Tower window frame
The hardest part of the project was figuring out how to make the tower window frame. I settled on using 1″×10″, 1″×6″, 1″×4″ and 1″×3″ strips joined very sparingly with Tamiya extra thin liquid cement on a piece of glass. The sides and center sec- tion were completed separately. While very flimsy at first, adding a 1″×6″ to the bottom and sides forming an L channel and a 2″×6″ strip along the top makes the entire frame pretty stur- dy after assembly. It was painted flat aluminum with a coat of Dullcote to tone it down. The bottom panel on the front appeared to be solid, vice glass. It was cut from .010″ sheet and painted Grimy Black. I used .010″ clear styrene for the glass windows and which also reinforced the frame, and .005″ for the open window. For the tar and gravel roof I used
140 grit sandpaper. The flashing on the main roof was also made by cutting and bending pieces cut from the alu- minum oven tray. Dullcote was used to tone them down. The vent pipes were cut from brass tubing and painted black.
Signals The freelanced three track signal
bridge, which controls one side of the junction, was patterned after the four track eastbound home signal bridge which was located east of Franklin Jct. The basic bridge structure was made by removing 2″ from an IHC No. 5011 four track signal bridge, which some- what resembles a DL&W design. The signal assemblies were made using parts from two Oregon Rail Supply No. 129 single searchlight bridge units and one No. 130 Triple Target Searchlight Signal. The signal
assemblies and
number of targets duplicate the design RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN
The .010″ clear styrene used for the tower’s glass windows also reinforced the frame. For the open window, .005″ clear styrene was used (above). The flashing on the main roof was made by cutting and bending pieces from an aluminum oven tray. Dullcote was used to tone them down. Five Miniatronics Yeloglo white 3mm LEDs were used to light the structure (below).
and practices of the Jersey Central and Lehigh Valley railroads found on the prototype. The CNJ’s main track was controlled by a three-head signal, while the LV used a two-head signal. A single target protected the opposite di- rection.
The IHC mast supports must be reamed out to accept the ¹₈″ Oregon brass tubes. After positioning them and the platform supports, I scratch- built a new walkway and railing. The railing also came from a Central Valley fencing kit, but the bottom rung was removed. Number 65 .035″ holes were drilled using a template in Evergreen 4″×6″ styrene strips cut five feet and nine feet long to support the railing. A Central Valley ladder was attached to the bridge using 2″×4″ strips. Everything was painted before pro-
ceeding. The tower, front of the signal heads and platforms were spray paint- ed with Floquil Weathered Black. The electrical cabinets, back of the signal heads, and masts were sprayed with Old Silver, and the bridge bases with Concrete. Wood 2″×6″s for the walk- way were stained mahogany. After at- taching the bases to the bridge assem- bly, the wood 2″×6″s were cut using a NWSL Chopper for the platforms and walkway. The cut ends were then stained.
The mast assembly
The brass tube signal masts were as- sembled next by attaching the Oregon target heads, platforms and brass lad- ders. Bi-directional, 3mm LED’s (Mini- atronics No. 475-1222005) were used for each of the signal heads except the
69
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100