Showcase Miniatures semaphores

[arbomambo]

Really curious as to why these haven't been mentioned here...
Fantastic castings (the finials are exquisite - I wish Walter could offer these separately to apply to all my other signal masts)...photo-etched choice of blade types.
I've already purchased 6 sets and will probably get a bunch more....
https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/n_scale/n_scale_century_foundry_signals/554.html

[thomasjmdavis]

Thanks Bruce.  Those will prove useful when I get to that point in layout detailing (still at the wiring new lights in the basement stage of layout construction....).  They look like a good starting point for a couple of the ATSF versions shown in the "Standards" books. 

[peteski]

Really curious as to why these haven't been mentioned here...
Fantastic castings (the finials are exquisite - I wish Walter could offer these separately to apply to all my other signal masts)...photo-etched choice of blade types.

I recommend calling or emailing Walter or Debbie directly.  I have worked with them in the past. They are super nice and easy to work with.  You might be able to get just the parts you need instead of buying the complete kits.  Worth a try.

[C855B]

... (the finials are exquisite - I wish Walter could offer these separately to apply to all my other signal masts) ...

Ask them. Walter and Debbie have mixed and matched signal castings for me when I needed a mix of SA parts for UP prototypes that happened to be a hybrid of their normal sets.

Two things surprised me about the semaphore kits. First was the solid PB mast. Lack of an easy wire conduit precludes illumination. Possibly the loss of Special Shapes fine brass 0.032" tubing is a factor here. I would simply substitute ngineering.com SS tubing, which I do already for the Showcase SA kits. The second head-scratcher were their somewhat obtuse recommendations for color lenses in the spectacle - Tamiya transparent colors are absolutely the go-to here.

Anyway, yes, excellent kit, well-executed and characteristic of Walter's attention to detail. Added benefit is it saves me from having to get into producing semaphore etchings.   Main thing I would add is if semaphores were on my short list would be to reproduce the head in 3D resin (like I did with the SA) for easier illumination, and ...possibly... find a way to run a pushrod up the mast for actuation. But that's me.

[OldEastRR]

Is SM going more to direct sales? Not all of their stuff appears on online hobby sites.

[peteski]

Is SM going more to direct sales? Not all of their stuff appears on online hobby sites.

I've bought bunch of their items from MBK, and also direct.  Does it really matter either way?  As long as they keep producing N scale items I'll be happy.

[arbomambo]

   I've known Walter and Debbie very well for a number of years (We're fellow Alabamians(?) Alabamites(?), whatever...) I challenged them to produce N scale semaphores a few years ago, so am pretty grateful to see them now. I've already asked Walter about N scale finials; perhaps we'll see them soon, as part of another signal detail set.

Showcase Miniatures has ALWAYS preferred direct sales; they've only sold to a few retailers and,then, only grudgingly.

[milw156]

I did my part! Thanx for the heads up!

[Bangorboy]

...  (We're fellow Alabamians(?) Alabamites(?), whatever...)

Alabasters?  Sounds as good as Glaswegians from Glasgow.  I'm a Mainer, but some insist on saying Maineiac.