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General => Trains! => Topic started by: highlandcattle on February 15, 2009, 14:20:35

Title: My attempt at a switchtower
Post by: highlandcattle on February 15, 2009, 14:20:35
I previously thought that a construction like this would always be impossible. Until I got my hands on a 4300 baseplate at a thrift store. Without further a due:
(http://www.majhost.com/gallery/highlandcattle/playmobil/pict0993.jpg)

As you can see I have only one slanting roof piece, I need to get another one :)

Also some of these could be handy to cover up the holes in the wall connectors.
http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-03-9780 (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-03-9780)
The stairs are also a bit dangerous, in need to look for some safer ones.
I tought it would have been nice to have the top part in the green colour from the sheriff's office but sadly not enough parts exist in this colour.
Red from the Riverdale station would also be super nice but where am I going to find that!
Title: Re: My attempt at a switchtower
Post by: Gepetto on February 15, 2009, 16:28:32
You are off to a great start, that looks very good (you are going to hear about those stairs from Gordon!).



Gepetto
Title: Re: My attempt at a switchtower
Post by: Jimbo on February 15, 2009, 18:58:51
Nice looking switch tower :yup:
Well done!

Jimbo
Title: Re: My attempt at a switchtower
Post by: Rasputin on February 15, 2009, 20:34:41
That is a great looking switch tower . I was unaware of that base plate also and now i want one  :lol:

As far as your stairs maybe you could just put 2 brown railings on it . i can not get the # for it, the DB is down

found the # 30 07 6210
Title: Re: My attempt at a switchtower
Post by: gloobey on February 16, 2009, 05:33:42
Looks great! I love switch towers. I did one not too long ago that didn't have the overhanging portion on the top. Your model makes want to revisit my design. Do the 4300 baseplates attach to the steck wall sections on the top and bottom (I thought it was just on top)?

Here's a pic of the one I did...
Title: Re: My attempt at a switchtower
Post by: Little Jo on February 16, 2009, 06:00:59
Seems that all switchtwoers have in common that they are narrow and do have this fency ladder  :lol: (just kidding) Nice work.

Even in this smaller room it seems to me enough space to add a small control desk (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-61-2350) and for highlandcattle's variant one or two of this larger control desk (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-22-7370) would be a nice addition.
Title: Re: My attempt at a switchtower
Post by: highlandcattle on February 16, 2009, 09:14:47
Gloobey: Nice one!
The base plate doesn't really click in. But it fits perfectly and  stays in place. Like it was designed for this! It is hard to explain for me since English isn't my native tongue.
Another question for you: Those train signals in your picture, are they purely decorative or are they connected in a way to the switch

Little Jo: Nice tip, I hope they are still available from DS.

Rasputin: It is not railings I am concerned about (but great tip I didn't know that part existed). It is the fact that the klickies actually have to jump from the door to the ladder!
Title: Re: My attempt at a switchtower
Post by: playmofire on February 16, 2009, 12:20:55
You are off to a great start, that looks very good (you are going to hear about those stairs from Gordon!).



Gepetto
Thanks a lot Gepetto.  Giving all credit to the excellent custom work here, I still have to get my health and safety guys onto this one!   ;D

I take it a switch tower is what in the UK we'd call a signal box.
Title: Re: My attempt at a switchtower
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on February 16, 2009, 14:04:54
Excellent contribution! Very original design!
Title: Re: My attempt at a switchtower
Post by: Rasputin on February 16, 2009, 15:19:42
From what i am gathering you are basing your rail lay outs in the older era . There was very little OSHA in US and Health & Safety in UK around back then . My point is that it looks more realistic if there are these "safety problems" in your design  ;) Let the guy jump to his post, if he misses run him over with the train  :lol:
Title: Re: My attempt at a switchtower
Post by: gloobey on February 16, 2009, 16:37:57
The base plate doesn't really click in. But it fits perfectly and  stays in place. Like it was designed for this!
Another question for you: Those train signals in your picture, are they purely decorative or are they connected in a way to the switch
I'll have to take a look at my baseplates and play with them a bit to see what they can do. The signals shown in the pictures are for looks only. They are from Playmobil. I do, however,  use LGB #5092 signals to control my switches. They connect to the LGB switch motors. I'm not sure if you're familiar with these, but they work really well.
Title: Re: My attempt at a switchtower
Post by: Little Jo on February 17, 2009, 06:58:29
Little Jo: Nice tip, I hope they are still available from DS.

They are, at least in DS Germany, I ordered some recently.