Jon Fitness

Ummm, I've done it again haven't I? All summer without an update.

Anyway here's a signal based update montage....

April's output was LNWR based. These 2 were constructed from Scale Signal Supply kits and were servo operated but unlit. I altered the brackets a little to make a narrower version for a tighter location.

May and June's output was the usual GWR or BRW signals. Still the most popular railway's signals

The GWR cash register signal was a strange one. It arrived as box of bits from the customer with some exquisitely assembled scratchbuilt bits included which had all been assembled with superglue! I had to carefully pick them all apart and try to reassemble them with solder which wasn't easy. It was necessary though as further soldered construction round them would have made them fall apart. The signal uses an SSS arm, Modelu lamps/finial and the rest is scratchbuilt.

The elevated ground signal was mostly scratchbuilt with a few of my own etched bits and a modelu lamp

The BR(W) 2 doll and 3 doll brackets I'm quite proud of as all the etched parts are my own products plus the usual Modelu Finials and lamps. All lit and servo operated with superb laser cut ply planks done for me by the wonderful Nikki Wilkes.

More in a mo....

JF

On 25/06/2021 at 21:30, Steve Hewitt said:

A Cantilevered bracket for Acton Wells.......

 

This model is located in a very tight part of the railway and consequently requires a large overhang from the main post.

 

 

This would normally have been a balanced bracket, but sighting requirements demanded this design.

 

The model follows my usual methods, with the main post being 4mm square brass tube, the bracket is a modified MSE etch, the dolls are 3D prints from Les Green's shop on Shapeways.

 

The operating wires are routed up the R.H. side of the main post to three cranks mounted between the trimmers.

 

 

Each of these cranks is conneted to one weight bar:

 

The main doll, which also carries a fixed distant arm.

 

The second doll with a single arm:

 

 

The third doll has a short arm to a goods siding:

 

 

Each of the arms in turn showing their "Clear" position:

 

 

 

 

I have a few shaky video clips which I'll try to edit together and put on YouTube......

 

Steve.

That's superb Steve. I have to remind myself sometimes how small these 4mm scale signals are in real life!

JF

Superbly engineered as usual Steve. Lovely stuff

JF

2 hours ago, Steve Hewitt said:

Back on Topic again.....

 

During the Lockdown I've managed to complete a set of signals for a model of Kirkby Stephen being built at home by a local (Lancashire) modeller.

 

There are two Home and two Starter signals.

One Lattice Post and three Round Posts:

 

These follow my usual methods and materials being LED/Fibre Optic lit and servo operated using GF Controllers.

 

There are also four LMS/BR Ground Discs:

 

 

These are built from Palatine Models etches.

Again LED/Fibre Optic lit, servo operated with GF Controllers.

 

Quite tiny.

 

About 12mm tall.

 

 

More soon....

 

Steve.

Aw Steve, those ground signals are absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful work

JF

10 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

But don't forget there was r that (early) 'S' and the slightly different later pattern.  I suspect the change would hava occurred around about teh time of the Great War when a number other changes took place in GW signals with some arrangements becoming becoming obsolete.   BUT just to be cantankerous one arrangement which had officially become obsolete by c.1920 was installed on a brand new replacement signal in the 1950s albeit partially using secondhand material.

 

I think my customer's layout is set in the early 1950's...

JF

3 hours ago, Stephen Freeman said:

This help? From article in BRJ no 10 by Peter Squibb

Its all appreciated Stephen. There's quite a lot of the catalogue printed in David Smith's book too...

JF

On 21/03/2021 at 13:18, The Stationmaster said:

That 'S' doesn't look quite right to me for some reason, definitely on the skinny side as well.  BTW the illustration - from the General Appendix - on Paf ge 153 of C Vaughan's book skws the correct placement - as does the (different) illustration in the 1921 General Appendix although it has the 'S' with fancified ends vaguely similar to the Buckfastleigh 'fake' example.

It certainly does look a little skinny. I may have to look into an etch of GWR subsidiary fittings and arms in the future.

On 21/03/2021 at 12:03, The Stationmaster said:

Jon - wonderful stuff but alas that 'S' on the Shunt Ahead arm is not in the right place (unless you've found a photo of an exception?).  The 'S' should be nearer to the centre of the arm and well clear of the outer end.  

 

The picture below is of a preservation fake (the 'S' has peculiar ends but its thickness looks correct  ) BUT the 'S' is in the right position, or as near as, on the arm.   I do have a pic of a real one but it would unfortunately not show up very well because of my less than brilliant teenage photography.

 

I very much see your point on this! I did look at quite a few pictures but I found several showing slightly different positions. The MSE S I used is all I had in stock and looked right at the time..

On 21/03/2021 at 12:53, Stephen Freeman said:

Page 148 of GW Signalling by Adrian Vaughan supports Jon's placement. Have they put the S on upside down?

I think that was the picture I used eventually....

On 21/03/2021 at 12:55, KingEdwardII said:

Jon,

 

Any chance of that etch becoming available in 4mm scale? It's a beauty.

 

Yours,  Mike.

Believe me, I'd really love to but it would require a complete re-jig to get it right. I can't just re-size it as is because it would become too delicate. I'm a bit too loaded up with 7mm work to start going down the 4mm route I'm afraid.....

So.. Time for an update. I've been busy at the bench and the computer so there's a new etch or two to see..

This is the BR(W) version of the 2 doll bracket for tubular WR style signals

It differs from the available etches in that the main post is positioned in between the two dolls. It features fold up construction and marks for punching out the rivets. Also provided is the diagonal T section support.

A test build..

So what did muggins then go and do?

Use it as a GW style bracket for a customer!!

I was tasked with copying several of my previous builds so this centre pivoted one was chosen.

I had to scratchbuild the two arms..The basic shapes

Then making the bearing bosses..

Adding to the structure

Fitting out the structure with LEDs, and Modelu lamp cases and finials.

Now here's a little tip for using these LEDs. (Unless I've already mentioned it!!) The latest batch of these warm white 3mm LEDs were very focussed on the tip and gave off almost zero side illumination unlike the previous lot. To make them shine sideways I filed a chamfer on what became both the front and back faces of the LED and lo and behold, the light was deflected perfectly to give a nice diffused light front and back!

The finished article out in the sunshine. The decking boards were laser cut for me from .9mm ply by a local friend, Nikki Wilkes..

Next up was a wooden post GWR stop signal with lower shunt arm using scale signal supply arms and a Borg-Rail fold up brass post.

Now, this one isn't the same signal as a previous entry but a correction to it. I made a cracking job of getting the previous one wrong. This entailed getting a new Right Handed etch done of the LMS running line to loop bracket as it couldn't just be fitted the other way round and is also 6inches wider than the Left Hand version. That'll teach me to read the customers instructions...

My most recent job was another copy of the Severn Tunnel East bracket I originally did for Steve Fay. The main difference on this one is I've used Borg-Rail fold up posts this time instead of actual wood on the first one. Much easier as everything can be soldered rather than glued and the posts are of course hollow so it's easier to conceal wiring.

There may be an interesting banner repeater coming up next...(if a banner repeater can be interesting

More soon

JF

On 28/02/2021 at 17:55, Steve Hewitt said:

Not too long at all Jon, that's a really good explanation of your method.

 

Excellent.

 

Steve.

Thanks Steve. I'm never sure how much detail to include!

A link to my usual overlong Youtube videos! This one shows my method of fitting servos to the signals I build...

More soon

JF

16 hours ago, mike hughes said:

I've received back the revised Salmon and also the motor bogie etch and got so far with the build. I thought on the Salmon that I'd put some half etch holes on the rear of the solebar in the wrong places so drilled them out in a different position for the securing chain shackles but nope I'd had the half etch in the right place all along.

At the same time also had the 305/1 driving car and the 304/1 TC (also suits 302, 305/2 and 308) etched.

Prices to be advised. Unfortunately you can guess where the buffers and bogies for the Salmon, maybe a while before can obtain some more.   

Michael

Lovely simple power bogie. Very nice

JF

I've produced an etch for the LMS ground signal. I have always struggled with the available cast whitemetal version and this one was designed with buildability, operation and illumination in mind. The open "Lid" at the top will be folded down and soldered once an LED is fitted and working.

The test build went rather well, so the production version will be available to buy in about 6 weeks

JF

27 minutes ago, Andy1066 said:

Hope you are well John - I still have the same Alan Gibson coaches awaiting attention along with a Connoisseur Adams O2 kit. I seem to have been sidetracked by the attraction of live steam so am working on several Gauge 1 projects at this time - I still visit this thread from time to time though ... All the best.

Ah, nice to hear from you! The live steam sounds fun!

JF

Now these are a blast from the past! 9 years ago, I started this thread with the intention of building 4 of these Alan Gibson LBSCR coaches. I  built and finished 2 of them......

Sooo, its about time I got stuck into the other 2 I suppose

The chassis' are complete for all four so "all" I have to do is complete the bodies.

As supplied, nothing is provided in the kit to represent the guttering so some lengths of 1.5mm x 1.5mm brass angle were used for this job.

Door bumpers were added from 0.8mm brass were.

Next to be added were all droplights and a selection of door vents. A selection because a lot of the wooden ventilators were later replaced piecemeal with steel ones as they rotted.

So thats all gutters, bumps, droplights and door vents fitted. Next up will be grabrails, hinges and door handles.

More soon

JF

51 minutes ago, Dmudriver said:

Time for another update, I think!  The wheel cleaning and general relubrication is progressing, albeit relatively slowly: not that I've lost my mojo again but more that the weather's not really been conducive to going out into the shed!   It can get cosy in there after a while, but it's actually getting out there that's the challenge!!

 

Doing the wheel cleaning has got me thinking - and sheepishly admitting that it must be years since I've cleaned the wheels on the hauled stock - whether that's coaches, parcels stock or DMU trailer cars.  I've cleaned loco and DMU power car wheels when pick up has been a bit erratic and I've cleaned the track pretty regularly but I've realised it's all a bit of wasted effort if the wheels of all the hauled stock are covered in muck!!   However now I've proved to myself I can do it with kitchen roll and IPA, they'll be a lot cleaner from now on!!

 

I've found that the wheels on the Easybuild bogies don't need lubricating: regardless of how dirty the wheels are, the axles run really freely in the bogies.

 

I've also been busy corresponding with Mike of Greenwood Model Railway Products** who produces point kits.  He's done some Peco replacement kits so I've ordered 3 of those - he hasn't enough stock for the Y point kits yet.  That's no problem, however, as I'll get on with replacing 2x LH and 1X RH points in the sidings.  This pic shows the Templot prints for the Peco replacement points laid on the existing pointwork:

 

 

The straight bits of track between the points are due to the fact that I've widened the track centres for the sidings:  Mike is giving me some extra sleepers and rail for those straight bits.  Construction of the points is very similar to making the C&L points I've done in the past.  There are 2 major differences, however:  he's using rail compatible with the Peco Streamline track and the sleeper bases for the points are produced in one piece.  In addition, he produces ready-made common crossings to 0-MF standards.   I'm looking forward to getting going on those!!

 

More soon.

 

 

Rod

 

** No connection other than as a satisfied customer (platform awnings, portacabin).

 

 

 

 

I'll keep my eye on this one Rod as I have one of his point kits to try. I've never built any form of track before but the kit looks well designed and comes with all sorts of gauges and guides.

JF

This is the Parkend signal all done and weathered. All my own etches with Modelu Lamps and Scale Signal Supply Lamp cases.

The photos are a bit dull but the weather seems to be unremittingly gloomy down here at the moment...

More soon

JF

Next up on the bench is an LMS Upper quadrant stop signal. Quite a tall beastie at 35 feet, it features a running line to loop signal bracket and a bonus stop arm for the opposite direction of travel. It will be servo operated and LED lit and uses a lot of my own etchings.

The original was at Parkend and fortunately I've been supplied with some useful photographs to assist in the build.

Luckily I'd already built the bracket as a demo for instructions and as it's designed to be built as a separate assembly I could just slide it down the main post to its correct position before trapping it on with all the other fittings.

Next up was fitting the etched bolting plates. These are tiny but add much needed detail to what would be a plain structure. The RSU is perfect for this job. I just need to get used to using less solder paste.

It was then the turn of the LEDs which are soldered to the post as a common negative and the positive wire run inside the post. These are set so the excellent Modelu 3d printed lamp cases just need dropping on after painting has taken place. These are just temporarily fitted for testing.

Weight bars, stanchions, handrails and ladders were then fitted. Time for a big cleanup session before it hits the paintshop tomorrow.

More soon

JF

Certainly sounds like a well designed and engineered chassis, except for the slight alteration to the rear pony truck.

From my largest signal, down to my smallest recent construction. A GWR double ground signal. This is more or less a straight build of the all cast brass SSS kit. I have added micro servos and a couple of SMD LEDs for illumination. Seems to work fine!

More soon

JF

On 22/01/2021 at 09:07, LNERGE said:

How close is your nearest real railway? With careful placement with a real railway background these signals would pass as the real thing. 

About 300 yards away. If it's still there, It's closed at the moment for an upgrade and there was a gang removing old rail yesterday but I think a 5 doll gantry would make a great improvement over the single line at the foot crossing...

On 21/01/2021 at 23:30, Steve Hewitt said:

Jon, that's another stunning signal.

Video? - YES PLEASE.

 

Steve.

Thanks Steve👍. I'll sort that today. I've done the clips, they just need editing..

On 21/01/2021 at 17:32, Marshall5 said:

I remember that loco arriving at Bolton (from Fleetwood perhaps?).  It was a replacement for 51408 the ex L&Y class 23 saddletank which always seemed to be shunting the cattle sidings under the Lever St. footbridge.      I wonder if there may have been a sharp curve there which required a short wheelbased loco?  A friend who was a fireman on them at Birkenhead referred to the class as "Rocking Horse Shunts". 47165 went on to be a works shunter at Horwich and was withdrawn from there IIRC.

Over the years I've built an example of most classes seen around Bolton but not one of these.... yet.  Your model really looks the part.

Cheers,

Ray.

Many thanks for that! I had a photo sent to me by John Robinson of 47165 withdrawn at Horwich with what looks like another in front of it and a rebuilt Barton Wright saddle tank behind it which I used as a reference for weathering. Always nice to hear peoples memories of locos in service and I can imagine they did rather waddle about with that short wheelbase and outside cylinders!

Cheers

JF