Additions to the Range of Locally Produced NSWGR Brass Signals

The February 2020 issue of the Australian Model Railway Magazine contained a Signals Branch update on some locally produced brass NSWGR signals that were being developed.

Well, the time has come to announce what is now available.

First is what I call a Steel Slat Bracket Signal, I don't know what the NSWGR called them but the post is made of four steel sections with short welded cross-members. Here is a prototype example:

Cooma - Photo by Robert Merchant

And a photo of a built and painted Signals Branch model.

Pricing - Kit $120 - Built and Painted - $200

The model is designed to have 'plug' in dolly posts and there are six variations available in my range so the required dolly posts will need to be specified when ordering.

Also by leaving the dolly above the main post off then an outrigger style of bracket signal can be made.

Moss Vale Down Starting Signal - Photographer unknown

So a number of variations can be made.

The dolly posts are available separately to order at $3 each.

The above right-hand Steel Slat Bracket Signal has been added to the range but unfortunately, there is no left-hand version as yet. I only did the right-hand version to ensure that what I had designed actually worked. When I was ready to start the left-hand version Shapeways stopped the 3D printing of their metal range including the brass due to COVID-19 issues.

The problem is that I use a Shapeways brass version of a new signal as the master for the production of a silicon rubber mould that is then used to produce the wax signal parts that are used to make the lost wax brass signals. I will either have to wait for Shapeways to start offering brass again or try to produce the master with my DLP resin 3D printer. There are a couple of potential issues with printing the signal and parts myself and they are warping in long parts and clean-up of the contact points of the supports on the model. While these can usually be overcome there can be a lot of experimentation along the way.

A Mid-Post Steel Slat Bracket is currently being designed but timing is related to the issues above.

A timber post Distant signal has been added to the range and the price is the same as a single-arm signal, i.e. Kit - $60, Built and Painted $100.

Distant Signal
Pricing - Kit - $60, Built and Painted $100

The next signal in the range is a timber 23 foot 2 signal arm post.

23 foot 2 signal arm post
Pricing - Kit $70 - Built and Painted $100

The small Shunt Ahead signal arm on the two models above is one of four available small shunting signals arms and these are:

All signal arms in the range are available with a counterweight lever and a rear lamp blind at $6.

Signal arms are priced at $3 each.

Counterweight Levers are priced at $1.50 each.

Lamp blinds are priced at $1.50 each.

Also available are four different ladders, one being the 'standard' type, another is an 18-foot ladder with a round loop and two braces at the top and finally, the two shorter ladders that can be seen on the Steel Slat Bracket Signal above.

All ladder types are available to order for $6 each.

18ft Signal Ladder with Base Casting and Safety Cage

Yesterday I completed the test model of the Tubular Steel Post Bracket Signal as shown below. This is now available in both left and right-hand Bracket versions as well as a 23 foot single arm Tubular Steel Post signal and a 27 foot single arm Tubular Steel Post signal.

Pricing - Kit - $100 Built and painted - $170

I am particularly pleased with both the Steel Slat Bracket signal and the Tubular Steel Post Bracket signal, they were a bit of a challenge to work out how to make them operate but work they do.

The above signal pricing is based on the crank style base/mechanism.

If the linear servo base/mechanism is required then there is an additional charge for the linear servos at $12.50 each.

See the post below for more detail regarding the linear servos.

I am investigating having a website to show the range more easily and to hopefully enable pricing and ordering.

To order or for more information please email Ray Pilgrim at:

rpilgrim@bigpond.net.au

New Signal Bases with Linear Servo

Signals Branch has recently designed and tested a new signal base for the range of locally produced brass lost wax cast NSWGR Signals that allows the mounting of a small linear servo.

An order for the Signals Branch locally made lost wax cast brass signals with this new linear servo base or the original screw adjustable signal arm throw base/mechanism either as a kit or built can be made by email to: rpilgrim@bigpond.net.au

Original Screw Adjustable Signal Arm Base/Mechanism

The signal base will mount into a 22 mm diameter hole in the layout baseboard.

A double mount has also been designed and tested successfully for two-arm signals such as brackets.

Although not designed and tested as yet a three-arm signal base should be possible but will require more below baseboard vertical clearance.

As there are no built-in throw controls on the signal base for the movement of the signal arm (as on the Signals Branch versions with the cranks and adjustable screws) the movement of the signal arm is controlled by a servo driver board.

The servos will need to be driven by a servo driver board such as those supplied by Tam Valley and other companies. I believe that Arduino boards can be used but that is outside my area of knowledge.

The linear servo is fitted with a plug that matches the Tam Valley servo driver boards.

The linear servo can be sourced online with a different plug for those not using the Tam Valley servo driver boards.

Tam Valley makes servo driver boards for both DCC and DC.

DCC - TamValley Singlet and Quad servo driver boards with DCC accessory decoder(s).

DC - Tam Valley Octopus III 8 servo driver board.

Signals Branch has no affiliation with Tam Valley just a user of their products.

The advantage of these 'built-in' linear servos is that there would be no need to get under the layout to install them with all signal arm throw programming being able to be done on the workbench.

It is expected that the base with a single linear servo would be approximately $17.50 each and a double base with two servos would be approximately $29.95.

Unfortunately, these linear servos are not cheap like the 9G servos.

The linear servo signal bases will be available without the linear servo as well.

A base for a single linear servo is $8.50.

A base for 2 linear servos will be $11.95.

At this stage, the linear servos will not be available separately.

I currently have approximately 20 linear servos available for inclusion in kits or built signals with another 20 in transit but not expected for several weeks.