Speke East Sidings - Minimum Space Modern N Gauge

[Timmy84]

Hi all,

 

So it's been a few months since my last proper update and there have been a few reasons for that.

 

Work has been very busy but in better news, we have secured a house purchase. This should, in the longer term provide space for a much larger layout in the future!

 

This has led me to rethink my stock collection as on a larger layout I will be able to run prototypical longer trains, notably opening up coal as a commodity. This, and the release of the Farish JMAs and announcement of Revolution Cawoods PFAs has led me to commit long term to a Merseyside based stock plan. Whilst there's a few excellent Warrington/WCML layouts about I don't think I have seen a Liverpool based layout and away from the mainline in from Runcorn to Lime Street it is a very different and characteristic scene so I have been enjoying researching and planning. Expect trains emerging from Liverpool Docks, Northern Rail units and perhaps even a bit of the semaphore signalled low level line to Fiddlers Ferry. There's lots of options and in the meantime the stock will compliment Speke East.

 

With the house move new stock will have to be funded by sales and I have a few listings on ebay at the moment for anyone interested. Here's a link that should take you to the right place.... There will be more in the future but I will tweak the collection as time permits. Apologies for the shameless advertising!  

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/egglad7/m.html?item=133549762412&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

 

Anyway - on to some modelling. I have been weathering some Revolution KFAs and I hope that I have done them justice. As with the cargowaggon twins some courage had to be summoned to get started!

 

 

 

After careful study of pictures some interesting patterns take shape on the decks of these wagons that I have tried to capture. I have also modelled a mixture of wagons that have had all or part of the sides cleaned and those that are filthy all over, as per prototype pictures.

 

 

 

As ever would appreciate constructive feedback as I try new things. They were certainly not just a case of firing dirt at them!

 

Take care everyone.

 

Tim.

 

 

[DavidMcKenzie]

9 minutes ago, Timmy84 said:

Hi all,

 

So it's been a few months since my last proper update and there have been a few reasons for that.

 

Work has been very busy but in better news, we have secured a house purchase. This should, in the longer term provide space for a much larger layout in the future!

 

This has led me to rethink my stock collection as on a larger layout I will be able to run prototypical longer trains, notably opening up coal as a commodity. This, and the release of the Farish JMAs and announcement of Revolution Cawoods PFAs has led me to commit long term to a Merseyside based stock plan. Whilst there's a few excellent Warrington/WCML layouts about I don't think I have seen a Liverpool based layout and away from the mainline in from Runcorn to Lime Street it is a very different and characteristic scene so I have been enjoying researching and planning. Expect trains emerging from Liverpool Docks, Northern Rail units and perhaps even a bit of the semaphore signalled low level line to Fiddlers Ferry. There's lots of options and in the meantime the stock will compliment Speke East.

 

With the house move new stock will have to be funded by sales and I have a few listings on ebay at the moment for anyone interested. Here's a link that should take you to the right place.... There will be more in the future but I will tweak the collection as time permits. Apologies for the shameless advertising!  

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/egglad7/m.html?item=133549762412&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

 

Anyway - on to some modelling. I have been weathering some Revolution KFAs and I hope that I have done them justice. As with the cargowaggon twins some courage had to be summoned to get started!

 

 

 

After careful study of pictures some interesting patterns take shape on the decks of these wagons that I have tried to capture. I have also modelled a mixture of wagons that have had all or part of the sides cleaned and those that are filthy all over, as per prototype pictures.

 

 

 

As ever would appreciate constructive feedback as I try new things. They were certainly not just a case of firing dirt at them!

 

Take care everyone.

 

Tim.

 

 

Hi Tim,

 

Congratulations on the house. Sounds like a brilliant idea for a layout as well. Will you be posting developments somewhere online?

 

The KFAs look good. I am by no means am expert, but I've found it useful to do a final very light and thinned coat of generic dirt/grime over the full wagon as a last step when doing a rust pattern or any weathering that stands out like the more pronounced 'red rust' patterns at the ends of your KFAs. I found it just made the wagon look more complete as a whole and not allow any single weathering feature to stand out and draw too much attention. If you do have a go at this, make sure you start with a very light coat. Your weathering so far looks really good and I wouldn't want my advice to push you to over do it and ruin it. 

 

All the best,

Dave

[Timmy84]

34 minutes ago, DavidMcKenzie said:

Hi Tim,

 

Congratulations on the house. Sounds like a brilliant idea for a layout as well. Will you be posting developments somewhere online?

 

The KFAs look good. I am by no means am expert, but I've found it useful to do a final very light and thinned coat of generic dirt/grime over the full wagon as a last step when doing a rust pattern or any weathering that stands out like the more pronounced 'red rust' patterns at the ends of your KFAs. I found it just made the wagon look more complete as a whole and not allow any single weathering feature to stand out and draw too much attention. If you do have a go at this, make sure you start with a very light coat. Your weathering so far looks really good and I wouldn't want my advice to push you to over do it and ruin it. 

 

All the best,

Dave

Hi Dave,

 

Yeah a really good point. On the real thing there is often a shade of rust in this area. I attempted to recreate it with some powder which I don't often use and it does create quite a strong effect.

 

I have already sprayed over this to blend it but on the photos it does still look quite prominent. I don't think it's as bad to the naked eye.

 

I will of course be updating on future projects but the layout itself maybe a year or two away as I will have to prepare the garage to house it. Could be up to 18 feet available though so exciting stuff. I also need to thoroughly research building a larger layout in an outbuilding successfully!

 

In the meantime all the stock can appear on Speke East.

 

Tim.

[Timmy84]

Here's a couple more snaps of the KFAs. Excuse the clean containers - they are next on the list!

 

 

 

Tim.

 

[Timmy84]

Hi all,

 

I hope everyone is OK and surviving lockdown 2.0.

 

I have been tinkering with some more intermodal wagons and containers.  I've built up a small collection now that includes the KFAs, Megafrets, FEA-B spine wagons and FIA twin sets. All the wagons and all but a couple of containers have now been weathered.

 

I am looking to build up two rakes. One will be deep sea containers that will form trains from Garston/Seaforth and another shorter rake carrying domestic containers being ferried between Seaforth and Ditton/Arpley. There is some great inspiration on the excellent 8A rail website that covers all things Merseyside and the shorter rake will replicate the picture below. The rake will be loco + 1 x megafret twin + 3 x KFA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second rake is not quite long enough yet but is currently 1 x FIA twin, 1 x KFA and 2 x FEA-B twins. 

 

I note C-Rail are producing the FSA quad sets and one of these will be ideal. The train doesn't need to be mega long as it will likely be 47/57 hauled on occasion. I think from their website you have to pay upfront though which I don't want to do at the moment.

 

I've got a few more shots to upload in the coming days as I can only do 10mb at a time.

 

Tim.

 

 

[Timmy84]

Intermodal Update number 2.

 

Here are some of the KFAs and FEA-B twinsets on a Crewe to Seaforth service, waiting it's path at Speke East.

 

[DavidMcKenzie]

42 minutes ago, Timmy84 said:

Intermodal Update number 2.

 

Here are some of the KFAs and FEA-B twinsets on a Crewe to Seaforth service, waiting it's path at Speke East.

 

Another brilliant set of photos Tim. That 47 looks right at home at the front of the intermodal rake. Always nice to see a loco thats been modified and personalized. it's highly unlikely that it exist like that anywhere else in the n gauge community. 

 

Thanks for posting, always motivating to see what can be achieved in a reasonably small space with some imagination. All the pictures look as if they are part of a gigantic layout (or the real thing). 

 

All the best,

Dave

[LDM34046]

Scrolling through from the start of the layout love progress and attention to detail! In some shots it's hard to think that it's N gauge! 

 

Well Done!

[Timmy84]

6 hours ago, DavidMcKenzie said:

Another brilliant set of photos Tim. That 47 looks right at home at the front of the intermodal rake. Always nice to see a loco thats been modified and personalized. it's highly unlikely that it exist like that anywhere else in the n gauge community. 

 

Thanks for posting, always motivating to see what can be achieved in a reasonably small space with some imagination. All the pictures look as if they are part of a gigantic layout (or the real thing). 

 

All the best,

Dave

no code 40 track though Dave! I am watching with interest...

 

thanks as ever for the encouragement.

[shanks522]

Hi Tim 

 

 As ever the stock is looking excellent! Very envious of the 47, just how I remember them. 
 

graham 

[njee20]

Gave to agree, lovely job on those intermodal rakes. 

[Clagmeister]

Excellent work.

[DavidLong]

16 hours ago, Timmy84 said:

no code 40 track though Dave! I am watching with interest...

 

thanks as ever for the encouragement.

And don't you hold back on the Code 40, Tim. The rest of your modelling deserves it!

 

David

[Steadfast]

Lovely weathering on those container flats Tim. Tempting me to get distracted from all my other on the go projects and crack out my flats and the air brush. Hmmm!

 

Jo

[Timmy84]

4 hours ago, Steadfast said:

Lovely weathering on those container flats Tim. Tempting me to get distracted from all my other on the go projects and crack out my flats and the air brush. Hmmm!

 

Jo

Thanks Jo.

 

I've enjoyed them actually. At first glance they are simple wagons but some of the new models have so much detail. The megafrets in particular were quite challenging due to all the nooks and crannies. I spent a while on some of the tanks under the deck and then went and stuck a container over the top! Oh well, at least I know the detail was there....

 

My top tip is to prime them first. Because it's basically a respray due to the fact that in real life they are bear no resemblance to their original colour schemes, you need something for the muck shades to adhere to and give the nice matt, consistent finish. On the KFAs I used masking to create variations on the deck but got a more subtle result dry brushing some marks on the FEA-Bs. I used an excellent specialist dry brush obtained from games workshop.

 

Tim.

[Steadfast]

Hi Tim,

Yeah I've been there too with spending ages on detail then covering it up! My megafret pair should in theory be loaded so the brake detail can be seen, but we'll see what happens!

In a similar style, I tend to matt varnish stuff before weathering, which as well as giving a nice matt surface for the weathering to grip onto also prevents accidentally removing the printing with thinners, though a lot of wagons aren't as grubby as the container flats! I hadn't thought of dry brushing for the marks across the deck, I'll have to experiment with that, see if I can get my dry brushing neat enough!

 

Jo

[Timmy84]

3 hours ago, Steadfast said:

Hi Tim,

Yeah I've been there too with spending ages on detail then covering it up! My megafret pair should in theory be loaded so the brake detail can be seen, but we'll see what happens!

In a similar style, I tend to matt varnish stuff before weathering, which as well as giving a nice matt surface for the weathering to grip onto also prevents accidentally removing the printing with thinners, though a lot of wagons aren't as grubby as the container flats! I hadn't thought of dry brushing for the marks across the deck, I'll have to experiment with that, see if I can get my dry brushing neat enough!

 

Jo

Just clicked on the Steadfast Models link - at some point in the future I will be in touch for some HTA graffiti!

 

Tim.

[Timmy84]

Intermodal update number 3.

 

Some different FEA-Bs on this rake and a new angle on the layout I experimented with.

 

 

 

Tim.

[Steadfast]

44 minutes ago, Timmy84 said:

Just clicked on the Steadfast Models link - at some point in the future I will be in touch for some HTA graffiti!

 

Tim.

Thanks Tim,

Glad you like what you've seen!

 

Jo

[Revolution Ben]

Hi Tim,

 

Great job weathering all the stock, but especially the KFAs.

 

You mentioned the Cawoods coal container flats - they are a signature Liverpool Docks wagon.  In case you’re interested the first samples are going to be featured in a Facebook Live next Tuesday.

cheers

 

Ben A.

[Timmy84]

9 hours ago, Ben A said:

Hi Tim,

 

Great job weathering all the stock, but especially the KFAs.

 

You mentioned the Cawoods coal container flats - they are a signature Liverpool Docks wagon.  In case you’re interested the first samples are going to be featured in a Facebook Live next Tuesday.

cheers

 

Ben A.

 

Cheers Ben.

 

They are fantastic wagons and the weathering takes them to the next level. I was also really happy with the IZAs I posted earlier in the thread.

 

I had been musing Liverpool as an option for a bigger layout project for the future and the Cawoods and Farish JMA sealed the deal. Finally I may actually need 8 Class 60s! It's so important to have wagons available that allow modellers to create time and place and the revolution range has really improved this in N Gauge so thanks for all your hard work.

 

Look forward to the update (which no doubt I will watch on "catch up" as I am always too disorganised to catch them live!).

 

Tim. 

[rob D2]

Nicely done wagons !

[njee20]

 

15 hours ago, Steadfast said:

Yeah I've been there too with spending ages on detail then covering it up! My megafret pair should in theory be loaded so the brake detail can be seen, but we'll see what happens!

I agree it always seems a shame to cover all the detail on container wagons! I've got a CAD file for FKA flats, and I've cheated and gone for a solid deck to save effort! Ought to run a pair off the printer.

[Timmy84]

Final intermodal update! EWS service headed up by a FIA twinset loaded with 40 foot "high-cube" containers. This local service between Ditton and Arpley has run round at Speke East.

 

Thanks for all the comments and likes over the recent days. It really helps with motivation.

 

 

 

Tim.

[Timmy84]

The first Sunday working in a while. Engineering work around Warrington means that a coal set from the Fiddlers Ferry circuit will start from Speke East in the morning. At dusk, 60054 is in charge of a loaded set arriving from Liverpool Bulk Terminal ready to continue to the power station first thing.