Building a Signal Gantry

Building a Signal Gantry
Video V.46
A look at how I build a signal gantry as used on my layout.
LED Lights used - red & green Dwarf LED'S purchased via eBay.
Materials used..
* Platicard 0.40 thou sheeting ( for signal plinth ) Evergreen plastics
* 9.5mm & 4mm tubing square or round optional-
* Evergreen plastics
- 12.7mm plastruct trussing -www.plastruct.co.uk
- Aluminium mesh - Halfords
Tools used...
Craft Knife, cutters, black paint & car primer spray paints.

[@WestBlythMPD]

Excellent work on the gantry Garry Take care matey Michael

[@cheekytek]

Thanks buddy really appreciated as always 👍 Take care 😉

[@davestrains]

wow super job Garry ! Q E D cheers dave

[@cheekytek]

Thanks Dave 😉

[@csxrensville5105]

A neat piece of modelling that looks the part. It's good you show how do do these builds as it's so easy these days to just go out and buy something and just put it on the layout. It keeps the" modelling" aspect of the hobby alive. Keith

[@cheekytek]

Thanks Keith Totally agree with you mate nothing worst than being st a model exhibition seeing 30 bachmann engine sheds lol Plus I just love building stuff 😆 All the best Garry 👍

[@FarlandHowe]

Nice cantilevered gantry. The ones with a round support upright are rare according to my research, but there are a few. Rob

[@cheekytek]

Rob Many Thanks for the comment I had seen one or two pics yeah of the round posts as you mentioned - which have a nice look but rare as said Cheers for the research very appreciated All the best Garry 😉👍

[@FarlandHowe]

cheekytek Hi Garry, I have not looked in the north much, but in the south and west the most common support looks to be two channels with their flanges facing each other and about two feet apart with plates middle and top to brace them. I did not emulate that design on the four I built. I used a round brass mini tube on one and a built up I beam shape on the rest. cheers, Rob

[@howarth004]

Think you and Rob ( Farland) have both come up with this good idea ..

[@cheekytek]

Thanks David Just my interpretation of an easy signal 😉 thanks for watching really appreciated All the best Garry

[@FarlandHowe]

David Howarth Thanks Dave for remembering. Rob

[@Cliffjumper24]

Nice demo. I bet a lot of people will find that interesting! And, it's wonderful to see someone doing some actual modelling, rather than just going to a show and getting the same thing hundreds of other people have because they went to the shop too! :^D Here's a useful tip for you.... It's difficult to make something like this to scale because the wires are fairly thick, meaning you have to use wider box/tube vertical mounts. However, if you get some 'motor wire', which is the same stuff you see on the coils of motors... it is unsleeved wire with a wax coating to isolate it. With this, you can get loads of wire in a skinny tube which allowes to you keep to the scale. It's also useful for lighting in a loco where there's not much room, or in a coach where you don't want to see the wire through the windows.

[@cheekytek]

Many thanks for the comment and I do agree that it’s nice to see modelling content as this how we all learn I love your idea of motor wire for loco lighting and coaches etc 👍 great tip had not thought of that good one Cheers But in fairness I had thought of doing thinner gauge wire on the gantries but I try to aim my modelling for a wider audience that can use ready to hand materials and avoid fiddly stuff as I have read comments on many channels where people struggle to build things being all fingers and thumbs But again great advise and appreciated Thanks again Garry

[@jerryallen34]

Another excellent tutorial and even I could have a go at making one. Look forward if you can to an over view of wiring up. Thank you again Garry. Jerry

[@cheekytek]

Cheers Jerry Yeah it’s added to my list of Need to follow ups So will do on where I installed and how the lights operate 👍 Thanks as always Garry 😉

[@jerryallen34]

cheekytek Garry. Can you give the product code number of the lattice you used. I've looked and can't find it. If you can, much appreciated Jerry

[@cheekytek]

Hi Jerry Hatton’s do a selection of tubing from Evergreen And the trusses is from Plastruct. Think I used a 12.7mm but you can add whatever suits you I’ve added links to help guide you. Cheers 😉 www.hattons.co.uk/products/category-evergreen-scale-models-styrene-plastic-shapes www.plastruct.co.uk/openwebT2.html OWTS-16P is the 12.7mm 👍 OWTS-29P is the 15.9mm

[@onnomulder9775]

Thanks for this great video!!

[@cheekytek]

Thanks Onno 👍 😉 Garry

[@SimonLivertonCentral]

Excellent "how to", its something I am looking at adding to my mini test layout...Simon

[@cheekytek]

Hi Simon These are really easy to make and just a couple cheap leds, and look pretty good on the layout.👍 Take care we love following your progress so take care All the best Garry 😉

[@tyhik9338]

Layouts lookin good

[@cheekytek]

Thank you 😉👍

[@JAMESDEMU-RailwayModeller]

My friend and I used to run Eckon Berko signals (he still does but I left about two years ago). You can now buy the signal heads individually and they come with extended wire lengths to place them on gantries. Take a look at the Onlinemodels web page. I'll have to post images in my next video of one I did years ago for a friend's layout. Great video mate. Enjoyed that.

[@cheekytek]

Many Thanks James Great advice really appreciated buddy 👍 Garry

[@holybrookejunction4758]

Fantastic gary Superb video keep them coming

[@cheekytek]

Many Thanks - really appreciated 😉 All the best 👍

[@coalbridgejunction7674]

Thanks for the info Garry will give it a go Kind Regards Martin Coalbridge Junction

[@NewcastleCentralOOGauge]

Great work on the signal gantry. I'm starting to play around with modifying the Dapol signal gantry kits to add actual lights. Not wanting to butcher a Train-Tech signal kit, so those two-aspect lights look good. Will try to hunt them down and see if I can ship them over here! Iain

[@cheekytek]

Thanks Iain Search dwarf lights There’s are the kind of light I used as link below - these are from China rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F151642619172 Was going to do the same with dapol trussing ones but ended up making up my own Hope this sheds light 😆 ( Little pun.. lol ) All the best Garry

[@georgewyatt6712]

Hi Gary, great how to you have some great idea's those signals look fantastic, every time you do a video its always interesting and they look really good on your layout, well done Gary ( I will have a home & distances ) only joking, but they do look the part. Regards George..

[@cheekytek]

George If I could make cheaper I’d take your order lol 😂 Thanks as always Garry

[@timsytanker]

Nice one Captain Cheeky

[@cheekytek]

🙈 Thanks buddy 👍 😉

[@greghale9972]

Simply brilliant........no more needs to be said Cheers Greg

[@cheekytek]

Thanks Greg 👍

[@NewJunction]

As ever made for great veiwing before bed! :-)

[@cheekytek]

Thanks buddy Sorry to keep u awake 😉 Cheers

[@phillippettengell3960]

As usual, great job Garry!!! One quick question though... what sensor do you use to check for trains going underneath?

[@cheekytek]

Hi Phillip Many Thanks The unit I used is a block signal detection module that is designed to locate a loco on a layout via leds on your control panel I changed this to run the layout signals - a little more wiring but as a train rolls over a detection photocell included - triggers another light to red / green Full detailing is in the link below www.blocksignalling.co.uk/index.php/8-channel-train-detector-det-8 Hope it helps 👍 All the best Garry

[@phillippettengell3960]

@@cheekytek Thanks very much Garry! Im just about to start the main part of my layout, so this is great info. I'm not afraid of more wiring, just choosing the wrong product I need which further increases the wiring. Cheers, Phil

[@cheekytek]

Phillip Absolutely great advice there and a mistake often made in early planning stages and probably why most people make 2 or 3 layouts before hitting the mark With today technically there’s always something from tomorrow that makes it better lol As if building a model railway wasn’t hard enough Great comment All the best Garry 👍

[@coalbridgejunction7674]

Hi Garry thanks for the video can you tell me the manufacture of the plastic girders and poles etc so i can procure them kind regards Martin Coalbridge Junction

[@cheekytek]

Your welcome plastruct is one of the manufacturers for trusses and evergreen is the other that I used for tubing both should sell these products You can use square or round tube to whatever your making Search out pics from internet of signal gantries for more. I have added links as below - Hatton has a stock to give you ideas www.hattons.co.uk/products/category-evergreen-scale-models-styrene-plastic-shapes www.plastruct.co.uk/openwebT2.html All the best Garry 👍