Michael Clark

Masokits Masterbits Range

Catalogue issue 15,  2009

11.00 - Track Detailing and Signal Components

Etched Chairs

These enable detailed trackwork to be built on copper-clad sleepers. The resultant track is very strong and electrically continuous. It does take longer than other systems to build up the track to the stage when you can run trains because you build up the detail as you construct the track. However, the time to get to completed and fully detailed track is no longer than other systems. Point kits include the tiebars. However the sleepers are not included in either plain track or point kits and I DO NOT sell the sleepers.

 (See MRJ No.119 and 162 for a review of this system)
ITEM No. DESCRIPTION PRICE - £
11.01 Fret of 528 Two Bolt Etched Running Chairs, These are suitable for use with Code 75 Bullhead Rail ONLY. 11.50
11.02 Fret of 528 Three Bolt Etched Running Chairs, These are suitable for use with Code 75 Bullhead Rail ONLY. 11.50
11.03 Two Bolt Etched Point Chairs, These are suitable for use with Code 75 Bullhead Rail ONLY. 5.00
11.04 Three Bolt Etched Point Chairs, These are suitable for use with Code 75 Bullhead Rail ONLY. 5.00
11.05 Fret of  300 BR Type 3 Etched Baseplates (bolted clamp outside with two spikes inside) These are suitable for use with Code 75 Flatbotttom rail ONLY. 7.50
11.06 Fret of 12 Point Tiebars: 
Strong and realistic tiebars which isolate the point rodding or operating mechanism from both rails. They set the distance between the blades for P4 and are a little delicate until soldered up.  0.010" double-sided PCB board included. 		 3.50
11.07 Fret of 24 Point Operating Cranks: 
These have a D shaped hole at the pivot point to give a good strong mechanical key and are designed to be used where the point blades are driven from beneath the baseboard. Only the etched brass is provided. Rod and tube from the METALCENTRES RANGE is required to complete.		 2.00
11.08 Point Rodding Cranks & other Details:
Lots of detail parts such as point locking gear and expansion links together with a variety of different shaped cranks. Etched brass only is provided.  		 3.00
11.09 5 Lever Frame Set:
This does not replicate any prototype but is just a simple functional lever frame to drive points and signals using the wire in tube method.  Levers are at 11 mm centres and the throw is adjustable from 0 to 10 mrn.  the operating wire is held in place by a bolted clamp. Two wires can be driven by one lever making simultaneous throwing of crossovers possible. The kit includes all nuts and bolts but NOT the wire in tube system.  		 21.00
11.11 10 Signal Box Levers and Frame
This fret provides a scale representation of the lever frame and is to enable the interior of a signal box to be detailed.  Levers are at scale centres. It is easy to build and rather fiddly to paint. .		 3.00
11.12 Ground Lever
This is just a small simple lever to operate a point or signal. Easy to build and needs a short length of 1/16" brass rod to complete.		 2.00
11.13 Fishplates
These fold up to form the correct thickness and profile of the real thing. Fret contains 184 individual fishplates which gives 92 rail joints or 46 track joints. With self-gripping tweezers they are relatively easy to solder in place.  These can be used with either Code 75 Bullhead or Code 75 or 83 Flatbottom Rail		 5.00
11.31 Folding Connection Fishplates
Similar to item 11.13 Fishplates, these wrap around the rail and have a tab with a hole to allow the electrical dropper wire to be securely and discreetly soldered to the rail without a lot of farting about drilling holes in the web of the rail. They can easily be fitted after the track is laid and ballasted.  Fret contains 49 Folding Connection Fishplates. These are suitable for code 75 Bullhead rail.		 3.00
11.14 Plain Track Construction Jig
This is a simple jig which clamps the sleepers into a matrix giving the correct sleeper spacing, including the reducing centres at a rail joint, for a 60' rail length. A timber fence is provided together with two setting dowels to position the rail the correct distance in from the end of the sleeper so the jig can be used for P4, EM and 00 track construction. The jig is etched in 0.7 mm stainless steel and therefore should resist the corrosive effects of fluxes (providing of course you don't go mad with the flux).
The jig is, of course, intended for use with my etched chairs on copper-clad sleepering. However, there is no reason why it cannot be used for track construction using the Brook Smith method.
4 No. 8BA bolts 25 mm long and 6 No. M3 brass dome-headed screws are needed to complete the jig together with a piece of wood about three feet long.		 25.00
11.15 Track Defect Vehicle: Suitable for P4 and EM only:
Some of you may have seen this on my stand at Scaleforum 2006. It detects deviations and steps in the track and can be either propelled or pulled by a loco (or shoved about by hand). A calibration scale is included. Only the flat etch is provided. Wheels, bearings, piano wire and brass rod and tube being required to complete. lease note it is essential to fit perfectly round and parallel wheels otherwise this will be a wobbly wheel detector.		 9.00
SIGNAL OPERATING GEAR
Some years ago I announced that I would be introducing gear which would both operate the signals and create a nice sexy mechanical bounce whilst being driven by wire-in-tube. Well here it is.
The signal is built up on a mounting plate which enables the signal, complete with its “bounce” mechanism, to be easily removed from the layout. In true Masokits tradition, I have re-written the rule book. All operating gear and wire-in-tube is ABOVE the baseboard with only the “bounce” pendulum being below the baseboard! Only the flat etch is provided. You will need to obtain various brass tube sections and brass rod to complete.
Some of these parts are breath-takingly small and fiddly. but what else would you expect from me!
ITEM No. DESCRIPTION PRICE - £
11.16 Signal Arm Operating Gear and Detail:
These frets provide a whole range of components and sub-assemblies to aid the construction of working signals and cater for both upper and lower quadrant arms, and timber or tubular posts. They include the “bounce” mechanism, all sorts of crank-mounting brackets, balance arms and even working chain wheels! Pivot and lamp mounting sub-assemblies are included for both upper and lower quadrant signals and these are co-ordinated to the signal arms so that the lamp and lens line up accurately. This makes fitting of arms and lamps to the post simple.
Please note that one of these frets is needed for each working signal arm and, in order to make all this work, it is necessary to have the Signal Base Mounting plate (Item 11.17 below) for each signal you intend to build.
 3.00
11.17 Signal Base Mounting Plate:
This fret is the mounting base for each signal post and provides the pivot points for the “bounce” mechanism. One of these frets is needed for each signal post you intend to build. Up to six arms can be operated on one post from this mounting plate.
3.00
11.18 Signal Wire guides and Stools:
These aid the fitting of the wire-in-tube operating wire to the actual signal itself and provides an accurate adjustment of the signal off position. One fret is sufficient for one post with 6 arms or two posts with up to 3 arms each.
 3.00
SIGNAL ARMS:
The arms are etched in 0.008” brass and two thicknesses laminate up to form a strong arm with lots of fine detail on both sides (including the turned over edge flange on metal arms). Please note that these arms are very delicate and easily damaged until they are soldered up so please handle them with care when taking them out of the packet.
NOTE: The brass these are etched in comes off a roll and there is a  "curl” to the half etched parts.
ITEM No. DESCRIPTION PRICE - £
11.19 4' 0" Timber GWR Signal Arms: Fret of 7 stop and 3 distant arms. 7.50
11.20 4' 0" Metal GWR Signal Arms: Fret of 6 stop and 3 distant arms. 7.00
11.21 5' 0" Timber GWR Signal Arms: Fret of 6 stop and 2 distant arms.  7.50
11.22 GWR Short Signal Arms: A variety of timber and metal short arms and detail. 8.00
11.23 4' 0" Upper Quadrant Signal Arms: 12 stop, 5 distant, 4 short arms and detail. 8.00

OTHER SIGNAL COMPONENTS:
ITEM No. DESCRIPTION PRICE - £
11.10 Signal Cranks
These are a very slender crank and are intended for use on signals. Tube and rod are needed to complete and a variety of cranks are included on the fret.		 3.50
11.24 Etched Timber Signal Post:
Etched in two halves in 0.010” brass, this makes up into a very strong post. It is simple to put together and the maximum height of post is a scale 34’ 4”.
 3.50
11.25 Etched Timber Bracket Signal Base Post:
Same construction as item 11.24 above, the maximum height of the post a scale 21’ 0”.
 3.00
11.26 Signal Ladder (9” Rung Spacing):
This is a flat etch onto which a length of 0.4mm brass wire is soldered along each vertical. This produces a strong ladder whilst maintaining the fine delicate look of the real thing. The length of the ladder is a scale 33’ 6”. There are 3 ladders on the fret.
 3.50
11.27 GWR Signal Ladder (10.5” Rung Spacing):
A flat etch as 11.26 above with dimensions to suit the standard GWR ladder (3 ladders).		 3.50
11.28 Tubular Post Signal Landings:
This etch provides the landings where stop and distant arms are on a single signal post.		 1.50
11.29 Timber Post Signal Landings:
As 11.28 above only for a timber post. Please note that the support brackets are sized to fit the etched timber signal posts above (item 11.24).		 1.50
11.30 Big Chunky Variable Angle Cranks:
These are intended for use under the baseboard or somewhere else out of sight. The throw and angle of the cranks made up from these etches is variable. Up to 17 two way cranks can be assembled. 3 and 4 way cranks are also possible. These can be used in conjunction with Item 11.07 - Point Operating Cranks. Only the flat etch is provided. Brass rod and tube are required from METALCENTRES.		 4.00

Back to index