Steve Hewitt

Great layout Michael,

Really looking forward to seeing it "on the circuit".

Any bookings yet?  (Assuming we all get thru' this virus thing!)

Keep safe,

Steve.

That's a wonderful model Jon.

It must be very satisfying to acquire a new skill like CAD and Etch Design.

Keep clear of the Lurgy,

Steve.

1 hour ago, Steve Hewitt said:

Sorry for the confusion. 

I'm correcting a couple of things. 

Video back tomorrow (I hope)

 

Steve 

Here it is.......

Sorry for the confusion,

Steve

Sorry for the confusion. 

I'm correcting a couple of things. 

Video back tomorrow (I hope)

Steve 

On 20/03/2020 at 14:39, Tony Teague said:

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The Control Desk is now beginning to look the part, and I have also taken the opportunity to re-configure the use of the blue DCC Concepts levers at the front, so as to prepare them for the installation of semaphore signalling to parts of the layout in due course.

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Tony

 

In due course.....

Here are the Churminster signals, currently "self isolating" in my shed!

To be delivered and installed, but when???????????????

Steve.

On 10/03/2020 at 17:58, Steve Hewitt said:

 

I've taken a few video shots of the signals under test which I hope to edit together fairly soon.

 

Steve.

And here it is.......

Steve.

Churminster semaphore signals - almost ready..........

I'm sorry for neglecting my posts on RMweb recently, but I haven't been completely idle.

Below are the first four signals, mounted on their Transport & Test board.

The arms are "all over the place" because the  GF  servo controllers have been set to "Safe", which moves the servos to mid-position and locks them there.

These are the remaining five signals, including the two Westinghouse ground discs which were discussed earlier.

I've taken a few video shots of the signals under test which I hope to edit together fairly soon.

Steve.

Jon,

Those Ground Signals are the bees knees.

A couple of shots I took at Swanage a year or three ago....

Steve.

On 28/02/2020 at 17:38, twiggy1969 said:

was just asking due to the claim that its the easiest to install and adjust. I found the megerpoints very simple and having set up 50 plus signals and ground signals with no problems at all. With every thing on the board so no extra setting board required. 

 

So i was asking as if theres a better solution out there as im interested in anything to make my life easier when i do commissions and making things idiot proof for when the client takes delivery    

Hi Twiggy,

The only real way to be sure would be for you to try a GF Dual controller yourself.

If you buy one and find it doesn't meet your requirements, I'll buy it off you.

Steve.

17 hours ago, twiggy1969 said:

what makes it easier than the megerpoints board?

 

Thanks Rowsley and Mike, you've hit it on the head.

The GF Controller has simple slide switch (called the Safe Mode) which sets the servos to mid position. i.e. Bandwidth 1.5msec.

In this position the servos are "locked" and cannot be adjusted or operated.

I assemble my signals so that the arms are in "mid position" when Safe Mode is selected.

Once installed on the layout, it is necessary to switch the Safe Mode OFF, and then adjust each Signal Arm to its correct position "ON" or "OFF" according to how the control system is set. The control system can be as simple as an On/Off switch or any equivalent.

The first minute of this video shows this quite clearly:

I can't think of any way to make it easier than this.

Steve.

Come for a chat......

This coming weekend I'll be demonstrating, with Les Green, at the Preston Exhibition.

Why not come along for a chat.

I'll have a number of my recent builds for you to examine and play with, controlled by GF Controls Dual and 8-Way signal controllers. (Still the easiest to install and adjust).

Hope to see you there........

Steve.

Thanks Tony.

I'm afraid those cruel close-ups don't do any favours for my painting.

Steve.

On 04/02/2020 at 07:24, The 158 Man said:

Hi Steve, just been admiring your outstanding work with all these signals. They truly are a work of art and absolutely beautiful!

 

I don't have time to read each post in detail so apologies if this has been answered already, but do you take commissions for other modellers/layouts? I'd love you to build mine!

Hello 158 Man,

I'll send you a Personal Message.

Steve.

On 04/02/2020 at 10:04, S&DWatty said:

Thanks Steve, that's amazing workmanship as always with your stuff.  These Westinghouse ground signals would be just the job for me I reckon.  Im wondering whether I could operate them with a wire-in-tube push pull system rather than buying another Megapoints board and servos.  I could light them using the fibre optic powered by a bulb off my lighting ringmain.  Id certainly be keen to find out more about availability, price etc.

 

cheers

 

dave

Hi Dave,

The Westinghouse ground signals are designed to be operated by a "Push/Pull"  wire from below the baseboard.

This is usually a servo motor, but no reason why a wire in tube system shouldn't work.

Just be aware, the 3D printed signal body is quite delicate, so the manual operation should incorporate something to prevent exerting too much Push or Pull

The 3D prints are available from Les Green's shop on Shapeways - see:  https://www.shapeways.com/shops/railway-odds-and-ends?li=pb

The printed signal incorporates the holes for the Optical Fibre to pass through. It is made for 0.5mm (.020 in.) for fibres.

The fibre is obtainable from Circuitron -the makers of Tortoise point motors.

The etched moving parts - Disc, Lever, Blinder are from the MSE kit.

I hope this info. is helpful.

Good luck with building the signals.

Get in touch again if I can help in any way.

Steve.

7 hours ago, S&DWatty said:

Hi Steve, thanks for the response.  Mine would be those used on BR(S) region but I think they are fairly generic disc-type signals.  I have some non-working ground signals but think it would be a really great enhancement if I could replace them.  Thanks for the link- Ill have a look at it later.

 

dave

Hi Dave,

I think you'll find the BR(S) ground signals were fairly distinctive.

They were the "Westinghouse" product, with a "semi-circular"  disk and the spectacle vertically above the Disc Pivot.

I just happen to have a couple on my workbench at present

These are made from a 3D printed body, with etched parts from the MSE kit, and lighting by fibre optic.

Quite fiddly, but well worth the effort.

If you want any further details, just ask.....

Steve.

Hello Dave,

Are you looking for "Ready to Run" ground signals?

I think you will be unlucky.

The style of ground signals used by the various Railway Companies and BR Regions varied quite a lot.

There are kits or at least components available from MSE and others.

These are capable of being made to operate by Servo Motor, if you take care.

If you tell me your BR region, I'll try to point you in the right direction.  

There are quite a few examples scattered through this topic.

I also had a separate Topic on assembling a MSE kit for a GWR 16" signal and operated by a servo.

see:  

6 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

And of course if the short arm on a separate doll reads to a goods line it should have a ring on it in SR practice

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your comment. I wish I had your knowledge, or just a small part of it.

Never having worked on the Railway, I have to rely on books, photos and the wishes of clients when constructing the models.

In this case the bracket signal I have just completed was inspired by that at Waddon Marsh, as shown as Plate 103 on page 89 of my "Pryer".

Plate 88 on Page 75 also shows quite clearly White painted Weights on a two doll bracket.

Thanks one and all for your comments.

I learn something new most days.

Unfortunately it is often after I've committed my lack of knowledge to a completed model

Steve.

49 minutes ago, bude_branch said:

Steve,

 

Please could you tell me what make the LSWR Finials are?

Hi,

The LSWR finials are Brass castings from Alan Gibson.

3D printed versions are also available from Modelu.

I've got some, but not used them yet.

MSE also have a White Metal version, but they are quite delicate

Steve.

On 12/01/2020 at 20:08, Steve Hewitt said:

 

 

More soon about the rest of the construction.....

 

Steve.

 

 

 

 

 

Well, there's not a lot to say.......

The rest of the structure followed my usual methods, using MSE, Gibson etc. etches, and Les Green 3D prints.

The pile of MDF blocks is to represent the height of the signal on the Railway above the baseboard.

It is on elevated ground.

Getting all the operating linkages in was a bit of a squeeze.

More soon, I hope.......

Steve.

Moving on..........

The second signal for Churminster is the Up Home. Number CH3G

This is a SR Rail Built left hand bracket with three dolls, carrying four arms.

The main doll reads to Platform 3.

The left hand doll, a smaller one, reads to the Goods Yard, to the left of the main line.

The right hand doll carries two arms, the upper full size arm reads to the Bay Platform 1.

The lower, small arm reads to the entry to the Shed / Yard.

First job was to build the main post from C&L bull-head Rail.

This was soldered together in pairs, which were drill for the spacers (.45mm Lace Pins).

The two pairs were then joined with temporary cross plates to make the basic post.

So far, nothing unusual, but followers of my topic will know I like very firm foundations for my signals.

To achieve that I first turned up a "plug" for the base of the post, which is a good fit between the four rails.

It is hollow to accommodate the fibre optics which will be installed later.

A socket to take this plug was turned and fitted to the into signal's base-plate.

You can see here the four guide tubes for the operating wires, and fitted below the base-plate is the half-inch dia. brass Foundation Tube.

This allows the bottom of the post to fit closely and be supported both inside and out.

More soon about the rest of the construction.....

Steve.

White Weights.....

I quote from the layout owner's statement about his railway :

"my interest had settled on the Southern Railway and on a period stretching from just before WW2 until just prior to nationalisation."

i.e. Before BR(S) had developed its paint protocols.

The "Visibility" issue was very relevant during wartime, and not just for Train Crew.

Thank you all for your interest and constructive criticism, which is always welcome.

Steve.

4 hours ago, Rowsley17D said:

I wish I could get my signal operating wires as neat as yours, or anywhere close really. What gauge/diameter of wire do you use and is it brass? Thanks.

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks for your kind comment.

I don't use Brass wire for anything!

I always use Nickel Silver of various diameters from 0.31mm  up to 0.5mm for operating wires.

The thinnest is usually reserved for Ground Signals or very short runs on others.

The problem is that it buckles and kinks too easily.

In real life the signal wires are always in tension, but in our models they are required to push as well as pull!  

Most operating wires are made from 0.4mm dia N/S wire.

I always blacken the wire with "Gun Blue" before use. If you need to solder it, you must clean off the Black first, as Gun Blue makes a good solder resist.

Hope this is helpful.

Steve.

2 hours ago, RailWest said:

They look nice - but one small question, why the white weights please?

Hi Chris,

The short answer is "Visibility".  Easier to see in dark conditions - particularly wartime.

Still used today by Network Rail in places.

Steve.

Happy New Year to all my RMweb followers.

I hope I'm able to stimulate your continued interest in the signals I build and if my ramblings encourage some of you "have  go", so much the better.

Here is my first project for 2020  -  the semaphore signals for Tony Teague's "Churminster & Stowe Magna" railway.

Here's a link to his Topic:  

A very good article about Tony's layout appears in the current issue of Hornby Magazine.

My contribution is going to be the Semaphore signalling - the colour light signals have already bee installed.

Starting first with Churminster, where all the signalling is semaphore, the first to be built is the Platform 3 Up Starter.

This is an ex-LSWR tall lattice signal with co-acting arms, converted to Upper quadrant operation.

I have already posted a few "work in progress" shots on Tony's topic  

Here a few shots of the completed model, with a short video to follow (don't hold your breath).

You can see here how the co-acting effect is achieved. The operating wire passes through the lower weight bar and continues

up to the upper weight bar, ensuring they both move together and by an equal amount.

Very careful measuring of the links between the weight bars and the their signal arms is necessary to ensure both arms are parallel.

More soon...

Steve.