Heaton Lodge Junction

[AdeMoore]

Excellent that 9F be great to actually see it in action.

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

Hah, you don't fool me, the fireman never moved, leaning on his shovel the whole time, poor show!

 

Mike.

[Grovenor]

Seems to have  6 or more chuffs per rev rather than the 4 expected. A bit more fine tuning needed. Presumably its synched via back emf rather than a cam. A cam would trigger the chuffs more positively.

[HeatonLodge40]

1 hour ago, Grovenor said:

Seems to have  6 or more chuffs per rev rather than the 4 expected. A bit more fine tuning needed. Presumably its synched via back emf rather than a cam. A cam would trigger the chuffs more positively.

Chuffin hell 

[Simond]

I've always been able to adjust mine to work well enough with the back emf, I haven't fitted cams (or magnets), so, whilst they would be "better", I'm not sure they're necessary at all.

[AndrewT]

On 10/03/2021 at 11:04, Grovenor said:

Seems to have  6 or more chuffs per rev rather than the 4 expected. A bit more fine tuning needed. Presumably its synched via back emf rather than a cam. A cam would trigger the chuffs more positively.

This is a model of the 3-cylinder experimental version....... ha ha ha..

[HeatonLodge40]

I don’t mind admitting I much prefer constructing scenery.

Currently wiring in 5 Digikeijs sensor boards which detect where the trains are. These are connected on the outside by caravan connectors. I’m taking instructions believe me!

How I’m going to make this lot tidy I dunno

 

 

[Enterprisingwestern]

2 hours ago, HeatonLodge40 said:

How I’m going to make this lot tidy I dunno

 

 

 

That's untidy??

 

Mike.

[Donington Road]

On 10/03/2021 at 04:27, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

Hah, you don't fool me, the fireman never moved, leaning on his shovel the whole time, poor show!

 

Mike.

 

I was waiting for the safety valves to lift.

[HeatonLodge40]

21 hours ago, Donington Road said:

 

I was waiting for the safety valves to lift.

The safety valves were tried but proved unreliable as they clogged up being so narrow.

However the next victim of the new smoke generator- Black 5 45212 will hopefully be more successful 

[Gallows Close]

For me the 9F was no failure.  Very impressive. 
 

Best wishes,

Chris. 

[ferret1956]

I can't believe that I've only just "discovered" Heaton Lodge!

More of an armchair modeller these days, but how inspiring is this project!

I spent many hours at the place both as a kid in the 60s, and as a minor photographer in the mid 80s.

 

I watch with interest.

 

Were the "bin liners" running in the modelledb era??? They were an example of freight using the Stanage route!

[d winpenny]

1 hour ago, ferret1956 said:

I can't believe that I've only just "discovered" Heaton Lodge!

More of an armchair modeller these days, but how inspiring is this project!

I spent many hours at the place both as a kid in the 60s, and as a minor photographer in the mid 80s.

 

I watch with interest.

 

Were the "bin liners" running in the modelledb era??? They were an example of freight using the Stanage route!

Had a quick look on Flickr seen pictures from around 87 so a little later than 82 to 85 although end of the day it’s simons layout so he can run what he likes

 

david

Edited April 10, 2021 by d winpenny

[Crepello]

Looking forward to further news on HLJ Simon. 

It became part of my  routine to see what you'd been up to .

Hoping I won't have to wait too long.....

[Denbridge]

I trust everything is okay? It's been an unusually long spell between updates.

[HeatonLodge40]

All ok, thanks for asking.

Been a relatively mundane month helping out with the final fitting of the automation. It’s been a huge job in itself with the amount of track but a necessary one. I do miss proper modelling I can tell you.

 

Today has been a running session here’s some pics

[Crepello]

Great stuff! Glad you're back on here.

[HeatonLodge40]

Been a while I know but here’s an update..

 

Rolling stock has been landing left right and centre including 60 MK1 coaches from Heljan (which also include 20 GUV’s & 10 BG’s for the Heaton/Red Bank parcels. 
Dapol delivered 80 16T mineral wagons and Ellis Clarke trains 15 of their Motorail Flats.

(I’ve got my weathering work cut out)

 

Can’t have an empty motorail train so just shelled out for 45 x 1:43 cars (everything from Ford Sierra XR4i’s, to Volvo 262’s & Opel Kadetts).

Had a break from helping out with the automation today to mount the first car - a Ford Cortina, to one of the Ellis Clarke flats.

Each car has its tyres filed on one small bit so they sit ‘flat’, (thanks to the late Allan Downes for that tip), bit of dirty black weathering all over with an airbrush, before the tyres are picked out with Life Color tyre black.

 

I’m making literally hundreds of wheel chocks which I’ll spray yellow. Finally some of the Motorail trains had the cars chained down too so the tweezers will be out and lots of very fine chain.

So all in all plenty to see with dozens of ‘80’s cars on a Motorail train consisting of 15 wagons. This will be very heavy so I reckon it’ll be down to a couple of 37’s to pull it. Motorails rarely ran with just the flats (mainly 5/6 were tagged onto the train itself) so 15 will be unusual but quite a sight.

 

Continuing with the rolling stock theme I had something very special land recently. 
As a kid I used to see the Class 124 DMU’s frequently so had a 4 car set commissioned. The builder is Michael Hughes (J&M Hughes models) whose spent a year building it. 
I’m really pleased with it, it’s heavy and really well put together.

It’ll soon be going for weathering, smoke unit, sound and additional front end detail - windscreen wipers for example & Trans Pennine logos on the side.
Michael has promised a Class 110 in the next year or so which will be just as welcome. Really will be Trans Pennine then!

 

On a different note the first outing for Heaton Lodge will be the full month of December at one city centre location.
Watch this space..

Heljan will be providing support and Peco with some half built and fully completed layouts. 

 

This exhibition will be a twist on the normal theme as I’m aiming to hit the non modelling general public as well as fellow rail modellers hence the city centre locations. As such there won’t be anything ‘specialised’ trader wise but I’ll be posting about what will be there later this year.

This exhibition will be a ‘pilot’ as I’m ultimately aiming to run regular large exhibitions at city centre locations during school holiday periods from next year onwards. Partly because HLJ will take 3 days to set up and another 3 to break down these exhibitions will run in school holidays longer than the usual 2/3 days. 

 

In the meantime here’s some pics of the 124 and the first weathered Ford being loaded onto the Motorail train ..

Ps - We’ll be live-streaming HLJ during the summer with super quality cameras, a zip line with GoPro following trains etc. Quick pic here too as the live streaming and automation control desks take shape 

 

 

Edited May 15, 2021 by HeatonLodge40

[HeatonLodge40]

The 15 wagon Motorail flat train is now complete with 50 x 1:43 weathered and detailed cars. 
Most are from IXO models and the Corgi Vanguard range.

As previously mentioned I file the tyres at the bottom so they sit better and given its winter the windscreen wiper marks are modelled too.

 

I also added a working tail lamp using a CR2032 battery holder, resistor and a Dapol lamp. Looks a bit messy underneath but it works well. 
Couldn’t resist doing an ‘Italian Job’ flat with 4 minis and a Lamborghini Miura 
I’m hoping two Heljan 31’s will haul this lot, if not two tractors. 
I hadn’t realised how expensive these model cars are.
After buying 50 I do now! 

[mike hughes]

On 15/05/2021 at 15:23, HeatonLodge40 said:

Been a while I know but here’s an update..

 

Rolling stock has been landing left right and centre including 60 MK1 coaches from Heljan (which also include 20 GUV’s & 10 BG’s for the Heaton/Red Bank parcels. 
Dapol delivered 80 16T mineral wagons and Ellis Clarke trains 15 of their Motorail Flats.

(I’ve got my weathering work cut out)

 

Can’t have an empty motorail train so just shelled out for 45 x 1:43 cars (everything from Ford Sierra XR4i’s, to Volvo 262’s & Opel Kadetts).

Had a break from helping out with the automation today to mount the first car - a Ford Cortina, to one of the Ellis Clarke flats.

Each car has its tyres filed on one small bit so they sit ‘flat’, (thanks to the late Allan Downes for that tip), bit of dirty black weathering all over with an airbrush, before the tyres are picked out with Life Color tyre black.

 

I’m making literally hundreds of wheel chocks which I’ll spray yellow. Finally some of the Motorail trains had the cars chained down too so the tweezers will be out and lots of very fine chain.

So all in all plenty to see with dozens of ‘80’s cars on a Motorail train consisting of 15 wagons. This will be very heavy so I reckon it’ll be down to a couple of 37’s to pull it. Motorails rarely ran with just the flats (mainly 5/6 were tagged onto the train itself) so 15 will be unusual but quite a sight.

 

Continuing with the rolling stock theme I had something very special land recently. 
As a kid I used to see the Class 124 DMU’s frequently so had a 4 car set commissioned. The builder is Michael Hughes (J&M Hughes models) whose spent a year building it. 
I’m really pleased with it, it’s heavy and really well put together.

It’ll soon be going for weathering, smoke unit, sound and additional front end detail - windscreen wipers for example & Trans Pennine logos on the side.
Michael has promised a Class 110 in the next year or so which will be just as welcome. Really will be Trans Pennine then!

 

On a different note the first outing for Heaton Lodge will be the full month of December at one city centre location.
Watch this space..

Heljan will be providing support and Peco with some half built and fully completed layouts. 

 

This exhibition will be a twist on the normal theme as I’m aiming to hit the non modelling general public as well as fellow rail modellers hence the city centre locations. As such there won’t be anything ‘specialised’ trader wise but I’ll be posting about what will be there later this year.

This exhibition will be a ‘pilot’ as I’m ultimately aiming to run regular large exhibitions at city centre locations during school holiday periods from next year onwards. Partly because HLJ will take 3 days to set up and another 3 to break down these exhibitions will run in school holidays longer than the usual 2/3 days. 

 

In the meantime here’s some pics of the 124 and the first weathered Ford being loaded onto the Motorail train ..

Ps - We’ll be live-streaming HLJ during the summer with super quality cameras, a zip line with GoPro following trains etc. Quick pic here too as the live streaming and automation control desks take shape 

 

 

No doubt that you’ll see pics of the 110 when I start it

Michael

[T0ny]

The quality just keeps coming. Excellent work. I look forward to seeing more. I congratulate you on your skills and perseverance.

 

[blueeighties]

Another class 37 ready for work on HLJ.

 

A gorgeous, hot sunny bank holiday, and we see another dirty beast emerge from the workshop  Another Heljan 0 gauge class 37, centre headcode, finished as 222. An interesting one this, one of the very few to retain it's bodyside steps, and unplated panels throughout it's life. Original bufferbeam cowlings retained, the only ex works part of this loco are the recently fitted air pipes after a visit to Doncaster works. Shame they couldn't be bothered to run it through the washer.

[T0ny]

You'd be hard pressed to know that this isn't the real thing.  Another excellent piece of work.

[AndrewT]

If I'd a Lambo' Miura.... I'm not sure I'd have entrusted its safe passage to BR Motorail !

[Crepello]

I would have thought it would be much safer on the train.