How research can overcome resourcing issues

Back in the day, manufacturers produced a "Jinty" in various liveries (GWR and LMS at least I recall) and the Hornby Dublo N2 appeared in the colours of at least 2 companies.

Is that still acceptable today?  Probably not BUT

I have been bemoaning my own abilities to get signals to work and that the motorised Dapol home and Distant signals only came in GWR lower quadrant, SR rail-built and LMS upper quadrant.  LNER signals (and their constituent companies) produced, mainly, plated-posts, lattice posts or wooden square posts depending on the area.  However, reference to my "Construction and Operating Semaphore Signals" by Mark Nicholson at Booklaw Publications shows BR(NE) Region round post upper quadrant signals that bear a real uncanny resemblance to the Dapol LMS round post signals.

The painting on the arms isn't brilliant (the white and black stripes on the home signal are very thin) and there are no balance arms at the base of the post but I reckon with 10 minutes work, I can produce a BR (NE) Region signal.

The point I am making is that A can become B with little fettling if we search hard enough for examples.

And it's better than either (a) paying someone to build brass kits to compensate for my lack of ability or (b) suffering the brickbats from modellers who (rightly) lambast me for static signals and SPADs!!

p.s. If Dapol are listening, please come to the market with junction signals - I anticipate that they would be VERY well received  :doublethumb

Barry

Hi Barry.   You have just Echoed my SPAD comments . I based my comments on the YouTube videos that I have been watching , for inspiration . Mind you on my fictional puzzle it is up to a Shunter or the Fireman to work the points.It is obvious that you are a traditionalist preferring Semaphore to Colour Lighr signals, OO gauge junction Semaphore signals would be to say the least “fragile” if not impossible to work a subsidiary signal arm. And would require much more than a “Modellers Licence”  Best wishes. Kevin

I regret that the Dapol signal has failed after a few operations.  Great idea but it seems the execution has not matched it. 

Shame because I expect that I would have joined many others as customers for these items.

Barry