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HO scale old-style cantilever crossing?

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  • Member since
    July 2020
  • 42 posts
HO scale old-style cantilever crossing?
Posted by Traincraft199 on Monday, April 25, 2022 9:20 AM

I'm searching for an ho scale version of something like this

the only company I found that ever made them is called NJ International, but they're nonexistant on the second-hand market and I couldn't find it anywhere on their website. (the part number is NJ 1190)

Building my first layout, 4x8 contemporary urban area in HO scale 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Monday, April 25, 2022 10:51 AM

It doesn’t look like it would be to hard to build a pair from K&S brass stock.

I built a pair of regular crossings mainly because the pricing had gone up on the ones I wanted.



#6S brass washers and K&S 5/32” tubing (sun shield) are the correct size for HO







I couldn’t even find the NJI signal heads, they were pretty easy to make.  I made dozens of the heads for my signaling system.




The cost of my signals was about $4 each including the three color LEDs.

Mel


 
My Model Railroad   
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California

Growing old is a bummer, aging is definitely not for wimps.

  • Member since
    November 2012
  • From: Kokomo, Indiana
  • 1,463 posts
Posted by emdmike on Saturday, April 30, 2022 12:44 AM

NJ International offered those older style flashers, they were black in color instead of silver, made of brass and used bulbs instead of LED's.  I am not sure if they ever reissued them once they switched to LED's in all their signals.   I would like to find a pair of them myself, they are not easy to come by.  Silvine also imported one like that.    Mike

Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: NW Pa Snow-belt.
  • 2,216 posts
Posted by ricktrains4824 on Saturday, April 30, 2022 9:51 AM

Walthers Part 949-4332 looks close, otherwise it looks like you might need to make your own at this time. 

I will occasionally see NJI signals pop up on eBay, but not often...

 

Ricky W.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,326 posts
Posted by Overmod on Monday, May 2, 2022 7:58 PM

Build jigs to bend and cut the wire and tubing representing the 'subassemblies' of the cantilever head.  Then get solder and flux melting in several heat ranges -- start assembling with high-heat solder, then 'silver solder', then tin-lead, then Tix and its special flux, then if necessary indium.  Use the wet paper towel and alligator-clip methods of heatsinking away from already-made joints, with the jigs holding subassemblies in position so you don't burn your third hands...

In smaller scales you could use etched brass sheet techniques to make pieces that could be assembked with a small number of actual joints, then use paint on the heavy side to 'round out' the etched profile where necessary...

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,229 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Monday, May 2, 2022 9:46 PM
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,334 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 9:32 PM

Check Oregon Rail Supply.  I have a couple of their signals and like them just fine.  External drivers and flashers are necessary, but the signals themselves are very reasonable and should be easy to bash into the configuration you want.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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