West Riding Terminus- Halifax Powell Street

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi folks,

 

Before I can continue with the ground cover at the turntable end of the yard I need to plant a small building- a basic workshop and stores with an attached lamp hut. I started planning the building with a paper mock-up before construction started using typical mounting card frame and slaters plastikard covering (both the interior and exterior). I used 7mm brick as I wanted a more coarse stone building instead of brick- this structure being one of the older buildings dating to LNWR days.   

 

 

 

 

For the interior of the store room I made some shelving and planted various clutter on them (the white 'angle brackets' have been painted with oily steel paint);

 

 

 

The door was made from balsa with an etched brass latch and notice;

 

 

The workshop was then fitted out with a wills kit- one I've had in my detailing draw for years now. Being a manufacturing engineer I love the level of detail on the lathe and pillar drill! All that remains on the interior is to add some tools from a wonderful severn models etched brass kit and a machine operator. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next is to add interior lighting, and then start work on the roof. When it has been planted in-situ I will then add the workshop doors (which I have mocked in the images below);

 

 

 

 

Once the above is complete I should then be able to extend the ground cover and I will then make a start on the bridge diving the layout in two. Lots to do though!

 

Thanks for reading,

Pete

 

Edited for bl**dy typos! 

Edited November 30, 2016 by BurscoughCurves

[Guest bri.s]

Excellent modelling,love the interior

 

Brian

[Alister_G]

That's some brilliant modelling Pete, it's really great, I love the interior detail, and particularly the workshop.

 

Al.

[SouthernBlue80s]

Love that interior. Spot on

[jwealleans]

Now you've made all that effort, I hope you'll be putting a couple of LEDs in there so it's visible.

[BurscoughCurves]

Thanks guys.

 

Yes I'll be illuminating it with my usual LED's. Can't wait to power all of the layout LED's at the same time as I have only tested them individually up to now.

 

Pete

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi people,

 

Hope you are all well and have had a good start to the year.

 

I was hoping to get more done over Christmas but had some decorating and over-eating to do! I had plenty of running sessions though- and one involved someone other than me for the first time. I acted as signalman for a friend on New Years Eve and I deny anyone to not enjoy shutting trains into a little terminus!

 

I have added a second power bus for the lighting circuit, and a piece of terminal block plus resistor to all of the current LED's (and 6 bulbs) on the layout. I haven't adjusted the resistor values to balance the light output yet- the platform lamps and too bright compared to a very dimly lit shed! I will adjust these in time. I also wired in the DCC Concepts red tail lamps to the buffers of the platform roads. Again- these look quite bright at the moment.

 

 

I was absolutely gutted to find that not all of the station LED's were illuminated- I am such an idiot and forgot how I wired the various LED's on the station building. So I have sealed the building in place permanently and must have two wires I failed to drill a hole through the baseboard for stuck behind somewhere!!! I'm so cross about this!

 

 

I am going to try fishing for the wires through a tiny gap between the back-scene and building but this is optimistic. I then need to decide whether I tear it away from the platform to find them or just live with it. I think I'll end up doing the former as it will bug me with them not lit up.

 

Please find various images below of the illuminated layout so far (mainly station area), again the brightness's will be adjusted soon.

 

Thanks,

Pete

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scottystitch]

A lovely and atmospheric set of shots there. My favourite is the third one, very realistic with the lighting glinting off the rails.

 

Such a shame about the building lights, not because they aren't lit, but more because you know it will eat away at you if you don't try to save the situation. Easy done really, so try not to be too hard on yourself. I'm sure you'll arrive at a beneficial solution. Keep us posted!

 

Thanks for sharing!

Edited January 22, 2017 by scottystitch

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi all,

 

I managed to fix my stupid wiring error! It was bugging me too much (although the lamps themselves don't add too much light) so I tried my fishing for loose wires method behind the building- to no avail. This method would never work because I had completely forgotten to solder any flying leads to the circuit of 3 off LED's and a resistor. I just got away with prising the right hand end of the building away from the wall to create a slight gap behind. I then drilled a hole from the underside of the baseboard and passed two wires into the gap behind. I then soldered crocodile clips to these wires and clipped them to the circuit by holding them in long nose pliers. After a successful test (and a lot of relief!) I pushed the building back into position and as I had sealed it in place with plaster, the join isn't very visible. I may bed this back in place in the future.

 

 

 

There is an LED in the phone box but it needs a lower value resistor as it can barely be seen at the moment! Another task I did over Christmas was to add passengers to my Bachmann Derby lightweight DMU. I should have checked before re-assembly but the passengers all appear to be sitting a little high- their heads are just below the window bars. What do you think? I could cut more away from the passengers (there will only be torso left if I do this) when I come to add destination boards.

 

 

 

A low quality smokey image I quite liked;

 

 

Finally a few images of the finished exterior of the workshop;

 

 

 

 

Thanks all,

Pete

[mark axlecounter]

Hi Pete ,

Sorry for the vast amounts of ratings but I have just been in the back ground until now. That is some layout, it has the feel of Yorkshire keep up the good work. 

 

Mark

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi folks,

 

Well i'm having a very hectic time in work lately and nothing relaxes me more than spending a few hours on the layout- operating or building. I have continued with the MPD ground cover, finishing the area around the turntable. As you will see in some of the photos- I have started testing potential 'clutter' including barrels and random pipework (I haven't decided on any positioning yet). I have also completed the 'near-side' section of retaining wall which I feel encloses the layout quite well. 

 

I also bought a new loco- a TMC weathered Austerity WD 2-8-0. I have admired these for a long time and have been saving up for one for some time now. I'm very happy with it and just need to add some crew and tools to the tool carrier.

 

I have also started working on an operating time-table. I find it can be a little overwhelming just running random locos and trains but had a great session based on simple schedule. Starting with early morning parcel traffic, then onto main line expresses, followed by locals (including a DMU service) and freight- I haven't got any further than this yet though. It seems to add a new dimension to running the layout.

 

Anyhow, please find the images below, thanks for reading.

 

Pete

 

Ps. thanks for the comment and likes Mark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[westerner]

I've said it before but I do like a slightly run down urban terminus.

[AireValley1962]

Pete, I always look forward to seeing any updates from Halifax Powell Street. Very nice WD too.

 

Cheers,

William

[great northern]

This is coming on most impressively Pete, and I can tell you one thing for sure. Dave Shakespeare would have loved it!  There are some great atmospheric shots there.

 

Do go for an operating sequence. It adds purpose and interest, and a lot of satisfaction. It also helps when planning any additions to stock, whether locos coaches or wagons.

[d winpenny]

Looking great

 

David

[BurscoughCurves]

Thanks for the positive comments gents.

 

When it comes to Northern grot, you couldn't get any higher praise than from Mr Shakespeare!

 

I will be following your advice on removable train storage trays soon Gilbert. I am planning on extending the FY sidings and making the near side one removable. This will definitely aid the operating sequences.

 

Pete

Edited February 28, 2017 by BurscoughCurves

[great northern]

Thanks for the positive comments gents.

 

When it comes to Northern grot, you couldn't get any higher praise than from Mr Shakespeare!

 

I will be following your advice on removable train storage trays soon Gilbert. I am planning on extending the FY sidings and making the near side one removable. This will definitely aid the operating sequences.

 

Pete

 If I can help at all Pete, just ask.

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi folks,

 

Managed to continue with the ground cover of the MPD and am happy with the initial covering so far. I need to concentrate on the detailing next as it looks very bare. That being said I don't plan to cram too much into the area as I want it to be slightly desolate.

 

A mixture of filler plus earth brown acrylic paint provided the base covering, sanded when dry. This was coated with PVA and then covered with a mixture of fine brown earth powder mixed with ash ballast. The areas next to the tracks then had black weathering powder liberally applied. I then covered certain areas with static grass and fine turf foam. I have kept the colours fairly subdued as I don't want a summer scene full of bright greens! 

 

On the coaling & ash road I made small lumps of DAS clay and covered them with ash. Under this area I inlayed a piece of narrow gauge track for an ash hopper. I'm not sure whether a shed of this size would have had a facility such as this but I really wanted to feature it for some reason! From the Manchester show I bought an OO9 gauge hopper which I have built, painted a rusty colour and filled with ash.

 

I think I may be going a bit far towards an 'end of steam' look as the layout is currently mid 50's but I i'm happy with the look so far.

 

I do need to give the shed access roads a good scrub as there is still some crunching under the loco wheels!

 

Please excuse the poorly fitted/missing shed roof; 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up after the detailing is the bridge across the centre of the layout. Again- this is not a public road but for access to the off-scene goods yard.

 

Thanks for reading,

Pete

 

 

[AireValley1962]

Dem fine work again, Pete. I feel the need to build an MPD now........

[BurscoughCurves]

Hi People,

 

I have a few photos to share- but haven't actually got much modelling to show for it!

 

I added some crew and cab detail to my WD which was a little bare compared to more recent models. I made up a cab floor out of checker plate and also a wooden one from balsa. The checker plate one looked a little coarse so I went with the wood- I couldn't find any images of a WD cab floor. I also added some seats, a hose from 0.8mm wire wrapped in a single strand from mains cable, some more copper pipes from copper wire and a brew pot as per a photo I have in one of my books;

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also had a good clear up and bought a storage unit from Ikea (for about £35). I saw one on another members thread but can't remember whose- sorry but thanks for the inspiration! It has made a lot of difference and I can reference my books much more easily now. I also re-discovered my MGR plate bought at Crewe under all my mess, I will mount it somewhere eventually!

 

 

 

 

 

And now to the most frustrating modelling project I have ever started... Signals! I bought x2 Ratio LNWR lower quadrant signal kits to make up some starter signals with smaller arms below for releasing light engines. The main parts went together easily enough- although I find the instructions pretty useless. I bought some micro LED's and have drilled out the lamps to illuminate the signal arms. Drilling through the lenses (I did try cutting the whole lens area out although this was impossible due to the thin flimsy plastic) I filled to hole with glue n'glaze glue which dries clear and coloured them with red and green sharpie pens.

 

 

 

 

 

Now for the infuriating bit- the tiny linkages. I intend to use servos to control the signals so I can trim them appropriately (I hope!). The plastic angled cranks were impossible to mount and connect without breaking them so I bought an Alan Gibson etch with ideal etched brass replacements. I opened the holes up on these with a 0.4mm drill and made connecting rods out of a guitar string. Aligning these up takes huge amounts of patience! Some photos of the above;

 

 

 

 

 

 

The linkages for the main signals are at the front of the signal, and I plan on actuating the smaller arms from the rear. I have made a shaft and bush out of copper tubes which mate finely to try to reduce the play. I have connected a small arm to this assembly and glued it into position. More agonizing linkage work to follow... then I need to make a second one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading,

Pete 

 

[danstercivicman]

Very nice! Great looking layout!

[AireValley1962]

Hardly anything to show? - I would beg to differ, Pete! It's looking good, and you seem to have solved a few problems too.

 

Cheers,

William

[danstercivicman]

Just out of interest- what is the radius of the curves going into the fiddleyard?

 

Your layout is very impressive and I'm in awe of your skill!

[George Hudson]

Everytime I revisit this thread I am highly impressed with BOTH progress and quality.

 

BTW those wagon plates look great over restored although I know some people would prefer them in their authentic grimy glory.

 

Andrew

 

[BurscoughCurves]

Love that plate Andrew! I would imagine yours has a lot more value than mine- it cost a few pounds from Crewe Herritage Centre but I still really like it!

 

Thanks for the comments though folks.

 

Danstercivicman- I'll have to check my scarm plan but I seem to remember it being somewhere between 2nd & 3rd radius.

 

Pete