PED Rich, I am aware of Tomar. They do offer a few N scale items but their pricing is out of my reach when you consider that I would like to do at least 50 signals. Even if I used just a few and did something else for the rest, those few would highlight how crappy the rest look.
Rich,
I am aware of Tomar. They do offer a few N scale items but their pricing is out of my reach when you consider that I would like to do at least 50 signals. Even if I used just a few and did something else for the rest, those few would highlight how crappy the rest look.
Rich
Alton Junction
Paul D
N scale Washita and Santa Fe RailroadSouthern Oklahoma circa late 70's
I operate in HO scale, so I cannot comment on the quality or availability of N scale track side signals. But, have you looked at Tomar Industries signals?
I use Tomar Industries signals on my layout, and they are fantastic.
Scroll down the page on the following link to see the variety of N scale signals.
https://tomarindustries.com/signals.htm
RR_Mel TrainCat has N scale stuff. https://www.traincat2.com/ Great stuff if you can solder. You can do it! Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Mel,I can solder and am willing. I have looked at the Traincat2 stuff before when I was looking for some conveyors but it has been shut down for some time due to the death of his wife. Don't know when he will be back open.
Traincat has been unavailable for a very long time. Too bad, both for the cat, and for us customers.
Best wishes, cat.
Ed
Mel,
I have some fiber optics to play with but fiber vs LED is only part of the issue. My main issue is the crappy N scale signal masts on the market. I do have something new I discovered since my original posting. Shapeways has some decent looking parts that could be used to build up a signal light. Might offer me some better options. They have signal heads but no USA signal masts already built up. Have some German models but I did not find any USA types.
PED Looking for comments or opinions on the wide spread use of ground signal lights in lieu of mast mounted signals.
Looking for comments or opinions on the wide spread use of ground signal lights in lieu of mast mounted signals.
I'm sorry to hear that N scale signals are so sucky.
Moving on:
Ground signals are only used in "terminals". NOT out on the road. So there is no "in lieu of", because you "can't". There's a place for mast mount. There's a place for ground mount. They DON'T interchange.
If you want to contradict reality, go fer it. I'll be happy to visit. And a good martini will secure for you some positive endorsement for your version of reality.
Imagine what two would do.
I am in the planing stage for adding signals to my N scale layout. One major obstacile I have come across is the poor availability of decent looking mast signals for N scale. Nothing like what is available in HO. The few I do find are very crude or are incrediabily expensive...much too expensive for widespead use on my layout. In addition, most are dummy or are prewired with red or green in a set position which does not let me create the different aspects I would prefer to use. Modifing them to use multicolor LEDs or look nicer would be an impossible task for me. They are just too small.
I model the Santa Fe in late 70's and from what I can tell, Santa Fe prefered simple signals during that period such as a single or double light. In addition, Santa Fe would often use ground signals rather that a tall mast even on a mainline. This is where I am looking for inputs and opinions.
Since all the mast style signals I have found look like crap with exposed wires, wrong LED colors, no ladder and very poor finish detail I am considering a shift to using 100% ground signals on my layout. Certainly not totally protypical but neither are the crappy signal mast I have found. By doing this, I can buy less costly ground signals and then modify them to use multi color LED's that would allow me to represent a wider array of aspects. An additional benefit would be that the mast heads would not be sticking up on my layout where I am sure to break off a few. I do have a few spots where I might use a signal bridge instead of ground signals.