Bakewell - Peak District Line BR - Layout Views

[Alister_G]

Well, the postman has delivered me some more goodies today, to go towards the signalling-fest:

 

A couple of fibre-optic kits for the ground signals:

 

 

Some centre-off DPDT switches to make the signals work:

 

 

and a bag of these:

 

 

which are latching solenoids:

 

 

for the signal mechanisms.

 

I also took a leaf out of Steve Hewitt's book, and built a short lump of baseboard drilled to accept the signal bases, so that I can work on the mechanisms and electrics in comfort, before I transfer them to the layout.

 

 

 

I'm awaiting an order of some brass sheet in a couple of different thicknesses, to create brackets out of to hold the solenoids, and to make base plates for the ground-dods.

 

When that arrives, I can get stuck in!

 

Al.

[Sasquatch]

Looking good Al! 

 

I'm interested to see how you adapt the solenoids to work both upper and lower quadrant. (Although I've probably missed something here).

Your soldering skills are definitely up to the mark BTW.

 

Regards Shaun.

[Alister_G]

Looking good Al! 

 

I'm interested to see how you adapt the solenoids to work both upper and lower quadrant. (Although I've probably missed something here).

Your soldering skills are definitely up to the mark BTW.

 

Regards Shaun.

 

Thanks Shaun, much appreciated.

 

For the lower quadrant signals, I'm going to try and use the leverage of the balance weight pivot to convert the push to move the signals off, into a pull, if that makes sense?

 

The theory is sound... the practicalities may be slightly more involved

 

Al.

[Sasquatch]

It'll work.  

[Alister_G]

I've had no broadband for nearly a week, which is a bit of a drawback.

 

I've also not had much time to do any modelling, but here's a catch-up on what I've done.

 

I had a delivery of some brass plate in two thicknesses, one sheet of 0.5mm and one sheet of 1mm:

 

 

These will be used for various things, and the first thing is to create a base for the ground signals.

 

So taking the 0.5mm sheet, I marked it up into small rectangular sections:

 

 

 

I then centre-punched each section:

 

 

and drilled a 6mm hole in each:

 

 

I then used a pair of tin snips to cut off the required sections from the plate:

 

 

and then separate them into their individual sections:

 

 

I then cut four lengths of brass tube:

 

 

and soldered them to the plates:

 

 

Like the bases for the large semaphore signals, the brass tube is to locate and fix the signal in position, and to allow the lighting and control rod access from under the baseboards, so it will look like this in use:

 

 

Next, we'll see where I've got to with the first ground doll.

 

More in a minute

 

Al.

 

 

[Alister_G]

So here's the beginnings of the first ground signal.

 

These are the MSE kit of the  BR / LMS type of ground signal.

 

First thing to note is how incredibly tiny all the bits are! I foresee burnt fingers in my future!

 

 

 

First thing I did was to drill out the various holes on the components, leaving them all on the fret.

 

Then I cut a very, very thin sliver off the end of some brass bearing tube:

 

 

and used it to joint the axle of the signal onto the disc:

 

 

I drilled out the lamp body to take the axle. I may change this for the next one, as suggested by Andrew, and file off the tube on the casting and replace it with the brass bearing tube.

 

I also drilled out the location of the lamp lens, and drilled upwards from the bottom to joint the two holes. This will be where the optical fibre will go:

 

 

Here's an extreme close-up of the disc in place on the lamp body, showing that the lamp lens lines up with the red lens hole on the disc:

 

 

 

The next job is to build the structure of the doll, and fit the balance weight.

 

 

In addition to the brass plate, I've also done some more shopping.

 

My eventual goal is to run the layout from a computer, and to that end, I have bought a Sprog 3 DCC Controller and a 5Amp PSU:

 

 

and a USB controlled relay card.

 

 

The idea is that the Sprog will control Locos, and the relay card will control signals and points.

 

This is all someway off, however, and much fun will be had experimenting.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Al.

[MikeHemmings]

Superb looking signals there Al and now ground signals, I must get round to my signals sum time about 25 most are singles.

 

Mike.

[Alister_G]

Superb looking signals there Al and now ground signals, I must get round to my signals sum time about 25 most are singles.

 

Mike.

 

Thanks Mike. Do you know, I hadn't really noticed the missing signals on Towecester, the scenery makes up for it!

 

Al.

[Sasquatch]

The thin sliver of tubing to hold the axel was a neat idea. It'll set the disc at just the right distance too!

Have you broken any drill bits yet? I tried to get the balance weights to work on the LNER versions, It's still a work in progress as I find you need to be in the right frame of mind to build such small devices!!

 

Regards Shaun 

[Jock67B]

Evening Al,

I think that is fantastic work as ever - I'm not sure I'm going to be able to work with such miniature parts, so I'll probably admire yours and settle for some heavily weathered plastic ones, making sure they don't appear in photographs! Coward eh?

Kind regards,

Jock.

[Alister_G]

The thin sliver of tubing to hold the axel was a neat idea. It'll set the disc at just the right distance too!

Have you broken any drill bits yet? I tried to get the balance weights to work on the LNER versions, It's still a work in progress as I find you need to be in the right frame of mind to build such small devices!!

 

Regards Shaun 

 

Thanks mate,

 

Yes, I've just about worked my way through one microbox set of drill bits, and had to buy another

 

Absolutely! I've got the doll framework sitting accusingly looking at me as I type, and I really am not in the mood to fight with it tonight

 

Al.

[Alister_G]

Evening Al,

I think that is fantastic work as ever - I'm not sure I'm going to be able to work with such miniature parts, so I'll probably admire yours and settle for some heavily weathered plastic ones, making sure they don't appear in photographs! Coward eh?

Kind regards,

Jock.

 

Evening Jock, and thanks very much.

 

I don't think anyone has any right to call you a coward mate, given the circumstances, and it's as well to recognise your limitations. I'm just blindly forging ahead, but there's no guarantee I won't chuck the whole lot in the bin and buy some Ratio ones in a bit

 

Al.

[Marcus 37]

Best of luck with those ground signals mate. You're a braver man than I am!

I take it you can build those up into double stack discs as well as I need a few of those on PDW. Unfortunately as I said before me and soldering irons don't get on!  

Ever thought of going into the signal building business?  

Great work as usual Al.

Cheers

Marcus 

[Alister_G]

Cheers Marcus.

 

Yes, they will build up as a stack, like you say. Having now started one, I would say you could probably build these kits just using glue, and not solder, but it's the fine drilling of the components that is the real challenge for me.

 

As Sean says above, I've got through a lot of drill bits so far, so I think Steve Hewitt is safe for a while

 

Love your station roof mate,

 

Al.

[dhjgreen]

Cheers Marcus.

 

Yes, they will build up as a stack, like you say. Having now started one, I would say you could probably build these kits just using glue, and not solder, but it's the fine drilling of the components that is the real challenge for me.

 

As Sean says above, I've got through a lot of drill bits so far, so I think Steve Hewitt is safe for a while

 

Love your station roof mate,

 

Al.

Al, I use Dingham couplings which require fine soldering. I use liquid flux to hold a very small piece of fine cored solder in place then waft a kitchen gas torch, on its lowest setting, back and forth over the joint until it just melts.

 

Edit to clarify, a torch for caramelising Crème Brulee, not a gas match!

Edited November 17, 2015 by dhjgreen

[C&WR]

You're making lit ground signals?  Wow!

[westerhamstation]

Hi Al, I saw this on sale today at Morrisons, just in case you  hadn't see it. All the best Adrian.

[Alister_G]

I'm sorry I've not been around much recently. I will hopefully have some modelling time over Christmas.

 

In the meantime,

 

Merry Christmas to all of you, and a Happy New Year!

 

 

Cheers,

 

Al.

[Marcus 37]

Stunning photo Al. Very festive indeed. 

A very Merry Christmas to you too. 

All the best

Marcus

[ChrisN]

All the best, have a good Christmas

[Mrkirtley800]

Best wishes Al. Have a good Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

Derek

[emt_911]

Have a good Christmas Al

[Jock67B]

Evening Al,

We would like to wish you and your family s very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Joanna and myself.

Thank you for sharing your modelling work with us, especially with your skill in the production of such accurate miniature devices like the ground signals or the lawn mower for instance. Very inspirational and I look forward to the next episode when you get time.

Kind regards,

Jock.

[emt_911]

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016

[Alister_G]

Well, here's the first post of 2016.

 

Happy New Year to all of you.

 

First, I thought I'd show you my haul of Xmas goodies

 

As if I haven't already got a back-log of modelling to catch up on, here's some more to do:

 

12 assorted Parkside kits:

 

 

 

 

In addition to which, I now have two LMS CCT's

 

 

 

And my first ever sound loco, a Hornby class 40 with TTS sound:

 

 

I will get a video together of this on the layout, once I've sorted out my DCC wiring and setup.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Al.