Diameter of N scale searchlight signal head? Update Dec. 3 - First attempt at an N scale double head signal.

Hi gang,

A friend who has an N scale layout is looking for searchlight signals but he can’t find anything that suits him. I would like to explore making them for him. What size washer would be suitable for an N scale target?

Thanks,

Dave

It’s not going to be that simple. Standard washers don’t have the right ratio of ID to OD. OD is not large enough.

Hi carl425,

Oh ye of little faith![swg]

Thanks for the great closeup picture.

I’m not expecting to get the size absolutely to scale. Close is good enough.

Here is a first attempt. I’m guess that it would be about 3 1/2 ft in diameter in N scale. I’m using an HO scale ruler:

I used a #6 #4 washer. The ID was easy enough to adjust. I reamed the hole out slightly to accept a 1/8" brass tube, and then I inserted a 3/32" brass tube inside that to get the sun shade closer to the right size. The 1/8" tube sticks out the back a bit but I can cut that off.

I found some 0603 tri-colour pre-wired ([bow]) LEDs that will fit on the back nicely. I’ll have to come up with a way to make the lens so that it shows under the sun shade. Maybe just some rounded off acrylic dowels.

If it is a bit too large I hope the gentleman that I am doing them for (if he wants them) can live with that. Making something smaller is doable but this size is already fussy enough.

How tall should they be?

Dave

Scroll down to page 68:

http://www.rrsignalpix.com/pdf/GRS_176_sec.pdf

I’ve got drawings of PRR, NYC and B&O signal masts but none of them are searchlight signals. Probably wouldn’t make much difference in actual practice.

Signal_0001 by Edmund, on Flickr

Signal by Edmund, on Flickr

Locations at curves and multiple tracks will call for taller masts, though.

Hope that helps —

Regards, Ed

Hi Ed,

Thanks!

I’m building signals for the club layout as well as the ones for my friend. I was guessing at the height but now I can make things more accurate. So far I have one prototype set up at the club. I’ll get some pictures next Tuesday.

I think you must be a genius at choosing the right search words!

Dave

Nah, just file that under the blind squirrel finding the occasional nut! I’ve been fascinated with signals for a long time so I’ve had some of my “favorite” signal web sites saved.

I admire you for attempting N scale signals [bow] ! Sometimes making them in HO is frustrating enough.

Glad you’re having FUN! Ed

Hi Ed,

Based on the diagram in your link, I don’t think the head I made is very far off the mark. The diagram doesn’t show the exact head diameter but it does show the offset for the heads from the center of the signal poles. That dimension is 27 1/4" and it looks to be about 80% of the width of the head. If I divide 27.25 by .8 = 34". I’m guessing mine are about 36". Good enough for me!!!

Thanks again,

Cheers!!

Dave

I never should have underestimated you. [:)] It looks like you’re well on your way to a convincing model.

Hi again,

Is there a silver paint that is more durable than Testors enamel? I used the Testors silver on a test signal and I found that it took very little handling to mess up the surface and make it go dull. The signals will likely be handled fairly regularly as they are being removed to allow for scenery work etc., and it would be a PITA to have to repaint them all the time.

I tried coating the Testors paint with Dulcote but it didn’t seem to solve the problem. The Testors paint just doesn’t seem to dry hard.

Thanks

Dave

Humbrol makes a couple versions of silver in those tiny cans. I also have some older cans (250ml) of silver and aluminum paint by Armor Coat. It’s a Canadian Tire brand, but I can’t say for sure if it’s still available. It seems to last forever in the cans, although I don’t know how durable it is in use. Both of the brands mentioned are meant for brushing - the latter one advises that too much thinning will result in poor coverage, so it’s not likely suitable for air brushing.

Wayne

Thanks Wayne,

I’ll try the Humbrol first.

Dave

I ordered some Humbrol and Tamiya silver paints to see how they perform. I’ll post the results when I get around to painting a test signal.

Dave

Just to update everyone on my signal construction projects, here are some pictures of the HO scale test sample:

When I made this I was guessing at the dimensions. Since then Ed (gmpullman) has provided me with a drawing of the prototype which includes the proper sizing. The sample is a bit too tall and the lights are a bit too far apart but all of that can be easily adjusted. I have also decided to remake the signal heads with more prototypical sun shades (slightly longer and smaller diameter).

The camera has washed out the LEDs. In reality the colours are pretty good, but the green could be a bit greener.

As far as the N scale signals go, today I received the 0606 tri-colour LEDs. They are incredibly small. My biggest concern is that the LED wires supplied are a bit bigger than the usual magnet wire. I’m not sure if I will be able to feed all the wires down a 1/16" tube, especially if the signal has two heads. We shall see.

Now that I have the LEDs I can experiment with building an N scale signal. Wish me steady hands!![swg][(-D][(-D]

Dave

Dave

Your signals look GREAT! I really like the socket mounting! That would have work great for my signals, thanks for the idea!

For my signal I went with a 7/16” Styrene tube base on the ground next to the track and built up the signal base with Styrene tubing so that I could drop the wires with 4 pin connectors through the tube base, no crawling under. Your way would have been much better.

My signal bridges have four heads so there are four connectors that drop through the 7/16” tube.

I’m running ribbon cable from the Arduino MEGA to the signals, really helps reduce a wiring mess under the layout. As my norm everything plugs in for easy maintenance down the road.

Thanks Mel,

The IC sockets do work quite well. I will just have to caution people that they can’t force the sockets together. Anybody who bends a pin will pay dearly!!! The sockets make it really easy to move the signals out of the way for doing layout work. They will be mounted just below the level of the scenery so we will be able to add signal bases above them. I’m not quite sure how we will do that just yet. I’m thinking that we might use resin castings because the available bases are so expensive. The signal shown cost us about $10.00 Cdn to build.

I just purchased some 0606 tri colour LEDs for use in some N scale signals that I’m building (or trying to at least) for the Secretary of the club. The LEDs came with somewhat thicker wires attached. They are definitely larger than #36. I’m not sure if I will be able to get all the wires needed for a double head signal down a 1/16" tube. I’m going to have to be in a good mood before I try![swg][(-D][(-D][(-D] If I have to replace the wires I will just cut the existing wires down to about 1/4" and solder on a #36 magnet wire which will go down the tubes. Trying to solder new wires to the LED pads would be very challenging. I have a Streamlined Backshop LED wiring jig but I doubt that my hands are steady enough to use it for 0606 LEDs.

Dave

Oops, wrong thread![D)]

Dave

Hi Mel,

I was experimenting with the wires and the 1/16" tubes last night and I can get six of the LED leads into the tube. I can use the brass pole as the common for both LEDs so that gets power to all three colours on both LEDs.

That was feeding the wires straight down from the top of the tube. It remains to be seen whether or not I can feed three wires through a hole in the side of the tube beside the lower signal head and then get the other three wires for the upper signal head to go down from the top. That could be a challenge! I hadn’t thought about using a lubricant - thanks.

I have another question. When I was experimenting with applying power to the first LED, I got red and green fine but the yellow blew itself up. I was using two AA cells in series. Is it possible that the yellow LED fried itself on 3 volts or was it maybe defective?

These are the LEDs:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/T0603RGY-20pcs-Pre-soldered-micro-litz-wired-leads-Red-Green-Yellow-SMD-Led-0603/352803555645?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2648

There were no instructions with them as usual.

Thanks,

Dave

By the way, I was finally able to get my hands on an N scale ruler and the heads I made measure about 44" across. I believe they should be about 34". In reality the heads are only 0.025" off so my friend for whom I am making the signals said to not worry about it. Good thing I’m not cutting gears eh?!?

Dave

Made some HO signal heads for the club tonight. They still require filing to finish them.

Dave