aberdare Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 (edited) After following a few threads on here I thought it was about time I made a start. I have yet to replace my garage (old asbestos) which has a distinct lean with a newer workshop (20x10ft) some time next year. In the meantime I have started on the branch terminus as a friend has kindly offered to house it during the destruction and erection of the aforementioned buildings.A brief history of eventsI first stared this layout (MkI) back in 1978 and got both stations and some buildings in place before changing jobs and of course house causing it to be scrapped in 1984. It was started again in 2003 only to be stopped again the following year for yet another job/house move. I moved with it twice more until taking early retirement to become a carer and downsizing in 2010 when it was scrapped again. So here we are with the final version - I am not moving again.The startAs I need all my savings for the new shed I started the layout on some old doors and have got some track laid to the following state so far.I have been comparing the laid track with early photographs to try and get the correct alignment with the original station. Believe me it has been moved and re-pinned several times despite having a grid system to get positions correct to my drawing. I also made a couple of temporary sheds and a platform to help in getting the correct positions.Hopefully I have captured the lay of the tracks well including the sharp curves. Next job is to complete the track laying to what was the old butter factory and cottages beyond the station, then chop out the river. I will leave some of the scenic details until next year when it has a permanent home and I can cover the join.References are from several books including;GWR branch terminus Vol 2 - Paul KarauBranch lines around Tiverton - Middleton PressCulm Valley light Railway - Michael Messengerand of course http://hemyock.org/m...070125171009335I hope the link works as It is the first time I have tried it!Jim Edited March 18, 2018 by aberdare 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JohnR Posted August 27, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 27, 2012 I think you've captured the station really well there, Jim. The engine shed and the coach shed look a bit close to each other, but obviously space is an issue. Dont forget "The Culm Valley Light Railway" by Colin G. Maggs, published by Oakwood press. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Culm-Valley-Light-Railway-Locomotion/dp/0853616523/ - an excellent book. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aberdare Posted August 27, 2012 Author Share Posted August 27, 2012 Hi John Thanks for that,I was hoping it looked something like it. The two sheds aren't really that close as there is a gap between them, I think the end on photos make it look as if they are touching. Space is not really an issue as it is 11ft long and around 30inches wide, I may have to compare it to pictures in other books I have and adjust before a permanent fix is made. I have seen the book you mention and may buy it as even one extra photo could be useful, I have been tempted a couple of times. Thanks for reminding me. Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold nickwood Posted August 28, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 28, 2012 Hi Jim A good start to a great subject. The relationship between the engine shed and Carriage shed looks about right to me. Iain Rice included a plan of Hemyock in his book on Layout Design and they were quite close to each other. You appear to have planty of space for scenic development and it should make a wonderful layout. I look forward to seeing more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john flann Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Hi, Hemyock has always attracted me and I think the book that will assist you is GWR Branch Line Album, VolumeTwo, by Paul Karau. Oxford Publishing ISBN 0 686093 018 1 Excellent plans, photographs and working details. I commend it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted August 29, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 29, 2012 Good luck with this. When you finally get the workshop, Tiverton Jct is a fascinating station (particularly pre 1930s rebuild) and will make a really interesting model. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aberdare Posted August 29, 2012 Author Share Posted August 29, 2012 Nick Thanks for your comment and I hope it lives up to my expectations too, you always have an idea of want you want it to look like but achieving it is another matter. I will probably extend some of the scenery in places once it is permanent as I always feel it gives it atmosphere, I will just do my best and see what happens. John Yes you are right that is a good book and one of the ones I am working from (I listed the title wrong in my first post - oops). Thanks for commenting and I hope I can capture the feel of it that makes it so attractive. Progress today. I had a bit more time than usual today so got 'stuck in' literally. All the track has now been fixed except for the two shed lines to allow final adjustment when they are built. The final end of the factory line has also been left until I work on that end. The river has also been cut out as far as the road bridge. After doing the final adjustments I couldn't resist taking this shot to see if it matched the one in the book, it just needs the driver and not my temporary branch engine. Which should look like this http://www.disused-s...k/index34.shtml Jim Hi Joseph, just seen your comment come through as I was writing. Yes, I am looking forward to doing the Junction as it will be the main focus of the layout, I've got an awful lot of kits to build as well to get all the stock. It looks as if I'll be busy for many years yet. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coombe Barton Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 If you can ever visit Coldharbour Mill at Uffculme you'll find an 'every station and halt' model of the branch. The car park to the mill is on the site of Coldharbour Halt, and you can walk the line into Uffculme along the footpath. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisis Rail Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 After following a few threads on here I thought it was about time I made a start. I have yet to replace my garage (old asbestos) which has a distinct lean with a newer workshop (20x10ft) some time next year. In the meantime I have started on the branch terminus as a friend has kindly offered to house it during the destruction and erection of the aforementioned buildings. A brief history of events I first stared this layout (MkI) back in 1978 and got both stations and some buildings in place before changing jobs and of course house causing it to be scrapped in 1984. It was started again in 2003 only to be stopped again the following year for yet another job/house move. I moved with it twice more until taking early retirement to become a carer and downsizing in 2010 when it was scrapped again. So here we are with the final version - I am not moving again. The start As I need all my savings for the new shed I started the layout on some old doors and have got some track laid to the following state so far. I have been comparing the laid track with early photographs to try and get the correct alignment with the original station. Believe me it has been moved and re-pinned several times despite having a grid system to get positions correct to my drawing. I also made a couple of temporary sheds and a platform to help in getting the correct positions. Hopefully I have captured the lay of the tracks well including the sharp curves. Next job is to complete the track laying to what was the old butter factory and cottages beyond the station, then chop out the river. I will leave some of the scenic details until next year when it has a permanent home and I can cover the join. References are from several books including; GWR branch terminus Vol 2 - Paul Karau Branch lines around Tiverton - Middleton Press Culm Valley light Railway - Michael Messenger and of course http://hemyock.org/m...070125171009335 I hope the link works as It is the first time I have tried it! Jim Nice strategically placed mug Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JohnR Posted August 29, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 29, 2012 If you can ever visit Coldharbour Mill at Uffculme you'll find an 'every station and halt' model of the branch. The car park to the mill is on the site of Coldharbour Halt, and you can walk the line into Uffculme along the footpath. Is that still there? When we lived in Uffculme 5 years ago, the Mill was looking at removing the layout. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coombe Barton Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Is that still there? When we lived in Uffculme 5 years ago, the Mill was looking at removing the layout. It was there last year, May time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aberdare Posted August 29, 2012 Author Share Posted August 29, 2012 If you can ever visit Coldharbour Mill at Uffculme you'll find an 'every station and halt' model of the branch. The car park to the mill is on the site of Coldharbour Halt, and you can walk the line into Uffculme along the footpath. Luckily I visited this in 2002 before venturing on MkII. It was closed to the public at the time but when I got talking to a member of staff I was allowed a private viewing, can't remember what happened to all my old photos though. Nice strategically placed mug. I thought so too, sadly missing from the later post when I had my tea in a plain red one then used it to weigh the track down while it set. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisis Rail Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Yes - stopped in Hemyock at the Castle SC apartments a long while back - a good holiday - was there a connection with the St Ivel Creamery - Works? - I recall some sort of Branch Line...... ....remember a first visit to Beer when there (1995) and the excellent PECORAMA Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aberdare Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 Yes - stopped in Hemyock at the Castle SC apartments a long while back - a good holiday - was there a connection with the St Ivel Creamery - Works? - I recall some sort of Branch Line...... ....remember a first visit to Beer when there (1995) and the excellent PECORAMA I've not been to Beer since 1984 when I went for a management job at Peco, got down to the last three then it was postponed because of poor sales due to the home computer boom. When I was invited back down again I had already moved on, Oh well, what could have been - certainly not a 27 year break from the hobby. On my visit to Hemyock there was nothing left to see except a building site. Hoping to get some work down around the Cattle dock area this weekend before next weeks heavy schedule of the wifes appointments which will slow things up. Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aberdare Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 I have managed to spend a bit of time on building the Cattle dock during the evenings as I need this to get the correct position for the road and bridge over the river. Here is a brief update of progress so far. The Cattle dock was made from a block of MDF and covered in some thick paper stones - these are all parts from my wifes scrap box from when she built Dolls Houses, I cut the stones to random sizes and fixed them individually. It took some time. The colour was already painted onto the stones when I found the paper. The stones were then bent around the corners and fixed. After a few painstaking hours I have this. It was then time to sort out the sleeper made ramp that leads to the dock and again I discovered some balsa wood scraps in the box and made them from those. These were fitted to a cardboard frame and all glued to the dock itself. Colouring was by using some creosote substitute that was knocking about in the shed - well it is what would have been used isn't it. I did have to leave it outdoors for a bit though. I hope to get a bit more colouring complete and then move on to the dock rails and the groundwork on the base of the pen as and when I get time. Hopefully after Friday I am hoping to have a bit more time. Jim 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold nickwood Posted September 5, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 5, 2012 That looks really good Jim. What have you used for the mortar on the stonework? The balsa ramp looks good too but maybe consider coffee stirrers next time, they are a great source of FREE timber for models. I'm looking forward to seeing more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aberdare Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 Hi Nick Thanks for the comment. The mortar is just the base of the wood with a diluted matt white wash, it depends on how much light is on it as to how white it looks which you can see when I used the flash. I think it looks enough like lime mortar to pass. I did look at using coffee stirrers as I have loads but they were a bit too wide and didn't absorb the creosote so well. I tested them first to compare results and to check if the stain dissolved the glue I used, obviously it did not, which I was pleased about. I hope to spend the best part of a day on it this weekend all being well. Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post aberdare Posted September 16, 2012 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 16, 2012 Another update on progress. The Cattle dock has moved on and most of the construction is complete. The gates have been constructed and are ready to fit,I just need to make some hinges and gate latches. I will try and make the gates open and close as this will give different photo opportunities in the future. With the gates in place it will look something like this. There just remains some cleaning up, followed by some dirtying up and then more grass mud and fencing down the ramp. Hmmm, still a lot to do then! As for the layout itself I have formed the river bank, added texture to the meadow on the south side of the river and created an earth effect (real dirt) before adding grass fibres. The Mill race has also been cut toward the position of the butter factory and an extension added to the front of the board so the river can swing around the position of the cattle dock, which could be added soon. Areas of the track have also been ballasted and the rails painted rust. The retaining boards for the river bank that sat along the platform line are currently being made. Hopefully the next photos should clarify this. Overall view - looking east through the station toward the butter factory position. The retaining wall or planks General view looking west I hope to progress a bit further before it gets too cold. As I can only work in here during the day to maximise what light I can get without resorting to a battery of lamps around me I am running out of time as the nights draw in. You'd think the lights would keep me warm but believe me there are so many gaps in this old garage the draughts appear from every direction, helps with the drying though, just shows there is an upside to everything. 25 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john flann Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Jim, you are capturing the magic of Hemyock and it's a pity the 'outside' working conditions prevent progress there. But looking forward to indoor work on the buildings.. Regards, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium DLT Posted September 16, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 16, 2012 Very good looking layout John, and nice to see Hemyock modelled in its original form. Will you be modelling the various odd weird and wonderful locos that ran in its early days? All the best, Dave.T Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aberdare Posted September 16, 2012 Author Share Posted September 16, 2012 Jim, you are capturing the magic of Hemyock and it's a pity the 'outside' working conditions prevent progress there. But looking forward to indoor work on the buildings.. Regards, Thanks John I am sure there will be odd days when I will get out there even if it is to fit the odd thing or two. I will be carrying on with all the buildings over the winter and hope to have them all completed by the spring. Very good looking layout John, and nice to see Hemyock modelled in its original form. Will you be modelling the various odd weird and wonderful locos that ran in its early days? All the best, Dave.T Thanks Dave I always wanted to model in its early form and of course will use the trees that overhung the station, a good a backdrop as any. But that has just reminded me that could be another winter time job. As for the rolling stock I will want to make the engines, starting with 1300 with a straight backed bunker and open cab. I just need to practice my loco building skills again on a number of unfinished kits. In the meantime I will use a Metro tank which I hope to modify and my Ratio 4 wheelers plus a few brass kits i have had for 30 odd years. I have made a start on the platform - for the third time, didn't like the first two - and hope to have this in place so I can complete the ballasting etc between the platform and the river bank retaining boards (completed today). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post aberdare Posted September 26, 2012 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 26, 2012 Progress has been a little slow over the last week or so as often happens here but I have managed a few things. The cattle dock has now got its hinges to allow me to model different scenarios when I want to though I still have some latches to make for the gates when I have decided how to do it. No weathering was done as I had to repair a few panels after a slip of the knife wiped them out while making a final adjustment, why do we do it when in the grand scheme of things it would not have been noticeable anyway. But we do. Platform (version 3) has now progressed but there are still a couple of things I am not happy about and I will address these next before going any further with it. I placed them on the layout for a few more pictures. An overalll view of the two in position. A closer view showing the bank retaining boards and some varnish to the river bed. Oh and the first bits of grass. Looking back up the river to the cattle dock A closer look at the boards which I hope are a good enough to show weathered boards that are south facing, as some of you probably know I am colour blind so I might see different colours to you! feel free to comment as I would hate to think there are some weird indescribable colour. A vew looking down the river past the cattle dock. After making the alterations to the platform I hope to pave it - I haven't decided what with yet as I make it up as I go along depending on what I have in my scrap box that is the closest to what I need. It looks like it will be individual stones again like the platform edge. Then it will be on to the station building and finishing other bits that are ongoing, I prefer to do what I feel like doing at the time as there are times when I seem to have no co-ordination at all, as when I virtually destroyed the cattle dock. I hope to have some more updates in a couple of weeks. 23 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Physicsman Posted September 26, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 26, 2012 Hi Jim. I followed your link after your post on KL. You are doing a super job here! The river area looks great. Layouts dominated by scenery are my cup-of-tea, so I think I'll be posting regularly from now on! Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold nickwood Posted September 26, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 26, 2012 You've made some rapid progress there Jim. Most of the photographs I've seen of Hemyock are taken over the river and it looks like you are recreating this admirably. A very spacious feel. I like it a lot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aberdare Posted September 27, 2012 Author Share Posted September 27, 2012 Hi Jim. I followed your link after your post on KL. You are doing a super job here! The river area looks great. Layouts dominated by scenery are my cup-of-tea, so I think I'll be posting regularly from now on! Jeff Thanks Jeff I have to admit I like the scenic part as well especially on a prototype model as it brings it to life and the surroundings are usually as recognisable as parts of the station itself. The only scenery I had made before was the river and some trees on Mk 1 so it is a whole big new adventure for me. I try and use whatever materials I can find at home as I need to keep the costs down until the new garage is paid for and even then I will still do it as cheaply as possible, there are a lot of kits I would still like to buy instead. I think the reason I like scenery so much is that when I started out all those years ago I was greatly influenced by such layouts as Buckingham and Pendon. Jim You've made some rapid progress there Jim. Most of the photographs I've seen of Hemyock are taken over the river and it looks like you are recreating this admirably. A very spacious feel. I like it a lot. Thanks Nick Rapid! I'm glad you think so, to my mind I felt I should have done more, which I would have done if I hadn't had to rebuild the dock through clumsiness and build the platform three times because I wasn't happy. Mind you looking back at the pictures it is moving along nicely, maybe I had time to hand-build track after all as it was my original intention to build everything. But, I am happy with the appearance so far as I want the overall effect to please not just one single item which is why I was impressed by your own work so much. Well that's 1 sq ft almost done, only 34 more to go. Thanks again Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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