andys steam dayz Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 HiHow about some new semaphore signals including a 3 or 4 track signal gantry.Also a un-rebuilt Battle of Britain/West country with optional dcc sound version.Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The son of Triangman Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Well I will second the signals, the current ones date from 1978 when Hornby introduced them, they are more 7mm scale thann 4mm scale alas. They need replacing for sure, the Tri-ang ones they replaced including the lovely Tri-ang R.140 signal gantry are closer to scale and a return would be most welcome. The gantry's make silly money on a certain online auction site so there is demand for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDR Posted July 17, 2011 Share Posted July 17, 2011 Blue 'Battle of Britain'?? No, please not. The only part of these locomotives that was ever painted blue was the nameplate. If you want a blue 'spamcan' you will have to wait until Hornby brings out a air-smoothed Merchant Navy. Signals are a special part of the railway scene, with the lovely Skaledale buildings and the detailed model trains, the signals in the current range do not really do it justice. They are over scale, and bear little resemblance to any signals I have ever seen. I won some Trix signals in an auction the other day. These are much neare to scale and include a light pipe in the post, that takes light from a bulb in the base to the lamp behind the spectacle glass. Now that Trix is long defunct perhaps Hornby might consider adopting this system in some new ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The son of Triangman Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 It's an idea LC&DR and with LED technology lighted oil lamps for the signals would be possible. The Tri-ang ones would be good too, the R.140 signal gantry was a nice item and much closer to scale as was the R.43H Single Home signal, R.42D Single Distant Signal, R.142H Junction Home signal and R.142D Junction Distant signal would be most welcome. I refer to the Tri-ang plastic ones not the early metal versions and I know the R.142 number was reused by Hornby for it's 1978-current overscale offerings.The current offerings are almost 7mm scale, perhaps Hornby was thinking about O gauge at the time in 1978 when they came out, who knows. Certainly as you rightly point out LC&DR they don't do the range justice.Other nice returns would be the Tri-ang R.145 Modern Signal box based on LMS and BR pattern boxes, R.573/573M colour light signal gantry, and R.405/M 2 aspect colour light signal to replace the horrible overscale 1970's Hornby offering that has been with us many years. Hornby have the moulds so what's stopping them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81F Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 I too would like to see some decent semaphors, but what type? to produce one for each of the big four would be a massive undertaking. A generic tubular post upper quadrant might do for the LMS/LNER and any less fussy SR enthusiast but obviously not the GWR with its lower quadrant signals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81F Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 PS any new semaphore auto to be made adaptable for electric operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDR Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 SOTThe R145 was certainly the most realistic and well proportioned plastic signalbox made by Rovex and its successors. I do rather like the old metal post Tri-ang signals and although these and the plastic replacements were still over-scale they looked in proportion. I have a number of the R140 gantries, however the plastic used was far too brittle and most suffer from damage to the plug ends. The recent plastic signals are grossly overscale. 81FThe ideal signal for Hornby would be the round post upper quadrant. Accurate signals for GWR, SR and LNER are already available as simple kits from Ratio. The tubular post was officially adopted by BR as a standard (although most regions found good excuses to perpetuate pre-nationalisation designs) and did appear on all regions eventually.Some more realistic colour light signals (three aspect) are urgently needed as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The son of Triangman Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Time for the old R.145 signal box and the old Tri-ang plastic signals to make a comeback in the Railroad range me thinks. I agree about the plastic used on the R.140 but they were pretty strong when new, perhaps the plastic Hornby uses today will be better? It would give us a decent if not totally to scale semaphore gantry.I agree a generic round post upper quadrant signal would be the best option for the main range, with simple changes of arms and with or without finial for different regions.From this a range of GWR 1930's searchlight colour lights could be make too using the round post and finial as basis for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDR Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Yes I had forgotton the GWR searchlights, and then there were the LNER searchlights too, I believe they too had round posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The son of Triangman Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Yes indeed some where you are correct LC&DR. A standard round posted signal could prove a very versatile model for Hornby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81F Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 Search light sognals would be an interesting challenge - didnt the light change colour - bit like the on/standby light on my wifes sterio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Choobacca Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 LC&DR said:If you want a blue 'spamcan' you will have to wait until Hornby brings out a air-smoothed Merchant Navy.I've wanted a BR Blue 'spamcan' for about 25 years! Maybe one day... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The son of Triangman Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 They did indeed change colour 81F, but there are some quite tiny bi-colour LED's about including some surface mount ones, so not too much of a problem to make them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the ferret Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 For £7-50p I have bought an LSWR lattice post upper quadrant signal kit from MSE and cannot wait to make it up. MSE do spare arms, dolls , posts, finials, maintenance platforms, ladders, gantries, lamps, balance weights etc. This enables you to make up any configuration of signals that you wish. All of the "Big Four" characteristic signals are available upper and lower quadrant, somersault and three position. If you read books like "British Railway Signalling" by Kitchenside and Williams (Published by Ian Allan) you will learn how to signal your railway correctly. It is a complex and quite fascinating subject and well worth your attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDR Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 My preferrence is for signals with rail built posts. There is (or was) a splendid colour light version at the west end of Warrior Square, but the semaphore ones were so traditionally Southern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81F Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 I agree there are kits for signals but I no longer have the eysight to solder metal kits and the plastic varienty I have made so far seem woryingly flimsey when adapted for electrical operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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