Is Line Clear's workshop thread bit and pieces

Discussion in 'Workshop Benches' started by York Paul, Sep 13, 2017.

  1. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    Hello all:hismiley:, I thought it about time to introduce my workshop projects and 7mm layout to the group so folk can see what's happening. My layout is called Elton Crossing which was a real place near Sandbach in Cheshire, the line was built by the North Staffordshire Railway as a single track route from Alsager bypassing the busy Crewe junctions to meet the Manchester main line at Sandbach station, it was always known as the Wheelock Branch. The main revenue traffic was salt brine extraction from the Brunner Mond Chemical Works (ICI) in NSR and LMS days. In later years after the salt traffic and passenger service finished in the 1930's the line carried coal to local wharfs and became mainly a through diversionary route for tanker trains to Middlewich. Yes in the latter days 8f's and 9F;s were the motive power often used. The Wheelock branch was closed and dismantled in 1971 So why this location for a layout ? Well apart from my like for the railways of North Staffordshire and South Cheshire in 1976 as a young and foolish chap working for BR I happened to buy the wooden signal cabin which stood at Elton level crossing on a timber scrap order from Derby Office, so with the aid of group of preservationists we moved the box to Cheddleton on the Churnet Valley line. The box is in use with the CVR to this day. Now all that was forty years ago back in 1977 and with more spare time and a bit of disposable income to play with I set about the idea of making a model of the Elton site and this is where I am currently.

    The picture show the signal box which is a 3D printed model, there is still a lot of work to do on it as the window glazing beads are far to coarse in my mind and need thinning a bit, to the left of the box is the beginnings of a scrach build of the crossing keepers cottage made using Plasticard sheet.

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  2. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    Elton Crossing signal box, this was the start point and from this model the idea of making a near accurate layout came about, I say near accurate because compromises had to be made to the surrounding landscape and a cut off point had to be decided as to where the model would end, moe about that latter (when I get my head around posting up images and editting here). Obviously there is masses of work to do yet.

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  3. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    The track is remade lengths of Peco flexi- track, I cut away all the premoulded sleepers then cut the rail into scale sixty foot lengths adding twenty four sleepers to make up each panel of track, I used bronze fishplates from C & L Finescale to joint the panels together and suprisingly enough several panels made up in this way flexed like the real thing. The pointwork is all handmade and scratchbuilt using C&L kits, I say handmade as I needed a crossing nose with extended wing rail on the crossover points and feeing a bit brave went for it...:facepalm: never again...a nightmare indeed but it works well but was super fiddly to make. The picture shows the B8 crossover with my hand made half in front... the C&L kit is beyond forming the other end of the 1 in 8 crossover road... anyway enough of this complicated nonsence and on with the nice modelling stuff.:lol:

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  4. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    Ok I've got the hang of this posting image thing nowhttp://www.click hehe.
    So want not waste not as the old saying goes, from the crossing timber packs came loads of waste ABS plastic sprues of a very similar width to that of a wooden sleeper, so ever seeking to improvise I made a platelayers hut out of all the waste bits. the roof is merely thin card cut to the size of Bangor Countess slates... this was a common material the old NSR often used.

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  5. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    Now here is another part of my workshop activities... wagon building, the kit is by Slaters and is a ply sided standard 12ton Shock van. The weathering is dry brushed using Railmatch Paints and powders all sealed with clear varnish, currently I have another three Slater's van kits under construction on the worktable, they are Vanfits though. I'll post up those another time showing how I am developing my pwn weathering techniques... I'm still very much a novice and learning all the time I might add.

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  6. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

    Messages:
    15,419
    Likes Received:
    3,842
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2017
    A novice, these vans look great. Very well finished :thumbs: I like the track work and ballasting as well. I'll look forward to more of the same. Excellent work. Thanks for sharing.

    Cheers

    Toto
     
  7. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    Now for something a little different. Here is the start of D7044 a BB Train Triang Hymek which is the basis of a detailing conversion using a PRMRP kit along with some other parts from Peter Harvey Designs to enhance the model.. yes I am a glutton for punishment I should have just gone out and ordered a JLTRT instead but then half the fun is scratch building D7044 was the last loco built from the first order placed and a loco I spotted once at Portsmouth and Southsea High Level on a return passenger train to Bristol.

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  8. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    On the BBT Hymek the cab windscreen profile is just not correct, so to overcome this I opted to make loads of work for myself... so gently off came the moulded cab rain gutter with a fine blade and file, this then showed the true nature of the toys cab roof shape urgent attention was needed. The sloping side edges and leading front and corners were filed flatter and the "pointy" front bit above the windscreens was got rid of. I made a new gutter from .7mm wire formed to shape which I tacked into position with Superglue and remade the cab roof edge profile with two pack plastic woodfiller by Cuprinol... it is a sort of Isopon P38 without the pinkiness and for me :lol:does work well. The windows have been filed and fillered with Green Putty, in the picture the final filing has yet to take place and the original maker lights have not been drilled out, I plan to inset LED's for markers inset into the PRMRP white metal castings.

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  9. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    Toto wrote:
    Gee thanks Toto, the ballasting method I use is particular to the way the old North Stafford would ballast up freight lines... this is what I do... I use the Jarvis Scenics N Gauge Fine Cinders glued down with Ballast Bond, a long and arduous process and one that nearly sent me crazy. The ballast is Jarvis Scenics Extra Fine Ballast Mix glued down the same BUT intersperced in places with the fine cinders.
    This is just my opinion Toto but I do wonder if the coarse ballast intended for O Gauge projects is just too chunky.
    Anyway thanks so much for liking my project and I'd love to carry on posting up developments and sharing my work progress, but I am learning from the experienced model makers here and it is great to follow their work also.http://www.click So cheers for that.
     
  10. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    And here are a few more fitted vans all lined up in the layouts interpretation of what was known as the Co-op Siding, this is where coal was unloaded for local delivery and three coal porters were employed by the North Midland Co-operative Society for the unloading and bagging work. The coal platform and sleeper built hut is as yet to be build as a sidways add on to the layout.
    Note on the shelf another one of those BBT Hymeks waiting for conversion and in the background is a Scamell Scarab mechanical horse... propably attached to Sandbach Goods for the daily local collection and delivery service.

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  11. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    One thing and probably the most important is how the layout is going to be controlled, I thought long and hard about this and in the end I plumped for analogue control of points, signals and the level crossing gates, I really wanted to get a true type of "feel" for operating the line so I built a lever frame :avatar:. To be fare the levers are by DCC Concepts and are wired to function through relays thus simulating a crude form of interlocking. in the picture the Number 9 FP lever is reverse and locks the Number 10 points normal, so it is impossible to pull the points with 9 lever reverse in the frame, to move te points te FP lever has to be set to normal position in the frame... hence the blue light indication on the block shelf is a reminder to the operator /signalman that the points are locked. The points are motored up with DCC Concepts Cobalt IP motors.In the olden days Ellton Crossing signal box was fitted with a 15 lever frame of the McKenzie & Holland type 5 frame with hook cam and soldier pattern interlocking, these frames were used excusively by the North Staffordshire Railway and McKenzie & Holland had export licenses where a big customer Down Under was the Victoria State Railways.

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  12. ianvolvo46

    ianvolvo46 Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,331
    Likes Received:
    1,588
    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2015
    Great thread and very interesting, your various builds are top class.. more please.

    Ian vt :tophat::tophat:
     
  13. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    ianvolvo46 wrote:
    Thanks Ian, I've got my head around how to upload images now so with luck I'll post progress reports about Elton Crossing and also the Hymek build... however I am following the lead from Kimbo with his Hymek conversion as that happens/http://www.click
     
  14. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    4,535
    Likes Received:
    2,071
    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2015
    Hi Paul, wow what an excellent thread :thumbs:, as an O gauger myself, I will watch with interest.
    By the way, I'm of the opinion O scale ballast is over sized, I use 4mm on my layout, along with cinder ballast.

    Cheer's, Pete.
     
  15. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

    Messages:
    15,419
    Likes Received:
    3,842
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2017
    Oops, I've just bought a truck load of coarse scale ballast as well. Oh well, I'll need to use at least some of it now but perhaps I can top it off with some finer stuff when I get around to laying it.

    Toto
     
  16. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    4,446
    Likes Received:
    2,902
    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2015
    Is Line Clear wrote:
     
  17. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

    Messages:
    7,316
    Likes Received:
    3,847
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2015
    Great read Paul. :thumbs:

    Looking forward to your ongoing updates of the layout. I for one don't mind scratch building structures and I'm sure I could learn a trick or two off you.

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  18. Kimbo

    Kimbo Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    2,956
    Likes Received:
    2,227
    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2015
    Hi Paul, great start to your layout thread :thumbs:
    Will follow with great interest. :thumbup:
    (I will hopefully be doing a bit more on the Hymek's this weekend)
    Kim
     
  19. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    Kimbo wrote:
    Thanks Kim... I look forward to following you Hymek build, I'm focussing attention to the body right now and thinking the back bulkhead should come out to make way for a Peter Clark cab detailing kit
    http://www.peterclarkkits.com/loco-cab-kits--accessories.html
    i'm also thinking a better way can be found to mate the body onto the bogies via a stronger more robust sub frame assembly than the way PRMRP show.
    cheers for now,Paul
     
  20. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

    Messages:
    5,816
    Likes Received:
    6,870
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    Gary wrote:
    Thanks Gary, I am always very happy to share info and build techniques because I think that makes for an interesting forum.
    cheers for now Paul
     

Share This Page