Milton Junction

A while ago I was asked if I could make a model of the now demolished Milton Junction signal box on the Stoke to Leek Brook Junction line on the NSR.

I have to say at first I was a little reluctant due to the amount of brick and lack of detailed photos… but after being pestered by Simon, I made a start as it gave me a break from the models I have been doing for Yorkie on the Leek project (a change is as good as a rest.)

so I set to with the large amount of bricks! - on studying photos I found the following…

27 1/2 bricks wide across the front.
41 bricks up to windows, 63 bricks at the side and back up to the roof line and 15 bricks deep.
I also noted that every 4th row was made up of end on bricks. The style was not totally the usual NSR, but a Mackenzie and Holland design similar to a GWR box.

unfortunately, I was fed some duff gen when first drawing up the roof and then as ever a photo turns up..

so as you will see below, the early drawings show an open roof like a midland box, as I’d been told it had a high roof and was hard to heat, yet the photo I got this week shows it was more standard to other NSR boxes and had the flat internal roof and “loft” above.

hopefully we can look at starting the printing next week as now I’ve done the roof redraw, I only have the locking frame to compete.
Andy


from the front. Externally complete. The open area to the front will be covered with wood planks to hide where the rodding exits.
From the stairs side, showing the fire buckets.
From the other side prior to the other name board being fitted.
early internal shot.

Now with the boarding to the front

side point rodding exit point.

Later internal view

modifying the timbers so that meant removal from the drawing.


An internal photo of the real box back in the mid 1980’s (photographer not known)

and finally, external.

 

And just incase your wondering, here are the later drawings for the changed internal roof.
It’s drawn on one program (Autodesk 123d design) and then imported in to a newer program for the photo renders. (fusion360)


These are drawn in 123D design.. they are now awaiting importing and colouring bin Fusion360.

Andy

 

I think ima round 40 hrs so far! (Although some of that is down to a slow laptop which died yesterday. )

 

Jim,
What you have to remember is I’m now in my 8th year. My first model took well over 100 hours and was much smaller and simpler than this. Didn’t have the internal detail… but it was a learning curve with issues raised along the way and on an even older laptop that was even slower than the one that just died!

Don’t give up or loose faith. Persist! You will get there. Just pick a topic to do that is simple, and not too large.. have a go!!
Andy

 

I wouldn’t say professional? I still have a 6 day a week shift work job to go to for 10 hours and have the family!
It’s still a hobby. mad I’ve said to someone recently, if I were to charge the £10 an hour or even a minimum UK wage, at 40+ hrs, who would pay that for a one off? Then cost in the resin, the postage etc.. I couldn’t do it for a living as no one would buy then.. it’s pure enjoyment !

andy

 

As per usual, I’ve learnt more from your ramblings here Paul than through any of the discussions with Simon and Nick!
Excellent being able to date it all!
But it’s defiantly Milton, and you were not the only one to say it was a high roof? So I wonder if the internal roof was removed at some time late 1970’s? Graham referred to it being high and a “bugger” to heat!

what stove would it have had? One like we have already modelled?
Andy

 

Excellent Paul.

no wasn’t aware of the fate of Ford Green yard. What a shame.

yes, quite plausible I guess that that’s what happened hence yours and grahams memory that it was high..

At least we have the stove. Not printed in OO before !

 

The latest from Milton Junction…

had a small issue with the printer so making the actual model has been delayed.


The modern Penguin block for the Endon section



setting up the box

tried something new in this … even a glow from the fire.. signalman’s moon.
The block shelf

signalman’s moon from the other end of the box

 

I’ll share a quick update as we are half way through the printing. We have had failures, but that was down to an error by myself.

first up, the main brick structure.



And first off after that is the start of the internals…

the floor. A slot for the lever frame to locate in and the raised block for the stove to sit on.



the block instrument shelf. £1 coin for scale.

and a few other parts. Seat, stove, token machine, choice of block shelves a box seat and a desk. There were spreader beams for the roof, but I’ve now opted to add these to the timber structure.

 

Lots and lots of copy and paste! Which normally how I feel when done. I think there is somewhere near 5000 bricks in this design - and it’s the usual Murphy’s law that just as your about to finish, you spot a near vertical Mortar line you have to adjust by moving and chopping bricks.

and no, I’m no bricky! My last effort albeit still standing since 1996 looked like a badly built wall of china.. there was nothing great about it!

 

And today we have the failed lever frame successfully reprinted and also the chair



Drying post washing and then uv curing next

take a seat… watch the world go by…

 

Well that’s most the interior done.



Lever frame and chair.


Token machine at the back, desk, stove and box store along with the M&H lever list board in front of the levers.
Next up will be the timbers, porch and roof to finish it all off.