A Signal Change

With regret, I have decided to stop building operating signals to order but I will supply signal kits.

After my birthday in early May when I turned 74 and after much deliberation, I decided that I wouldn't build any more signals but just supply signal kits. I realised that I hadn't been able to do much for myself in the hobby over the previous three and a half years and this is evident with the drop off of Bylong blog posts as well. I had started several modelling projects but they were stillborn when I had to get back to the signals.

The signal kits have the brass castings cleaned up of sprues, holes all drilled, and small operating wires bent up except for the long 0.015" steel ones from the counterweight lever to the bellcrank or linear servo but this is covered in the instructions.

White and black water slide decals are supplied for the stripes on the signal arms as well. These decal small stripes are already cut around the stripe, just remove the clear excess around the outside when wet, then apply the stripe.

The bases are 3D printed for either the bellcrank type or the type for the small linear servos. I even have narrow versions for placing between tracks that are too close together.

The signal range has posts with up to 3 signal arm positions although I did do a one-off signal with four arms down the post with linear servos.

For more unusual signals I can supply posts pre-drilled to accept castings for the signal arm mounting bracket, the lamp, and the counterweight bracket for 1, 2, or 3 counterweight levers. To match the number of counterweight levers there are extra pulleys available for the bottom of the post. I can supply the posts pre-drilled for these extra fittings as required. 3D-printed drilling jigs were designed for this purpose.

A jig is supplied to assist in the placement of the safety handrail prior to soldering the uprights.

The signal lamps have been designed to accept a 0402 SMD (surface-mount-device) LED into a hole at the rear of the lamp which allows the light to shine out through a hole in the lens at the front. One LED wire can be soldered to the brass signal and the other could be glued to the rear of the post and pass through a printed hole in the base to an appropriate value resistor.

Signal assembly instructions can be found in the Links list above and to the right of this post.

SIGNALS BRANCH PRODUCT LIST

CODE     ITEM                                                                          Comment

1              27 ft Timber Signal          

2              23 ft Timber Signal          

3              Left Timber Bracket Signal           

4              Right Timber Bracket Signal        

5              Distant Timber Signal     

6              18 ft Timber Signal          

7              16 ft Timber Signal          

8              27 ft Home and Distant Timber Signal - ALSO CALLED - 27 ft 2 Arm Timber Signal 

9              23 ft 2 Arm Timber Signal             

10           23 ft 3 Arm Timber Signal             

11           18 ft 2 Arm Timber Signal             

12           RH Offset Timber Bracket Signal               

13           Underslung Timber Bracket Signal            - Yet to be done

14           Steel Tube 27 ft Signal   

15           Steel Tube 23 ft Signal   

16           Steel Tube Left Bracket - Tall      

17           Steel Tube Right Bracket - Tall   

18           Steel Slat Left Bracket Signal + 4th Post Side + Handrail + Small Wheels (2) * Long Leg    Wheel castings  (design change from short leg wheels)  

19           Steel Slat Right Bracket Signal + 4th Post Side + Handrail + Small Wheels (2) * Short Leg Wheel castings 

20           Signal Arm - 39 inch      

21           Signal Arm - 36 inch      

22           Signal Arm - 30 inch      

23           Signal Arm - Distant      

24           Signal Arm - Siding        

25           Signals Arm - Shunt Ahead        

26           Signal Arm - Wrong Road           

27           Signal Arm - Calling On

28           Ladders - 21' Standard with Cast Iron base

29           Ladder - 18' Post - Round Top       

30           Ladder - Medium - Round Top      - Used on Steel Slat Bracket Signals primarily

31           Ladder - Short - Round Top          - Used on Steel Slat Bracket Signals primarily

32           Signal Arm Lamp Blind                -   This casting no longer used - Replaced by No. 34   

33           Signal Arm Fine Lamp Blind - With crank              - Used on Steel Tube Bracket Signals

34           Signal Arm Lamp Blind - Fine with top cut-out         

35           Signal Lamp Cap           

36           Counterweight Lever   

37           Counterweight Lever - With Crank    - Used on Steel Tube Bracket Signals     

38           Timber Bracket Signal LARGE Cast Iron Bracket 

39           Timber Bracket Signal SMALL Cast Iron Bracket 

40           Timber Bracket Signal Bellcranks              

41           Signal Ladder Cast Iron Bases     

42           Signal Finial                          - as used on signal post castings        

43           Steel Slat Lower Quadrant Dolly Set of 6 Types  

44           Steel Slat  Lower Quadrant Dolly - Type 1             

45           Steel Slat  Lower Quadrant Dolly - Type 2             

46           Steel Slat  Lower Quadrant Dolly - Type 3             

47           Steel Slat  Lower Quadrant Dolly - Type 4             

48           Steel Slat  Lower Quadrant Dolly - Type 5             

49           Steel Slat  Lower Quadrant Dolly - Type 6             

50           Steel Slat Mid Bracket Signal + 4th Post Side + Handrail + Small Wheels (4) * Long leg Wheel castings      

51           Steel Slat Upper Quadrant Dolly - Type 1              

52           Steel Slat Upper Quadrant Dolly - Type 2              

53           Steel Slat Upper Quadrant Dolly - Type 3              

54           Steel Slat Upper Quadrant Dolly - Type 4              

55           Upper Quadrant Signal Arm (Type 1) and signal arm small 'donut' retainer     

56           NSWGR 48 Class Handrail and MU Connector Posts (2 Sets of 4 parts)     

57           LH Offset Timber Bracket Signal

58           Mid-Post Timber Bracket Signal                 - Yet to be done

59           Set of Timber Signal Fittings - Signal Arm Pivot, Lamp and Bracket,3 types Pulleys, Counterweight Lever Bracket, and Special longer Counterweight Lever    

60           Ladder - 27' Timber Post Round Top       

61           Ladder - 23' Timber Post Round Top       

62           Ladder - 16' Post Round Top            - Yet to be done - Cut down 18' round top ladder

63           LH Small Fabricated Bracket+Bent C/weight Lever+C/weight Lever Bracket+Light Blind+Dead End arm   

64           LH Small Cast Iron Bracket+Bent C/weight Lever+C/weight Lever Bracket+Light Blind+Dead End arm      

65           RH Small Fabricated Bracket+Straight C/weight Lever+C/weight Lever Bracket+Light Blind+Dead End arm

66           RH Small Cast Iron Bracket+Straight C/weight Lever+C/weight Lever Bracket+Light Blind+Dead End arm   

67           35' Co-Acting 2 Arm Timber Signal            - Designed on a signal once at Moss Vale

68           LH Small Fabricated Bracket+Bent C/weight Lever+C/weight Lever Bracket+Light Blind+Wrong Rd arm  

69           LH Small Cast Iron Bracket+Bent C/weight Lever+C/weight Lever Bracket+Light Blind+Wrong Rd arm      

70           RH Small Fabricated Bracket+Straight C/weight Lever+C/weight Lever Bracket+Light Blind+Wrong Rd arm               

71           RH Small Cast Iron Bracket+Straight C/weight Lever+C/weight Lever Bracket+Light Blind+Wrong Rd arm  

72           2nd Set of Timber Signal Fittings - Finer Finial, Finial w/Base, Bracket Small Steps, Small Platform, Large Platform, Double and Triple Counterweight Lever Brackets, Triple Pulley.         

73           Upper Quadrant Signal Post Parts including Type 2 UQ Signal Arm - Underway

74           Fassifern Tall Double Home Signals Parts and McKenzie and Holland timber signal parts for two other smaller signals on Toronto branch side of Fassifern station platform   - Available 11 August 2024

Here are examples of some of the signal types I have previously built and can supply as kits. Note, this is not the full range of signals available, see the list above.

Single and double arm 23' Timber Posts

18' Timber Post Signal with bellcrank base

27' Timber Post signal with bellcrank base

18' Timber Post Signal, and yes, the small arm works - Moss Vale signal

35 ft co-acting signal from Moss Vale

Moss Vale Mid-Post Steel Slat Bracket signal with a working small low arm

Steel Slat Offset Bracket also from Moss Vale

And another Moss Vale signal

Steel Slat Bracket at Moss Vale again - Linear servos and base

Here are two signals on Tim Preddy's Cooma layout. The blurry bracket in the foreground is here below.

Cooma Steel Slat Bracket

Available in this steel tubular type is a 23 foot signal, a 27 foot signal, left and right brackets

Here is an example of one production run, I think this one took longer. :-)

Another recent production run.

Here below is the most recent signal added to the range, guess what and where.

OK, this is pretty easy, it is the UP Home signals at Fassifern that both have co-acting signals due to the signal sight line being obstructed by a road bridge. There is also a McKenzie and Holland left Bracket low down on the outer post. The double linear servo base shown in the picture below will be a three-linear servo base, it was just a quick print as a trial.

And here below are a few things to think about for the future.

Brass telescopic tube posts with all the rest in the picture being brass castings that will slide onto the post for easy soldering with a small gas flame and solder paste (both available from JayCar). The operating rod for the Upper Quadrant signals will be run up through the base and tubes, exiting out a longitudinal hole adjacent to the signal arm. The small lower 'repeater' spectacle plate on the UQ signal second from the left below with the oil lamps has been designed to work as well (we will wait and see when I get the first brass castings).

These photos above are just a selection of signal kits I can supply, please contact me with any questions at:

rpilgrim@bigpond.net.au

If you contact me initially by Messenger I will request that you continue by email as that is where I keep all correspondence, so best to just use email.

Brass Signals and Parts Pricing

• One Arm 27', Distant, 23', 18', and 16' Timber Post Signal Kit - $60
• One Arm 27', 23', 18', and 16' Timber Post Signal built and painted - $100
• Two Arm 27', 23' 18' Timber Post Signal Kit - $70
• Two Arm 35' Co-Acting Timber Post Signal Kit - $75
• Three Arm 23' Timber Post Signal Kit - $80
• Timber Post LH or RH Bracket Signal Kit (2 Arms) - $110
• Timber Post LH or RH Offset Bracket Signal Kit (1 Arm) - $100
• Steel Tubular Post 27' or 23' One Arm Signal Kit - $60
• Steel Tubular Post Left or Right Hand Bracket Signal Kit - $100
• Steel Slat LH or RH Bracket Signal (2 Arms) - $130
• Steel Slat  LH or RH Offset Bracket Signal (1 Arm) - $120
• Steel Slat Mid-Post Bracket Signal (2 Arms) - $130
• Steel Slat LH or RH Bracket signal (3 Arm) - $140
• Brass Signal Arm, Lamp Blind, and Counterweight Lever replacements for Shapeways plastic signals - $6 a set:

            Signal arms available 39", 36", 30", Siding, Shunt Ahead, Wrong Road, and Calling On.

• Upper Quadrant Signal Arm - $3
• Ladder - Short with Safety Ring at the top - $6
• Ladder - Medium with Safety Ring at the top - $6
• Ladder - Tall with Safety Ring at the top for 16' and 18' posts - $6
• Ladder - 21 feet long with Cast Iron Base - $6
• Upper Quadrant Steel Tubular Dolly Posts - $3 each
• Lower Quadrant Steel Tubular Dolly Posts - $3 each
• NSWR 48 Class Handrails and Multi-unit Connectors (Trainorama) - $12 for one 48 Class.

The above signal kit prices include the adjustable throw bellcrank base or the linear servo base.

Linear servos for the linear servo bases are an additional $15.00 each.

Pack and Post would be in addition to the above prices.

Australian Made Servo Control Boards for DC and DCC

 As we now know the past two years have disturbed the normal supply of many things. Among those have been my goto servo control boards from Tam Valley Depot. I have used Tam Valley Depot Singlet IIs, Tam Valley Depot Quad-Pics and a Tam Valley Depot Dual 3-Way board. Tam Valley Depot's owner Duncan McCrae stopped production due to ill health and at about the same time, COVID-19 hit the supply of electronic parts. Tam Valley Depot has since recommenced production but only a small part of its range. All of the above servo control boards are no longer being made.

As a result, I began a search for alternatives. I found suitable servo control boards in the UK as well as one in the US but given the cost of shipping, these become expensive.

I came across a local Sydney supplier, RailCon with an inexpensive range of boards in both DC and DCC versions.

At the time I was designing and printing linear servo signal bases for some US-made Tomar brand Upper Quadrant signals after an enquiry from a modeller here in Australia. Now the modeller didn't want three positions for the signal arms so I told him about the 2 position RailCon MD-003 boards so he purchased them for his signals and had them sent to me.

USA Tomar brand Upper Quadrant Signals with RailCon MD-003 Servo Slave Units

The RailCon MD-003 boards arrived and I found them quite easy to adjust the linear servos to get the correct throw of the signal arms but the speed of the throw was too fast. I called RailCon and spoke to the owner, Jim Crew about the issue. Jim said the boards were originally designed to throw point blades so the speed wasn't an issue then., however, he said he would have a look at slowing the speed. After a couple of days, Jim said he had done it so I sent the RailCon boards to him to be updated. They arrived a week back or so later and the speed was good. This speed has now become the speed for the boards in the RailCon range as it won't have any effect on the point blades since they only move a small amount.

The RailCon MD-003 Servo Motor Slave Unit will drive 2 servos and is priced at $24.60 which is $12.30 per servo output. The board requires a 12 Volt DC power supply.

For use on a DC layout, the MD-003 is used as is but for DCC the $24.85 SD-001 Central Control Unit is required. The SD-001 board connects to 4 SD-009 Servo Motor Slave Units. This gives $15.40 per DCC servo output.

While talking to Jim I asked about the possibility of a 3 position servo board for our NSWGR Upper Quadrant signals and he said he would look at it. About two weeks later Jim said he had a 3 position board and could I test it, the answer of course was yes.

Here is a video of a HO NSWGR Upper Quadrant signal arm being moved by the 3-position servo board. As I didn't have any Upper Quadrant bracket signals under construction I set up the Upper Quadrant arm on a Lower Quadrant timber post from my range.

As you can see the arm moves through the correct sequence going from CLEAR (vertical) to STOP (horizontal) in one movement then From STOP to CAUTION (45 Degrees) and then finally back to STOP. A three-position switch can be used to change the signal but the software has been written to ignore the centre switch position when moving from CLEAR to STOP. Of course, other switching methods can be used such as DCC, track detectors, relays, etc.

The MD-003a Servo Slave Unit is the 3-position Upper Quadrant version and is $24.00. The MD-003a is for DC and only controls one servo as the existing MD-003 printed circuit board has been used with three input connections instead of the four inputs (2 pairs) of the MD-003 unit. This was the simplest and least expensive way for RailCon to give us a 3-position option.

Although the website hasn't been updated as yet there is a DCC 3-position version, the SD-009a Servo Motor Slave Unit, The  SD-001 Central Control Unit will support 4 SD-009a Servo Motor Slave Units to control 4 servos in total.

One of my NSWGR Steel Bracket Signals with
Upper Quadrant and Lower Quadrant signal arms

I hope you have found this information useful and I think that RailCon should be supported as it is a very good local product.

New Products in the Locally Produced Brass Signal Range

NOTE: The range and pricing information was slightly updated on 2022-02-17.

It has been some time since the last post but product development has not stopped.

Steel Slat Bracket Signal with a Lower Quadrant and an Upper Quadrant arm
operated by linear servos. The LQ and UQ dolly posts are designed
to plug into the Steel Slat Bracket.

New items that have been added to the range are:

• Left Hand Steel Slat Bracket Signal to complement the previously released right-hand version.
• Mid-Post Steel Slat Bracket Signal
• 16 foot Lower Quadrant Timber Post Signal
• 18 foot Lower Quadrant Timber Post Signal
• 18 foot 2 Arm Lower Quadrant Timber Post Signal
• 27 foot Home and Distant Lower Quadrant Timber Post Signal
• Left Hand Offset Dolly Timber Bracket Signal (no main post dolly)
• Right hand Offset Dolly Timber Bracket Signal (no main post dolly)
• 4 styles of Upper Quadrant Dolly Posts for the Steel Slat Bracket Signals
• Upper Quadrant Signal Arms
• NSWR 48 Class Diesel Electric Locomotive front and rear Handrails and Multi-unit Connectors designed to replace lost Trainorama 48 Class parts

Brass Signals and Parts Pricing

• One Arm 27', 23' 18' and 16' Timber Post Signal Kit - $60
• One Arm 27', 23' 18' and 16' Timber Post Signal built and painted - $100
• Two Arm 27', 23' 18' Timber Post Signal Kit - $70
• Three Arm 23' Timber Post Signal Kit - $80
• Two Arm 27', 23' 18' Timber Post Signal built and painted - $110
• Three Arm 23' Timber Post Signal built and painted - $120
• Timber LH or RH Post Bracket Signal Kit (1 or 2 Arms) - $100
• Timber LH or RH Post Bracket Signal built and painted (1 or 2 Arms) - $170
• Steel Tubular Post 27' or 23' One Arm Signal Kit - $60
• Steel Tubular Post 27' or 23' One Arm Signal built and painted - $100
• Steel Tubular Post Left or Right Hand Bracket Signal Kit - $100
• Steel Tubular Post Left or Right Hand Bracket Signal built and painted - $170
• Steel Slat Bracket Signal (1 or 2 Arms) - $200
• Steel Slat Bracket signal (3 Arm) - $220
• Brass Signal Arm, Lamp Blind and Counterweight Lever replacements for Shapeways plastic signals - $6 a set Signal arms available are: 39", 36", 30", Siding, Shunt Ahead, Wrong Road and Calling On.
• Upper Quadrant Signal Arm - $3
• Ladder - Short with Safety Ring at the top - $6
• Ladder - Medium with Safety Ring at the top - $6
• Ladder - Tall with Safety Ring at the top for 16' and 18' posts - $6
• Ladder - 21 feet long with Cast Iron Base - $6
• Upper Quadrant Steel Tubular Dolly Posts - $3 each
• Lower Quadrant Steel Tubular Dolly Posts - $3 each
• NSWR 48 Class Handrails and Multi-unit Connectors (Trainorama) - $12 for one 48 Class.

The above signal prices include the adjustable throw bellcrank mechanism.

Linear Servos for the mechanisms are $12.50 each.

Due to the last online order price increase, once I run out of the current Linear Servos the price will increase to $15.

Pack and Post would be in addition to the above prices.

Here is a video of an Upper Quadrant signal being operated by a Tam Valley Depot Dual Three Way servo control board (see Tam Valley Depot News below).

Here are the four Upper Quadrant dolly posts.

The numbers 51-54 are product codes

Here are the 6 lower Quadrant Dolly Posts with product codes.

The numbers 44 -49 are product codes

Here is a photo of the brass 48 Class Handrails and Multi-unit Connectors for the Trainorama 48 Class. These plug into the same hole mounts and can be glued so they won't come out.

These were made as I found that I had lost several handrails on my Trainorama 48 Class locomotives. These can be glued in place, unlike the push-fit original parts that can easily be caught and spring away during handling.

Tam Valley Depot News

As some modellers will know already, Duncan McRae. the owner of Tam Valley Depot has terminal cancer and has retired. His family are going to attempt to keep the business going but possibly due to the supply difficulties of electronic parts they have reduced the product line. Unfortunately, the Singlet II, Octopus III and the Quad-Pic servo control boards have been dropped from the line. Hopefully, this will be resolved and the boards will be available again.

The Frog Juicers and DCC Booster are still available.

There is no mention of the Dual Three Way Servo board being dropped but it isn't listed as a product anymore.

A three-way servo control board is required for the Upper Quadrant signals.

There are other servo control boards available and here are several possibilities.

Chesterfield Models - Prima DCC Decoder 32 Outputsfor Servos, Relays or LEDs

Modelling Electronics - 2 or 3 Position 2A Servo Controller MKII

Modelling Electronics - 2 or 3 Position Server Controller Module

Model Railroad Control Systems - Dual Semaphore Servo Controller

I am sure there would be others so if anyone knows of any please let me know at rpilgrim@bigpond.net.au.

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.

Australian Made NSWGR Lower Quadrant Brass Signals - UPDATED 19-03-2020

Australian made lost wax cast brass NSWGR lower quadrant signals as kits or built can be ordered from me, Ray Pilgrim at rpilgrim@bigpond.net.au.

The brass signal kits are locally produced, are complete and much cheaper than my brass signals from my Signals Branch shop at Shapeways.

 Brass signal features:

27 ft Single-arm Byles type timber post Signal

23 ft Single-arm Byles type timber post Signal

Left Hand Bracket Byles type timber post Signal

Right Hand Bracket Byles type timber post Signal

39, 36 and 30 inch Signal Arm options

Available as a kit or built to order if required

Everything you need including brass post and details

Castings have been removed from sprues and cleaned up

All holes pre-drilled

3D printed mechanism ready to adjust the signal arm and includes mounting screws

Pre-bent wire for safety handrail and operating rods

Jig to assist with mounting the safety handrail

Single Post - Kit $60 - Built and painted $100

Bracket Post – Kit $100 – Built and painted $170

Assembly instructions can be found in the links at the right-hand side of this page.

Contact Ray Pilgrim at rpilgrim@bigpond.net.au for ordering or further information.

Signals Branch HO Brass Timber Post Signals with brass ladder

Other HO NSWGR signals and models are on my online Signals Branch shop at Shapeways:

https://www.shapeways.com/shops/signalsbranch

NEWS

30 April 2017

A range of brass NSWGR Signals in both timber post and steel round post versions has been commenced. The first releases are 23 foot single arm signals in timber and round steel posts.

The assembly instructions are available for download from the Links on the right hand side of this page.

NSWGR 23 ft Timber Post Signal

NSWGR 23 ft Round Steel Post Signal

A White Strong and Flexible Signal Base/Mechanism is also required to mount these signals.

Timber Post Base/Mechanism

Round Steel post base/Mechanism

Also required is a ladder, either a Signals Branch signal ladder or an etched brass ladder from another supplier.

2 x Frosted Ultra Detail Ladders

10 x Frosted Ultra Detail Ladders with cast Iron Signal Ladder Bases

The assembly instructions are available for download from the Links on the right hand side of this page.

19 July 2016

Just a short post to announce that I have recently made some 4 bolt and 6 bolt fishplates and sleeper plates available on my Signals Branch Shapeways Shop in the HO Infrastructure range and the 7mm Scale range. All of the items are printed in the Frosted Ultra Detail acrylic material.


These items were designed as a result of a request from a modeller so if you have an idea contact me and I will see what can be done.

My email address is rpilgrim@bigpond.net.au

The fishplates were designed for Code 70 and 75 rail but would also work with Code 100 rail.

The fishplates can be glued to the sides of the existing rail to add that missing detail, not for the modern image welded rail modellers though.

Of course the sleeper plates with the holes can also be used as scenic detail laying around the railway yard and alongside the line.

I have also done the fishplates just with holes for lineside details as well.

Here are some 3D renders, photos of the prototypes and a couple of HO 3D model prints.

HO Scale

Close up of 3D render of HO 4 Bolt Fishplates

4 Bolt Fishplate - Carcoar NSW

Actual 3D HO 4 Bolt Fishplate print on Peco Code 75 rail, also fits

Shinohara Code 70 and Micro Engineering Code 70 rail

Close up of 3D render of HO 6 Bolt Fishplates

Observation suggests that only 4 bolts were used.

6 Bolt Fishplate - Carcoar NSW

The 3D printed model fishplates in the photo are opposite each other instead of offset by half the rail length.

This was a test to ensure that NMRA RP25/110 and RP25/88 wheel flanges would not hit the fishplates (which they don't).

Close up of 3D render of HO sleeper plates.

The 4 holes through the plates are to fit Micro Engineering Micro Spikes (Product No. 30-108)

Sleeper Plate - Blayney NSW

Note that the holes in the actual plate are slightly off centre but the holes on the models are centred.

This is because of minimum wall thickness issues of the 3D printing design requirements.

HO 3D printed Sleeper Plates on HO timber sleeper - Code 70 Rail

Micro Engineering Micro Spikes (Product No. 30-108)

Close up of 3D render of HO sleeper plates with printed dog spikes.

Plates are designed to be slid onto Code 70 or 75 rail and glued to HO timber sleepers once gauged.

7mm Scale

Close up 3D render of 7mm Scale 4 Bolt Fishplates

4 Bolt Fishplate - Carcoar NSW

Close up 3D render of 7mm Scale 6 Bolt Fishplates.

Observation suggests that only 4 bolts were used.

6 Bolt Fishplate - Carcoar NSW

Close up of 3D render of 7mm Scale sleeper plates for Code 100 rail.

Two layers of plates are shown.

Close up of 3D render of 7mm Scale sleeper plates for Code 125 rail.

Two layers of plates are shown.

Sleeper Plate - Carcoar NSW

5 July 2016

Just a short post to announce that I have recently made some left and right hand offset bracket signals available on my Signals Branch Shapeways Shop in the HO Fine Detail range and the 7mm Scale WSF range.

Here are some 3D renders of the signals showing the detail level. Note that these are views of the 7mm Scale signals as they show the operating mechanism below the signal base, however the HO Fine Detail Signals have the same level of detail (basically the same 3D file) but without the mechanism which needs to be ordered separately as it is in WSF to reduce the cost.

I would like to point out that these signals have two signal arms, a 39 inch and a 30 inch to allow the modeller to choose which one to use.

Overall view of the Left Hand Bracket Signal

Note that the large cast iron bracket is not printed in place to allow the inner surfaces
of the timber beams and underside of the platform to be painted

Note the pulleys at the base of the signal post and the small supporting brackets under the platform

Overall view of the Right Hand Offset Bracket Signal

Right Hand Offset Bracket Signal platform detail

Right Hand Bracket Signal platform underside detail

I have also added a left hand offset bracket to the White Strong and Flexible (WSF) original HO signal range but of course the range doesn't have the higher level of detail.


22 June 2016

I have just expanded the HO Fine Detail Frosted Ultra Detail (FUD) and 7mm Scale White String and Flexible (WSF) range of signals with a left and a right hand NSWGR Lower Quadrant tapered timber post Bracket Signal.

The HO version can be found in the Fine Detail Signals section of my Signals Branch Shapeways shop and the 7mm Scale versions can be found of course in the 7mm Scale section of the shop.

The following renders of the 3D file for the left hand bracket shows the detail I have managed to achieve. I am particularly proud of the results.

The same 3D design is used for both the HO and 7mm Scale signals, adjusted slightly and re-scaled.

The signal comes with one 39" and one 30" signal arm for a main line and a loop. I will be making a range of signal arms available if different sizes/types are required.

The supporting struts attached to the post and bracket are to be removed of course, they are there to protect and support the bracket during the printing process.

To complete the HO Fine Detail signal a suitable mechanism is required and the 2 arm mechanism should be purchased. The mechanism is in WSF as it is much cheaper than the FUD material that the signal is made of. The mechanism is to be glued to the underside of the base of the signal.

The 7mm Scale signal has the appropriate mechanism as part of the print as the signal is done in WSF.

Ladders will be required and printed ladders for each scale are available.

HO 2 Ladder sprue - FUD

HO 10 Ladders with Cast Iron Bases Sprue - FUD

7mm Scale 2 Ladder Sprue - FUD

From the above list it will be seen that I now have a sprue of 10 HO ladders printed in Frosted Ultra Detail acrylic material and these come with the cast iron signal ladder base as part of the ladder.

Apart from use with the HO Fine Detail Signals, these ladders were also designed to replace the coarser ladder of the original basic White Strong and Flexible signals if the modeller so desires or for use on other suppliers signals.


Some New Signals

10 April 2016

Here are a several new items I have recently made available in my Signals Branch shop.

A HO Fine Detail Distant signal in Frosted Ultra Detail (FUD) to complement the 27 foot, 23 foot, 18foot and 16 foot single arm signals already available. See the Fine Detail Signals section of the shop. These signal posts come with the signal arm and detail parts, it isn't necessary to order them separately. However the under baseboard operating mechanism is to be ordered as well and glued to the underside of the signal post base. The Short 1 Arm Signal Mechanism is the cheapest option.

HO Fine Detail Distant Signal with added fine printed ladder

Short 1 Arm Signal Mechanism - Required for a Fine Detail Signal

A pair of HO Signal Ladders in FUD for the HO Fine Detail Signals and also to replace the ladders on the original HO White Strong and Flexible HO 'standard' detail signals. These ladders are quite fine but are still reasonably robust in that they will bend a fair bit. The ladders are on the Distant Signal in the above photo.

 A 7mm Scale Distant signal in White Strong and Flexible (WSF) to complement the 27 foot, 23 foot, 18foot and 16 foot single arm signals already available. See the 7mm Scale section of the shop.

7mm Scale Distant Signal - White Strong and Flexible material - Added FUD ladder

A pair of 7mm Scale Signal Ladders in FUD for the 7mm Scale signals. These are quite fine but are still reasonably robust in that they will bend a fair bit. The ladders are on the Distant Signal in the above photo.


A sprue of 7mm Scale Distant signal detail parts in Frosted Ultra Detail acrylic material to use instead of the WSF parts supplied with the signal.

Frosted Ultra Detail signal parts - Only required if you want crisper detail parts

7mm Scale Clearance Posts with Lamps added to the Range

5 March 2016

7mm Scale Clearance posts with Lamps printed in Frosted Ultra Detail acrylic material have now been added to the range. These clearance posts with lamps are to be mounted in a 6mm hole drilled through the baseboard at the clearance location of a set of points (turnouts). On the NSWGR the post and lamp were painted white, paint the lens silver or leave the lens clear if you wish to light the lamp with a LED. The posts are printed in the Frosted Ultra Detail (FUD) material that can be made to transmit the light from a 3mm golden white LED placed into the 3mm mounting hole from below the baseboard by coating the lamp lens and the inside of the LED mounting with clear gloss lacquer or ACC Super Glue. Applying the clear removes the frosted look as internally the FUD is clear. If knocked hard the post may break, if so then just pull them out and replace with a new one. If there is a whiteish effect on the surface then carefully scrape this away as much as possible, this is remanent printing support material. I have no control over the orientation of the print and hence the support material.

NSWGR Catch Point, NSWGR Derail and Catch point Indicators added to the Range

29 February 2016

I have today added HO NSWGR Catch Points in left and right hand versions and NSWGR Derails which are simpler equivalents to the catch points in both left and right hand versions. The catch points and derails require the purchaser to source either code 70 or Code 75 rail. NSWGR plans of the catch points and derail can be found in the links on the right hand side of this blog.

Also available are NSWGR Catch Point Indicators in both HO and 7mm Scale and both sizes can be made to work from the catch points mentioned above.

A link to my Signals Branch Shapeways Shop can be found in the links section towards the top and to the right.


7mm Scale Signals added to the Range

29 February 2016

Today began the introduction of a 7mm Scale range of signals with 27ft, 23ft, 18ft and 16ft single arm signals in White Strong and Flexible becoming available. The signal arm and detail parts are all in the same print, however like the HO Fine Detail signals the ladder and handrails are to be sourced by the purchaser so that a much finer signal will result. Etched brass ladder kits are available from Keiran Ryan Models and possibly other sources. As I increase the range of the HO Fine Detail signals I will also add the 7mm Scale versions.


HO Fine Detail Signals added to the Range

19 December 2016

I have added a range of Fine Detail HO signals with 27ft, 23ft, 18ft and 16ft single arm signals in Frosted Ultra Detail (FUD). The signal arm and detail parts are all on the same print, I did this to see if I could come up with a higher quality signal but also to try to keep the price as low as possible by eliminating the US$5 base charge from Shapeways for FUD. I achieved this by producing the signal in FUD for detail and the mechanism in the White Strong and Flexible (WSF) like the standard signals available from my Shapeways shop. I made a shorter mechanism to use less WSF material and a smaller machine space as Shapeways uses both of these parameters when calculating the WSF print cost. This has allowed me to make a Fine Detail Signal available for only about AU$11 more than the standard White Strong and Flexible signals.The signal is amazingly strong although it may break if given a quite hard knock when mounted into the baseboard. It is very difficult to break a piece of 2mm square FUD sprue with the fingers, well I can't actually.

However to achieve a finer detailed signal the ladder and handrails were not printed and are to be sourced by the purchaser. Etched brass ladder kits are available from Keiran Ryan Models and possibly other sources.


HO and 7mm NSWGR A Frames added to the Range

19 December 2015

I have added HO and 7mm NSWGR A Frames to the range available from my Signals Branch Shapeways Shop. A frames are the stands that support and guide the point rodding from a lever frame to one or more points. They are available in Frosted Ultra Detail in sets of 20 frames from one frame to eight frames wide. The A frames have been designed to use polystyrene point rodding that is 0.5mm square Evergreen shapes for HO and 1.0mm square Evergreen shapes for 7mm Scale. The 1.0mm rodding is a smooth fit however the 0.5mm is a neater fit.


Matching Signal Posts to Arms and Detail Part Sets

Click on the link on the right hand side to download a PDF file with information about which Signal Arms and Details Sets to use with particular Signal Posts. This information relates to the White Strong and Flexible signals. The HO Fine Detail signals printed in Frosted Ultra Detail come with the arm(s) and details attached to save the base US$5 production charge for the detail parts, that is it is only applied to the single print, a saving to you. Similarly the 7mm Scale signals printed in White Strong and Flexible some with the arm(s) and details attached. Other HO and 7mm Scale signal arms will be available separately.

This entry was edited/corrected on 29 February 2016.


Do You Want Someone to Build my Signals?

If buying signals from my Signals Branch Shapeways Shop and you would like someone to paint and assemble the signals then Dale Richards has indicated that he will assemble them, for a price of course.

Dale's email address is signalsnsw@gmail.com

Dale also makes his own signals using brass etches and tubing for round posts so he would be glad to speak to you regarding these as well.


Shapeways Shops Can Now Show the Price in Your Currency

Recently Shapeways made a change to the way that the price is shown.

Previously the prices on the Signals Branch Shop were shown in US Dollars but the price can now be shown in the currency of the country that you come from so Australians can see the price in Australian Dollars.

To see the Australian Dollar price scroll to the bottom of the screen and change the drop down list from US$ to AU$. I am not sure if the country drop down effects anything but you can change it to Australia as well.

Shapeways still operates in US$ behind the scenes so the price is set in US$. A by product of this is that the exchange rate causes the price to look odd.

This entry was edited/corrected on 21 January 2016.