Hi,

When we started considering buildings for the layout, it was decided as a group that we would like to have them scratch built. Initially we hadn't decided what materials we were going to use for the construction other than that the core of the buildings were going to be constructed from 2mm card. Our decisions was to be whether we would clad the card core in printed brick paper, or textured plasticard. To aid our decision process we produced a sample building which was half and half.

Here is the half covered in printed paper

Here is the half covered in textured plasticard

Each method had its relative merits and once appropriately finished and weathered there wouldn't be much to choose between them. However, the decision taken was to use plasticard, as we felt this would produce buildings that would probably age better, as the plasticard would make them a little more robust.

Signal Box

The signal box, as we envisage it, controls the pointwork for the passing loops and the entrance to the on-scene sidings. We have still to decide whether this box will be occupied or abandoned due to centralisation of the signalling, but it will be replaceable on the layout, so it will be possible to provide both, depending on the era we wish to run. The current version is very much a working box and is based on that found in Mill Lane Junction, at the entrance to Bradford Interchange in West Yorkshire.

Industrial Units

We intend to have a group of industry buildings with a shared yard which will be just to the right of the centre board. Our plan is to have two main units, one large which is assumed to be the main production area and one smaller which would probably be used for storage or as an assembly / shipping area. These units have also been based on some commercial units close to New Pudsey Station in Leeds, with rough dimensions being calculated from Google Earth.

Cheers, Mark.