oldravendale
Western Thunderer
Recently oi mostly been building signals.
Here and now I will admit that, until very recently, I had built no signals and know absolutely nothing about the subject. However, I bought some kits from MSE, studied some books and built an SR one for a friend in 7mm and another couple for the club layout which went together reasonably well. As a result club asked me to build the signals for the new 4mm layout. I've already built two which are now on the layout. Here are the two I have in hand at the moment and in primer. Apart from the fact that, after 7mm, this is akin to watch making (admiration and respect to you 2mm modellers!) they've gone together well, and the instructions (MSE) have been fine.
However.....(and there's always a however)......
One of the signals I have to build is a MR Splitting Distant. Again, the parts appear to be all OK and fit for purpose but I'm struggling with the post/trimmers/dolls/brackets. Here's the instructions:
And here's the relevant section from the "Signals for the Railway Modeller" book by Derek Mundy.
These are the parts as provided for the bracket
All looks straightforward, but if the parts are laid out thus you'll get a general view of the layout with a bracket etch laid over it's approximate position- note that the trimmers have to be shaped correctly at the ends but that's not the problem.
Here the top trimmer has been removed so that it's possible to see the position of the post and dolls.
I have removed the etch in this shot for ease of showing the issue. If the brackets are soldered to the post they are supporting nothing as they end up supporting the fresh air between the two trimmers.
Soooo.... today's stupid question is, should there be, prototypically, a timber infill between the two trimmers (which in modelling terms could be made from a piece of square rod or even.....a piece of timber? If so is it only between post and doll or is it the full length of the trimmers? The Mundy book shows the drawing of the prototype to have a bolts through the trimmers and supporting the dolls. It's also made to look as though the brackets go from the post to underneath the dolls, but this cannot be the case as the distance between the dolls is a minimum of 6ft 6in (2 metres to those who understand centipedes) to a maximum of 10ft (not easily divisible by centipedes, but you get the idea) and at the greater distance the brackets will be holding up fresh air.
So, confused of Buckland would much appreciate advice (John Fitness - are you out there?) so that I can assemble this component. Once complete I anticipate (famous last words) the remaining construction to be plain sailing.
Brian
Here and now I will admit that, until very recently, I had built no signals and know absolutely nothing about the subject. However, I bought some kits from MSE, studied some books and built an SR one for a friend in 7mm and another couple for the club layout which went together reasonably well. As a result club asked me to build the signals for the new 4mm layout. I've already built two which are now on the layout. Here are the two I have in hand at the moment and in primer. Apart from the fact that, after 7mm, this is akin to watch making (admiration and respect to you 2mm modellers!) they've gone together well, and the instructions (MSE) have been fine.
However.....(and there's always a however)......
One of the signals I have to build is a MR Splitting Distant. Again, the parts appear to be all OK and fit for purpose but I'm struggling with the post/trimmers/dolls/brackets. Here's the instructions:
And here's the relevant section from the "Signals for the Railway Modeller" book by Derek Mundy.
These are the parts as provided for the bracket
All looks straightforward, but if the parts are laid out thus you'll get a general view of the layout with a bracket etch laid over it's approximate position- note that the trimmers have to be shaped correctly at the ends but that's not the problem.
Here the top trimmer has been removed so that it's possible to see the position of the post and dolls.
I have removed the etch in this shot for ease of showing the issue. If the brackets are soldered to the post they are supporting nothing as they end up supporting the fresh air between the two trimmers.
Soooo.... today's stupid question is, should there be, prototypically, a timber infill between the two trimmers (which in modelling terms could be made from a piece of square rod or even.....a piece of timber? If so is it only between post and doll or is it the full length of the trimmers? The Mundy book shows the drawing of the prototype to have a bolts through the trimmers and supporting the dolls. It's also made to look as though the brackets go from the post to underneath the dolls, but this cannot be the case as the distance between the dolls is a minimum of 6ft 6in (2 metres to those who understand centipedes) to a maximum of 10ft (not easily divisible by centipedes, but you get the idea) and at the greater distance the brackets will be holding up fresh air.
So, confused of Buckland would much appreciate advice (John Fitness - are you out there?) so that I can assemble this component. Once complete I anticipate (famous last words) the remaining construction to be plain sailing.
Brian