Post 6

 

Post 6 controlled movements out of Ballarat East locomotive depot into Ballarat yard. It was one of the smaller semaphore signals at Ballarat with the arm mounted on a short timber post.

Post 6 controlled moves from the loco depot into Ballarat yard. Feb 2 1982 (photo from Victorianrailways.net)

I didn't have any measurements of the signal so scaled it from a photo by using the known length of the signal arm to estimate the height of the post. based on the length. 

For this signal I used parts from Ratio LNWR Signal Kit. The post was filed to get the right shape, with a scrap piece of plastic spruce used for the bracket. The signal arm is from photos scaled to the appropriate size and printed onto adhesive film and then stuck onto 20thou white styrene sheet. The len was  produced the same way but are stuck to clear styrene, with a hobby knife used to carefully out the kidney shape.  A black sharpee pen is used to touch up the edges of the lens frame. The lamp and ladder are from the Ratio kit. Brass wire is used for the rods and handrails. 

As I haven't modelled the actual location of the signal to the west of the Humffray Street interlocked gates, I have placed t to the east of the Peel Street bridge so that it can replicate controlling movements out of Ballarat East locomotive depot. One of the photos shows the view of the signal from the fuel point, a view that isn't possible from Ballarat East Locomotive Depot. 

B81 has its fuel tank replenished at the fuel point at Ballarat East Locomotive Depot. Post 6 can be seen through the fuel point

Post 6 with B81 and Y150 at the fuel point in the background.

Y150 waits at post 6, before proceeding into Ballarat yard to commence shunting duties.

I still need to weather the signal, but need to get some grey powders to produce the weathered timber look shown in the photo from Noel Bamford below. 

Ballarat East signal box on the left, the track on the right was for movements to and from Ballarat East loco depot. The signal on the right is the same signal as in the photo below, Oct 1983. (photo Noel Bamford from Victorianrailways.net)