Leek station- an O Gauge project

Well it seems I'm waiting for dmu stuff to arrive now so attention switches from Class129's to the tank room build on the Leek station layout, here is the result of today's work where the inner wall panels have been been built up, lots more to do yet but its getting there. The water tower stands on platform 2 near to the waiting shelter, so with luck once I've got this building made up I shall be able to calulate the distance between both and work out the radius of the platform curvature, once done I can mark out the track segment and cut the ply sheeting to suit. That's when this layout scene will start to take shape and the A52 road bridge can go in as well.






The dark grey areas on the right side corner is where the stone texture has been built up using Squadron Putty, this is a nice product to work with and is ideal for sculpting textures with it does need good ventilation to prevent vapour build up. All the outer stone courses needs this treatment as the inner wall panels are smooth dressed stone.

 

This last couple of days have been spent working out size dimensions for the chimney stack which once warmed the water in the tank to prevent freezing on frosty nights, the result on the model is reasonably passable and who would know anyway given that this little know feature was removed from the tank sixty odd years ago with the changeover from steam to diesel services along the valley.





And an overhead birds eye view.




There are plenty of photos showing the tank without the chimney and a few close up shots showing the chimney in an end on view taken in the late 1950's when the Welsh Chieftain Lounge car came through attached the rear of a special working but views fro the canal basin are nigh on non existent. The best I could find was this blurry snap shot of the Cauldon Canal basin at Leek with the tank in the background. Photographer unknown.





Here is the result with model posed in at a similar angle to the original in the photo... lots of Plasticard off cut wastage on my inside winter time work bench.

 

That is very much appreciated Dundee and I guessed this was what you were waiting for, the tank panels had to be ordered from a third party who are still processing my order but it will see this build item completed. I seem to have everything on the go and now't much completed... I'm still waiting for gearboxes paid for back in October and kits which haven't been sent out yet... yes I couldn't resist doing a Toto in buying another loco kit.

 

Oh dear I'd put the chimney capping on the wrong way round... its right way on now.

 

Wow thanks Paul this will bring the station build on heaps... do you think you might have enough resin to do all the window units ?

 

That is a superb job nicely done Paul... if it is not possible to post because of restrictions and the such then not too worry as I'm very grateful for everything you have done or are doing.


Now I've been thinking to the future for one possible use for the Leek layout and what may become possible once all this Covid is gone... or at least it becomes safe to meet in groups and wonder if the layout could become a sort of temporary garden set up for members to meet on designated days in the year to run the locos and photograph them in a natural light setting. Obviously York is out of the question for some of our overseas members unless they were visiting on holiday but is within realistic reach from the Midlands and North. I'm planning on making this layout in segments which are portable and can be set up in my garden which is 160 feet or so long x 100 feet wide... so there is plenty of room space for a layout of some 25 feet in length. Obviously practicalities need to be worked up and accommodated for e.g protection against the elements but I do think this could be something Platform 1 could offer for members. Anyway over to you chaps for feedback... I think that is the least I can do since I'm constantly bombing the forum with my project updates.

 

I was thinking more along the lines of a temporary set up on good weather weekends and something a lot less in length