WEST ORTON

[RogerB]

But apart from that, all going well? R-

[Steve M]

But apart from that, all going well? R-

Positively chipper, old bean.

[Walkingthedog]

I know how you feel with those kits Steve. I attempted to make a couple of GWR versions years ago. Constructing them was OK but when I tried to make them work, well you know how sometimes you feel like hitting something with a club hammer, well I did, sort of, let’s just say they didn’t resemble signals any more.

[sandy]

I was going to buy some of those signals when I get to that stage to save money, but after reading your attempts I think I will give them a miss. Going to go for dapol ones. I think they are expencive but they seem to be easy to install and I dont need many of them. They work well as I have a couple which I have tried out already..

[Steve M]

I had some reasonable success with the LMS versions on Low Ghyll although they appeared too flimsy for motors. These ones are the much more robust L&NWR versions, ironically with fewer moving parts, that should stand up to a servo.
I have an idea for getting round the cranks fouling the brackets which I will try tomorrow and have also ordered some brass cranks from Wizard Models just in case.
Just to add to my misery, painting the ‘distant’ arms is an absolute PITA - can’t get it right.

I’m off to work to upset some customers - that should improve my mood.

[sandy]

WTD Are you missing the OO gauge just a little bit.

[Walkingthedog]

No not really Sandy. I was repairing an OO wagon for a friend the other day and couldn’t believe how small the bit are.

I made some O gauge signals last year, much easier. Just finished make my five sets of points wire in tube operated.

Some of the OO locos that are appearing now are fantastic, I just wish they had produced them a few years ago.

[Steve M]

Against all expectations, I have a working signal.
It required a fundamental redesign of the mountings for the cranks - shaved off the supplied plastic brackets and used a Peco N gauge track pin as the pivot. This allows the cranks to sit below the still to be fitted platform deck between the dolls, and allows full rotation of the cranks.
The counterweight arms, which are far more robust, then limit the range of movement where they meet their brackets.
The cranks are still an issue as they are so flimsy and the slightest bit of resistance in the linkage cause the wire links to snap the crank eyes. Looks as though they will have to be replaced with metal components in due course.

2022-05-31_11-53-08 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

I’m looking forward to building the single signals - no bloody cranks! Not so sure about the prospect of kit bashing to make a triple doll bracket signal......or two.

[Steve M]

I got distracted.......again.
Frustrated by the signal kits and waiting for the postman (delayed because Lizzie is having a party ), I decided to build a back for the slide out bench in the railway shed. I seem to have got slightly carried away with the design.
Apart from the drawers, it’s all made from offcuts and is held in place on the bench by a single screw. Undo that and the whole unit lifts off for storage Andre the layout.
If nothing else, it stops me using the top of the layout as an extra space for glue and tools.

2022-06-02_01-31-56 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

[bulleidboy]

It's good to see that your not just sitting around twiddling your thumbs Everything looks neat and tidy.