This ‘hands on’ course, led by tutor Karl Crowther, is aimed both at modellers with previous experience of model signal construction as well as those wishing to start out on the road to constructing working semaphore signals. All levels of ability will be welcome, from those wishing to start with the basics through to more advanced subjects such as bracket and ground signals.
Ideally you will need to have some idea in advance of what, exactly, you plan to build. In addition you will need to provide the necessary parts (e.g. posts, arms, finials, lamps, ladders). For example posts can be round, square or even lattice type, whilst arms can be upper or lower quadrant to suit your own particular preferences. Karl has provided a list of tools, parts, suppliers and references which is given below.
There are several ways to make signals work. There will be a session devoted to these including the use of servos. On hand will be suitable servos for you to experiment with and the electronic modules to drive them. MERG components will be available to purchase over the weekend.
You will need to have some experience with a soldering iron. Some of the work will be quite intricate and fiddly by its very nature (especially the ground signals!). Karl will of course be on hand throughout the process to give help, guidance and encouragement as your signal progresses.
Although the course will be working in 4mm scale the techniques are readily adaptable to other scales. Should you wish to work in a different scale, that will not be a problem, but you’d definitely need to bring along your own components to work on.
If you have any queries about the course, please use the ‘Get in Touch’ page.
