Heaton Lodge Junction

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

And thanks Jamie yes, I’m doing something similar with the backscene. 

Thanks again 
 

No problem.  I used 3mm birch ply for those which after a coat of primer my friend painted the backscene from photos. The ply was in 5' square sheets from Arnold Laver. For carriage it's stored flat but bends round easily and the paint hasn't flaked. It's good stuff.

 

Jamie

[AndrewT]

There is also the readily available Flexi- MDF available commonly in 6mm and 9mm thickness. Most sheet material merchants stock, it - closest to you will be James Lathams:  https://www.lathamtimber.co.uk/products/panels/flexi-products/flexible-mdf?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=google#178

 

See PM.

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

There will be someone closer than that, Lavers most probably.

 

Mike.

[HeatonLodge40]

The sewerage works cometh..

 

The only pics of the particular area of Cooper Bridge sewerage works (near Mirfield) I’m modelling date from the early ‘60’s which isn’t ideal - especially since it’s partly covered by smoke from a passing 8F.

 

However I’ve established there were 3 large filter beds (known as trickler beds apparently) a similar size feeder bed complete with steel walkways and a single much smaller trickler bed.

The trickler beds are the ones with rotating booms and I’m planning to motorise all 4. I’ve toyed with making them work with mini sprinklers but shelved that idea for the timebeing. Rigged up a Peco turntable motor too which sounded like a bag of spanners so I’ll be using some 6vdc japanese motors I’d earmarked to motorise a Sherpa van.

 

So.. the filter beds are all large paint lids that I found. These I sunk into a plywood base with a hole cut out with a jigsaw.

The walkway has taken most of today to fabricate and consists of security fencing (doubling as the steel walkway itself) and soldered brass handrails.

I’ll be adding a life buoy, tool cupboard and a myriad of pipes soon.

Found the ladders in the workshop - by Plastruct.

The other filter beds will sport a brass boom with EZ wire as the guy ropes.

Eventually the feeder bed will get a litre or so of mucky casting resin and the trickler beds crushed coal and gravel.

 

I’ve also had to construct a new road under bridge which provides access to the beds this side of the track. 
Last pic shows the real feeder bed & walkway.
Just need to mimic the smell now

[Stubby47]

From Britain from Above website:

 

[HeatonLodge40]

Thanks. The beds I’m modelling are on the opposite side of the river and were built in the ‘60’s.

 

Interesting photo as Cooper Bridge station is still open and I think that closed in the late 50’s

[Mick Bonwick]

1 hour ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

Just need to mimic the smell now

 

 

Do you really have to model everything? Can't you leave some of it to the imagination?

[Stubby47]

34 minutes ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

Thanks. The beds I’m modelling are on the opposite side of the river and were built in the ‘60’s.

 

Interesting photo as Cooper Bridge station is still open and I think that closed in the late 50’s

 

Ah.

 

That photo is from 1926. 

[Tony Teague]

33 minutes ago, Mick Bonwick said:

 

Do you really have to model everything? Can't you leave some of it to the imagination?

 

If its exhibted at shows that are anything like some that I have visited, certain members the audience will provide the requisitie odours without being asked!

[Denbridge]

11 hours ago, Tony Teague said:

 

If its exhibted at shows that are anything like some that I have visited, certain members the audience will provide the requisitie odours without being asked!

I was about to comment that by mimicking the smell it may mask some of the unwashed visitors that frequent shows (Usually with over stuffed backpacks causing havoc and injury).

[HeatonLodge40]

Cracked on with the filter beds today, - added what will be the concrete walls and associated pipe work. 
 

As I mentioned before, the first one will be getting an elaborate walkway the others the moving sprinkler booms..lot of tidying up first 

[blueeighties]

On 30/06/2020 at 19:37, HeatonLodge40 said:

The sewerage works cometh..

 

The only pics of the particular area of Cooper Bridge sewerage works (near Mirfield) I’m modelling date from the early ‘60’s which isn’t ideal - especially since it’s partly covered by smoke from a passing 8F.

 

However I’ve established there were 3 large filter beds (known as trickler beds apparently) a similar size feeder bed complete with steel walkways and a single much smaller trickler bed.

The trickler beds are the ones with rotating booms and I’m planning to motorise all 4. I’ve toyed with making them work with mini sprinklers but shelved that idea for the timebeing. Rigged up a Peco turntable motor too which sounded like a bag of spanners so I’ll be using some 6vdc japanese motors I’d earmarked to motorise a Sherpa van.

 

So.. the filter beds are all large paint lids that I found. These I sunk into a plywood base with a hole cut out with a jigsaw.

The walkway has taken most of today to fabricate and consists of security fencing (doubling as the steel walkway itself) and soldered brass handrails.

I’ll be adding a life buoy, tool cupboard and a myriad of pipes soon.

Found the ladders in the workshop - by Plastruct.

The other filter beds will sport a brass boom with EZ wire as the guy ropes.

Eventually the feeder bed will get a litre or so of mucky casting resin and the trickler beds crushed coal and gravel.

 

I’ve also had to construct a new road under bridge which provides access to the beds this side of the track. 
Last pic shows the real feeder bed & walkway.
Just need to mimic the smell now

Too clever for me all of this. Fantastic modelling.

[37114]

I have done some crap modelling in my time but I have never modelled crap.....

[HeatonLodge40]

Friday update..

 

Ref the backscene I’m using Dibond sheet which is a semi flexible plastic with thin aluminium sandwiched between.
Had a helpful fabricator make me up some laser cut aluminium brackets which allow the sheets to sit 50cms from the edge of the frames. The gap will allow me to build in some more scenery with fading perspective.
Even without the backscene and just the plain white sheets the improvement is there to see.

 

The sewerage works is coming on nicely. It looks a bit rough and ready here but the basics are in place. The filtration booms were an absolute sod to make, never again.

Plan is to finish the sewerage works by the end of the month and quickly tie up the remaining bits inbetween.

 

Edited July 3, 2020 by HeatonLodge40

[d winpenny]

More brilliant work can’t believe that a few days ago those were just a few paint pot lids definitely not messing about 

 

david

[Pre Grouping fan]

Just found this excellent video through someone linking it on Facebook. It goes through the pour of the river and a few other bits.

 

 

[HeatonLodge40]

Well you stole my thunder there I was going to post that later.!

 

However it does describe some static grass techniques and the pour of the casting resin for the recent river.

 Luke who presents the video has a unit in the same complex as mine coincidentally. Since he manufactures scenic materials for war gamers and military modellers it’s worked out ok him being round the corner..

[HeatonLodge40]

From now on until the end of this project I’ll be updating on a Friday.

Apart from anything else it gives me motivation to crack on.

 

This week I’ve been working on 3 areas. Mostly one handed I might add as the circular saw kicked back last week and badly gashed my hand. Oops. A load of stitches and cursing later I’m back on it. However the Doctor in A&E follows this thread (as it turns out) so if he’s reading this cheers for patching me up.

 

First up is the Dive Under. Situated on the final frame I’m working on this is the best part of 3 metres long and consists of two separate single tunnels (the construction of the portals of which I’ve covered earlier).
 

Given the tunnels length I needed to construct a removable roof and make these tunnels completely ‘light proof’ - as I want to see the trains appearing out of the gloom.

All this and the lining of the tunnels, ballasting for the first meter, and laying & super elevating the track even tho it’s out of sight has been a ton of work - especially since I’ve had to work from underneath the two tracks running above. One handed

Plugging the gaps which let light in with foam board, clay and card is now complete and the roof now fits like a glove. Here’s some pics..Aluminium bar cut & hot glued in to support the floor.Heck of a lot of foam board, ply and card goes in before the tunnel lining is installed Foam board sides supported by ply. The only ply I had to hand was too thick to bend so this worked wellRoof cut from foam board to form a template. I’ll carry this over to the friendly circular saw which will cut the ply to the same shape.Out with the foam board and on with the ply. The edges have slices of card here and there to plug the light gaps.A gloomy interior beckons.. just what I’m after

Edited July 10, 2020 by HeatonLodge40

[HeatonLodge40]

As those who follow this thread will know I’m also busy filling over 100 HAA’s with crushed coal. However I’ve also 25 Cargowaggen flats to load with steel. 
After trawling the internet I acquired a quantity of circular & square plastic rod which I’m cutting into lengths for steel loads. 
Normally I use Alclad steel colour paint as it gives a superb rendition of the real thing. However it’s expensive to use in large quantities so I’ve been experimenting with rattle cans.

By the way the florists foam is great for holding items to paint.
After trying 4 or 5 makes, the stuff pictured is the best I could find. Cheapest source was Sprayster.com

Edited July 10, 2020 by HeatonLodge40

[HeatonLodge40]

Finally for this week the rail ‘over bridge’. This had slipped my mind until I realised the sewerage works had no access then checked the photos.
Worst thing about creating an unplanned bridge is the amount of ply cutting needed. Thank goodness for multitools.
I’ve used Peco OO gauge girders with added rivet and steel sections. Measuring them they seem a good size for small prototype bow girder bridges. 
After priming the girders with the usual Halfords rattle cans I’ve sprayed them a dark rust colour with an airbrush. One coat of AK interactive ‘heavy chipping’ fluid later and then on with an acrylic rail grey. 
The satisfying bit comes next with using some cotton buds dipped in water to rub away the acrylic grey to reveal the rust. Easy to overdo it though so careful. But the result is a chipped and worn girder.

 

The interior walls are plywood with ‘stone’ sheets from Slaters.
I also wanted to light this tunnel so used a pair of OO modern image streetlights extended with brass tube. A sod to fit from underneath I hot glued them into place after weathering them (not that you can see it). 
Since they had bright white LED’s I dabbed a spot of yellow paint on the lenses which results in a nice yellowy 1980’s glow. These will work off a separate 6v supply. 
The huge coping stones are plywood cut into sections then sanded to form the ends. Most of these will be covered over when painted anyway.

Nearby roads await grates, manhole covers and detailing.
 

I’m doing all the boring civil engineering work on these remaining frames before detailing the whole lot in one go..

[HeatonLodge40]

This last week I’ve been completing the lift out section for the dive under, and adding high security fencing on both the second old mill & the sewerage plant.

Its fiddly and painstaking the latter job, but does look good. The gates I had to scratchbuild from brass and these await some more detailing.
 

I’m grassing the sewerage farm a bit later - certainly with a bit greener grass given what’s in the tanks.

Also awaiting some ‘Yorkshire Water’ transfers for the fencing.

 

On another subject I’ve begun fitting the final wagon in each train with a BR era working brake lamp.

Dapol do a lovely O gauge one which I’ve powered with a CR2032 watch battery. This and the on/off switch I’ve hot glued underneath the wagons. 
They are too bright just wired with no resistor so experimented with a few different sizes until I found a resistor that dimmed the light a touch.

 

Next week I’m going to fit a Magnorail system in the far edge of the last few frames to add some interest.

For those who haven’t seen it it’s a moving bicycle complete with cyclist.

Whilst it’s HO it should give some perspective from a distance and I’ll be modifying both cycle & cyclist to fit in with HLJ.
I’m planning to make the whole system about 4m long and have it self contained within it’s own removable ‘tray’ in case it doesn’t turn out how I want it.

On the same note progress is being made on a modified track worker who lifts his arm to acknowledge a horn from a passing train. All good fun.Space here for the moving cyclist system..The sewerage farm is coming on

Edited July 17, 2020 by HeatonLodge40

[HeatonLodge40]

And the brake lamp fitted Wagons..

[HeatonLodge40]

On a final note I thought I’d been clever in locating a large amount of ultra fine chain to secure the steel loads I’m making to fit the Heljan Cargowaggens.

So this turned up in the post today. 

 

[Ian Smeeton]

33 minutes ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

On a final note I thought I’d been clever in locating a large amount of ultra fine chain to secure the steel loads I’m making to fit the Heljan Cargowaggens.

So this turned up in the post today. 

 

 

For HL v2.0 in  gauge 3?

 

Regards

 

Ian

[Richard Thomas]

Although I've seen various YouTube clips of Heaton Lodge I only found this thread last Tuesday, since then I've worked my way through all the postings every evening after work.

 

I must say that I'm exhausted and amazed, both by your stamina and enthusiasm for this project together with your obvious talents and gift of being able to observe and recreate such detail on your railway.

 

Although you are working single-handedly you are, quite rightly, not afraid to call in professional help when required.

 

Bravo Simon and I raise my glass to you!

 

Cheers

Richard T