Radio base station - 11
Careful observation of prototype equipment will generally
provide us with evidence of radio equipment invisible from
the outside. One telltale is an antenna, a detail many mod-
elers have been adding to their fleets for years. Antennas
for rail equipment are often specialized, and their style and
placement varies from road to road. Antennas are optimized
for performance in the service and the operating terrain.
Several of the most common are:
The whip antenna. This style of antenna is most commonly
found on vehicles and maintenance of way equipment.
Some roads have chosen the whip style for locomotives and
cabooses as well. Found in lengths from 12“ to 36”, this de-
tail can be easily added using thin wire inserted into a small
hole drilled into the roof of the equipment.
The Sinclair antenna. Looking more like a large handle than
a radio antenna, the Sinclair style is used almost exclusively
by railroads. Commonly installed on the roof of a locomotive
cab, the Sinclair is a detail that can be added using castings
from Detail Associates, Details West, and several other parts
manufacturers.
The End-Of-Train antenna. Resembling a much smaller
version of the Sinclair style, the EOT antenna is common
to roads using end of train equipment that transmits on
the UHF band.
The firecracker antenna. Aptly named, the firecracker
style is one of the most visible antennas, as it stands
straight up from the roof it is installed on. While an easy
detail to add using castings, it is also easily broken so a
metal casting is recommended for models that will be
handled.
Detailing A Radio Equipped Fleet
19-20: The roofs of this mainte-
nance truck and a locomotive
show two installations of whip
antennas. Whips are generally
mounted near the center of a
roof to create a ground plane
which optimizes the perfor-
mance of the antenna.
20
19
The dome antenna. A more
modern installation, the
dome incorporates mul-
tiple antenna technolo-
gies within one enclosure.
Found in square, octagonal
and round styles, this detail
is available frommultiple
manufacturers, including
Hi-Tech Details whose white
plastic molding requires no
painting.
The antenna array. Becom-
ing more common as radio
equipment becomes more
advanced are arrays consist-
ing of multiple antennas
capable of transmitting and
receiving data, voice and
GPS data.
Information continued on the
next page ...
MRH-Jan 2014
