Free-moNebraska

[Mark W]

I'm not surprised at all - Mark is a damn good modeler, and not bad at Photoshopping too.  Maybe, in my mind,  I gave Mark more credit than he deserves (about his micro-modeling abilities). 

Well I'll happily accept whatever credit is given!  But yeah, illuminated N Scale crossing arms are probably more of the latter there...   for now! 





@C855B, that's almost the exact thoughts I have for a PBC crossing arm!  I wonder if one could be fashioned from a PBC turnout tie...

[peteski]

Well I'll happily accept whatever credit is given!  But yeah, illuminated N Scale crossing arms are probably more of the latter there...   for now! 





@C855B, that's almost the exact thoughts I have for a PBC crossing arm!  I wonder if one could be fashioned from a PBC turnout tie...

Those are 1/16" - way too thick for anything resembling close-to-scale N scale gate.  I have some 0.010" copper-clad PC board material that woudl be more suitable. Flexible PC board material would probably be even better.

[Lemosteam]

Those are 1/16" - way too thick for anything resembling close-to-scale N scale gate.  I have some 0.010" copper-clad PC board material that woudl be more suitable. Flexible PC board material would probably be even better.

Except the fact that, well, its flexible??

[Mark W]

Here's one that's not 'shopped.  BNSF uses these little Kubota Utility Vehicles to scoot all around through Hobson Yard.  At night, you can see several flickering fire flies as you cross over HWY77.

I'll be adding the flashing via Arduino Trinket board tonight, then hope to mount one or two in Hobson Yard tomorrow during setup for the Lincoln Model Train Show this weekend!


https://i.imgur.com/Kvrz8HK.jpg

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Now its starting to look like an overpass!   


https://i.imgur.com/wnqWWcp.jpg

http://conrail1285.com/rgs/?c=b5+b1+b3+b2+b8+b10+b11

[peteski]

Except the fact that, well, its flexible??

I was thinking of gluing the circuit board to the existing NJ International brass gate, rather than making the gate itself out of the PC board.  Properly modeled gates are constructed from 2 thin pieces shaped like a very long "V".

[C855B]

... Properly modeled gates are constructed from 2 thin pieces shaped like a very long "V".

Depends on the period being modeled. I haven't seen that style in years; not that there are none, just not in my neighborhoods. Modern gates are telescoping aluminum or fiberglass rectangular tubes, and would be pretty close to spot on with a 0.010" x ~0.030" strip of PCB.

[peteski]

Depends on the period being modeled. I haven't seen that style in years; not that there are none, just not in my neighborhoods. Modern gates are telescoping aluminum or fiberglass rectangular tubes, and would be pretty close to spot on with a 0.010" x ~0.030" strip of PCB.

You're right - Ed's Law applies here.

[Mark W]

We're set up at our home town train show, running cool trains with great looking operators!


https://i.imgur.com/Ya73Uie.jpg



https://i.imgur.com/9XPGNJT.jpg


Love the classics too!

https://i.imgur.com/VXZ4fTd.jpg

[Mark W]

Those are 1/16" - way too thick for anything resembling close-to-scale N scale gate.  I have some 0.010" copper-clad PC board material that woudl be more suitable. Flexible PC board material would probably be even better.

Here's a N Scale Turnout Tie compared with the NJ Crossing Arms.  Yes, a over size compared to the prototype, but if it lights up and moves, it'll still be a winner.
At the very least, it will be great for proof of concept. 


https://i.imgur.com/Ub3TVuo.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/FPWJ0az.jpg

[Philip H]

is that clad on both sides? if so that would solve your wiring issues.

[peteski]

You can pick up much thinner double-sided copper clad material. It can be cut with scissors, or even better if you have a metal shear.

https://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/products.asp?dept=1034

[DKS]

I left the brass gates intact, filed off the dummy lights, and soldered one terminal of SMD LEDs directly to the arm. Then I soldered ultra-fine solenoid wire to the other terminals on the LEDs, and glued the wire to the back of the arm.



BTW, those are 0402s. I made these back around 1998, long before 0201s existed. And the flashing lights were scratchbuilt.

 

[peteski]

I left the brass gates intact, filed off the dummy lights, and soldered one terminal of SMD LEDs directly to the arm. Then I soldered ultra-fine solenoid wire to the other terminals on the LEDs, and glued the wire to the back of the arm.

BTW, those are 0402s. I made these back around 1998, long before 0201s existed. And the flashing lights were scratchbuilt.

That was also the method I was planning on using back in the early 90s (when I attempted making my own small LEDs).

[Lemosteam]

You can pick up much thinner double-sided copper clad material. It can be cut with scissors, or even better if you have a metal shear.

https://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/products.asp?dept=1034

Is there a single copper sided version of the product that you have found?