simple simon
Member
Out of curiosity I've gone and bought some 3D printed model railway things from Shapeways, this includes an LNER 1937 Tyneside Electrics coach (one half of an articulated pair), some London Underground signals with the 'pigs ear' - one with feather and one without - plus a few other items.
Also, I've bought some searchlight style signals and signal heads from people called 'we-honest' at eBay and some Eckon colour light signals from British model railway shops.
Eventually I'd like to have a layout for my purchases. At present though that is not possible - however building things like signals 'now' will expedite the process when it is time to start building a layout. I already have some model buildings from many years ago.
My thoughts are 'present-era' with a twist. We have many historic railway centres where transports from many different generations / epochs can be seen together. Some of these have demonstration lines which often require fully working signals. I might add electric rails too, this being something that is not actually done in 'real life' but I suppose could be done - but only if they are not actually energised!
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At present (24th January 2021) I still await my goods from China but my Eckon and Shapeways 3D printed signals have now arrived.
This is the page from where I bought the Shapeways 3D signals: http://www.shapeways.com/shops/the forth rail?section=Line+Side&s=0
This page shows the full range of North Eastern Railway and LNER third rail electric rolling stock, clicking the item size links will take you to the relevant page at Shapeways.
btw, Shapeways price items in US Dollars and they charge VAT at point of sale - so my goods arrived without me being asked to pay import duties / additional taxes or fees! Oh and the box was so lightweight that at first I wondered if it was empty! Everything is well wrapped in plastic buble wrap.
I only bought two LU signals from Shapeways as I wanted to see what they were about before even thinking of buying a multiple pack of five. Below is a photograph of the signals laid out on a cutting matt. (Its only when editing this image that I realised the signal backs are upside down!) My initial thought is that white plastic signal heads will let too much light through the sides and back; maybe I will need several coats of black paint and to have the lights 'not too bright'. Perhaps use a resister for 12v but only give them 9v. As ever experimentation is the key. I need to wait for warmer weather for painting - I plan to do this in a garden shed where any mess from spray paint wont matter.
The person who sells these signals at Shapeways suggested that people buy K&S brass tubing 2.4mm diameter. I first tried to use the brass tubing that is supplied with Eckon signals but I think this is 3mm as it is ever-so-slightly too big. I have now obtained some 2.4mm tubing and whilst it fits the space inside the tube looks too small for all the wires for the LEDs - especially for signals with feathers! I am yet to try this out.
It is suggested that people use 3mm LEDs for the colour lights and SMD miniature LED's for the feathers, but these must be bought from elsewhere.
I am also looking at creating some LMS Watford New Lines signals. As I am not aware that the correct shaped signal heads are available I've bought some kits with round top cornered signal heads from Eckon and filed off the bottom corners of one signal head - this can be seen in the image below, next to one in original condition. After photographing my work I have realised that the one I've modified is not quite perfectly done - yet. I think I need a hands-free magnifying glass device.
Eckon signal packs also come with a sprue containing many other useful parts.
Before I do anything else I must await my delivery from China. eBay tracking data says that it has arrived here in the UK and been received by the RoyalMail but the expected delivery timeframe is 1st - 11th February.
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edit to add, I cannot get the images to show - the control buttons to insert them are grayed out
Also, I've bought some searchlight style signals and signal heads from people called 'we-honest' at eBay and some Eckon colour light signals from British model railway shops.
Eventually I'd like to have a layout for my purchases. At present though that is not possible - however building things like signals 'now' will expedite the process when it is time to start building a layout. I already have some model buildings from many years ago.
My thoughts are 'present-era' with a twist. We have many historic railway centres where transports from many different generations / epochs can be seen together. Some of these have demonstration lines which often require fully working signals. I might add electric rails too, this being something that is not actually done in 'real life' but I suppose could be done - but only if they are not actually energised!
----------------------------------------------
At present (24th January 2021) I still await my goods from China but my Eckon and Shapeways 3D printed signals have now arrived.
This is the page from where I bought the Shapeways 3D signals: http://www.shapeways.com/shops/the forth rail?section=Line+Side&s=0
This page shows the full range of North Eastern Railway and LNER third rail electric rolling stock, clicking the item size links will take you to the relevant page at Shapeways.
btw, Shapeways price items in US Dollars and they charge VAT at point of sale - so my goods arrived without me being asked to pay import duties / additional taxes or fees! Oh and the box was so lightweight that at first I wondered if it was empty! Everything is well wrapped in plastic buble wrap.
I only bought two LU signals from Shapeways as I wanted to see what they were about before even thinking of buying a multiple pack of five. Below is a photograph of the signals laid out on a cutting matt. (Its only when editing this image that I realised the signal backs are upside down!) My initial thought is that white plastic signal heads will let too much light through the sides and back; maybe I will need several coats of black paint and to have the lights 'not too bright'. Perhaps use a resister for 12v but only give them 9v. As ever experimentation is the key. I need to wait for warmer weather for painting - I plan to do this in a garden shed where any mess from spray paint wont matter.
The person who sells these signals at Shapeways suggested that people buy K&S brass tubing 2.4mm diameter. I first tried to use the brass tubing that is supplied with Eckon signals but I think this is 3mm as it is ever-so-slightly too big. I have now obtained some 2.4mm tubing and whilst it fits the space inside the tube looks too small for all the wires for the LEDs - especially for signals with feathers! I am yet to try this out.
It is suggested that people use 3mm LEDs for the colour lights and SMD miniature LED's for the feathers, but these must be bought from elsewhere.
I am also looking at creating some LMS Watford New Lines signals. As I am not aware that the correct shaped signal heads are available I've bought some kits with round top cornered signal heads from Eckon and filed off the bottom corners of one signal head - this can be seen in the image below, next to one in original condition. After photographing my work I have realised that the one I've modified is not quite perfectly done - yet. I think I need a hands-free magnifying glass device.
Eckon signal packs also come with a sprue containing many other useful parts.
Before I do anything else I must await my delivery from China. eBay tracking data says that it has arrived here in the UK and been received by the RoyalMail but the expected delivery timeframe is 1st - 11th February.
-----------------------
edit to add, I cannot get the images to show - the control buttons to insert them are grayed out