A China Clay micro layout

Discussion in 'Members Personal Layouts' started by Matt, Sep 3, 2019.

  1. Matt

    Matt Full Member

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    Hi all,

    I've ground to a halt with Talerddig. It's hardly a layout of epic proportions, but even so, progress has been anything but rapid apart from a load of half finished buildings and a pile of wagons.

    In my stock building thread, I've alluded to an idea for a new micro project. OK, so where to begin...

    I've always had a passing interest in China Clay operations. I think my interest was initially piqued with the Pengwynn Crossing article in RM in 1994. Ever since, I've kept an eye out for China Clay inspired layouts.

    I guess I'm attracted to them by the sometimes run down and ramshackle nature of some of the locations and lines.

    Anyway, a few days ago I was flicking through some saved magazine articles and Googling some ECC locations when I came across photos of Ponts Mill and Carbis Wharf and I was inspired!

    Along with Pengwynn Crossing, some other inspirational layouts include Wheal Elizabeth and Iain Rice's Trerice. There's also an excellent thread on RMWeb about a layout called Trethosa although sadly it's not been updated for ages.

    I decided to explore this spark of inspiration and purchased a Ratio Clayhood as "research"! I've been busy building and upgrading the underframe as per my wagon thread.

    IMG_20190831_132951.jpg

    Although there's still a way to go with this, I enjoyed it enough to start considering a layout.

    With the demands of fatherhood, I couldn't see myself having the time to construct a baseboard so I looked into these lazer cut boards that are very fashionable at the moment. I ruled one of the more recognisable brands out due to the cost being way out of my budget. In the end I settled on three modules from Scale Model Scenery and I'm very glad I did. Service was excellent and yesterday a parcel was delivered:

    IMG_20190902_193318.jpg

    Half an hour tonight has seen them assembled. I'm impressed at how easy they are to construct and also how light they are. I will be adding a fascia to the front and a one piece backscene to hide the joints however:

    IMG_20190903_202017.jpg

    This measures approximately 3.5 x 1ft. Trackplan will be simple, two sidings and a loop. I may also add a third, dummy siding just for visual effect. Finally, Clayhoods aside, I plan to use much of the same locos and stock as Talerddig will.

    IMG_20190902_214651.jpg

    You'll have to pretend they're both Clayhoods until I obtain more Ratio kits!

    Thanks for reading

    Matt
     
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  2. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

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    Hi Mat
    Following with interest.
    You have a great list for inspiration Pengwynn Crossing was also a favourite with me as well, I still have the original Mag article stored somewhere.
     
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  3. 60019Bittern

    60019Bittern Full Member

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    Hi Mat
    Have three Ratio Clayhood kits going begging at the moment unstarted if you are interested. I've had them a while.
    Yours for a £5 a piece plus postage. PM me.
     
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  4. Gary

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

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    Will the Scalescenes China Clay kit be used on this layout, or will you scratch build your own buildings ?

    Cheers, Gary.
     
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  5. Matt

    Matt Full Member

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    The RM article is the best...wish I could find my copy, its here somewhere...

    Hi Gary, scratchbuilt I think. As much as I like the Scalescenes building, it isn't quite what I have in mind shape wise but it could be used as the basis of something...

    Matt
     
  6. Matt

    Matt Full Member

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    About an hours work today and the board has the framework for a front fascia. I'll also be cutting a one piece backscene from ply to hide the joins later:

    IMG_20190907_170643.jpg

    Matt
     
  7. Matt

    Matt Full Member

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    Sorry for another post today. This week has been an emotional one for me and my family and continues to be, so having this to focus on has been a really welcome diversion hence me spending more time on it than I normally would.

    I've spent some time mocking up the trackplan, nothing too clever. Note the shorter siding on the right will be a dummy space filler only.

    IMG_20190905_225653.jpg

    I'm hoping it'll give me some decent views across the layout like this:

    IMG_20190905_225622.jpg

    IMG_20190905_225555.jpg

    I've also spent some time mocking up the main building from card to get a feel for the space available. The size/shape may change.

    IMG_20190907_220133.jpg

    IMG_20190907_220210.jpg

    Thoughts and comments welcome as always.

    Matt
     
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  8. Gary

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

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    Looking good so far Matt.:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs: Keep up the good work and keep posting if it helps you in this emotional time.

    Have you ever played with Anyrail ? You can down load the free trial version which will allow you to design small layouts like this. I use it to design all of my layouts.

    https://www.anyrail.com/en

    Cheers, Gary.
     
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  9. Matt

    Matt Full Member

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    Thanks Gary. One of my oldest friends went missing a week ago. Sadly he's been found today... I'll leave it at that.

    Being able to focus on this has been a godsend. Bit more plotting tonight and I'm relieved that a Class 25 will (just) fit in the head shunt which means the loop will comfortably fit a 3 wagon train, 4 at a push.

    IMG_20190908_214039.jpg

    IMG_20190908_214049.jpg

    I've also cut the hole for the fiddle yard.

    IMG_20190908_215006.jpg

    Matt
     
  10. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Sorry about your friend. Thoughts with you and his family. Never easy.

    Layout coming along well.!

    Andy
     
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  11. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    All sounds very sad.

    My condolences. Chin up.

    Toto
     
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  12. Mark J

    Mark J Full Member

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    Matt I’m really sorry to hear about your friend.
    I have a soft spot for class 25s, your baseboard and track layout design looks great. I will follow with great interest.
     
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  13. Matt

    Matt Full Member

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    Thanks for the kind messages. Funeral is today.

    I'm meant to be focusing on the layout, and not stock building, but a Google search unearthed a photo taken at Pontsmill showing an SR brake van in one of the sidings and I couldn't help myself!

    IMG_20190920_081711.jpg

    It's the Cambrian kit with added etched and sprung w-irons, which is a first for me.

    Separate handrails make all the difference too.

    I've taken a leaf out of Geoff Kent's book regarding the doors. Debatable if they'd be open when running, but I like the bit of "life" it suggests. One side is therefore open, and the other side closed.

    Matt
     
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  14. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Hmm not sure. The internal door may be. Having worked similar LMS vans once or twice, you still find you need a door open for draft when your stove is glowing red.

    chin up my friend. Celebrate your friend.
     
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  15. Matt

    Matt Full Member

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    Bit more progress:

    IMG_20190923_102557.jpg

    Note that the stove chimney is incorrectly located, but I only realised too late.

    The footboards are also of the incorrect type for a left hand ducketed van according to the instructions. Unfortunately the correct ones were damaged on my kit leaving me little choice.

    Finally, I've decided that I'm not going to bother glazing the windows.

    Matt
     
  16. SMR CHRIS

    SMR CHRIS Staff Member Moderator

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    Another fine model in the making Mat
    If you don’t tell any one about the foot boards I’m sure no one will ever notice Remember Rule 1,
    Looking forward to seeing the progress on this new China Clay Layout/diorama as well
     
  17. Matt

    Matt Full Member

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    Thanks for the positive comment and the likes!

    I'm just waiting for some cast buffers to finish off the (replacement) buffer beams - I'll also add couplings at that stage.

    IMG_20190924_195212.jpg

    IMG_20190924_195150.jpg

    I've added a few bits of detail here and there to add some interest. In the spirit of keeping costs low, springs and axleboxes are salvaged from an old Parkside underframe...incorrect but cheap!

    Into the paint shop next!

    Matt
     
  18. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Is the white pipe an upgrade to air brake? May be wrong but I think it needs two pipes (feed and return- may even be three, third for the pressure gauge) I need to check.... it’s a while since I worked an Air braked brake van, were normally vacuum only which tend to come up the floor inside.
     
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  19. Matt

    Matt Full Member

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    Hi Andy,

    To be honest, I've no idea! The photos I've been using as reference show one pipe:

    https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/srbrakevan/h81fc831

    And:

    https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/srbrakevan/h3da55256

    I've not really looked into it any more than that.

    I've started the painting process tonight - been taking photos as I go so hopefully I can share the steps with you here.

    Matt
     
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  20. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    It’s the vacuum gauge feed pipe and probably a dump valve inside... it’s a vac only van looking at the photos.

    :thumbs:
     
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