Jon Fitness

Here's a quick 2023 update of a few of my constructions if anyone's still interested..... First up is a signal I've actually done for myself as a test build for a couple of my etches. Its what seems to be known as a 1942 pattern tubular post bracket, this being the larger of the two types I do. It's also fitted with some of my GWR centre pivot arms. It has LEDs fitted but as yet no servos but as supplies of these seem a bit easier to get at last, I'll fit some soon. Next is a 40ft Ex LSWR signal based on the one that used to be at Chard Junction using one of my etched posts...... Another test etch but done for a customer is a BR(S) railbuilt bracket signal but with some slightly more angular brackets. These are basically similar to ones at Littlehampton... And now for some more GWR oddball signals. There were some strange one off things that seemed to grow in the Dean forest. Again some new etches for the brackets and fittings with the top arm being a rather old cast whitemetal CCW arm. I don't think this type is currently available so it's another to add to the ever growing list of bits and pieces to get etched!🤣 Anyway, back to the seemingly ever hot soldering iron..😵 JF

Certainly looks like a Manchester Ship Canal loco. I'll check my book for a suitable drawing. It may be worth contacting Andy Beaton at Ragstone models for some bits as he took on the actual Canal class kit from Agenoria. JF

Ah, I raided the infamous bargain bits box on the Agenoria stand at a model railway exhibition. That's where the smokebox door came from too. I think they were all "seconds" from one of their Hudswell Clarke kits. I don't think it would still be possible as the Agenoria range passed to Ragstone Models although it maybe worth contacting them..

That's a lovely picture thanks Mike. Looks like there's no mechanical detection fitted? The little cable wheel rotates on my models but isn't available to rotate on its bracket! Cheers JF

And away we go into 2023.. This quite a rare beasty (I was sent two of them to build). It is a very early GWR independent ground signal from the victorian era with its modified disc face. As the master was made by the late Adrian Swain it was of course, an absolute delight to build and is now fitted with a servo.. and for no apparent reason, the little cast wheel at the back is rotatable too😁 Something totally different next but that will be a while yet as I have to design the etches... JF

Greetings All! These two were the final signals of 2022.... This was an old ex layout signal from ages ago which appeared being built in this thread being built! Its an LMS BFB post offset bracket signal. After refurbishment (new arms, backblinds, weightbars and servos) and a bit of paint it went on to a new home. Another BR(WR) bracket signal from my own etches with Modelu finials and lamp cases.... And that's 2022 done and dusted! Cheers and more to follow... JF

Thank you! Early GW arms not yet available as that arm is one of 3 slightly different versions of the same thing. Just needed to know what details needed improving or making either finer or more pronounced/robust. I think that was the best of the 3. All will be available in the new year along with further improved versions of some of my current range. I might even get round to doing some intelligible instructions 😆 JF

Latest updates on the usual selection of WR signals being constructed! A simple early pattern GWR signal. This features my own Boltons Bits etched post and fittings and the first of my early pattern GW arms. The finial and lamp case are Modelu.. This next beast was even more of a challnge than my last banner repeater. Hiding the linkages was a nightmare and the banner heads are illuminated with tiny SMD LEDs glued to the back of the 3D printed heads just below the pivots.. Next up is a fairly standard WR bracket, again featuring all my own etches.. I think I may have been a little heavy with the matt black rattle can on this one but the weather was playing havoc with the paintwork before the sun made a rare appearance.. Finally, a GWR twin disc. I made up the main stand from square brass tube and filed a cap on it. The square lamps are Modelu and the rest is my own etches. More soon! JF

I think Its an East Lancashire coachbuilders body on a Leyland PD3 chassis. Correction, Its a PD2 so Itll be 27ft 6" not 30 ft.

There's quite a few vehicles about with St Helens style front ends. Here's a particularly excellent one! JF

I've also got a block type hole/disc punch that ranges from 1/8" to 1". basically a steel block in two halves with steel pins that are hammered down after sandwiching material between the blocks.

Ah, I use a large leather punch for those!

Have any more pictures gone missing since the big crash? I'm not sure but I think some of my more recent additions have disappeared... JF

Probably not prototypical but this is how I do it. The supports are bars I've had etched with a 0.6mm hole in each end for the stanchions, one of those little bits to make life easier during construction. Lost count of the number I've hand made over the years and got them almost the same length with holes almost in the right places😒 Cheers JF

Ah, this one is based loosely on one at Stratford-on Avon which didn't have one...

I purchased two A4 sheets of coloured filter gels, (I think that's what they're called!) and had a load of spectacles laser cut to the appropriate shapes. These latest centre pivoted arms will need some new shapes done though; I had to hand cut these!

This beasty uses a signal from High Wycombe as its inspiration. All my own etches again with the usual Modelu finials and lampcases. It is servo operated but unlit. An altered large bracket etch Dolls and brackets added The finished article... The planks are laser cut from 0.9mm ply and stained with an enamel wash. The servo stack needed a proper fixing instead of my usual sticky pad method.. More soon JF

Using some of my new etches, this is one based on a signal that used to be at Tolcarne Junction.. It uses my own etched fold up post and is LED lit and servo operated... More soon JF

More Great Westernry or at least BR Westernry has trundled slowly off the bench in the last few weeks. As a match for the previous stop and distant signal, here's the banner repeater on the approach to it... It has 3d printed heads, done for me by Nikki Wilkes and they are of the internally lit variety. Thankfully they didn't actually need lighting this time! This shows the heads with brass tubes for bearings. Normally I would run the drive wires straight up inside but the design of this particular signal meant another method had to be found... The rear access caps were used as a sort of hidden link method. Not entirely convincing but the only workable solution I could think of.. More very soon! JF

Although I'm not a massive fan of RMs, it's 7mm and I'm happy to see it! Could the chassis/underparts possibly be designed with motorising in mind? A robust well engineered steering axle and hubs would be massively helpful. I know a lot of folk seem to be interested in R/C for their 7mm road vehicles but I would be more inclined to the Faller roadway sort of arrangement so that it could operate independently. Another development could be accommodation for interior lighting and illumination of destination blinds. JF

Thankyou Stephen!. Yes, the rubbers should be black but the weathering process wiped the black off I think.

A couple of things just off the bench here too... This is a tail lamp sighting mirror based on the one at Dainton.. It's to be mounted on the edge of a retaining wall on Steve Fays layout. Next is a nice little GW stop and distant with a nice little 3d printed WR battery box from John Chivers. The distant weightbar has an operating electrical switch box. Servos but no lights on this one... And within a large batch of etches are these GWR oddities. The early pattern main arms are in 4 and 5ft versions with the 5ft one showing the larger spectacle plate. More soon! JF

Lots of lovely shiny etches arrived (which had the WR ground signal on it) including both 12" and 14" LMS parallel lattice posts and brackets. They enabled me to build these two beasties... The rather fuzzy fitting here is a 3d printed doll shoe obtained from Les Green via shapeways. They really finish off the underneath of the dolls.. https://www.shapeways.com/product/LWBD86SEE/7mm-lms-signal-doll-shoes?optionId=274287968&li=shops These signals are both servo operated and LED lit and entirely from my own etches. Very happy with how these turned out. Now here's something in the next post that may interest the GWR fans out there.....

So...the results so far on an etched version of the BRW ground signal. Not entirely happy with it yet and I'm sure it would be better as 3d printed or even cast brass fittings to slide onto the small post.. With a modelu lamp case glued on the side of it with an LED inside it's now lit and servo driven. The little post cap was turned up on the lathe. More soon JF

Absolutely fantastic Steve. Just when I think I'm slowly catching up with you on the excellence, you steam back into a massive lead.!! Love it😮 JF