Well if you haven't seen them, what a suprise. I have to say they did a great job on these signals. I purchased 2 types of the 3 avalible, the Bi-Directional and MultiHead signals The only drawback in the design is the mounting method "FOR ME ANYWAY". It uses the nail down method and due to the connectors allows for NO modification of the base to allow a tube to extend into the layout. As you can see above, the mounting system makes it a little tough. personally I like to be able to remove or lay my signals down when I need to work around the track. This mounting method leaves that option almost useless. The signals come with a removable number plate, so you can make these signals either home or intermediate by simply adding or removing the clip on plate. Decals are included to allow you to number your signals, alone with several letters for W/E/N/S and so forth. The signals have a clip on wiring system, that makes it plug and play or you can clip the phone plug connection on the other end and hard wire that in. Either way the system still allows plug and play. (possibly more photos to show this) As you can see, once you have the area ballasted, it looks good. Here is a side profile shot of the signal. Very nice in detail, even if the wires are a tad big. Overall I give these signals a 9. The only downsides I see are the wire tube from the signal head and the mounting system. The wire tube is a must, but a redesign of the mounting system should be thought about.
Well they look really nice for CR, PRR, C&O, B&O and a few others. But I need the regular style. Wonder if they will come out with them? How easy it to hook up operate if you do not have the DCC system plug and play? Could you give us a review on that side of it for those of who still are on DC and will not be converting for a few years to come.
Atlas designed the system for DC, not DCC. I am just using the signals, not the system. As for use, they aren't too hard to install, you simply drill a 5/16" hole in the layout, drop the plugs with wire down the hole, situate the signal, nail it in with Atlas track spikes and under the layout, use the other wiring harness (plug on one end and phone jack on the other, simply plug it in and go. The block detectors are analog (DC) and the signal driver same. Simply plug it in like a phone!
Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures. These are the first I have seen of this product. Seen mention, but no followup on my part. Up in Greeley, the fellow uses IC 6 pin sockets and plugs for signals. The socket is mounted on the layout and the signal has a 6 pin socket in the bottom. Plug, unplug, move, fix etc. Very nice. Wonder if you could mod the atlas. Thanks again for posting. Joe
It looks good. IMHO I would opt for screws as opposed to nails. They look nice even if they are not exactly what many of us would use as a prototype. How do they price out compared to many of the other brands of signals and control devices?
Price in compairable to Tomar, cheaper then ISS, but more then Oregon. Expect to pay about $30 per signal for double head and $20ish for single head. From what has been said, if these go well, expect other signal types. But that is just the way I heard it. I plan on using 2-56 brass screws on the other signals when I install them. I tried to mod one signal, and it isn't a good idea. Im not afraid to tear into things, but this seems to be a nightmare waiting to happen. Just my opinion from what I have found. The wires are wire wrap and very fragile. I broke one off simply by looking at it wrong!!
Perhaps you could drill a 1" diameter hole 1/4" deep, then drill 7/8" on through. Mount the signal on a 1/4" thick round 'pad' 1" diameter with wires sticking out bottom? Press signal 'pad' into hole snug, but is removable for working in area. If accidentally hit, it could fall over but not break. Like a bottle cork?
Watash, You can actually pull the signal mast from the base, so its not as big an issue as I had made it. Although, if someone gets one with their arm, oops.
