Jon Fitness

Certainly not a daft question!Right, looking at that particular signal, I've probably done my usual cheat and and gone directly from the servos to the back blinds. These look like I've replaced the MSE ones with strip. As for the balance weights, I make sure that they are free enough to drop down under their own weight and simply solder a small piece of horizontal wire from the drive rod that goes just under the weight bar. This lifts the bar when the signal operates but drops under its own weight. One less linkage to cause problems! Hope that helps or I'll explain further if I've been a bit vague! Cheers JF

Looking forward to seeing these Steve!

Today so far the SR bracket has had the servo bracket made and fitted, handrail stanchions and lateral brace rod done. I've also made the rings for the short arms using my punch block. Aligning the brass sheet for the second and larger punch is literally a hit and miss affair so there was a few discarded attempts.

Today's rather satisfying progress. All dolls cut to height and mounted, lower flange fitted and the arms being tried in position. I've added an extra scale foot of height to each doll on this one compared to the last one and I think it looks a little better balanced now. I'll have to bat on a bit with this one as it has to be ready for the Bristol 0 gauge do on the 28th!

Got some more work done on the second of the 2 big southern brackets. The corrugated arms have to be a mix of scale signal supply spec plate assemblies and an old MSE arm snipped off from the original spec plate! As non working lamps have been specified for this one I can use MSE lampcases too. The brackets have now been attached to the posts but I still have to solder on a flange along the bottom edge to complete the "look" of them. 2 of the 4 arms will be connected to L cranks fitted between the post rails and the other 2 from fake wheels on the front. I say fake as they are really L cranks disguised as wheels! More soon JF

Here we go. Two sets of butchered MSE brackets joined together and hit with the riveter. These have since been straitened, braced with some brass angle and fitted round the main post. JF

Nearly a year since my last update! Sadly the prairie tank has not progressed since the last pic due to other commitments., mostly involving signals. Having retired from Network Rail at the end of May I mistakenly thought I'd have more spare time.. . A move down to the Isle of Wight has provided way too many distractions (Steam Railway, bus museum etc) but I've kept my hand in (just) by building a brass wagon kit for a friend, re-motoring/gearing my L&Y Pug and building a Slaters SR bogie B van (currently working on a real one at the Steam Railway!). So, here goes and I'll try and be a little more fastidious with the updates this year...! Connoiseur kits SPV.. My L&Y pug was a little too high geared and took off like the doggy version rather than the steam version. Re-geared from 30-1 to 40-1. Much better now. A Slaters bogie B van. I'm currently (although I haven't been there for a couple of weeks) helping to repair S210 at the IOW steam railway and once done, both the real thing and the model will be in BR blue! Lovely. Happy new year and I'll try to update this a bit more regularly from now! JF

A new year so I guess it's time for a catch up with whats been going on in the signal workshop. Not as much as I'd like there are many distractions for me down here on the IOW! So, what did get built? The MR stop and distant got weathered... Theres a standard GWR Wooden armed stop signal. Arm from SSS, finial and lamp from Modelu, post, etched from Borg Rail. Servo operated and LED lit. Twin LMS disc from MSE kit. Servo operated, LED lit Disused BR(W) single post signal MSE spec plate, Modelu finial. SSS lamp case. and a 4 doll SR rail built bracket signal. Arms a mixture of SSS and mucho modified MSE as are the brackets. The dolls, finials and lamp cases are MSE. This one didn't require working lamps but is servo operated. The good news is it all works, the bad news is I have to build another one exactly like it...and another similar one but even more complex! I really must try to keep this thread up to date! Happy new year and yes.. More Soon Jon F

Oh yes indeed..so many signals so little time but I like a challenge!

Superb work as usual Steve. It definitely has "the look!" JF

I'm a bit late to the game but JLTRT usually give a choice of bogie chassis frame. When I bought my class 24 I had to specify either a frame for a slaters gearbox or one for a can motor directly screwed to the frame. Pretty sure the option is available on every loco kit now. Jon F.

Love the lamp, looks spot on. Drilling those gorgeous modelu lamps is always a bit nerve wracking though.!

Theres a fully restored Standerwick VRL example up at Freckleton just across the yard from my bus. It's currently off the road at the moment awaiting an "engine out" repair to a rather massive oil leak. (Main crankshaft seal I think!) JF

And a rather shaky video of the bracket on test....

A couple of cheeky LMS UQ stop signals sneaked in the production schedule! LED but going for manual operation. The ex LSWR bracket is now finished, looking all shiny and new . I'll have to enquire of my customer whether to weather or not! It's set up on a square of ply with the servos connected above "ground level" as it's for outside/ground level use. It will be positioned by the layout and connected up for use but disconnected and brought in at the end of the operating session or sooner in case of inclement weather! Railbuilt brackets next! More soon. JF

Looking good already Steve! Reminds me I have a few of these railbuilt signals to do and it's time to make a new jig for them!

Ah my sketchy knowledge of things non LMS...

Hmm, looks interesting! S&D? JF

A quick update from the signal bench... An ex LSWR/SR lattice bracket. Ive used Modelu Adlake lamps for this one which are hollow and will take a small SMD LED. Luckily I had a couple of etched lamp brackets to fix them on with. The lattice post and dolls are all MSE but the main post was snipped into 4 separate sides and then strengthened with 1.5mm angle on each edge after building. The brackets have an extra flange soldered on from scap etch, a nice job for the RSU and this is where I'm up to now... More soon (honestly!!) JF

Well, you know what DCC stands for Rod...Double the Cost of Conventional JF

Wot happened to the curry this time?!

Here's another signal almost finished (needs some serious weathering) It's an ex MR stop and distant based on one that was near the old Severn bridge . It uses an etched brass post from Borg Rail, and MR fittings from Scale Signal Supply. It's LED lit and servo operated. I'd forgotten how mechanically "different" MR signals were and I had to re-visit my own thread to remind me how to assemble them! I didn't do many in progress pics as I've done MR signals before but the post looks nice in the brass!. The etched post is a 30 footer and folds/solders up perfectly without any twist. Much easier than shaping a traditional wood post and of course being brass, anything can be soldered to it and it can act as the earth for the LEDs. Anyway I'm now off back down to SR land to bash some lattice posts together! More soon JF

Absolutely. It worked well, especially as Martyn very kindly gave me a lift from Portsmouth which got me there some 3 hours earlier than the train. And I'll probably still get p****d on Saturday night again too knowing me... ! Cheers JF

Cheers OzzyO , had a blast this weekend but never saw you on the Sunday. Would you have possibly returned to 'spoons by any chance? Looking forward to the next meetup JF

Thanks Steve! Went for the 2 days and had an excellent time! JF