Denbridge Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 7 hours ago, Mick Bonwick said: That implies that it has taken over 25 years to date and a whole vast team of people have been involved during those years. Pendon has taken 60+ years 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 1 hour ago, rob D2 said: I can’t help thinking this will be wasted on the public . theyll be wanting a Hornby station and a plastic tunnel like the Alps . like everyone’s said you could easily get a never ending supply of modellers stumping up some funds to watch . You make a good point. However I’m quietly confident the public will appreciate it as well as us modellers. I say that cos I often get both male and females dropping by from the businesses surrounding the mill. The women especially, spend half an hour just looking at the scenery and searching out the detail. Men just want to watch the trains rumble by. Might even pitch it to the artists of this world too? Anyway I guess I’ll find out (next year now) 13 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted September 23, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 23, 2020 9 hours ago, HeatonLodge40 said: Anyway I guess I’ll find out (next year now) Hopefully! Mike. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giles Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 This is genuinely one of the (model) Railway Wonders of The World, and i suspect will over time be appreciated as such by more than just our own native enthusiasts. Personally, I really can't wait to see it. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 Can you imagine this epic at Warley ? I’m packing three elbows and 2 rucksacks ! 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calnefoxile Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 1 hour ago, rob D2 said: Can you imagine this epic at Warley ? I’m packing three elbows and 2 rucksacks ! The Security Guards would have to chuck everyone out, because after all the punters have gone the layout will be surrounded by Exhibitors who haven't had a chance to get near it all day. Might turn into a 24 hour Exhibition 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 20 hours ago, Calnefoxile said: The Security Guards would have to chuck everyone out, because after all the punters have gone the layout will be surrounded by Exhibitors who haven't had a chance to get near it all day. Might turn into a 24 hour Exhibition The end of show "Stick all the wagons we have got behind one loco and see how long a train we can get"special should be a sight to see. That is assuming the Heljan loco on the front doesn't try and move as otherwise the main NEC power supply will trip and plunge the hall into darkness... 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Endacott Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 10 hours ago, 37114 said: The end of show "Stick all the wagons we have got behind one loco and see how long a train we can get"special should be a sight to see. That reminds me of the Swindon show when we had seven Westerns hauling 52 coaches. Geoff Endacott 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 3 hours ago, Geoff Endacott said: That reminds me of the Swindon show when we had seven Westerns hauling 52 coaches. Geoff Endacott I remember 108 MK1s behind 2 x class 47s at Melksham on the same layout.... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Endacott Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 2 hours ago, 37114 said: I remember 108 MK1s behind 2 x class 47s at Melksham on the same layout.... That was a bigger layout. I wonder how many coaches would fit end to end on HLJ. Geoff Endacott 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Johnson Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 Absolutely awesome as everyone has already said, tenfold! The vision, the skill, the commitment, perseverance.........words fail me. Can’t wait to see more. Just a shame lockdown has prevented money recouping business, but at least you can get it to the next stage. Les 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HeatonLodge40 Posted October 2, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2020 Thanks again for the positive comments Well this week has seen the completion of the triangular section before I start the static grass on it next week. All this section is completely removable, or built on the trolleys to allow access to the double track underneath. I’ve had to go with a tunnel mouth for the scenic break here. The bridge was too complicated as it was built over a removable section. And the backscene here should make a big difference. The other work has seen all the middle curves of these Huddersfield line (the line with the MGR’s on) wired with 4mm thick bus wires and goodness knows how many droppers. So next week will see trains beginning to run up and down the dive under. My friendly software chaps have meanwhile almost finished wiring in the final colour light signals. Seems weeks since I’ve done any proper modelling.. I can’t say electrics and even laying the foundations for scenery is much fun! Control wise each of the 7 roads in each of the 4 fiddle yards will hold 24 trains (4 lines will be clear ‘run throughs’). Trains will run at specific speeds according to their weight and smoke/sound will only operate on the scenic side to save power. Locos will sound horns near track workers and slow very gradually at red signals depending again on their weight. There will be a number of binoculars on each end to spot them approaching! Unfortunately you’ll have to bring your own Tizer and sandwiches 55 1 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 You seem to have completed the impossible - made an O gauge layout that fits into the main reason for a large N gauge layout - railway in the scenery. This is now like one of the many Settle & Carlisle or Peak District N layouts of yore (even the 009 Stealth bomber) but done magnificently in 0. 2 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators AY Mod Posted October 3, 2020 Moderators Share Posted October 3, 2020 19 hours ago, HeatonLodge40 said: There will be a number of binoculars on each end to spot them approaching! Bu33er binoculars; you need the Hubble telescope. Even though I can put it all into context having visited it's still unbelievable in scope. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Johnson Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Getting even better by the day! Meant to ask you the other day, what size cable do you use for droppers and bus bar, and how do you find the suitcase connectors with regard to conductivity and ease of use? regrds Les Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted October 3, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 3, 2020 3 hours ago, AY Mod said: Bu33er binoculars; you need the Hubble telescope. Even though I can put it all into context having visited it's still unbelievable in telescope. FIFY. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 5 hours ago, Les Johnson said: Getting even better by the day! Meant to ask you the other day, what size cable do you use for droppers and bus bar, and how do you find the suitcase connectors with regard to conductivity and ease of use? regrds Les Hi Les, I get the scotchlok/suitcase connectors from a company called Spalding Fasteners. They supply the 3M manufactured ones (as opposed to the cheap Chinese copies which are very unreliable). That said I must have had a faulty batch as just today I couldn’t get power on any of the Huddersfield line curves at all. Turns out the scotchlok connectors were all failing due to blunt ‘blades’ inside. So I’m going to have to rewire all this section now. Prior to this though they have been fine and are used over the whole layout. Bus wires are 4mm & droppers 2.5mm all from ‘Rapid Online’. I deliberately over specced the cables for obvious reasons. On normal O gauge layouts (or should I say sensible ones) 2.5mm is fine for the main bus. 1 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Johnson Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 Thanks so much. Do you happen to have a 3M reference no for your scotchlocks Les Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougN Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 The video on the Great train show/ Hornby Mag really showed off the layout which I enjoyed today. The shear scale of the layout and the level of detail and research that you have put in is fantastic. Even to the point my other half said to me "do you want to build something that big? "Have to say no, the buildings g I build as a day job are large enough howe ever it is encouraging me to get on with modelling again. I will I'll keep an eye out for any further videos. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pre Grouping fan Posted October 11, 2020 Share Posted October 11, 2020 Yep have to agree with the above comment. The drone fottage is particularly good and shows the sheer scale when you follow a tfull length train down the 4 track section. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 On 08/10/2020 at 11:59, Les Johnson said: Thanks so much. Do you happen to have a 3M reference no for your scotchlocks Les https://www.spaldingfasteners.co.uk/electrical-scotchlock-wire-low-voltage-connector-terminals/ These are what I’ve always used. Further to my comments on them earlier, the issue wasn’t faulty blades inside after all. Turns out the two sizes of wires (bus/dropper) was too great in thickness so the yellow connectors weren’t gripping the dropper wire. Lesson learnt - use the appropriate colour scotchloks for the wire thickness. On a different subject I’ll update on progress at the end of this week. Plus I’ll announce a series of plans I’ve been working on for next year (now that Covid looks to have scuppered much of next years exhibitions too) 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted October 13, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 13, 2020 8 hours ago, HeatonLodge40 said: Plus I’ll announce a series of plans I’ve been working on for next year A 4mm version? Mike. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HeatonLodge40 Posted October 13, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 13, 2020 Well I never. Didn’t expect HLJ to appear in Forbes magazine Interesting article though.. https://www.forbes.com/sites/benjaminlaker/2020/10/09/the-surprising-ways-leaders-relax-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/?utm_source=Footplate+From+Model+Railway+Engineer&utm_campaign=3e9abcf2c3-Early_Oct_2020_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_398008f32a-3e9abcf2c3-333950114#77c6d28646cd 18 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HeatonLodge40 Posted October 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 17, 2020 Evening all, been a while I know.. So the last week has seen some feverish activity on the Dive Under tunnels and the scenic triangle mentioned previously. The other two thirds of the river has been poured with 5kg of casting resin with a mucky tint. The two upper Huddersfield lines are now ballasted and for the first time ever all tracks are now operational. Thanks to my good friends Rob & Jonathan the automation side of things is becoming a reality. Seeing a long freight pulling up at a red signal awaiting a passing Inter City is superb. Once passed, the signal changes to yellow and the freight starts to plod away once more. Here’s a few pictures of progress this week.. Regarding ballasting, if it’s one thing I’ve learnt it’s absolutely critical to soak the ballast through with PVA mixture. 32 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HeatonLodge40 Posted October 17, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted October 17, 2020 (edited) So I have a bit of news too.. Since the Covid crisis doesn’t seem to be going away soon, the plan is to begin live streaming footage from HLJ towards the end of the year. This live streaming will initially replace the layout going out to the public until things return to some semblance of normality. All streaming will be high quality, with multiple cameras at various locations. This will include a ‘Come trainspotting at Heaton Lodge Junction’ series with the fixed camera locations at multiple points and will live stream for 4/5hrs on particular dates. Additionally there will also be a ‘How to’ series on the scenic techniques I’ve learnt, to cover static grass, realistic road construction, with the emphasis on speed but producing ultra realistic results. Other episodes will cover ‘speed’ weathering, constructing wagon loads and much more. As some may know Heljan is sponsoring Heaton Lodge Junction and as such all new Heljan O gauge models will be featured on the layout (before they hit the shops) pulling heavy trains, being reviewed and tips on weathering them. All this will be scheduled in advance so it’s possible to pick and choose what you wish to see. I’ll keep those interested posted on here. Back to the present and I mentioned earlier the Dive Under tunnel progress. This video ‘Lights at the end of the Tunnel’ was created by software specialist Jonathan and gives a taste of what’s to come. Enjoy Edited October 17, 2020 by HeatonLodge40 41 1 1 1 9 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now