I have a 3'x10' Unitrack layout using a Digitrax Zephyr Xtra that I am looking at adding signals to. I have searched the posts here and have searched with Google, but can't find any pictures or articles on detailing the Digitrax SMBKs for use in N scale. The instruction PDF on the DIgitrax site says to just paint them. Has anyone here added targets and hoods to these? If so, where did you get them. Should I just use Atlas (or some other companies) masts and cut off the Digitrax LEDs? Manual PDF here: http://www.digitrax.com/static/apps/products/detection-signaling/smbk/documents/SMBK.pdf
I would say that long-term you'll want to replace them. You can dress them up--and there have been at least two "dress up kits" made for them over the years--but ultimately I don't think they will be viable once you've got everything up and running and tested. That said, I wouldn't invest in "real" signals until you have gotten your feet wet and made sure the system is gonna do what you want. For the interim, I cut targets out of black styrene and used the smallest craft hole-punch to make the holes and it was serviceable. I don't currently have signalling done on my current layout nor photos of the few I did before...but it was nothing glamorous for sure. I didn't come up with a great solution for the hoods but since then got a few ideas that I'm gonna try. (simplest one...cut small brass tubing at an angle and glue to styrene targets. Then just use any number of brass or plastic ladder stock to make ladders and call it a day.
I have used Atlas, NJ International, and Digitrax signals. The Digitrax are not as pretty but they are very durable and inexpensive. I added targets and hoods from Traincat and Serge Lebel at Scale Models Division, who no longer makes the dress-up kits. I will use the SMBKs to prototype my signal system, with and without dress-up kits, and figure out later how to either fix them up or replace them.
I was able to find 1 pic of a signal attached to the SMBK But there were no instructions on how to wire it. I also found this over at Layout Design SIG http://www.macrodyn.com/ldsig/wiki/...aking_the_hard_choices_on_what_signals_to_use Yeah, the Scale Models Division looks like it is gone.
