I am in the planing stage for adding signals to my N scale layout. One major obstacile I have come across is the poor availability of decent looking mast signals for N scale. Nothing like what is available in HO. The few I do find are very crude or are incrediabily expensive…much too expensive for widespead use on my layout. In addition, most are dummy or are prewired with red or green in a set position which does not let me create the different aspects I would prefer to use. Modifing them to use multicolor LEDs or look nicer would be an impossible task for me. They are just too small.
I model the Santa Fe in late 70’s and from what I can tell, Santa Fe prefered simple signals during that period such as a single or double light. In addition, Santa Fe would often use ground signals rather that a tall mast even on a mainline. This is where I am looking for inputs and opinions.
Since all the mast style signals I have found look like crap with exposed wires, wrong LED colors, no ladder and very poor finish detail I am considering a shift to using 100% ground signals on my layout. Certainly not totally protypical but neither are the crappy signal mast I have found. By doing this, I can buy less costly ground signals and then modify them to use multi color LED’s that would allow me to represent a wider array of aspects. An additional benefit would be that the mast heads would not be sticking up on my layout where I am sure to break off a few. I do have a few spots where I might use a signal bridge instead of ground signals.
Looking for comments or opinions on the wide spread use of ground signal lights in lieu of mast mounted signals.
You could use fiber optics, 1.5mm should be pretty close for N. A bi-color LED should put out enough light to make a good looking signal. For direct LEDs I get by with 2 to 4 ma per LED. Where I use fiber with LEDs 10ma works good for me.
I’m sorry to hear that N scale signals are so sucky.
Moving on:
Ground signals are only used in “terminals”. NOT out on the road. So there is no “in lieu of”, because you “can’t”. There’s a place for mast mount. There’s a place for ground mount. They DON’T interchange.
If you want to contradict reality, go fer it. I’ll be happy to visit. And a good martini will secure for you some positive endorsement for your version of reality.
I have some fiber optics to play with but fiber vs LED is only part of the issue. My main issue is the crappy N scale signal masts on the market. I do have something new I discovered since my original posting. Shapeways has some decent looking parts that could be used to build up a signal light. Might offer me some better options. They have signal heads but no USA signal masts already built up. Have some German models but I did not find any USA types.
Build them yourself. I’m HO and bought one signal from NJI. I used it to make molds and cast my own parts from resin. KS brass tubing for the pole mounts. I made my own signal heads from KS tubing and washers.
I have a somewhat dated post on my blog for one of my signal systems. I’m currently overhauling it and adding more signals.
I’m in the process of finishing up the installation of my Arduino MEGA signal controller. It takes two one MEGA will operate 14 blocks, one for each direction. Arduino has some great IR detectors at 50¢ a pop. A China Arduino MEGA costs about $15 with expansion modules so I have a total of about $100 in my 14 block system including two TrainCat Two Track Cantilevered Bridges.
I operate in HO scale, so I cannot comment on the quality or availability of N scale track side signals. But, have you looked at Tomar Industries signals?
I use Tomar Industries signals on my layout, and they are fantastic.
Scroll down the page on the following link to see the variety of N scale signals.
I am aware of Tomar. They do offer a few N scale items but their pricing is out of my reach when you consider that I would like to do at least 50 signals. Even if I used just a few and did something else for the rest, those few would highlight how crappy the rest look.
Send me a PM and I will try to find the drawing of my home made signal masts in HO that you might be able to scale down to your N scale. I would direct you to my site to show you but again it seems to be down and I am gradually migrating my site to Google sites. You can see the first two pages here https://sites.google.com/view/stagnesrailway but the signals I built are not apparent.
Essentially I use a brass tube with one wire through the centre for the Bi Directional LED and use the tube as a return. I can send you a pic if you include your email addy,
Technically, Tomar does not offer a N scale signal mast for what I want. I model the ATSF in late 70’s. A typical signal mast for ATSF in that time frame would be a double head search light. Tomar offers an HO version (#H-859) with a 3 color LED (which I want) but no N scale version.
However, I may have found a solution. Shapeways has N scale search light heads that should work but I would have to mount two of them on a pole plus add a ladder of some type. I think I can use the 3 color LED (round 3mm circuit board) made by RR-CirKits. Still researching this solution. Will probably order a few parts and see what I can cobble up. Working on something this tiny needs a steady hand and I don’t have one so that will be a factor.
The OP is looking for a double searchlight. Tomar Industries makes both an HO scale version and an N scale version. In the photograph that follows, the HO scale version is on the left, and the N scale version is on the right.
Those are search light…just a different type. As a matter of fact…most mainline signals are of a search light signal…they need to be seen from far away…not only when you get right on them…then it’s too late!
And even if they are not exactly what He is looking for…they still look like a good buy and it would be his call if He wanted them…no matter what anyone else may think. At least He has some more options to view and are ready made…beats scratch building them in N-scale.
I use the same type on My layout…mine are all brass:
Rich….Tomar N-873 ….It is correct and I missed that one but at $49.35 each it is a non-player. I will need over 100.
Trevor….your home made version is where I was headed.
Frank……Thanks! The Amazon one is technically not a searchlight but the price is right with $17.99 for 3. That comes out to $6 per mast which is a very good price. The 2 light version is the correct one but I would want the 3-light version because the LED’s are not multicolor and I want the yellow light.
For comparison, my planned home-made version was going to cost me around $10-12 each by using heads (2 ea) from Shapeway, RR-CirKits RGY LED (2 ea), K&S brass mast and some kind of ladder that I have not found yet. Then I would need to put it all together and fight the battle to solder stuff to #36 gage wire on the LED’s. Multiply that times more than 100 masts and that is a tall order for a short fat old man. Everything we do is a compromise. The Amazon mast is would be OK for the mast that ATSF used to replace the old stoplight version but that would be slightly later timeframe than my layout. It is not a perfect match for what I wanted but at that price, I think I can make some compromises. Looks like the ATSF moved their mast change out program back a few years on my layout. [:-^]
