BLMA Models 16623 Pear Blossom Ct. Whittier, California 90603 Phone: 562-712-7085 Ssales@blmamodels.com Cantilever Signal Bridge Instructions Thank you for purchasing this fine-scale model! This bridge has been designed for easy assembly, exceptional durability, and ease of mounting. Please feel free to contact us if you have any comments or concerns. Should an issue arise, spare parts are available for purchase. Please read through all instructions before assembling and painting this structure. THE PROTOTYPE Modeled after a common Santa Fe protoype, this Cantilever Signal Bridge has been in use all over the country for well over a half century. Sturdy construction and a solid design has allowed these bridges to last into the new millennium. The photos to the right are of the prototype bridge this kit is modeled after. Replaced on the 1st of August, 2006, this relic survived long enough to see BNSF come to power over Santa Fe rails. THE MODEL Our HO Scale model of this interesting bridge is an exact scale replica of the prototype. If you look closely, you will notice that everything down to the rivet detail is in place! Because a solid model starts with solid dimensions and drawings, all of the information used was taken directly from the prototype. The model photos to the right were taken at the same angle as the prototype photos to show how exact this model is. #4020 Materials/Tools Needed! Glue: Any medium CA (super) glue. (Super glue accelerator might also come in handy.)! Hobby Knife: A sharp hobby knife is imperative for cutting etched metal pieces from the frame in which they come. (Be careful with sharp blades; use eye protection while cutting!)! File: To remove any burs left behind when the parts are cut from their etched frame.! Paint: Any flat black paint. We recommend using an air brush to apply the paint. It is easy to cover the small details with paint applied by brush. Silver & White paint are needed as well.! Toothless Pliers: To aid in bending things such as the ladder supports, signal heads, etc. *Toothless pliers decrease the risk of causing damage to delicate, etched-metal parts.! Toothpicks: Come in handy when applying glue or small dabs of touch-up paint. #4020 - Signal Bridge Instructions
Parts List Please contact us at BLMAmodels.com for any spare part requests. A. Main Span & Center Base B. Vertical Posts & Ladder C. Base D. Top Handrail E. Electrical Box (not pictured) F. Signal Heads (3) (Non-operating - not pictured) A C D B Assembly 1. Base Assembly The base of the prototype is an angled concrete block. Locate part C and remove it from it s etched frame. Notice the half-etched fold lines on the underside of the etching. Fold all sides so the half-etched lines are facing down. Note: Adding CA glue from the inside will help to prevent the sides from pushing outward. Bend sides down as shown. Completely assembled and glued from the inside. 2. Vertical Post Construction The main vertical post of this model is constructed of four separate components. Through testing the product, we found this to be the best we to faithfully recreate the construction methods of the bridge. Locate and remove the four long posts from etching B. It is extremely important that these posts remain perfectly flat. Notice that the ends of these four pieces have short tabs protruding from them. These tabs will fit neatly into the base assembly as well as the top handrail section (more on that later). Furthermore, notice that the tabs on one end are longer than on the other end. The end with the longest tabs will fit into the base. Continued on page 3... #4020 - Signal Bridge Instructions Page 2
Starting with the two solid posts, locate the end with the long tab, dip it in CA and insert it into the base. Of the entire kit, this is the most crucial part! Make sure that your post is perfectly vertical. The post must be completely vertical for the model to assemble correctly in the later steps. The post can lean in toward the center a tad (so the top of it falls directly above the center hole in the base). Repeat the steps above for the opposite post. Make sure both posts are perfectly vertical (however, it s OK for them to lean in toward the center and onto each other as we have pictured Figure B). From there, locate the other two vertical supports and glue them into the base with the long tab end first. These posts might have a tendency to lean out which is perfectly OK (we ll adjust them later.). By now, all of your posts should be glued in place and should be the same height (Figure C). Throughout this process, make sure that all posts stay completely vertical. Figure A Figure B Figure C Perfectly vertical post. Both solid posts in place. All four posts in place. 3. Top Base Assembly Locate and remove the Top Base from etching A. Note that there are half-etched fold lines on it s bottom side. Fold the ends down at the half-etched lines. Note the ends are folded down perpendicular to the center. Locate your Base/Post assembly from step 2 along with your Top Base from the step above; proceed with step one and then two below. Step 1. Step 2. Add a dab of glue to the the You will need to separate the tops of the four posts. Carefully, four vertical posts in order to easily place the Top Base onto the The longest end mount the Top Base in place. assembly so that the longest of the Top Base Simply use your fingers or tweezers side hangs over the only vertical extends over to gently pull the four posts away the only vertical side of the Base. It is easiest to side of the Base. from the center. Continue gently insert the double pronged posts pulling the posts outward until the into the bottom of the base and space between them is slightly then bring the single pronged larger then the space at the bottom. side pieces inward. #4020 - Signal Bridge Instructions Page 3
4. Top Handrail Assembly The Top Handrail portion of this kit is etched in.010 Stainless Steel for improved handrail durability over the alternative (brass). Locate part D and remove it from it s etched frame. (Be careful when cutting the tie-bars for the handrails as you do not want to bent or distort them.) Partially formed Top Handrail etching. Bend all of the handrails perpendicular to the base. Notice that the ends also have additional bend lines where the handrails cross the width of the bridge (at the ends). You may want to add a small dab of CA to the handrails where they meet in order to ensure better durability. The next step of the kit is gluing the Top Handrail section onto your main structure. With the Top Handrail etching and your main structure assembly in hand, test fit the Top Handrail to see how it fits into the tabs of the Vertical Posts. To mount, lay the Top Handrail section upside down so it is supported by the handrails (do not apply excess pressure or you will crush the handrails!). Next, add a line of CA down the center of the Top Handrail underside. Place the main structure (being held upside down) onto the Top Handrail piece so that all of the tab holes align. During this process, apply pressure to the Top Base so it lays flush with the underside of the Top Handrail. The Vertical Posts and Top Handrail should form a perfectly right angle. Adjust any slight imperfection in the angle by gently pushing the pieces in the proper direction. Main structure assembly and completely assembled Top Handrail etching. 5. Main Span Assembly The Vertical Posts and horizontal walkway (Top Handrail piece) should form a right angle. The next step in this kit is to add the Main Span pieces. Locate the two pieces from etching A and have them ready to go with your assembled main structure. Lay the main assembled structure on it s side. Test fit one of the Main Span etchings to visualize how things will line up. Run a line of glue down the edge of the Top Base on the underside of the Top Handrail. Continued on page 5... #4020 - Signal Bridge Instructions Page 4
Complete the previous steps for the opposite side of the structure. Add additional dabs of glue from the inside to ensure durability. Run a line of glue along dotted line (see arrow). Repeat the same steps to complete the opposite side. 6. Ladder Assembly Locate the ladder from etching D. As with the other parts, be careful when cutting the part from the etching as you do not want to distort/bend it. Note that the tabs extending from the ladder that allow it to mount onto the vertical posts should NOT be perpendicular to the bridge (they are at a slight angle for a reason). Locate the half-etched fold lines on the tabs extending from the bridge and bend them to form a right angle with the bridge. If the ladder is perfectly vertical in your hand and you re viewing it from the side, the tabs should angle up slightly. When the ladder is mounted on to the bridge, the tabs will then become perfectly horizontal while the ladder will taper closer to the vertical posts as it rises up the structure. Fold mounting tabs perpendicular to the ladder. These should NOT be perfectly perpendicular to the ladder. Add a dab of glue to the ends of each tab and place on model so the top, curled over handrails are just above the walkway. Electrical Box Make sure the ladder is firmly glued in place. Bend the two curled runner tops inward as shown above. We ve included a typical Electrical Box to compliment the Signal Bridge. To assemble, simply clean up the castings, glue the doors in place (line up the hinges for best results), and affix the cast footings. Like the other cast metal parts in this kit, the Electrical Box is manufactured in conjunction with Details West. #4020 - Signal Bridge Instructions Page 5
The Signal Heads provided in this kit are exact scale replicas of the common, Searchlight signal (named after it s appearance). Although our signal heads are non-operating, after-market LED s may be installed if desired. Note: We have supplied you with an extra signal head. D B C A Signal Heads E A. Etched Target and Hood B. Signal Head Body C. Signal Head Insert D. Signal Head Mount E. Mounting Rod 1. 2. 3. Our Signal Heads are also sold seperately in a three pack. BLMA #4000 4. Locate parts A and C. Part C should fit through the center of part A. Remove burs from part C if necessary. Add a small amount of glue to the A/C assembly from step 1 to secure it in place. Locate and remove the hood from etching A. 5. 6. Bend the hood around the provided brass pole to give it the proper curvature. It is imperative that the hood be shaped to the proper curvature so it will mount correctly onto the assembly from step 2. Insert the mounting pegs on the hood through the corresponding holes on the target. The hood should wrap neatly around part C. 7. 8. 9. Once fully inserted, bend the mounting tabs on the hood toward the outside of the target. Glue the assembly from step 6 into part B (part C s narrow end should fit into the large opening on part B). Affix with glue. 10. Locate part D and bend its sides perpendicular to the middle portion. We suggest bending with toothless pliers as shown. 11. Once both sides are folded down, bend the tiny nub at the end of the part the opposite direction of the sides. 12. The small nub bent in figure 9 fits into the bottom of the signal head (part B). Cut down part E so it is the height of the handrail & glue in place. The best way to cut brass tube is by rolling it under a sharp hobby knife. Glue the completed signal head assembly onto the pole. Vertical position and the number of signals depends on the prototype modeled. #4020 - Signal Bridge Instructions Page 6