Building A Modular Model Railway! - Episode 13 - Working Semaphore Signals
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- čas přidán 5. 07. 2024
- Installing working semaphore signals made from the Ratio plastic kits on the Modular Model Railway!
MERCH: shop.thatmodelrailwayguy.com
It's been a while but I'm finally back with a brand new layout update from the Modular Model Railway! It's been a very long process but after a lot of trial and error I'm excited to say that the station now has working semaphore signals.
These are made up of the plastic kits from Ratio - not the easiest kits to build but once you get the hang of them they actually look really good. I even had a go a getting the ground signals to operate too! Be sure to watch to the end of the video to see all the other progress I've made on the layout.
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
03:23 - Ratio Signals
05:12 - Wills Point Rodding
07:23 - Motorising A Signal
09:56 - Testing The Signals
12:34 - Ballasting
16:55 - Running Session
Thanks For Watching!
Great video. Enjoyed watching the signals as I'd not seen that done before.
Thanks Tim! I know others do have operating signals on their layouts but I don't think I've ever seen it done with the Ratio kits before - though I'm sure someone somewhere has! Thanks for watching 😃
Wow, it is a painful activity I agree. But really gives a sense of fullfillment as they start working the way we want..Great work.
Yep, definitely something I've been putting off but it was all worth it in the end. It's really satisfying to be able to operate the signals too along with the points and the locos. Thanks for watching 😃
Nice video mate. I love how you were able to moterise the signals that is a great skill to have. They turned out really good. And I love how you were able to make the ground signal move as well. - Nicholas.
Thanks Nicholas, yeah I’m really pleased with all the signals - especially the ground signals! Really thought I’d met my match there but we got there in the end. Just need to get them all lit now! Thanks for watching 😃
Great job! Really looking forward to seeing it all in action!
Thanks John, hopefully it won’t be too long before I do another running Session. Thanks for watching😃
YES video! Brilliant another idea for when I start building my layout! Thank you. Another amazing video!
Thanks Connor! It's definitely a challenge so best of luck if you do decide to do this yourself! Thanks for watching 😃
Wow, the layout is really looking sharp with ballast, point rodding and signals. Finding region-specific signals can be a problem here, as well. That signaling can be a challenge might be quite an understatement, but you're handling it very well, it seems. Tons of work, for sure, but a smaller layout with careful detailing can be more attractive than a huge layout with sparse detailing. Great having you back, BTW!!
Yeah it is starting to come along now! I’m hoping that by doing smaller bursts of modelling rather than completing it all in one go will help make these two modules much more detailed. Thanks for watching 😃
Another great video. I have to say that I may be inspired enough to install my own signals now. Keep up the great work!
Thanks Will! It definitely adds another element to operating the layout and it’s one I’m certainly enjoying. I definitely wasn’t easy though so if you do decide to do it good luck! Thanks for watching 😃
Even though it was alot of work the signals look great. Was fun to see you run the train and how well the signals worked. Glad to see you back again missed seeing how the layout was going.
GOD BLESS from America.
🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖
Thanks! Yep definitely a lot of work but all worth it in the end. I’m glad to be back too, I’ve got load more videos from the layout in the works so they should be more frequent from now on. Thanks for watching 😃
another fantastic video dude! that station area is coming together really well!
Thanks! Yeah it’s nice to have some scenery going down at long last. Just need to do the areas around the railway now! Thanks for watching 😃
I visited a mechanical interlocking 40 years ago. Anything on the point rodding that slid or pivoted--and the surrounding ground--was black with repeated lubrication. Everything else was a grimy rust color. The signalling is looking good so far. Keep it up!
Good to know, I’ll keep that in mind when I come to weather the track, ballast and point rodding in more detail further down the road. Thanks for watching 😃
Really starting to take shape now 🙂 good job
Thanks! Yeah it’s amazing how much difference just getting ballast down has made. Hopefully there’s lots more scenery to come soon! Thanks for watching 😃
He’s grown a beard. Nice!
Also great video! The signals are epic, it’s great to see more updates on the layout!
Haha, I said it had taken me a while to do this 😆 Glad you enjoyed the video, hopefully there will be more layout updates along fairly soon. Thanks for watching 👍
Great video, the signals look fantastic, and they work really well and the same with the point rodding, very fiddley but worth it in the end, but overall brilliant progress on the layout
Thanks Adam, yeah all very fiddly jobs for this episode which is why it's taken me so long 😆 Like you say though, it was definitely worth it and it adds a lot to the layout! Thanks for watching 👍
Another nice tutorial. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching 😃
Your videos are very useful and you say it very simply so people can copy like myself because I’ve just pulled up my old railway because all of the track warped in the heat and I’m trying to add some more detail and your videos have really helped add more details
Really glad you're finding the videos useful. Best of luck with the rebuild on your own layout and thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy thanks
Thanks it’s going well so far just waiting for some new points to arrive and then fit signals and point motors
i don't think i could do that, but i am planning to set up my layout again. superb video, i also found your tutorials brilliant thanks :)
It's certainly not for the faint of heart - I'm surprised I managed it myself! Glad you've found my tutorials helpful and best of luck with setting up your own layout again. Thanks for watching 😃
These signals look fantastic!
I actually bought with one of the Dapol motorized signals in N scale but I haven’t installed it yet. Hoping to see if I can make it a simple DC switch flip if possible.
Yeah I think I would have gone for the Dapol signals if I were building an N Gauge layout too - the OO ones are already delicate enough!
From what I’ve seen it should be relatively easy to hook them up to a simple DC toggle switch though. Thanks for watching 😃
Fantastic work
Thanks! It was a lot of work but definitely worth it in the end. Thanks for watching 😃
Nice work 👍
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching 😃
You weren’t lying when you told me you had a lot of point ridding to do! It looks superb definitely worth the effort.
As for those working signals, brilliant work, obviously I’m always a fan of working signals. I tried to make a working ground position signal but gave up after finding it too fiddly, so that is impressive stuff to get yours working and have lights. Great stuff
Haha, yep there's definitely a lot of it! It came out ok in the end though. Glad you like the signals too! The ground discs were definitely a challenge but given that they're right at the front of the layout I'm so pleased I got them working.
I've just noticed you have a new video up on you 009 layout too so I'll have to check that out this evening! Thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy I always appreciate a layout with signalling (for obvious reasons) and it’s certainly worth the effort and adds to realism.
Yes I’ve been destroying my layout with a static grass applicator, it was certainly a learning curve.
Congrats on a fantastic series and thank you for all the guidance and inspiration! I’m looking to use the same signals on my layout and just wondered what you used for spectacle lenses?
Thanks Liam, glad you're enjoying it. For the lenses I used lighting gels (used for changing the colour of stage/film lights) so a bit of a specialist product. I have also heard of people cutting out small discs from plastic packaging and using felt tip pen to colour it in though. Thanks for watching 😃
Looking good, the ratio kits work well with servos and leds like I found a few months ago. For West canal sidings I'm taking the easy route and using colour light signals 😂
Thanks! Ah I didn’t realise you’d done the same with the Ratio kits, that’s awesome. Can’t say I blame you for switching over to coloured lights though 😂 Thanks for watching 👍
You have alot of patience I couldn't do that but gives a very nice addition to detailing
It certainly tested my patience several times! I found doing it in small doses (15-30mins at a time usually) was the only way to cope. Like I said in the video though, I'm in no hurry to repeat it any time soon! Thanks for watching 😃
Its a credit to you and I enjoy watching your videos even though you're covering some of the stuff other people do yours is far more interesting for me to watch, I've never turned any of yours off half way through like I have with others
My semaphore signals are fully operated by string and threads! Great video.
Incredible! Yes I think that’s how the ratio signals are actually meant to operated. That sounds even harder to me so kudos to you! Thanks for watching 😃
A Fantastic job you have done there,
Thank you! It wasn't easy but definitely worth it in the end. It adds a whole new level to operation which I'm thrilled about! Thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy I need to think about signals on my layout which is also modular.
That's quite a lot of fiddly work, but its really paid off and looks really well done. Thought about getting point rodding for my layout, though the amount I'd need would be quite a lot.
Thanks, it did take a long time but I do think it was worth it. I used up 2 of the point rodding kits plus the additional extension kit and I definitely don't have a large layout - although most of it did go on that 4ft run down the length of the entire platform! Thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy It was worth it, really adds to the layout.
Those points-rods are cool - definately going to get some of them. You really should prime bare plastic though, the wash will work much better (and far less likely to just rub off).
They look great, definitely very fiddly to put together though 😂 Wills say they kit is moulded in a realistic colour so I just added the wash to tone down the shiny plastic as I didn’t really want to do a full paint job on them. Thanks for watching 👍
Loving the shunting dollys....
Me too, I smile every time I see them move! Thanks for watching 😃
Wow, those Ratio signals have worked out well. Installing them and connecting them to a servo set up is a bit beyond me, So I opted to use the Dapol SR semephor signals operated automatically by the movement of my trains through track side sensors to Train-Tech signal controllers, with a manual override option added.
Thanks! They do look good but it took a lot of work to get them to that stage so I don’t blame you for going with the Dapol signals instead. I love that you’ve got them working automatically too! I may try configuring mine to work with ABC braking in the future but I’m not sure how often I would use it. Thanks for watching 😃
@16:09
just a silly idea. Well two actually.
1. Maybe have a dummy train aka a unpowered train sitting in the siding or at least something that looks very old but probably still runs and lights up like its probably getting warmed up. Some times. If it was still useful.
2. I know its not that time of yearrr. Buttttt what about making a ghost train for that siding? Make the train look like its seen better days and falling apart at the wheels and boiler and make it light up randomly with some kind of Halloween colored lights. Lol. As for a train load could be passenger or something you make up. But old sidings allways give a Halloween ish feel to me. Lol. Just a idea. XD hope i didn't scare you to much. Lol.
Ooh, both of those are really interesting ideas! I may have to look into them for the future. Thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy lol. No problem and thanks for the video. But be careful. Don't want the wandering coach to get you. Lol.
Ps. If you like a little scary stuff. I recommend watching " the wandering coach" by daylight 3. If you need inspiration for a ghost train lol. Good luck on what ever idea you jump on first tho! Cant wait! XD
I
After watching some of this, I’m now planning a set of mechanical signals for my layout.-Das Mann
That’s awesome, good luck! It’s not easy but it definitely adds a whole new level of fun to a layout. Thanks for watching 😃
Motorizing Ratio Signals with Servos is a great Idea, I did it in the past using Voelkner or Viessmann slow motion signal (coil based magnetic) motors, like of what being used with german type semaphore signals.
You did a well and excellent job of countryside signalling, what is correctly on british standards, I think.
In my area we have other signal rules and we can make some shunting onto the mainline and need not use signal controlled shunting if the shunted train is not longer than 2 short wagons plus shunting loco.
German signals are very different the british ones and have got a long history of different and area typically rules very different by several different private or state railways of the past.
The actually used semephores are a result of lot of different rules combined into a modern rule whis is valid with a few changes since 1935 and up.
Me I am modelling the year of 1908 so I do use the prussian signal rules of 1904 and the mecklenburgian signal rules from the 1880's.
I have to admit my knowledge of German signalling is pretty much non-existent but it's interesting to hear how different it is from what we're used to in the UK.
As a Guard on a heritage railway I have to know a bit about the signalling there so I think I've got the basics mostly right on the layout, although I know there are some compromises I've had to make purely based on the space available. Thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy Well, the german Signalling System was in the past more confusing and more different. It gave tries to make it as one valid system by together valid rules but the bigger railways made their own signalling sometimes like before, too at their own Branchlines.
Before germanybecame one big nation as imperial monarchy in 1871 it was a country with over 365 different german spoken terretories and counties or even own bigger kingdoms. A lot of them operated own State Railways and lot of them with lot of different signal rules.
The still existing signalling was a long procedure to form one signal rule book.
Of course, we are knowing some semaphores, too, the bigger varity had been existing in the past before 1959.
At Mecklenburg they are semaphore signals of the 1870's until the year of 1923 when nearly all other State Railways used allready one signal rule book since 1892 when a new signal system had been established.
The distant signals were green disks with green light, was the green disk or green night light visible it was meaning, that the following home signal is in Danger Position, the green light was a stopping signal.
If the disk would be invisible than a white light had rhe meaning that the following home signal would be in Clear Position.
Home Signals had up to three arms, to top arm was horizontal in Danger posution the up to two arms below of it were vertical parallel to the signal post.
A red light showed the Danger position.
The Clear Position had up to three different positions.
The top arm in Diagonal position showing one green light means Clear.
The top arm and one below arm in addition in diagonal position showing two green lights had the meaning, Caution at the next following turnout, train will run into diverging route by max 40 km/h.
All three arms in diagonal position with three green lights had the meaning: Caution at thr next tournout in minimum two diverging routes are following, max speed by 40 km/h.
In the year of 1935 the both below green lenses changed into yellow-orange lenses, the distant signals became an yellow-orange disk and a red and white painted pointer and the distant signals showed green-green, yellow-yellow, green over yellow or green over yellow-yellow.
Distant signals are operated automaticly by switching the home signal aspects.
The signal men need not operate distant signals separately like in Great Britain.
In the past some mid station home signals had arms for both directions at one post.
It was allowed to gruoping up to three or more Signals onto one Bracket Post or alongside right of the track in directly visible position. At germany we have right side traffic, normally, but some double track lines allowing traffic in both directions, too.
Since the two former state Railways of the DB in west germany and the DR in east germany re-unioned into the DB AG in 1993 one signal rile book is valid but it gives a wide varity of different signal types again, a lot of what train drivers need to know.
Great job with these, they look very challenging! I am about to tackle the same and will be pleased if they look as good as yours do. What size LED did you use?
They were definitely a challenging kit to build and get working - I wouldn't want to do it again. I went into the lighting and the micro LEDs in more detail in a separate episode: czcams.com/video/R_BQE6SEidc/video.html There are links to the micro LEDs I used on that. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃
Awesome video, the signals really ass to the layout. Job well done. Thanks for sharing, stay safe. Ken
Thanks Ken, yeah it is a really cool feature to have on the layout . As I spend so much time filming it in close up I think it would have been noticeable if the signals never moved. Thanks for watching 😃
I want to buy some Dapol sempahore signal for my little double oval layout, but im really not sure which to get! I have a few sidings here and there... would you be able to recommend anything please? can share a track diagram! :D
Hi there, I'm not really a signalling expert but if you're looking at the Dapol motorised signals they only really do two types - a single post and a bracket signal.
The single post signals are what you would use on normal sections of track (ie: no points). I believe the red ones would be used around a station, controlling the entrance and also at the end of the platform as a starter signal - so that the driver and guard know the route ahead is clear before leaving a station.
The yellow single post signals are distant signals - they would be used further outside a station to warn the loco crews that they may need to stop at any of the red arm signals in next section.
The bracket signals work on the same principle, except they're for points. Usually the taller arm is for the mainline and the shorter arm is for the diverging route and this helps loco crews know which line they're set to travel on.
That is a very over-simplified version of signalling and again I'm far from an expert. Hopefully it's enough to get you started though. Thanks for watching 😃
I presume you have tested clearances for stock leaving platform 2 on to the single road? I had issues on an old layout with stock leaving the loop hitting the platform on the opposite line..
Yep, the signals are far enough away from the track that stock shouldn’t go anywhere near them. My platforms generally end before the points too (or the ramp is descending) so I haven’t had any issues with stuff scraping along the side either as trains enter or exit the loop.
Since the Hush Hush manages to get through the two platforms without trouble I’m assuming everything else will manage it too 😂 Thanks for watching 👍
These look incredible !! What did you use for the lenses ? They don’t come as part of the kit do they ?
Thanks Christopher. So I used a tiny cut out of coloured lighting gel for the lenses, which I appreciate is not the sort of thing everyone has just lying around. The lenses on the signal arms had to be drilled out too as they're moulded on, then the gels were glued in behind. Thanks for watching 👍
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy ahhh lighting gel is such a good idea !! That must have been very hard to cut and handle when each lens is so small. Oddly enough I work in a theatre so I have access to a lot of spent lighting gels. Thank you so much for getting back to my comment I’m really inspired to try this out on my next layout !!
Great work. I tried making one years ago! Never again
Thank you! Haha, yeah I think I’m done with them for a while now too 😂 Thanks for watching 👍
Is the new platform compatible with the hush hush and its step?
It is indeed! I actually mentioned this in the review I did of the Hush Hush: czcams.com/video/2rslipvlJ3w/video.html
I had to move the track on platform 1 away from the edge by about a millimetre but that was before I did the ballasting so it wasn't too much hassle. Thanks for watching 😃
Hi just watched your video of the signal construction etc. Where did you got the LEDs from. Bob Todd
Hi Bob, it was these ones: amzn.to/4dTOFMh (affiliate) I use them in all my buildings too. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃
Well you're certainly ballsy for leaving that GW wash open like that and not using super glue to hold it down.
Haha, is that a known thing with those paints then? Have to say I’ve never used them before but it sounds like I got lucky that it didn’t end up going everywhere 😂 Thanks for watching 👍
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy yeah, there's been many a post in forums about one of these pots getting knocked over during use.
wow i didnt notice you had a model of number 49 17:17 very hard to find. Ive worked on that loco at tanfield railway.
Is it really! I feel very lucky to own one then. Mine is at least 15 years old at this point and is still one of my best runners. Not quite as fun as running the original one I imagine 😉 Thanks for watching 👍
Are you also adding a turntable into your layout??
I don't think so. It would be a fun challenge but it would take up a lot of space that I don't really have. Perhaps if I ever do something in N Gauge though... 🤔 Thanks for watching 👍
Are you going to weather the end of the platform with where coal/water or diesel has fallen through or discarded or leaked but looks good and keep it up
Definitely! The whole trackbed will get more weathering as it is anyway as the ballast looks far too clean at the moment but the ends of the platforms and the yard in particular will definitely get some extra attention. Thanks for watching 😃
Hi m8 was it who advised me to use servos for semaphore signal earlier this year? If so many thanks.
And all the best lad, have a god un. Tony
Hiya, I can't say for certain but you can see that's definitely how it did it on this layout. It's worked well for me so far! Thanks for watching 😃
Hey, how long does polystyrene tend to dry when it's put down with PVA?
Hi there, I'd leave it overnight at the very least but ideally over 24 hours - make sure it's weighed down too! I'll be honest, I kinda cheat sometimes and use superglue. It does melt the polystyrene a bit but you don't need to use as much and it dries within a few minutes if not sooner. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy Yeah thank you! I did get a little impatient and put some dots of super glue around the board and it's solid. Thank you again !
If you mist the ballast/track first with Isopropyl alcohol before dripping on you glue, water and flow aid (w/up liquid) mix it should improve wicking and accelerate the drying time...
Hey Ben, I’ve tried misting with Isopropyl alcohol in the past for ballasting but found it didn’t really make much difference than just misting it with water. I know that if I don’t mist the ballast at all then it clumps up immediately - thanks to a few unfortunate mishaps on my part 😂 Thanks for watching 👍
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy I can't comment on Ballasting but I have used iso with Model Basing and when making Wargaming Terrain ..works well but good old H2O is much cheaper!
A tad off the main subject, but where have you seen Fish Plates and Bolts painted red??? If it's rust effext your after get Vallejo Rust and Steel and use the Orange rust colour but it must be dry brushed, don't over do it. Take no notice of me, I only made leaf suspension springs for every type of Bogie going as well as growing up next to a double track, which was working in my mature years ( sorry, immature) though I doubt no one knew the diffrences. The RED sticks out like a sore thumb and never seen any of Fishplates nor the Bolt RED. When I've finished my Layout, and if I can remember I'll post my paint work but I am interested in getting my Ratio Semaphores working. So many thanks. T.
Hey Anthony, so the colour I’ve used isn’t red it’s a Railmatch rust colour. It’s more orange in reality although I appreciate it may not look that way on the screen.
The layout isn’t finished yet either so the whole trackbed will get more dirt and grime added to it in the future which will tone down the bright colours and the rather clean looking ballast too. Hope that makes sense and thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy I would change to one of the two paint sets as Orange Rust is a lot lighter and would also do your track at the same time any that gets on your sleepers can be covered with dirt and grime that goes down the centre of your balast and spreads and the grime, oil etc that you find on the sleeper ends.Hope this may guide you but all choices are yours as the Layout is yours, none of this is a criticsm. Enjoy. Tony.
5:55 no need to apologise, rule number 1 applies at all times.
Also, how does the addition of the signals effect storage of the station modules?
Haha, good point! It's more of a general disclaimer so the rivet counters don't come after me 😆
I took the signals (and buildings) into account when designing the storage racks so there's plenty of space - I just have to be careful not to knock them over! Thanks for watching 👍
Great to see working signals. Your next job is to interlock them with the points.😬
Haha, no way! I don't think that's possible with the way I've got the Megapoints system setup. I might look into DCC control for everything in the future though so some sort of rudimentary route selection would be possible I imagine. Thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy You might be able to do it with relays or logic ICs, but I don't know enough about the Megapoints system to know if that's possible.
I'm still thinking about which signals I'm going to use, I love semaphores but I'm useless at building things, my health condition prevents me with fiddly things as well and Hornby ones are the wrong type for me, I think colour are the way to go but semaphores are my favourite.
Yeah I prefer semaphores too but I won’t lie, it was really fiddly work. Perhaps look at the Dapol ready made motorised signals instead - they’re not cheap but at least they won’t cost you your sanity! Thanks for watching 😃
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy I need to be extra nice to the wife, she might buy me some, saves me being moaned at if she gets them for me 🤣🤣🤣
How to make semaphore signals repeater
I guess the simplest way would be to have two motors wired to the same switch, though I’m not sure if that’s possible with the system Im using. Thanks for watching 😃
Yay im the first person to comment on this !
Been waiting for this vid for a long time keep up the work!
Haha, thanks for kicking it off Ben! Hope you enjoyed the update and thanks for watching 😃
What a deeply insulting comment towards the end to all the signalling engineers on preserved and heritage railways,who ensure their signalling installations comply with their operating regulations in order to ensure the safety of the travelling public.
Not insulting at all. As a volunteer at a heritage railway myself I'm fully aware of the real world limitations that signalling departments often have to work under. It's no less safe but not every railway has the budget or ability to fully operate their line with semaphore signals - we make do with what we've got and we find alternate ways to work around it to keep trains running. That's a fact that I've used to my advantage here to explain why some signals might be missing or are non-operational.
Are you related to Sam of Sam's trains
Not to my knowledge... that would be quite a coincidence! Thanks for watching 👍
Try AMMO RAILWAY FAST METHOD. Please don't think I'm someone whose just critising to cover my own mistakes, I'm not. I used to Spray VW Beetles as a Job, the Full size. But glad to know your not finished and the look will be different to what it is now. Keep up the good work always take criticism as advice given badly =)
Tony.
No worries Tony, I didn't take it as criticism. I've had lots of comments on here from many people who do things differently to me and that's great. The beauty of model railways is there's no right or wrong way to go about things as long as we're happy with our own results. Thanks for watching 😃
You are correct, theres a 1001 ways of doing something a different way but with the same outcome.
I'm trying to find how to get my Ratio semaphore signals to work automatic on my DCC, I know Dapol are selling them, only need to wire them yp but I can't afford the prices, so was looking at using servo motors but I don't seem to be able to find a completexplanation and diagrams. If you or your readers know of a site with complete explanations and diagrams I would be most grateful.
Keep up the good work.
Tony.
@@anthonyfarrell271 I personally use the Megapoints Servo Controller (I covered this more in my point motors update) and they have lots of easy to understand videos on their own CZcams. They also do a DCC addon module which would allow you control everything via DCC.
Alternatively it could be done for cheaper using Arduino’s but that would require a bit more work to put together. Hope that helps 😊
@@ThatModelRailwayGuy You don't know how grateful I am for that info, thanks, I need it. Much appreciated. Tony