Harts Hill an 0 gauge Black Country micro plus Hookton and Lipp Vale

[Mike 4,211]

During the lock down in my case now 2 months due to my wife being in the most at risk group I have started yet another (my 12th) Black Country themed layout. So far I have built all the point work 4 left and i right hand and started on the buildings. The canal-side factories are based on the structures of my Wallows layout so some of you might recognize them whilst the foundry is a flight of fancy. The buildings are 2mm lite-ply with embossed plasticard overlays although the foundry office is from plasticard. The Canal-side factories will hide the fiddle yard with the foundry hiding the exit. My baseboards are on order and as soon as I can I will order the track from Marcway.

Note non of the roofs are fitted only resting in place as they need finishing.

 

 

[marc smith 3,553]

Great start @Mike. Really like the look of those buildings  
Just wondering what the plan looks like. 
Have you got a copy you can share?

[Mike 4,211]

Thanks Marc, the plan is the same as my Wallows  layout  

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/115955-the-wallows/ 

the fiddle yard will just be two roads with isolated head shunts. Hope this helps.

cheers

stay safe

[Mike 4,211]

Getting this ready to add to the Foundry office.

 

 

[4wDH 19]

Mike I have followed quite a lot of your builds, but what impresses me is your buildings and the attention to detail.

[simonmcp 340]

1 hour ago, Mike said:

Getting this ready to add to the Foundry office.

 

 

Stunning modelling, I always lusted after one of those drawing boards but they were equivalent to tens of thousands in today's money. Now I can do much more accurate but slower work on my iMac.

[Mike 4,211]

For those that may remember my Reely Grate micro and the Fulminator. The guy is checking the drawings of parts for the MkVIII which once cast will be shipped to Reely Grate for final assembly then after rigorous testing being approved by the Ministry of Defence .All very hush hush :

Oops! I’ve said too much already

[Mike 4,211]

More bodging on the office, pattern shop and tempering shop. I should have connected the office lights before taking a photo and tidied the working area.

 

[Mike 4,211]

Let there be light and behold there was light and the work area is still a mess.

 

[Spotlc 835]

Hats Off!  This is really wonderful, modelmaking, Mike, out of the very top drawer!   And for my sins, I still have the Allbright Spacemaster draughting machine in the workshop, although it's more for ornament than use these days!

 

Cheers, Mike

[Mike 4,211]

When I chose the name of my new layout build Harts Hill, it was suggested by local historian and author Ned Williams that it would have to include the cinema. Immediately I pictured an art deco style structure with a name such as The Danilo or Odeon, but it turns out the Limelight Cinema once in Harts Hill but now rebuilt at the Black Country Museum is not much more than a barn. Now me being me I have tweaked and slightly modified my take on it so that it will fit into the location. I hope that I have managed the essence of the building which still needs finishing. I have also almost finished the main foundry structure The poster/name board in the background includes Buster Keaton in the General and a small version is on the outside wall of the cinema.

 

[Wrenn 1,590]

Really nice modelling on the office and pattern shop.

[Mike 4,211]

Have built the first 3 of 4 boards and started laying track . Board 4 will be the fiddle yard.  Boards 1-3 are 900x600 board 4 will be 1200x600.  Progress so far: photo 1 is boards 1&2 photo 2 is boards 2&3 the reason they are set up on the garden table is I have not yet built the legs. The wagon was used for testing the joints as the layout has been built as a portable.

 

 

 

Edited June 14, 2020 by Mike
spelling error

[Mike 4,211]

The design allows the layout to be split into two inglenooks. Boards 1&2 and 3&4, 3&4 being the easiest option but the hardest to operate. All good fun should I wish not to have the whole layout set up.

 

[JimRead 1,440]

Hello Mike,

 

I had no idea that you'd made so many layouts, goodness gracious me. Your buildings are wonderful they look just so real, fair play to you.

 

Cheers

[Mike 4,211]

Hi Jim, thanks for your kind comments. Hope you are keeping safe and still modelling.

cheers

[Mike 4,211]

Harts Hill latest progress: Elec trickery is now completed on all 4 boards and it worked first time with no under the breath mutterings. Well pleased, Okay I know it is only 5 live frog points and standard DC wiring but it’s tidy and working. I will post a video when I can set the whole layout up on the trestles, well 2 folding trestle tables, quick relatively inexpensive strong and easy to store. It has meant not having to build any baseboard legs as I have done in the past. Hey Ho, there is of course a downside in as much that I still have my New Level Mill layout taking space in the man cave. On the plus side It doesn’t need to be ready for any shows this year.

[marc smith 3,553]

Looking great @Mike - really really like the cameo of the draughtsman in his office - nice
As ever, great work on the buildings - can't see much "bodging" at all.

Hmm, "Much Bodging" - a potential layout name?  

[Mike 4,211]

Raw video footage of Harts Hill my under construction 0 gauge layout. Just to show it works. Unfinished buildings plonked on just for effect.

 

[Keith Addenbrooke 2,101]

Thank you for sharing the video - I was trying to work out why the engine looked so small: in the end it finally dawned on me that I’m too used to seeing elevated shots of 4mm scale trains running on ‘narrow gauge’ / OO Gauge 16.5mm track!  Always good to see your layouts progressing, thank you.

[Mike 4,211]

Harts Hill update. Positioning a couple of buildings just to check everything fits. The roadway will be surfaced with Chincilla sand/grit leaving the inset sets exposed to give it well worn appearance. The Cock Inn will have a wall and gates. The goods shed etc are not yet set in place.

 

 

 

[Mike 4,211]

Just creating the scene on board 1 . Figures, gate and posts just placed for effect.

[eastworld 108]

This reminds me of the Black Country Museum, if you don't mind the comparison.

 

Stu

Edited August 18, 2020 by eastworld

[MAP66 2,202]

 

Superb detailing Mike, loving the ghost signage and the tin bath hanging on the wall of the Cock Inn.

 

Reagrds

Mark

[F-UnitMad 8,344]

Hi mike, how are you doing? Hope you & the memsahib are still ok during this time.

 

Any more progress on the layout?