Recreating Leek station signal box

Discussion in 'Line Side Buildings' started by Andy_Sollis, May 1, 2020.

  1. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Today we have sent the OO scale model of Leek Station signal box to the printers thanks to a purchase of the prototype model. Normally I keep the prototypes, but they have been shares with a friend who I’ve known for 24 years. I know he will look after them and enjoy them.

    Now we just await delivery and some photos.

    The internals will follow at a later time, probably with the 7mm version when we have completed the final adjustments.

    thanks on this project must go to the following- not all are forum members (or even modellers)

    @York Paul, @Fruit, Nick Allsop and Graham Serrell for his memories in there as a child. Small projects like this can’t be done on their own, and without support like these guys have given me on messenger etc would not have been anywhere near as accurate as it will hopefully be. It makes me smile when I think what small task I have had compared to Paul doing Leek and another group I’ve been speaking to who are recreating Nottingham Victoria in 3D. As they said, you may have plans, but folks memories will always dispute someone else’s, won’t it Ted? Eh.

    7-5-5
     
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  2. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    2-1 Mr S 7-5-5 and onto the next project.:thumbs:
     
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  3. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    And so the block shelf section of the project draws near to completion.

    9EEE1127-61D2-42BF-A3CF-D6FB66DE925E.jpeg

    this was how it was..

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    now with distant and home repeaters for levers 1&2
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    and the same for 37, 39 and 40 as non of these could be seen by the signalman (some due bridges and 40 as from what I can see, was the other end of a tunnel!)
    79816C41-66AB-42D9-B6F4-3DC8DDD59A13.jpeg

    The box contains the emergency key to the locking room under the box. The morse telephone, and the switch out box.
    15B85ADE-D5CC-48FD-8521-677211BECFA7.jpeg
    a full view.

    then, it struck me.. I needed another lamp failure annunciator which is the black box to the left..
    02E7C20C-B6B0-4D32-9515-13659AF41962.jpeg

    Although, only 5 of the 6 lamps would actually be monitored here.

    Now we’re back to internals.
    Have a good un!
     
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  4. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Apologies, there was an error on the last update. The signal arm repeaters (due to not being in view) should be on signals 1(distant) & 3 Home, not one and two as I posted. 419F775C-AF22-43F2-96A8-66757C1E3394.jpeg
     
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  5. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Times marching on for this project.. little details now...

    2F51ED1E-19D9-4781-90E6-054AB7B9C551.jpeg

    I wanted to replicate a clock like this..
    6946FC4E-1CF0-4A55-8C2B-7FD61B40F886.jpeg

    Quite pleased with the outcome.
    Added it in to the box -
    0308052B-B82E-4D1F-87B3-C8CC89FF32E3.jpeg

    Finally the cut away version
    04460D8B-EDA5-4F86-AB70-16CF6D92E544.jpeg
     
  6. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Parcel arrived today. Here are (some) of the parts. (Some- as some parts have remained in their bags... This model is not for me and the Experimental prototype has been funded by a friend and this will soon join some of his other models that I have created.

    anyway, without much more waffle... here is the OO model of Leek Station signal box... it’s a McKenzie and Holland type 2 box for the “Owd Knotty” (North Staffordshire) and replaced an earlier box on the same site. This was the 40 lever box that was demolished in the 1970’s.
    CE6C58CE-A52E-45CD-AAFF-6BD555DCA08B.jpeg
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    the base/locking room.

    F94C63AF-E6D2-4B1A-ABA4-E688333A3A85.jpeg DDABFEE5-7990-4473-9F16-407761E69A4C.jpeg 4932F130-EEA4-456A-A4E1-841506B133A8.jpeg

    The “Cabin” section.


    D46BE985-EEF2-4C9E-9A8C-E6E7228EFA0A.jpeg 75792CA9-DB7A-49AC-972A-554E37D85B52.jpeg

    The porch and steps

    6ED43762-DA81-48A3-B32B-18C5016E63BE.jpeg

    the roof.
     
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  7. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    I almost forgot.
    The built model..

    4D15C0CA-C5A8-49B8-87BE-41F3B8144968.jpeg 42A7C4E1-D3C2-461D-BEC0-C27958D08271.jpeg E8E379C3-F387-48E5-A236-224835AD94A1.jpeg 8BE5B3A6-7C1D-40A4-9D8F-A933E62CAC55.jpeg

    40 lever McKenzie and Holland frame to go inside... yes, it’s small and delicate in OO! 2E272831-6900-4736-8040-1012E002F739.jpeg
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    some finials, name boards and walk way boards.
    A68E3A33-E5B8-4922-947A-F15D78B4098E.jpeg 34459108-DC6E-484F-8468-F4F5DED8D437.jpeg

    The sharp sighted may spot one error!!
     
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  8. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Carrying on with the details for the O gauge version which I have some interested parties in, I have created a lamp burner for a signal lamp. These were often found in signal boxes when they may have been needing some work (a new wick maybe) or just as a quick reach swap for a failed unit (run out of paraffin!)

    This model has been drawn up from measurements taken by an owner for me. 17812A39-C5BD-4A93-810E-20F518C03B3F.jpeg A3601666-1EA7-40DF-A855-A8D26BBA622C.jpeg
    And showing it on the model....
    F3177160-5771-4955-B48B-5ADDAE0A5592.jpeg

    Next up was the signal wire tensioner. These were fitted when the cables to signals that were a fair distance away stretched in the sun, so you could wind up slack.
    D8CACEDF-8962-4E25-B4DB-6DC171C095B2.jpeg 3EFF4401-5B0B-4CA5-9BA9-F5397B1487D5.jpeg C9A25178-7B21-42A7-BC13-A7820D09CF20.jpeg
    They feature a ratchet lock on the back.
    AB92D5F2-FF6A-4D86-B64B-EE066D38AB95.jpeg
    and here we have it on the Leek Station signal box working model.

    I’ll be looking at selling these items as packs of 4 on my online shop at Shapeways.
     
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  9. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Those turnbuckles are amazing Andy and so are the inner lamp cases... these little items take the spirit of super real to another level. I shall place my order once I'm more sorted out as you know.
     
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  10. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    I may invest in one of these just for fun for my Cheddleton box.
    That’s having a repaint at the moment. I was never happy with the colour... but the new shade looks more like primer!:scratchchin:

    B9685B32-843B-4A4B-AD7B-B2442EA341EE.jpeg
     
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  11. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    You're probably looking for a shade somewhere between the both truth be known, if you stick with the lighter shade then it may be better to tone the red down to almost a pinkish colour... that new cream is not far off what the sun bleached paint looked like at Leek all those years ago.
     
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  12. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    It’s almost white though...

    I’d mix a bit of yellow in, but I doubt I’d get a constant shade to do the whole thing.

    I need to also see if I can add some mortar to those lower bricks. :scratchchin:
     
  13. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    I’ve had a glitch and had to move the files to a different program. Moved to Fusion360. It’s a learning curve with a few YouTube videos to educate...

    however, Leek Station signal box is now rebuilt and it’s here for you to view on line and walk around rather than just me show some photos.
    https://a360.co/2ZgarEm

    click on the continue in browser and let it load.. no need to download any apps.

    andy
     
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  14. Chatty

    Chatty Full Member

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    Andy

    As one that has always struggled with mechanical concepts, I found this 16 part series on Fusion360 very helpful The beauty of it is you can download the drawings beforehand and follow on and later you still have the drawings to practice with.

    Kind regards

    Geoff
     
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  15. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Thanks Geoff, I’ll have a browse at that. to be honest, now I can import my old stuff (which earlier versions of the program wouldn’t allow) it’s not so bad. I can still draw up in 123DDesign then import them to 360 for rendering.
     
  16. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Having already done much of this, he makes it look very easy. Many of my issues is finding from all the extra options what it was I want to do and the new ways of doing it.

    I can master this! I just need to find a new (simple) project to try first.
    Maybe some doors or windows.
    Andy
     
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  17. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    So I didn’t really continue with Fusion 360 much, but so have found the render button. I’ve worked it how to import my models in to one another to build a full painted model... and clicked...
    C9FB49FF-9B00-4D48-88A8-C1CDE811D428.jpeg
    I wish I could find an appropriate background. (I actually discovered this whilst playing with a Bouncing bomb model!)

    16B3E90E-E440-48D6-8C36-A29CE2F9D85F.jpeg
    Although I’m very impressed with the inside, I really need to find a light switch- or fit some internal lights on the 3D model.. the use of a glass texture on the gauges etc helps to bring items out.
     
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  18. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    From the external porch looking in..

    619C951A-9449-42C7-8970-F85637151C8A.jpeg

    the locking shelf.

    A874F4CE-5E27-4E8F-BC90-A3194D27E32A.jpeg

    I’m currently experimenting with internal lighting on the model. Don’t need to worry on the actual printed model as these are done with LED.
     
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  19. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    That is truly excellent Mr S and a rendition in which the local Leek group would be truly proud of... one observation to make the scene even better would be to colour the Coutier stove dull black and to tone the cream on the walls to Velum which was a pale creamy off white grey. The green used on the furniture and lower walls appears way to strong for the BR livery which was Eau de Nil BS 6-071 or BS 381C 216, Velum was BS 381C 365... don't be put off by its pinkish tinge as when applied it isn't pink at all. Interior cabs of DMU's and power units of Gronks were painted this colour as was the external window surrounds of Class 33's when new.
     
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  20. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    That is quite hard to believe its a model... excellent indeed.:tophat::tophat::tophat::tophat::tophat::tophat:
     

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