New TrainCat Signals

[peteski]

I get a lot of my scratchbuilding materials from them also.  Unfortunately, 3/64" tubing (with a thin coat of paint) is 1 3/4" too big in diameter (the closest to 6" that K&S carries). Now...you wouldn't think you could actually see a difference of .0109375"...but I think it's pretty evident.

Just sayin'...

Your Indian name must be "N scale eye of Eagle". 

How about the out of scale ladders or platforms (or out of scale LEDs)?  Those don't bother you?

[GaryHinshaw]

I have them both, ATSF and SP Tehachapi tall searchlights. Once I finish these, I will all of the types used on the loop!

Don't forget the N scale version of the MP377 signal bridge (the "Late SP Signal Bridge" in your catalog).  I think you still have a chance to get it out before the prototype is torn down...

http://redoveryellow.com/signals/tehachapi/

Fantastic resource, jb.  Thx!

[TrainCat2]

Any chance you can post a picture of the back of the searchlight heads?  They look very nice, just need to see how adaptable they will be to other configurations.

Here is a quick rendering from an older version that had the target as part of the head. I chose this one since the target gives you a better representation. Now, the target is a separate etched item.

The small back cover is not shown either and the pin goes into the cast brass Bracket Support. The pin is also the same on the D-Types which also use the same Bracket Support.

[randgust]

I've been in the process of upgrading all my signals to scale-sized diodes; it's not that big of a layout but I've got the 2-track bridges, cantilevers, conventional 2-aspect mast signals, and those big honking single aspect signals at Winslow.   Hopefully this solves that last problem in one way or another as long as I can get tall enough masts here.

Bob, a 'long' time ago there was some discussion about doing this style of ATSF bridge (A frame with the double-chord and diagonal braces), not to steal the thread, but if you tell me you're NOT going to do it then I'll amuse myself accordingly with starting a scratchbuild:
http://www.rrsignals.net/Atsf/Albuquerque/2ndDistrict/2541/2541.jpg
That's not the same as the BLMA bridge, either.

There was one of those at West Flagstaff.

[TrainCat2]

Randy, they are being done. I actually found one still standing on an abandoned ROW in good shape. It's still too cold for me to fly up north (thin blooded Florida boy here) and get actual hands on measurements. The ATSF drawings I have are marginal.

[robert3985]

Your Indian name must be "N scale eye of Eagle". 

How about the out of scale ladders or platforms (or out of scale LEDs)?  Those don't bother you?

Yup.  Ladders bug me, so I do my own using my NWSL Riveter to emboss rivets in .003" brass, then I drill 'em out with a .007" bit, insert a spacer between the ladder rails and insert .006" wire into the holes and solder 'em up.  Then, I trim the ends which leaves a bit of the rod sticking out, which looks very prototypical for the UP style cantilever signal bridges, which had round ladder rungs with ladder rails which were perpendicular to the rungs.

Here's a photo of my second effort at making a round-rung ladder for my scratch-built signal bridges:


The mast signals have a different ladder which I am only going to be able to reproduce using etching because they have rectangular cross-section rungs that fit into rectangular slots cut into the ladder rails.  The plan is to etch the rails with the rectangular holes in them, then etch the rungs with a step at the rung ends so when adding both rails and rungs, the distance apart is automatically maintained.  When the rungs are soldered in place, then they get snipped off, leaving just a touch of NS protruding.

Here's a photo of a mast D-Type signal head in Echo Canyon with the flat rung ladder.  I'll make it big so you can zoom in on the ladder detail:


I'm working on a fret of several etched details that I'm doing the artwork for, and two different styles of signal ladder rails and rungs are some of the items...for signals as well as caboose ends (CA, CA-1, CA-3, CA-4 and CA-5 end platform details) and UP style telegraph pole details too.  All that stuff I can't buy anywhere to make my UP mainlines look like what I see in life and photos.

I usually turn the LED's down on my lathe, then cover the backs up with my sheet brass signal head bodies.  Several years ago when I got started at this, the backs were bigger than I wanted, but the plethora of smaller LED lamps and SMD LEDs has rendered the larger signal head bodies moot.

I started machining when I was 14 at a company named "Precision Sonics" that had a scientist, an engineer and a machinist.  The engineer taught me how to use a 12" Clausing lathe, and a Clausing vertical mill, and my duty was both to machine and assemble the Phenolic eddy current probes and the stainless ultrasonic probes, but also to machine the stepped calibrating "standards" out of SS that had to be accurate to +/- .0005"...on all ten steps. and accompanied every "probe" order.  For the finish to be proper, a finish cut of .001" had to be made, and everything else could be "hogged" away.  I got to where I was coming to within .002" of the final cut just by eyeballing it.  Since I only machine nowadays for my hobbies, I'm not as exact as I was way back when, but I can still see things that are out of dimension by a couple of thousandths, especially if it's a small part to begin with.

[peteski]

Well Bob, all I can say at this point is that you are in a league of your own. We should call you "a master eyeballer, and machinist extraordinaire". Very impressive!  No go and make 50 of those signals! 

[unittrain]

Will be getting the pennsy kits!

[Cajonpassfan]

Randy, they are being done. I actually found one still standing on an abandoned ROW in good shape. It's still too cold for me to fly up north (thin blooded Florida boy here) and get actual hands on measurements. The ATSF drawings I have are marginal.

Bob, great news, I thought you've given up on these! Thank you!
I may have been the one to send you the marginal drawings a while back, I did send you a package of info... What measurements do you need to make this happen, perhaps I can dig some more?
Excited to see you back and doing some great work!
Regards, Otto K.

[TrainCat2]

Yes you did Otto. I then went to the ATSF Historical Society and they sent the same ones to me. It was about 4-5 months ago when a friend sent me that photo that I decided to wait until spring, go photograph and measure it myself so I can produce accurate drawings.

[randgust]

That's good!  I can hold out for a while if need be.   I've waited this long to try to get it right.

What's your timing looking like on the mast signals?   I'll order something to try to do the tall ones as soon as they are available.

[TrainCat2]

All of the Bases are being RPed now along with the molds for investment castings. Soon . . . . that includes PRR too.

[eric220]

Yeah PRR signals! I really need to get to work and wire up the logic for my signal test area. When these come out, I want to have them up on the layout along with the facia repeater!

[nkalanaga]

"Unfortunately for me, it looks as if the projected TrainCat D-Type signal with the big hood isn't UP's style, which has an even bigger hood. "

Any idea how close they'd be for the signals on the Milwaukee's electrified lines?  I don't know if they used the same style in the Midwest or not.

[TrainCat2]

Actually, both styles of Hooded D's will be done. I am just starting with the modern version first so I can get ready for Safetrans and the like. The UP Snowsheilds will be done by mid/late summer.