Shiloh Signals
PO Box 1042
Gloversville NY 12078
Prices: See text
Website: www.shilohsignals.com
1:32 scale (suitable for 1:29 scale), multi-light signals; all-metal construction; operates on 12-16V; each hand made; lights are super-bright LEDs; painted and ready to use; suitable for indoor or outdoor use. Mast height (not including the mounting extension), 9″
Pros: Attractive units; well constructed of copper and brass; good paint finish; LEDs bright enough to be easily seen in daylight
Cons: Rudimentary installation instructions; no control suggestions offered
Shiloh sent two signals for review: a twin-head searchlight or target-type signal with bi-color red/green LEDs (#GSL-B2, $36) and a twin head, two-light signal (#GD2-4). The latter is available with visors (pictured, $40) or without ($36).
As mentioned, each signal is hand made entirely of metal, mostly brass and copper. The mast, from the bottom of the base (not including the mounting extension) is 9″. In 1:32 scale, this comes out to 24′ (21’9″ in 1:29 scale). The heads are soldered to brackets that are, in turn, soldered to the masts. Each signal is furnished with a ladder and each ladder has a utility platform for each signal head. The signals are not exact scale models of particular prototypes. Rather, they are what the airplane people would call “stand-off scale.” They incorporate all of the important features of full-size signals, are well proportioned, and look right when installed on the railway.
Our signals are painted silver, with black heads and brackets (all-black signals are also available). Workmanship is very good—all parts are neatly soldered and the overall effect is excellent. These units are suitable for indoor or outdoor use.
The mast extends below its base another 1 1/8″. This extension is intended for mounting the signals. The only mounting instructions supplied with these units tell you to drill a 7/32″ hole through a block of wood, stick the signal in the hole, and mount (bury?) the wood below grade. If you are working indoors, drilling said hole in your benchtop would probably work just as well.
The signals are illuminated by super-bright LEDs, which are easily bright enough to be seen in daylight. These operate on 12-16V DC or AC, so they evidently have resistors built into their circuits. Leads (6″ long on one signal, 8 1/2″ on the other) extend from the bottom of the masts. The wires travel up through the masts and emerge from holes in the sides of the masts near the lamp heads, where they are painted black. The only electrical instructions, aside from recommended voltage, say that the blue wire should be positive and all others are negative. When it comes to actually controlling the signals or tying them into your electrical system, you are on your own. However, their circuitry is simple enough that it should be easy to integrate them into just about any third-party control system. Offered on the company’s website is a simple train-detection system.
These are interesting, well-made products that can add character and realism to any standard-gauge railroad. With the proper circuitry, they can even be made to function in the same way as full-size signals.
