ILC's Scratchbuild 7mm Signals

I though I'd start a new thread for specific workshop items that are not rollingstock related since realising how frustrating it often is when certain topics become lost in long threads, so here is a topic that really interests me... mechanical signalling ( hence my user name Is Line Clear which is the response describer bell code for call attention used in the absolute Block Regulations) and is my first 7mm signal build in brass.

So the signal is a standard LMS upper quarant 27' 6" tubular post with offset minature arm, my model is copied from the Up Hassall Green Starter which was located adjacent the crossing gates at Elton Crossing on the now defunct ex NSR Wheelock Branch at Sandbach. This signal was controlled by Elton box number 13 lever in the 15 lever McKenzie & Holland Type 5a hook cam and soldier frame, the minature arm was controlled by number 12 lever and read from the Up Line through the hand worked gates and into the Ettiley Heath Goods Loop from the single line that went to Alsager Lawton Junction on the Stoke - Crewe main line. Anyway enough of the location history and on with the pictures


This signal is a work in progress but here we are with the build so far, the post has no ground base as yet and a cotton reel comes to the rescue aiding basic support. The components I used are by MSE of Barton on Humber but in reality 3mm and 4mm OD brass tubing can be purchased seperately at a more economical cost advantage. So on the real thing tubular steel signals often came as two seperate parts and were butt jointed on site by the installer gang, in the 1936 LMS standardisation spec the diameter of the tubes (less the wartime eco posts) were five and a half inches OD for the upper doll tube and six and a half inches for the lower base tube, the tube was inserted into a concrete spun base which had a diameter of about twelve inches, later post 1970's BR Group Standard posts were fitted with square two part concrete halves which were bolted together.


So back to the model, the upper landing is made from lolipop sticks cut to 15mm x 2mm and sanded to a scale thickness somewhere near to one and a half inches within practicalities. Eight planks make up the landing and this equals a length of 20mm which represents a staging size of 2' x 3' as on the real thing. I super glued the planks to the brass bracket angles which were fashioned from surplus Slaters wagon kit etches. Hand rails have yet to be formed and fitted but the ladder needs to be made beforehand.
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This picture shows the bracket detail, the trimmers and the pull wires (which are rods actually). Now I made a silly mistake, because the the sub arm bracket assembly had to be made first and when I scratched the trimmer cranks and cross shaft I used the same .8mm rod to make the pull rod to the weight bar... fatal error . The pull rod looks too thick ... never mind for my first signal build it will have to stay as opefully it won't be so noticable when painted. Leason learnt... always see the errors made as part of the ongoing learning curve Now because I am one of these rivet counting geeks I want my signals to look right and little details count, little details like the way castings are fitted to posts and the components used. On the real thing the signal arm castings consist of the arm spindle bearing, the back plunger stop casting and the lamp bracket, these three items are bolted through the post and to make a secure fit rectangular cast tabs used at the nut end of the fixing bolt assembly. I drilled the model post using a .8mm drill and the tabs were made from thin scrap pieces of etch drilled to take a wire "nail" through the post. The upshot of this gargantuan task is that it gives load strength to working parts and greatly aids in soldering tiny bits in the correct alignment. There are other fittings that need seperate drilling onto the post, these are the top and intermediate ladder anchors, the landing bracket blocks and the often overlooked stay wire anchor... more about these with close ups later in the build.
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Now this view shows the lower tube, the base crank is entirely scratched and is fitted to the post with U clamps as per the real thing. the weight bar is my first attempt and I soon realised I needed to allow more separation space between the both bars during movement. The inner bar which drives the minature arm has a tiny pull harness fitted and the outer bar just has a simple twist made in the driven rod, I did this to evaluate which worked best and conclude a harness needs to be fitted onto this weight bar too. So the next part of the build is to make up the ladder with stays and fit the landing stage rails, once fully tested the model can be spray painted and the Adlake lamp cases fitted but they will need drilling out beforehand to take nano LEDs for illumination and the spectacle lenses installed before final detail painting of the arms. The signal will be 12 volt servo driven and a sub base mount fitted. Anyway that's all for now.
Paul

 

Rob Pulham wrote:

Thanks for the nice compliment Rob ... I think building these finescale items is a matter of trial and error. .. I've got some Westinghouse pattern ground discs to make up soon ... the disc will have to rotate too. A lattice post... now that sounds like a challengehttp://www.click there was once a nice lattice bracket example at Leekbrook Junction until about 15 years ago.
cheers for now Paul

 

Hi Gormo, Thanks I appreciate that... btw I'm following your video blogs ... great tips and very informative. Kind regards Paulhttp://www.click

 

Hi Paul,
Thanks for that... I think what is important is to share info amongst members where neccessary, so with luck as a new member I can contribute in positive ways on the forum. I just spent years working with mechanical signalling and now building my layout in 7mm allows me use that knowledge in modelling also. I am always happy to help re matters signalling since it is a very daunting subject and we have to make compromises unless our layouts are located in 100 foot long sheds... and mine certainly isn't.
Kind regards Paul

 

Toto wrote:

Thanks Toto... just spent a couple of hours or more soldering up one of Andrew's MSE signal ladder kits... it looks like a bulldozer has just run all over it ... needs a bit of straightening out and for the next one I'm going to redesign a better jig to hold it down.
cheers for now Paul

 

Here is an old photo of Elton Crossing taken I think at the time of the electrification of the Manchester main line. this is the basis and start point of my layout build and the signal on the right is the one being modelled here. I use this image as my avatar and the view is looking north towards Sandbach station, the roof tops of the semi detached houses seen on the skyline denotes the route of the main line which runs in a cutting but parallel to the Middlewich Road. My next signal build will be the signal on the left, the distant arm is controlled by Sandbach and the minature call on arm is cleared when the approach track circuit to the junction is occupied, when the track is unoccupied the main Home arm can be cleared, note the Westinghouse E2 signal motor fitted to the post just where the weight bar would have been. Elton Crossing was the fringe box and the gates were under the jurisdiction of a crossing keeper, the line was used as a bypass for oil tanker tranks to Middlewich and 9F's and 8F's were the staple diet on this freight only branch. The line closed in 1971 and soon after I bought the signal box for preservation and is now located at Cheddleton on the preserved Churnet Valley Railway. Today all traces of this little line have gone and the way is now a road leading to an industrial estate nearby.
Sorry if this has veared a little off topic but the view does show some nice old signals
Cheers all for now. Paul

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gormo wrote:

Great thanks for the tip off Gormo... will be tuned in ready and waiting.http://www.clickregards Paul

 

Gary wrote:

Thanks Gary I'm encouraged by all the kind comments made ... I just try my best. Kind regards Paul http://www.click