Lime Street Station

[fender]

my first thought was, big deal, putting people on the layout isn't much of a project!...but then I thought, hmmm....this isn't a shunting yard, there are going to be hundreds!

[Pete Goss]

Yes indeed, the people have been under detailed planning for some time now.  Lime Street will be next. I am currently preparing at least 150 figures taken from more than one manufacturer together with a few special conversions for specific characters just for the Lime Street scene alone, including hopefully some new late 1940's figures in autumn long coat and trilby's etc prepared specifically for this project.  

 

Once I get onto the platforms, bus queues, railway working areas and back streets the masses will definately swell in number. As you say there will be hundreds!

[Steve Hewitt]

Press button "A" .............        (If you don't know what that refers to, ask your Dad)

 

For some time, Lime Street had some not very fine plastic Phone Boxes standing in front of the Hotel site.

John is replacing these with much finer etched brass versions, one of which will include one of Pete Goss's figures using the box for its proper purpose.

It's also in the plan to have lighting control on the layout, so that the passage of time from day to night can be represented.

To that end John has installed some tiny surface mount LEDs in the boxes:

 

 

These will be installed once the Hotel locating arrangements are finalised.

 

Steve.

 

 

[stevescan]

Love the telephone boxes.

[vulcanbomber]

Fantastic phone boxes. could you supply a bit of detail for us mere mortals to copy.

[Steve Hewitt]

Fantastic phone boxes. could you supply a bit of detail for us mere mortals to copy.

Telephone Boxes....

 

I'll try, but if I get any details wrong, I'm sure John will let me know and I'll update them....

 

I believe the boxes are based on a Langley Kit of etched brass sides and door, cast roof and cast interior detail.

Two interiors are provided - modern STD and older Button A and B.

 

John has detailed the interior for our period - 1947. i.e Button "A" to connect on answer, and Button "B" to get your money back if no reply.

They are glazed after painting and detailing of course.

 

The lighting uses Surface Mount LEDs:

 

This is one I installed in a Banner Repeater for Carlisle, but the same type was used in these Boxes.

 

John soldered two fine insulated wires to the LED. (Wire is "Kynar" 0.16mm conductor, 0.5mm over insulation.)

One was passed through a fine brass tube, and the second shorter one was soldered to the top of the tube.

 

This assembly was then glued inside the Phone Box, behind the front corner so that the tube was hidden, and the LED was in the centre of the "ceiling". The glue was a "Canopy" glue to prevent clouding the glazing.

The lower end of the tube extends below the baseboard.

 

The brass tube and the wire inside it was then connected to the electrical supply with lots of resisters to reduce the intensity.

Make sure to get the polarity correct.

 

When installed on Lime Street I believe they will have their own custom built power supply so the intensity can be adjusted to suit the ambient lighting

 

Hoping all this makes sense...

 

Steve.

[Grafarman]

Unbelievable...micro-modelling quality of the highest order

 

I really must come and see the layout in full flow one day...

 

 

David

[Steve Hewitt]

Unbelievable...micro-modelling quality of the highest order

 

I really must come and see the layout in full flow one day...

 

 

David

The BRM show at Peterborough in October is your next chance

[darren01]

Thanks Bill. I will try the acrylic method next time. I did leave the white paint to dry for a week. I have now repainted the white and will paint the black in a couple of weeks. I will keep you posted!

Les

Hi 

Paint the letters with Enamel  paint, leave to set over night, then use some acrylic paint and just paint over the whole lot.

Leave it to dry then get a bit of stiff card and rub over the sign, your end up with the letters clear of the back ground paint.

Darrren

Edited May 29, 2016 by darren01

[Steve Hewitt]

Sorry for the delay.........

 

During recent weeks John has taken several photos of details on the layout, often from view points which are not normally available.

 

Here are a few:

 

The Back Yard behind the shops on Lime Street.

 

The street behind the Hotel.

 

Trackwork behind the Signal Box with some of the new "Gas Lit" Yard Lamps.

 

One of the major improvements made this year have been the new camera installations.

Where these are located "on scene", they have to be camouflaged by such as these small platform buildings which each hide two cameras.

 

Cabin 1 with Camera 1 on Siding C uncoupler.

 

Cabin 1 with Camera 2 for Siding B uncoupler.

 

Cabin 2 with Camera 1 for Patform 7 uncoupler.

 

Cabin 2 with Camera 2 for Plaform 6 uncoupler.

 

To improve the view for spectators, two monitors are being installed in the Lighting Pelmets.

 

The first pelmet monitor being tested.

 

It won't be long now before we start running sessions again.

 

Can't wait.........

Steve.

 

Sorry for the delay.........

 

During recent weeks John has taken several photos of details on the layout, often from view points which are not normally available.

 

Here are a few:

 

The Back Yard behind the shops on Lime Street.

 

The street behind the Hotel.

 

Trackwork behind the Signal Box with some of the new "Gas Lit" Yard Lamps.

 

One of the major improvements made this year have been the new camera installations.

Where these are located "on scene", they have to be camouflaged by such as these small platform buildings which each hide two cameras.

 

Cabin 1 with Camera 1 on Siding C uncoupler.

 

Cabin 1 with Camera 2 for Siding B uncoupler.

 

Cabin 2 with Camera 1 for Patform 7 uncoupler.

 

Cabin 2 with Camera 2 for Plaform 6 uncoupler.

 

To improve the view for spectators, two monitors are being installed in the Lighting Pelmets.

 

The first pelmet monitor being tested.

 

It won't be long now before we start running sessions again.

 

Can't wait.........

Steve.

 

[Adrian]

Unbelievable...micro-modelling quality of the highest order

 

 

 

Sorry to disagree but for modelling of the highest order that will need the aroma of eau de urine emanating from the boxes!! That said they do look really really good.

[Spitfire2865]

Were not stupid. Those are clearly colour photos of Lime Street Station, and not a model in any way.

 

The paintwork and weathering on the stone pillars and cobbles is spectacular.

[mullie]

Simply staggering modelling!

[iak]

Strewth!

Amazing!

Wibble!

[Steve Hewitt]

Sorry to disagree but for modelling of the highest order that will need the aroma of eau de urine emanating from the boxes!! That said they do look really really good.

Adrian,

That's the man in the street behind the Hotel.

Steve.

[Tony Teague]

The BRM show at Peterborough in October is your next chance

Steve

 

Just had a mailing from BRM about the Peterborough Show and noted that Lime Street is not listed as Exhibiting; have plans changed or have they made a, rather startling, omission???

See:

https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/shows/show/the-national-festival-of-railway-modelling/layouts

 

Tony

[New Haven Neil]

Adrian,

That's the man in the street behind the Hotel.

Steve.

I've just been laughing at this photo - I was almost arrested for doing exactly that, very near there, one night in 1977 whilst a student in Liverpool!  I hope at some time I can get to see this layout, it's not an easy trip for me!

[Steve Hewitt]

Steve

 

Just had a mailing from BRM about the Peterborough Show and noted that Lime Street is not listed as Exhibiting; have plans changed or have they made a, rather startling, omission???

See:

https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/shows/show/the-national-festival-of-railway-modelling/layouts

 

Tony

Hi Tony,

We've just had a team meeting at John's today, to familiarise us all with the developments and have a "shake down" of the changes.

John spoke with BRM over lunch, and we can confirm that we will be exhibiting at Peterborough.

 

Steve.

[Tony Teague]

Excellent news!

Tony

[Steve Hewitt]

Another few steps.....

 

The cabins John made - his first attempts at "Buildings" - to conceal the new cameras came back from Rob's paintshop:

 

 

During the last few months, Les has been making the many sections of the North Wall of the station. This is in line with the North Pillars supporting the Roof. (Which is the reason for the many separate pieces.) See the photos above.

These also visited Rob's paintshop before final installation.

One part of this North Wall contains the Station Master's Office, I believe.

With its many windows, it was a good candidate for some extra attention in the way of an interior.

Les produced that for this week's Team Meeting, and John has now installed it and fitted suitable lighting as seen above.

 

Steve.

 

 

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

This is absolutely incredible modelling! It's the kind of thing I wish I could do, but have neither the time, the experience or, if I'm honest, the patience! 

 

For me, having grown up on the other side of the world on the wrong side of the millennia, this is one of the closest things I can get to seeing what life was actually like back then 50+ years before I was born. Having never seen the real thing I can't say that it looks like it, however I have gone and had a look at some images just to see what it is, and it's absolutely spot on. Absolute first-rate modelling. Wish I could see it in person, but again am on the wrong side of the globe

 

Love the work, and look forward to more updates! 

 

Peter

 

*Edited for spelling*

Edited July 17, 2016 by 60012 Commonwealth of Australia

[Steve Hewitt]

Peter,

 

Thanks for your very kind comments.

Our team motto is "cos we can". Hope we live up to it.

 

We love taking the layout abroad, but Aus might be a little too far.

 

Steve.

[iak]

Strewth! :-)

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Peter,

 

Thanks for your very kind comments.

Our team motto is "cos we can". Hope we live up to it.

 

We love taking the layout abroad, but Aus might be a little too far.

 

Steve.

Yeah I thought so haha. I'm planning on eventually coming to the UK to study, or if I'm lucky to eventually become a resident so when I'm there in 5-10 years time (hopefully) I'll be able to see it in flesh! I don't doubt that it would be worth the wait!

 

Peter

[60012 Commonwealth of Australia]

Just a brief question about the Fulgurex point motors - 

What's your experience with them like, and how hard are they to wire up? I currently use DCC Concepts Cobalt point motors, however depending on the difficulty/skill level needed to wire up the Fulgurex motors, they would be far more convenient, and not only because of the space but also the price difference.

 

Thanks,

 

Peter