vision!

Dave.

[Steve Hewitt]

And here's the little video........

 

 

 

Steve.

[Steve Hewitt]

Next signal is a platform starter for Lyme Regis, in Upper Quadrant days.......

 

First we have the prototype photo:

 

 

I've estimated the post to be some 28ft from ground to finial.

 

It looks like I will be able to build this model from my collection of MSE etches and stock of Brass bar and N/S sheet.

 

Starting with the MSE etch number S0023 I made up the full 45ft post.

Followers of my methods will know I like to build the bottom of posts into a brass turning which helps getting things vertical.

By measuring the size of the post at the 30ft distance from the TOP, I turned a suitable mounting brom brass bar:

 

 

Sliding this turning down the post, it becomes a good fit at the correct position.

The unwanted lower section of the post was removed with a fine saw.

 

Because a tapered post will wobble a bit in the parallel bore of the brass turning, I mounted them in the lathe and used the Tailstock Centre to ensure the post was true. before soldering it into the turning:

 

 

Once secure, it stayed true when the Centre was withdrawn:

 

A N/S baseplate was cut, and the post mounted in it - nice and vertical.

The " Guide Tube" for the operating wire was added, and the 1/2in Brass Tube added, which will allow installation of the signal on the layout through one 1/2in drilled hole.

 

This view from below, shows most of this:

 

 

More soon,

Steve.

 

 

 

 

[Jon Fitness]

As always, an excellent engineering idea Steve! Not sure the tailstock on my little Unimat lathe will unwind that far though

JF

[Steve Hewitt]

More of the components are added........

 

This is the MSE etch for several of the other components of this signal:

 

 

I'll be using the lamp-man's staging, the handrail, the weight bar and its bearing.

 

The ladder is also from an MSE etch with 0.4mm N/S wire added to the stiles for both looks and strength:

 

 

The outer edges of the stiles are filed flat which greatly improves the look.

I made it full length, and cut it off at the Staging level after fitting:

 

 

Here are all these static parts in place:

 

 

The staging etch had fine Brass Angle soldered underneath for strength and prototype appearance:

 

 

I took this at Instow a few years ago:

 

 

The finial is a lost wax brass casting from Alan Gibson:

 

 

The weight bar is made up from six pieces of the etch:

 

 

With all the soldering completed:

 

 

I could prepare the 3d printed Lamp/Bearing for attaching with superglue:

 

 

Like this:

 

 

Right way up:

 

 

Cleaned by a good scrub with Cif and a bath of Cellulose Thinners, its now off to the Paintshop.........

 

Steve.

 

 

[Steve Hewitt]

Back from the Paintshop......

 

The painted signal is ready for assembling all the moving parts, and I always do this on the "Transport & Test" frame, which needs building first.

This frame is intended to represent as closely as possible how the signal will be installed on its layout, and to be a secure basis for transporting it.

 

In this case the layout has a 6mm thick baseboard. This I've represented by some 6mm MDF.

The signal will be installed through a 1/2in dia hole, and retained by its "Foundation Tube" being a close fit in this hole.

 

 

The same tube is used to ensure correct alignment of the servo, which in turn is mounted on its own little "sub board", made from plywood.

 

 

I normally secure the "sub board" by screws up into the baseboard.

However at only 6mm thick, I think the baseboard may not take the screws securely.

I've used two 6BA c/s bolts in this case, the heads being hidden by "ground cover" once the signal is installed.

 

 

Here what it looks like:

 

 

Some of the details:

 

The fibre optic for the signal lamp passes up through the structure.

Below ground it is protected by some "Heat Shrink" tube and terminated in a 3d printed plug:

 

 

The "Gas Light" LED from Helmsman Electronics is mounted in the mating 3d printed plug:

 

 

Powered in this case by a 9v battery:

 

 

The result:

 

 

 

Some more details:

 

 

 

 

This signal will be controller by a "MegaPoints" controller, but I used a GF Controller to set up up and test its operation.

(Video to follow).

 

When it leaves me it will be set to its "Safe" position. i.e. With the Servo set at its "mid-throw" position and the arm between Danger and Clear, This should help the owner to set it up easily.

 

 

Off now to help with the Blackburn show for the next few days......

 

Steve.

 

[Steve Hewitt]

The Video.....

 

 

Steve.

[Steve Hewitt]

Warley paperwork......

 

The large package of pre-exhibition information from Warley arrived in this morning's post.

Instructions read, forms filled in and reply posted!

 

Rob and I will be demonstrating "Semaphore Signals - Construction & Operation" on stand A56.

 

See many of you there I hope.

 

Steve.

[Jon Fitness]

Work permitting I'll see you there

JF

[Vecchio]

Warley paperwork......

 

The large package of pre-exhibition information from Warley arrived in this morning's post.

Instructions read, forms filled in and reply posted!

 

Rob and I will be demonstrating "Semaphore Signals - Construction & Operation" on stand A56.

 

See many of you there I hope.

 

Steve.

 

Will see you there. Is fixed in my calendar.

Regards

Vecchio

[Tony Teague]

I'll be there