Andy R

Thanks Graham T. The station is a work in progress, with fencing, passengers etc to be done later after I get the town street backscene is in place. I do think the roof ended up ok, but slightly too wide which is my poor measurement Andy

Hawkinsfield Junction Update, Part 2: So, with terminus track basically laid my next step was to install new tortoise motors under the baseboard to activate all new points there. I decided to bite the bullet and order direct from a supplier in the USA, and while I nearly had to mortgage the house to cover the exchange rate and freight costs, they have been worth it. Once installed correctly, these are great slow- mo motors and I'm very happy with them. I decided early on I wanted to have a mimic panel approach to operating the terminus points rather than using my DCC handset and so I set about wiring in the tortoise motors into a new control panel. One of the photos shows the panel with its DPDT switches and LEDs to show point direction. Under the baseboard is a lot of wiring spaghettis! A 'slave' NCE controller has been wired up to the terminus side (the main PowerCab unit being on the junction station side). Trains began to run after about two years and numerous 'tight' spots and minor soldering adjustments have then occurred to get the stock running smoothly through my hand-made points. Lets just say I continue to 'fine-tune' as more stock gets run. Yes hand-made points are fun (if you like that sort of thing)..... but unless well made they can be challenging to get smooth running. I have had a mix of good and poor experiences with my points, but I'm pleased I have done them as it allowed me to make a bespoke track layout. If I count both junction and terminus areas I've made around 40 points/slips etc. (the approach described in earlier posts on this topic). Melcombe Regis station buildings are made by cutting down an old Ratio station kit I had, adding it to an old Hornby station building I found at the club, recladding with suitable Slaters embossed stone and various embellishments. The station roof is based on photos of a roof at Tavistock GW (in Great Western Echo magazine summer 2019), made using 3D printed trusses, brass, plasticard and embossed stone again. In addition, my lovely wife has painted a backscene for me which is inserted behind the terminus boards. I just need to print out some townscene building photos which a friend has photoshopped for me, and paste them into the rear of the terminus area as backdrop. The second series of photos show the terminus track work and buildings, the backscene and the mimic panel. Sorry about the upside down photo but I cant seem to get it the right way up??

Hello RM webbers...my first post on upgrades to my Hawkinsfield Junction layout since Nov 2017, and the world has so changed! For those interested I thought I would share the last few years progress in a new series of posts over the next wee while. Here in NZ we had a major Covid lockdown for 10 weeks from April 2020, which if nothing else, helped with significant modelling progress on the new terminus side of my layout; the new terminus I have named Melcombe Regis (which happens to be the old english name for the original Weymouth). And as my layout is generically set in Dorset, this is the idea behind this. But unfortunately the extensive station at Weymouth cannot be reproduced in the layout room space I have. During the 10 weeks national lockdown I got stuck into track laying and point making in-situ for Melcombe Regis. I recall I got to the point where the track work and basic wiring was completed. The first few photos of this new series of posts endeavours to show the basic construction techniques as I worked along the new terminus track work, from the platform ends toward the loco shed end and connecting out to the Hawkinsfield Junction boards. I hope people find this series of interest.

Hi Les- I’m finally catching up on your thread again and again what great modelling. You just have this knack of getting colour, materials, and textures just right to my eyes. i have made contact via PM after January show but don’t know whether that actually worked. It was nice to see you at show and for you to see Katikati and Stourbridge- two years hard work and still needing details. back to my own Hawkinsfield at last in lockdown and finishing track building at new terminus and now wiring / installing tortoise motors- 24 plus!!! Regards Andy R

Hi Tony -as a RMweb fan and cricket fan from New Zealand I watched the whole match through the night; what a game. No modelling was undertaken during that period, or the next day due to sleep deprivation! My (kiwi) perspective is that neither team won the game or the superover, so we are 'co champions' (...but sadly no trophy...!) Thats sport as they say. I love your thread Tony which just zooms along, and always enjoy the regular catch up of the posts. Thanks for the inspiration (of modelling) but very sad for the cricket outcome. regards Andy R (NZ).

Tony- thats amazing, where do you store all these layouts? Ive only seen the iconic Buckingham of course, and look forward to seeing it again on the 8th of next month. Andy R

I like the evolution of your static grass scenery. May I ask what brand of static grass used and in particular what type of glue do you use between layer aspplications to secure the next round of static grass on the last layer? Many thanks, Andy R

Tony Having just read this account of your recent shopping experience, I dont know whether we should laugh or cry! This mirrors so many 'modern' shopping experiences us slightly older persons (....'aged persons'... here in NZ) have these days. Is it the school production line that gets some of our youth to this point or is it us aged persons not keeping up with the changing nature of english communication??? Fortunately, in my view, for every such youth(s) serving in a shop we are likely to find a very articulate, well educated and well-rounded young person working hard in one of our many professions, so I havent given up all hope just yet! Not a topic to be pursued through your wonderful modelling thread I feel sure, but your post is a very nice illistration of an emerging gap between how young and old view things. Now, back to reading posts in the wonderful world of RMweb on a wet, wintery day in NZ. regards Andy R

Many thanks to the various photographers who have posted their pictures on this topic thread. For those of us far from Pendon (other side of the world in NZ) having these photos for reference or just looking in shear awe, it is appreciated. I have had the fortunate of visiting Pendon twice- once in 1980 and once in 2010 and the difference in progress of the Vale scene, but also the whole museum presentation was, as was expected, amazing. On the second visit I was very priviledged to be allowed inside the Madder Valley scene as they ran some trains as a test run for a forthcoming open day. That was very special. Also being invited behind the Vale scene into the storage yard area. Different perspective from there! A wonderful and unique museum which deserves the support of all thinking modellers... I hope to go back there again, but hopefully not with a 30 year gap!

Andy P Ive blinked and missed a whole new evolution of another layout! Nice work and enjoyed the video. Theres something special about 0 guage ...... Here in NZ Im working with a couple of co owners on expanding and upgrading our little southern 0 guage layout based on Lymbridge pier. But Andy you are a lot faster than we are in building layouts. regards Andy R

Hi Les -still alive and kicking over here in Tauranga with lots of things going on. Three projects on the go, although poor old Hawkinsfield Junction is stalled as I put energies into coordinating our new TMRC club layout (this is the NZR based on Katikati station on one circuit with the english junction and branch line stations etc on the other circuit)- its an interesting design approach. That plus working on 0 guage buildings for the Lymbridge layout dock extension is eating up my time. Love this picture of the goods yard and I wanted to ask you how you approached doing the cobble setts within the yard? They look brilliant. Whats your secret on this work? On the new english club layout I have a canal quay section to be produced and so would value your method od producing the setts so I might use for the canal scene. Many thanks and regards Andy R

Nicholas- like many others may I express my condolences to you and family via this layout topic. He was an inspirational modeller with prolific output of wonderful ideas and craftsmanship. Regards Andy R

Hi Tony thank you for giving members such as me living on the other side of the world a little taste of major exhibition action and the layouts within, through the magic of your lens- much appreciated as we cant all 'jump on a train..or plane..' and attend these. Always look forward to the photos you produce on here from shows you can attend. Regards Andy R (from NZ)

Great photos Les - and I was seriously suggesting exhibiting at Hamilton show with the layout looking really good. But, if you dont like the idea fair enough- the layout is still looking magic. Im finishing cruise ships for another year and many other things to do. Working on some buildings for our O gauge Lymbridge extension (a slow project for us co-owners), and a new Tauranga MRC club exhibition layout which I have designed and is under baseboard construction as we speak. Its rather large though and hopefully we can get it running but not fully finished by next January Tauranga show. Its a little different from most exhibition layouts in NZ. regards Andy R

Les - this is well worth exhibiting at Hamilton show - have you ever thought of doing that? regards Andy R

Les- thats not being clever thats being inspirational; look at the rust crepping into the metal around the cab, and a few weeds growing in the shed gutters...love these observations applied sparingly but there nevertheless. One suggestion (not a criticism) is that the platform face looks a little clean and not weathered with years of train grime...is that one thing to think about?. regards Andy R

Many thanks for that kind offer Tony W. I will see how this can be fitted in in liaison with Tony G in the future. It would be a honour to visit two wonderful layouts in one uk visit. Regards Andy R

Cheers Tony G Andy R

Hi Tony- Having just caught up with these last few pages this morning I couldnt resist endorsement of your observations about Buckingham, PD,and this wonderful layout's influence on the hobby. And I say this from afar having never met PD but having read many of his magazine articles and one of the several Buckingham books. I have had the fortune to visit Tony Gee and operate the revised Buckingham three times over the last few years when visiting UK from New Zealand. I also got to travel up from Kings Cross to Doncaster along your beloved ECML, even though I must confess to not being that familar with the various localities along it as the Virgin train sped north and south. I can describe experiencing Tony's welcome to a old fella from the colonies, his hospitality and then sitting down to try and operate the layout by working through each timetable move, following the old typed out and/or handwritten amendments to the timetable, as a very memorable and enjoyable experience (....following the sequence does certainly raise challenges for those of us not familar with its operation and the various codes, signal or point numbers etc etc). I look forward to seeing Tony again when I can fit this into my travel plans, and continuing my education on one of the UK's great, iconic layouts. regards Andy R

Tony G Wonderful overview of one of many innovative ideas used on this iconic layout- even my novice operating was assisted by such innovation! Alway love hearing about your progress with Buckingham restoration Regards Andy R

Many thanks for the responses from members. This is appreciated. I will make contact with C & L and Coastal to get a price. regards Andy R

Hi members does anyone have a good experience to share with me regarding good supply and service of tortoise point motors from UK suppliers? I ask this because I need 20 such motors (bulk buy) and want to compare USA supply expereince with UK supply. If anyone has comment on getting such motors and from whom, I would love to hear it. regards Andy R (Hawkinsfield Junction layout topic)

Progress report: After beavering away off and on for a couple of days, a single slip has emerged adjacent and connecting into the earlier three-way point. Im now moving further along the chain of points that form part of and feed into the station platforms and the single slip. Just quietly working when I can keeps things moving along. Not that these completed ones have been electrically tested or with stock running through yet -that will have to wait till next year I am guessing, but wagons and some bogie stock have been 'pushed' through to test tight spots. If there are some, out with the soldering iron and track gauge to ease these spots. The latest photo attached shows the single slip, with the three-way point flowing away from it. One week away from tripping to the UK for my elder sons wedding, so unlikely to see any model railways for a while. Query- has any forum member brought and used tortoise point motors from the UK and if so where did they find good service? I need about 20! regards Andy R

Progress report Three way point constructed but not electrically tested as its early days on that aspect as I work along into the single slip. My inital running through of a suitable wagon, pushed by delicate hand (?) suggests some tight spots around the rails leading from the toe of the point (the first tie bar area (bottom of picture) and along towards second tie bar spot) and I may need some rethink on the exact positioning of blades in this area of the point. I will wait and see on that after doing all the points in this part of station throat....no hurry! Picture of completed three-way point attached. I am finding the single slip easier than the three-way point to make actually. regards Andy R