The Great Bear

For a bit of variety, some work on signals! Not sure if too soon or not but figure as involves drilling holes in baseboard better done before have got all the scenics done? Begbrooke will have four bracket signals. In the past trying to construct the Ratio kit and get the cranks and wires to work was an incredibly frustrating experience. Based on a recent thread I thought I'd try the same approach to reduce the frustration. Below is a very rough first test of concept, using broken bit of previous attempt at bracket signal. The pivot beam is too thick, its mounting to the bracket a bodge and the link to the spindle even more so; nothing like a back-blinder. I thought using this pivot beam was a bodge, but it appears not. It appears the GWR sometimes at least used this approach but mounted to the front, some good pictures in "A Scratchbuilders Guide to Semaphore Signal Construction" by Peter Squibb (Wild Swan). (Most of the modelling techniques in there far too advanced for me at this stage, but lots of good photos of signals, as one might expect.) The only example of this mechanism I can find on the web is 2nd image down here, albeit it's a concrete post. The arrangement as shown not withstanding the bodges, a lot easier than the arrangement with cranks for me to get working The Ratio bracket is a bit flimsy as still is the joint between the spindle and the signal arm - but better than with the ratio original arrangement. Next step is to try something finer and sturdier - whole lot of goodies from MSE ordered. Thanks for looking Jon

Mike, coming back to this thread with a question as I am going to give this approach to bracket signals a go. To confirm - so you used the Ratio arms and, presumably, superglued the wire to it? I really do like the idea of the rocker arm - the one Ratio bracket signal I've tried in past those cranks were so fiddly and the length of wire had to be spot on, both overly testing of my skill. Did get one working eventually - but it did get ever so close at times to throwing the work in hand across the room in despair. It's a sunny day here so a pleasant drive to the local model shop beckons to get some suitable bits and pieces to give this a go. Thanks for the good ideas Jon

Really like that set of photos, especially the one of the platform. Always good to see models from different, everyday/non-trackside angles. Also now working out how to illuminate what I'm building, have already noted your fine work on the signals even the ground discs. Look forward to seeing more, Jon

1960s photo of the station, found on web This does show ballast/stone between tracks too. Also the signal visible under the footbridge looks different from the arrangement in signal diagrams I've seen, this one looks to have mutliple arams and possibly something round on post beneath too? This metal post signal though looks to date after my modelling period so won't make the signals any more complex, though still curious of course.

Looking at my collection of photos again for Kidlington at least, looks like I was mistaken about the 6ft, does look like ballast/stone, possibly a bit finer? Now erring toward fine ballast mix

I've been doing some experimenting with ground cover for the cess and between the running lines. Post war photos show ballast/stone here but pre-war photos show clear difference in material, the cess and this area being ash or something like that? From the right: mixture of fine dark & light grey woodland scenics ballast (the track ballast is mixture of fine and medium size) carrs firebox ash Plastikote Gotham Grey textured paint, with paint wash (badly done) All are on the tracklay rubber I used as underlay for the track - in the case of the latter it being upside down Not convinced about any of them: looks to much like the ballast right colour but close up looks like hair Best of the bunch but too much texture still and colour iffy. For the goods yard at Marlingford I used DAS this was time consuming and I was not convinced over the colour I had there either. I think I tried using textured masonry paint, talk and odd bits of sprinkled stone. Might need to give this another go after all. At least this way of doing it would cope with variable track spacing etc. Any thoughts on the above or suggestions welcome. Thanks Jon

Forgot to say that my drawing is based on photos of the box, angles limited, but thankfully show the porch end. The box dated from 1890s and looking at pictures on the Signalbox website, I'd surmised Brymbo was nearest there to what I had, proportions - width of box/roof angle looked similar to me and also Leckhampton which I found details of in this old thread on RM Web http://rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4003 and used the drawing therein as the basis for my drawing, stretching it to suit size of frame/window layout I could see in photos.

See PM. Photos perhaps indicate some form of drain coming down from the porch, a wash basin? The box was manned 24/7 and quite a long way from the station buildings so I'd have thought some kind of "facility" would be provided?

Recently I've been carrying on with the station buildings, but for a bit of variety I fancy having a crack at the signal box. Again construction will be from card, but the windows and stairs will use etches from Churchward Models. There's a few things I'm not sure about/not clear from the photos I have - where door is to the locking room is, what is under the porch and what is on the porch at the back under cover - is this or the space below the khazi?

Excellent modelling of a charming prototype

Looks tidy to me...

Hmm, thanks but not sure on that...my understanding is that 7 reads to branch, 4 for the route to the mainline and in-line disc 25 reads to the siding. Which would then mean the bracket arm on the signal was the wrong way around? Similarly going other way toward Begbrooke from Marlingford 40 and 36 should be on a left bracket, not 28 on a right bracket. Looks like quite a few anomalies in the prototype. I'm inclined to just follow that, but curious for my education to know if it was "right" or not. Once again thanks Jon

Just trying to get my head around the bracket signals, what is correct practise, which may not necessarily be what my prototype had. What determines which route is the bracket (if there is only two arms) - is it based on what is the higher "class" route or the "diverging" route. I'm thinking in particular of nos.8 and 6 which are drawn as the prototype, which had 6 as being a small arm on small bracket - looks like a retrofitted bodge. Should it really be like 7 and 4 - even if the route back onto the mainline is really the diverging route and most traffic would go straight on up the branch (and on that basis 4 would be the bracket not 7). Hope this makes sense. Thanks Jon

Well I like it, something different

http://assets.dft.gov.uk/hs2-environmental-statement/volume-2/Volume_2_CFA_11_Stoke_Mandeville_and_Aylesbury.pdf pg40 has the construction programme for works in the Aylesbury area

At last some (physical) progress with the station building... The windows aren't great, especially the one in the foreground with superglue stain. I should have planned this more. In the end I've gone with the expedient option of address labels on tranparent film. If I'd tried making them this way before sticking the layers of card for the walls together I could have sandwiched the windows neatly in the walls rather than wedging them in afterward. They aren't too firmly fixed so if they really grate/spoil the whole model maybe I'll try something else. Waiting for the glue to set overnight then onward!

So you reckon what we're getting is a 59xx? That would be very Design Clever...surely not from Bachmann?

The move to the siding is controlle by No.24, post #17 in the thread by Stationmaster covered this http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/75320-signalling-for-begbrooke-any-comments-please/?p=1136659 so yes I think you are right about No.7 Thanks Jon

At start of December I stuck the backscene to the board. At the time I thought I'd done a more or less OK job of it. Now it doesn't look so: Unless my mind is playing tricks it wasn't this bad when I put it up. Looks like temperature or moisture has played a part, even though the shed is insulated. I intend to get the pictures reprinted on something water resistant - looks like Art-Printers.com who do the ID Backscenes can do this. Serves me right for trying to cut corners using the plotter at work You can also see in the above plenty of debris on the lines preventing services running

Would I be right in thinking that all the signals, including the bracket ones should have 4ft arms, the only 3ft arms being on no.38 as that's the only signal for a siding/not a passenger line and the calling on arm, 36? Photos of Kidlington show a bit of variation from this over time/location: 3 & 9 both with 3ft arms to fit in the narrow width at the end ofthe platform, my platform is a bit wider - I think photos of wooden nos. 7 & 4 both have 4ft arms but a later one of metal post has 7 being 3ft, also 6 being a tiny arm and bracket, not sure why unless a practicality of constructing signal, maybe arm tacked on later? Thanks Jon

As well as nicely showing the engines, especially the Collett Goods, it also highlights your fine attention to detail and quality of the landscaping.

I've now got the station building drawings done. The drawing for Heyford has been tweaked to reflect differences between Kidlington (and Aynho) and that, different windows and chimney positions and I have assumed different interior layout. A few walls have been moved or things simplified to make it hopefully a bit more manageable to build. I always got confused with engineering projections when doing my O level Engineering Drawing and I haven't improved since then. On the plan I added part numbers to help work out where the myriad of bits of cut card should go. Waiting for weather and garden to clear to access the shed and get on with things... Whilst writing, once again thanks to all those reading for the interest shown and the "likes" and support and help and I wish you all the best for this coming year. Cheers Jon

That would be the charitable interpretation... To be honest from most viewing angles (for photos or if seated) if the fillers are the only things "wrong" it wouldn't really show up. And I until reading the info here in my ignorance I might not have questioned it anyway Thanks, Jon

Thanks, Gary. The weather here in the UK on the run up to Christmas has been absolutely foul and many people have had a lot worse than me, loss of power, flooding so in that respect I've been lucky. Being an armchair modeller at the moment is allowing me to get on with doing the drawings for the station building. All the best to you too for 2014 Jon

Train services disrupted over Christmas, line clear but access to station obstructed... Next door's tree so not my problem I guess but they are away. Father Christmas didn't bring a chainsaw, probably just as well given my lack of confidence with power tools.