Constructing Model Railroad Signals

[Justin]

I am in the process of building a complete signal system for my layout. However like most modelers I am plaged by the cost of pre-made railroad signals. On top of that they only come with one target, now I could find the two or three target ones but be paying outragous for them. So my question is any ideas of how I could make my own or what materials I could use that are cheap and can find around the house? I will be using LEDs that are 3MM and 5MM in diameter and would like to model old chessie style three lights. One idea that I have is to use straws and poster board, The straws would be the visors and the posterboard would be the back. The straws would fit through holes made from a hole punch and I would fit the LEDs in the straws. But thats all I can think of and I saw that on the internet.

[LongIslandTom]

If you want to make them more to scale, you want to look for something with a smaller diameter than straws.. typical straws are about a quarter of an inch in diameter, and that translates to 2 feet wide in HO.

One of the more popular ways of making more appropriately-sized glare shields for lamps in HO: Cut the round plastic hub off of a Kadee draft gear box cover, and use that.

Hope this helps and good luck!

[SousaKerry]

Actually you can usually buy kits without lights that are reasonable, I have a couple of C &O cantalevers arround some where can't remeber who manufactured them, Oh and FYI use magnet(coil) wire you can get it at radio shack, the insulation is minisule and is much easyer to hide and since your only runnin 1.5v there is no problem with shorts.

[Justin]

How much do those kits usually run. That had crossed my mind as it would look more realistic. BTW I have plenty of magnet wire and it is a lot easier to use, but it isn't color coded so I have to use colored wire on the ends.

[SousaKerry]

you can get magnet wire in red and green maybe brown also but you would have to get it from a better source such as allied electronics


if memory serves me right less then 20 bucks try seaching arround walthes web site should find plenty of manufactuers

here it is good kit $14.95

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/538-101

[Justin]

Thanks for all the help I should have some fun making my own signals. Sure beats the hell out of paying ten bucks for a single target. Making my own will allow me to custom make the arrangment of lights and colors per target.