One of the resin kits that Father Christmas brought me was a a signal box by Thornley Miniatures. Having started to put it together, rather that wait until some time in the future to add some internal detail and fittings, I decided to add it as I went along. Being a signal box, central to the whole detailing regime was to add a lever frame. I scoured 'tinternet looking for a suitable model, but was unable to find anything. What I did come across was an excellent tutorial video, on YouTube, describing how to build one. The main material used was 3mm Foamex sheet, a material familiar to many of you, but a medium that I had not previously worked with myself. I found the video easy to follow and although the demonstrator was obviously very experienced and accomplished. My own efforts, following his example, were quite crude by comparison, but given that the lever frame is intended to be representational, not an accurate scale model, and not much of it will be visible inside the building, I am not displeased with the result.
I have built a 16 lever frame. Below is a pic showing the frame and 16 levers. I have omitted the number plates on the front of the levers having decided to add these after the levers have been painted. The base and levers are 3.0mm Foamex, the release levers and collar are 1.0mm plasticard, the lever handle should have been brass rod, but having mislaid mine, I used wooden cocktail sticks instead.
David