Byford - Trainspotting in The 50s

[richard.h]

To finish off the Cement Wagons they were given a light spraying of Mig Rainmarks for Tanks, (the type with guns not railway tankers) and this toned everything down a little  and provided a slight sheen.

 

Looking at them now I'm quite pleased with the result.

 

And when you compare them with one of the original tankers they really do look like hardworking vehicles in everyday use.

[Adrian Stevenson]

They look brilliant. Nice work.

 

Cheers, Ade.

[richard.h]

22 hours ago, Adrian Stevenson said:

They look brilliant. Nice work.

 

Cheers, Ade.

Thanks, it's a technique I hadn't seen before until I read an article by Tim Shackleton, but it has worked out well and will definitely use it again in future.

 

Richard

[richard.h]

With the Cemflo train now complete we can watch it approach and run through Oxenholme.

 

 

Then over the viaduct.

[richard.h]

I have had three lonely Presflo Cement Wagons for some time so I decided to add these to the Cemflo Train.

 

I haven't found any photos of the two types running together in real life, they probably needed different loading facilities, so my excuse is that it's empty stock being returned to depot.

 

[richard.h]

Over the Garden Wall

One part of the layout that rarely gets seen are the backyards and gardens of the houses so here are a few photos to show what goes on out of sight.

 

Coal bunkers, rabbit hutches and the ever present washing line

 

 

 

[richard.h]

Here are the backs to Old Bank Place.

 

And Alma Street

[lezz01]

Loving the chemflos Richard. The rain marks wash has pulled the whole of the weathering together really well. I also like the backyards very nice indeed mate. It's good to see other people using military modeling products there is so many really great MM products out there that railway modelers totally overlook. 

Regards Lez.

Oh yes I almost forgot. You are right mate a 3 wheel wizzbang bubble car is just a bubble car to most people but the ME KR200 is the very best of them in my eyes. Not that there is much of a field to be honest. Many people think that they were made up from leftover  ME BF 110 cockpits but they were no such thing at all. They do have the look though and they are fun to drive. They were an attempt to get the German economy going again after WWII and as such they worked. I would love to own another one but they are silly money these days if you can find one. Then of course wifey took one look and said "Are you effing kidding me??? I'm not getting in one of those!!!" Which wasn't very ladylike at all! Another dream crushed!

Regards again Lez.    

[richard.h]

22 hours ago, lezz01 said:

Loving the chemflos Richard. The rain marks wash has pulled the whole of the weathering together really well. I also like the backyards very nice indeed mate. It's good to see other people using military modeling products there is so many really great MM products out there that railway modelers totally overlook. 

Regards Lez.

Oh yes I almost forgot. You are right mate a 3 wheel wizzbang bubble car is just a bubble car to most people but the ME KR200 is the very best of them in my eyes. Not that there is much of a field to be honest. Many people think that they were made up from leftover  ME BF 110 cockpits but they were no such thing at all. They do have the look though and they are fun to drive. They were an attempt to get the German economy going again after WWII and as such they worked. I would love to own another one but they are silly money these days if you can find one. Then of course wifey took one look and said "Are you effing kidding me??? I'm not getting in one of those!!!" Which wasn't very ladylike at all! Another dream crushed!

Regards again Lez.    

Thanks for that, I first got into military paints by accident when the Royal Mail decided it wasn't handling paints anymore I was suddenly stumped for supplies, after looking around I found AK and MIG products were available right on my doorstep.

As you say they are primarily designed for wargamers but such a lot of the range is ideal for railway painting and weathering that I use them more and more now and find them excellent products.

 

Like your story about the ME KR200, I think my better half said "where's the door, how are you supposed to get in"

 

Regards

 

Richard

[richard.h]

Here's a Standard Class 4 emerging from High Fell Tunnel.

 

And then running through the Cutting.

 

[richard.h]

The Class 4 now pulls into Byford Station.

 

 

[richard.h]

Here we have The LMS Twins being prepared for duty in the Depot.

 

Ready for work they are coupled together to provide enough power to take on The Royal Scot.

 

 

[richard.h]

Now we have The LMS Twins in action, the old meets the new or should it be style meets function.

 

 

When coupled together the Twins had a combined power equal to a Duchess and were tested this way with loads like The Royal Scot, but I know which I would have preferred to see tackling Shap.

 

[richard.h]

Now we follow The Twins as they race through Byford

 

 

Then through Oxenholme as they head north to tackle the hills.

 

[richard.h]

The Mill section is just about finished now, Gatehouse done, Weighbridge and Hoists Added.

 

 

 

When I was making this section I didn't want to make the buildings too dark as I thought you would lose the detail, then afterwards I found this video about Queensbury on the internet and took a still capture for detail purposes.

 

 

Lots of useful info but just look at the colour of the buildings, Dave Shakespeare got it exactly right years ago, one of the many reasons why his layout still inspires today.

[BurscoughCurves]

Looks great Richard. I really like that scene.

 

Regards,

Pete

[richard.h]

To finish off the Mill section here are a couple photos of the hoist loading up plus a background story:-

 

Health and Safety was quite primitive in the 60s all you had here were safety chains across the upper storey doors when not in use.

I remember walking out of the ground floor door one day and wondering why someone in the office was waving to me, I had just got clear when a crate came wooshing down, there should have been someone on the ground floor to collect it and keep the door clear.

 

 

 

[richard.h]

Here's the Robinson Class 04 as it enters the countryside.

 

 

 

It plods along with a heavy coal train.

 

[richard.h]

Further down the line we see the 04 as it clears Oxenholme.

 

 

[richard.h]

Weathering a Garratt

 

I bought one of the Heljan Garratts when they were released (weathered version) but was never really happy with the appearance so I thought I would have a go at making it more realistic.

 

The first stage was to spray below the footplate with frame dirt and the the bodywork was sprayed with a mixture of blacks, burnt black and smoke black.

 

 

The firebox and cylinders were then sprayed with a mixture of rust and tan colours while the tender sides were sprayed dirty black again which was immediately brushed down vertically to give a streaking effect.

 

 

To finish it off the firebox area had rust and black weathering powders stippled on and the wheels and valve gear were given a liberal coating of AKs Fuel Stains, this was also trickled down the cylinders to represent seepage in the cylinders.

 

 

 

So now hopefully we have a Garratt that looks a bit more workmanlike

[richard.h]

We catch up with the 04 again as it makes it's way through the station.

 

 

 

[richard.h]

Here are couple of shots from our aerial photographer as the coal train passes through the Station and Town.

 

 

 

[richard.h]

Now we see the Derby Lightweight as it passes under the newly installed signal gantry.

 

The gantry was built from an etched brass kit using my new temperature controlled soldering iron partly as practise before moving on to bigger projects.

 

 

There is still some work to do on the signals but I think that at least the layout is correct for the station approach

[richard.h]

Here is a short video of a Class 37 hauling the Weathered Cemflo wagons, it is held at the Station while the Deltic departs.

Both of these loos are fitted with Zimo sound chips and the 37 has a Dumbo Speaker

 

 

[richard.h]

As mentioned previously here I have never been able to find an accurate model of a "Skep" which was a basket type container used for transporting goods in and between Textile Mills.

 

Fortunately I have talented friend who has a 3D printer and he was able to design some of these for me.

 

 

So I now have  Skeps with both closed and with opening lids.

 

This is my first attempt at painting them in order try try and replicate a mixed load of Skeps being delivered.

 

 

Having bought a drum of the dark brown thread used to make them I now have a large supply available so if you are modelling typical Northern Mill Grime and would like a few please message me and I will see what I can do.

As they say with puppies "free to a good home"