That is Nitinol wire, AKA "Memory Wire" which besides moving back to it's original shape when a current is applied, it also get hot like an Nichrome hot wire cutter. Phosphor Bronze is an electrically conductive spring metal. Often used for truck power pickup wipers, but it also laser cuts well because it don't expand and warp like thin stainless steel and other thin sheet metals. So I used it for the blades and the pivot point wire, because it solders well too. I just made a proof of operation concept video showing how I plan to animate the semaphore blades. I used 38 gauge wire wrap wire, which would bend too easily, but to demonstrate the idea. I ordered some .005" steel music wire for the real project, and will connect it to the stepper motors.
I used the showcase semaphore kit too as a starting point and used bothe semaphore blades and the ladder. Other parts are made of thin brass. The mechanism is a switch-motor. I know the lower blade is too near to the upper blade but I can live with it.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN23oEyz_o5eOh0y_kl6mUg Thank you for your "like", Robert! I hope, the video comes alive now
That's awesome Texrail! I have always liked semaphores better than plain signal lights, the animation sets them apart!
Texrail that is awesome! Too cool! and I also like that steamer you got there …was that a scratch build?
Sounds like MP-1 switch machine. https://www.modelrailroadcontrolsystems.com/switch-motors-drivers-mounts-etc/ These slide linear but are noisey. The one problem is the current draw ~150ma. They are not a Stall motor so no current at end of movement. Auto stop. I use Arduio Shields, basically a power FET transister, just 3 components each. I’m trying to make a board to mount directly on the 3.0mm spaced connector so all Accessory decoders can use it, like NCE Switch-It
Thank you, Joe! The steamer is an old Marklin Miniclub model (# 8803). I removed the steam refelctors, cutted off the front part and replaced it with a sparepart from Aspenmodel (Aspenmodel.com). CNE 1899 could probabely help you along , too. The tender ist from Tenshodos Hudson, the decals from Microscale.
You see the staging yard "El Paso, Tx" and reverse loop on the lower level and the future Paisano Pass with siding on the upper level. My problem was to remind me correctly, which loco ( as a lead in a consist) waits on which track, when the terrain of Paisano Pass will cover the lower level, as I dpn´t have a transponding system on my layout. And here it is: a simple row of cheap 4-digit combination locks . One for each track. I have to twist the correct loco number on the lock as long as the loco occupies a specific track.
Well about 13-14 years ago I made some wig wags. Yup it’s been that long. Figured I’d make another since I think my skills got better. So the pole is a large paper clip. The brackets are left over spruce pieces of laser wood from old kits that looked right. The wag is a little sequence type plastic piece fell off wife’s shirt and the hanger is a stripped twist tie from bread. Painted with silver sharped cut and glued with super glue. Oh and the top mechanism for the swing is a a tip middle piece cut then sanded on one side
Jeez, been that long ago?! It was seeing your work Joe, that got me into Z-scale way back then! Seeing your layout was next level!
Thanks Kurt and Robert. It really has been that long and when I think about it even I wonder how fast time went. I was an N scaler (still have my layout) Then in 2003-2004 Z bug bit…yahoo forum then trainboard. The Val ease suitcase railroad was soooo cool! He made due with what was. What got me was there was basically very little commercially available. You want it you had to build. I remember when Robert made hopper cars as a kit cause there wasn’t any available! There was a guy named Tim built grain elevators tractors. So motivating. So a few years after figuring Z (cause there is a learning curve) I started scratch building myself. I just have basic stuff blades to cut wood styrene…so I improvise and learn….watching Chris and Kevin build Berkshire locomotives…so crazy good. I know I’m rambling but boy we got it good today! But sometimes you still gotta build what you want
After finishing the basic structures and trackwork for my module set, I am starting on the detailing. So I examined photos and noticed there are always 2 cross bars with insulators at the top of a pole, and a lesser single cross bar angled towards the structure or the nearest pole with a transformer on it. This is how they had Lester WA wired at least, so I am building a dozen power poles, and will space them about 6" apart when I install them: All I managed today was getting them assembled and primed. The primer should help stiffen them and they are made from Bamboo toothpicks, but I still will consider them as a consumable item since they can be broken easily:
Very cool! Now most insulators are green glass right? Or does color of them vary based on region and road?
Great research. Interesting on the two bar approach for the era, as I'd think the cost back then would have been a concern. Regardless, the ones you have manufactured have a great degree of depth and realism about them.
These ones were dark green, light green, and light blue, but I suspect they all started as dark green glass and some faded over the decades of sunlight. Also the poles were all painted white for the first 4 feet of the poles. I don't know why, but that's what I am duplicating. A few of the poles also had a green shade industrial lamp on them. Here's where I am this morning: And here you can see the green insulators, painted with Tamiya X-5 Gloss Green. Poles get painted "Burnt Umber" with a White base:
