Got myself a few semaphore kits from Viessmann (available via Conrad UK - I can PM a link if there is interest).
The thing is in kit form, it has a very detailed brass pole which has already all the apertures necessary to fit the rest of the parts.
Most of the assembly works without glue, only the pole has to be glued to the socket. I was happy about the price - less than 9
For those of you - who look also a bit into the history - the Austrian semaphores where a bit different to the German ones - the arm was square and had 10 gaps to reduce wind pressure. See the photo below.
But there came a small guy with a strange moustache - actually born in Austria but later emigrated to Germany - he occupied the country and harmonised the signals like his regime harmonised everything "Einheitssignal, Einheitslokomotive and so on...). And from that time on the majority of semaphores had the German white and red enamelled arm. And Austria didn't change them back. There was no money for food, the industry was destroyed, and what was not destroyed was dismantled and transported to Russia and the country had to pay reparation until the 70th of the last century. Therefore the German semaphore arms were the last problem of the country.
After this small excursion into the history it is time to assemble the kit.
This is what you get: brass pole, some plastic injection moulded parts, cable, SMD led, a protection diode and a resistor to limit the current.
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7314/27201652291_d90c267180.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HrHzx2)DSC03242 (https://flic.kr/p/HrHzx2) by Gerhard Novak (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137050108@N03/), on Flickr
Just to show the size of the smd led - now next to a ruler.
(https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7425/26664640194_cc448383df.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GCgfxL)DSC03244 (https://flic.kr/p/GCgfxL) by Gerhard Novak (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137050108@N03/), on Flickr
The instructions are in German, probably somebody already translated them. In any case there are drawings showing how things are going together.
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7791/26665960603_a0055b1eca.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GCo24r)DSC03243 (https://flic.kr/p/GCo24r) by Gerhard Novak (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137050108@N03/), on Flickr
First the wire has to be positioned inside the pole. Easiest: make a loop - so you have to fish it out of the structure only once...
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7448/26665957683_45a0975723.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GCo1c6)DSC03245 (https://flic.kr/p/GCo1c6) by Gerhard Novak (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137050108@N03/), on Flickr
On the baseboard end of the wires the diode and the resistor are soldered and insulated by a shrink tube.
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7675/26665955153_4ea88dcc8e.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GCnZrt)DSC03247 (https://flic.kr/p/GCnZrt) by Gerhard Novak (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137050108@N03/), on Flickr
Now the SMD led is soldered on. The instructions show clearly the polarity of both diode and led. In any case it is useful to test the function before you continue.
(https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7316/26665952543_be64a8b250.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GCnYEt)DSC03249 (https://flic.kr/p/GCnYEt) by Gerhard Novak (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137050108@N03/), on Flickr
Function check
(https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7695/26996106100_f1b864c43c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/H8y6Pb)DSC03251 (https://flic.kr/p/H8y6Pb) by Gerhard Novak (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137050108@N03/), on Flickr
Now the led is clipped into the relevant part of the lantern (there is a sqare aperture in it)
(https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7090/27174778732_f8f3005004.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HpkQXN)DSC03253 (https://flic.kr/p/HpkQXN) by Gerhard Novak (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137050108@N03/), on Flickr
The second half is clipped on and secured by the bottom ring. (fixed it with cyanoacrylate). The complete lantern clips into the mast.
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7092/27271866635_4d3edaf484.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HxVrPa)DSC03254 (https://flic.kr/p/HxVrPa) by Gerhard Novak (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137050108@N03/), on Flickr
The kinematic mechanics are clipped on and the lantern lenses are prepared. (depending on the type there are red, yellow and green lenses) I secured the lenses with cyanoacrylate.
(https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7412/26664629774_39f4810060.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GCgcs7)DSC03256 (https://flic.kr/p/GCgcs7) by Gerhard Novak (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137050108@N03/), on Flickr
Lenses and arm in position (all press fit) and now the signalling strip and the actuater wire as well as the gearbox are to be fitted.
(https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7336/26996101330_10a36fc331.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/H8y5oW)DSC03257 (https://flic.kr/p/H8y5oW) by Gerhard Novak (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137050108@N03/), on Flickr
Finally a test of the lantern - and I am a happy man. Time: 1.5 hours.
(https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7292/27201627501_1e13c54ff9.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HrHsaB)DSC03259 (https://flic.kr/p/HrHsaB) by Gerhard Novak (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137050108@N03/), on Flickr
(https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7088/26664627374_c1ee6748bb.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GCgbJJ)DSC03260 (https://flic.kr/p/GCgbJJ) by Gerhard Novak (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137050108@N03/), on Flickr
The collection is growing....
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7408/27201624411_f254090ac4.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HrHrfk)DSC03261 (https://flic.kr/p/HrHrfk) by Gerhard Novak (https://www.flickr.com/photos/137050108@N03/), on Flickr
fascinating!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261552594821?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Here's a link to some pre wired leds that are about the same size. They do have other sizes.
Mal
Hi Mal,
nice find but the item doesn't ship to the UK as it looks.
I have quite a selection of small SMD leds - so even if I ruin one or two it doesn't matter. Also I think it is a little bit of a challenge, and with a 6 Watt iron as well as with good quality solder it is not too difficult.
So, Gerhard, how are the semaphores coming along? Have you finished building them?
Jeff S.
Jeff,
Not yet. I want to put them on the place they will finally belong to so I have to wait a bit. I need to get the second middle board into a condition to lay the track then I will put them on.
This will take a while as I am currently on annual leave. 3 days Vienna and 10 days Tuscany. Greetings from Vienna.
Vienna - There is an interesting model shop in the back lanes between the Cathedral and Swedenplatz.
There are many interesting shops starting with Krois Modellbau in Schwester, means only a few minutes from the airport. But I am restricted by the suitcase volume as well as I do not want to spend a lot of time browsing the shops as my wife may get bored. Anyway I grabbed a rock mould at Contact - this can be squashed in the suitcase without getting damaged...
Today I am off to Tuscany - well I know a good shop on Livorno from the time I worked in Italy... :)
Dear Modellers,
Minor detail, but maybe with some wider ramification:
These semaphore arms are Prussian, and if you know your history, you know why their signals became the Einheitssignal (= unified standard signal) of Germany.
However, one of the other not soo small states was Bavaria, and their signals had different semaphore arms, which were still around until the turn of the century at least. To say, Bavarian signals are available in model form from Viessmann (and Brawa).
And if your geography isn't too bad you know that Austria borders on Bavaria. I'm not saying that this has anything to do with the fact that the Austrian and Bavarian semaphore arms are more akin than they are with the Prussian, but they are both 'slatted' and not solid like the Prussian. I have no dimensional drawings, but it might be possible to trim a Bavarian semaphore to look like an Austrian... 8)
Oh, and if you struggle with the German and the Internet translators let you down, you can ask yours truly; my German isn't too bad. ;D
Yours truly
Waldschrat
Just tried to find you a supply of Austrian semaphore arms, but there isn't; and that's because you can buy the proper Austrian signals with correct mast from Viessmann. No need to compromise. ;D