Gallows Close Posted December 7, 2020 Share Posted December 7, 2020 On 05/12/2020 at 18:07, HeatonLodge40 said: Been rather a stressful week I don’t mind admitting. It’s been at the back of my mind for some time - given the sheer size of HLJ, and the constant testing work the locos are undergoing, I needed to get a proper maintenance schedule sorted out. This all came to a head on Wednesday when a (prearranged) film crew arrived to capture footage of HLJ. As well as putting up with multiple locos stuttering (despite the track being clean) they just missed kit built 56009 lose all its wheels from the front bogie before collapsing on its side like a dead pig. So I've now stopped modelling temporarily so all locomotives can go through an 'A’ exam which by my definition is wheel clean, pickup clean & oiling gearbox & axles. Have to say I put a 46 (and my pet Colas 60) through it today and both now run perfectly. With a couple dozen Heljan locos due to land next year I’m going to have to be much more disciplined with maintenance from now on. Added to which I’m going to offload much of the kit built traction cos they seem to have between them a similar traffic availability of a real Clayton Class 17. Incidentally the camera crew were filming for another series next year celebrating Hornby’s centennial. Whilst HLJ has little to do with that subject they are devoting a whole episode to HLJ which is very flattering. They are due back after Christmas to film at the real location. Should be aired in March next year I believe. There’s even 5 minutes on static grass! If you cherish it - Pledge it. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
princeofgonville Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 Just wanted to add my voice to everyone else's saying "wow". I can't get enough of the detail. Very inspiring. Looking forward to more updates, and eventually to see this fabulous piece of art for real. Justin 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HeatonLodge40 Posted December 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 14, 2020 Well folks here is the first of the Modelling Masterclass series - this one dealing with that ubiquitous subject of creating the best static grass. Apart from realising I need to lose a few pounds I quite enjoyed making it. Hopefully get a bit easier as the series progresses. Thanks to Jonathan D for filming & editing it.. 28 1 5 3 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
suomen Posted December 15, 2020 Share Posted December 15, 2020 Absolutely great! Thanks for that video Simon. How much drying time do you allow between the layers of grass & varnish spraying? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted December 15, 2020 Share Posted December 15, 2020 5 hours ago, suomen said: Absolutely great! Thanks for that video Simon. How much drying time do you allow between the layers of grass & varnish spraying? No drying time at all needed just bang on 2/3 layers and let it all dry 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueeighties Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 Fantastic. As always with any trade, a master at work makes it look so easy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 Not sure about master, more like nutter 1 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ed1234 Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 On 15/12/2020 at 13:53, HeatonLodge40 said: No drying time at all needed just bang on 2/3 layers and let it all dry Given the scale of this layout, I feel this advice is like the old joke about painting the Eiffel Tower, in that on Heaton Lodge by the time you've finished one layer, it's been a week since you started and of course it's dry! Great stuff - enjoyed the video very much. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HeatonLodge40 Posted December 18, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 18, 2020 No reason to post these pics it’s just my favourite location on HLJ. I’ll update soon.. 36 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold jcarta Posted December 18, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 18, 2020 (edited) Your favourite place ?????? I think you'll find this is a lot of peoples favourite place now and I can't think why LOL Merry Christmas Simon and I hope we will see all your hard work in the New Year Jim Edited December 18, 2020 by jcarta 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 3 hours ago, jcarta said: Your favourite place ?????? I think you'll find this is a lot of peoples favourite place now and I can't think why LOL Merry Christmas Simon and I hope we will see all your hard work in the New Year Jim Thank you you too and may I once again also thank all those who have frequently posted support on here and PM’d me. Really made a huge difference, especially when it’s been a day of massive frustration and a sledgehammer looks tempting. 4 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HeatonLodge40 Posted January 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 5, 2021 First post of the year, hopefully a better year for us all. I’m cracking on during January finishing the triangular section of scenery. Basically I make a list of all the details to add (once I’ve completed the static grass) which is what I’ve been doing today. I’ve allowed two weeks to get all this done after which I’m going to start assembling all the lighting gantries, which provide light from the front and above. 37 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold jcarta Posted January 5, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 5, 2021 2 minutes ago, HeatonLodge40 said: First post of the year, hopefully a better year for us all. I’m cracking on during January finishing the triangular section of scenery. Basically I make a list of all the details to add (once I’ve completed the static grass) which is what I’ve been doing today. I’ve allowed two weeks to get all this done after which I’m going to start assembling all the lighting gantries, which provide light from the front and above. Happy New Year to yo Simon Triangle is starting to take shape. That is a nice loco line up especially when seen from a passing train.... Jim 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Enterprisingwestern Posted January 6, 2021 RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted January 6, 2021 I don't reckon much to that tree in the first pic, I'm sure you could do better! Mike. 1 20 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HeatonLodge40 Posted January 11, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 11, 2021 Back to the triangle today and although I’ve almost static grassed the whole area of about 60sq ft I’ve never been happy with the visible joins between the sections mounted on the trolleys. So today I decided to use a spare box of 50ft of ‘stone’ walling to disguise these joins. I’d asked ‘Ten Commandments’ about five years ago to run me off 300ft of their excellent plaster cast walling that runs almost the full length each side of the main lines on HLJ. It’s the most realistic walling I’ve come across although it’s quite brittle but takes watercolours really well. Having dug some more sections out I start by brushing on a thin wash of burnt umber and grey and let it soak in. I often spray the top in matt varnish and and sprinkle on Woodland Scenics burnt grass flock along the top to mimic moss. Might mist a bit of green over the whole section too before fixing it in place using a hot glue gun. Once in I disguise the joins with the old dolls hair (postiche/canopy) then sprinkle on the crushed leaves material or more ‘burnt grass’ flock. Finally the whole lot gets the frost treatment. Anyway it’s disguised the gaps ok & with more slaters fencing added too I’m a bit happier. 53 10 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robofleeds Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 Greetings from a fellow Wakey based modeller. Just catching up with the last couple of month’s updates and this is a late response to the track cleaning plea for help. I use thick (1/8”) balsa wood, cut into credit-card sized pieces. Dip a cotton bud into methylated spirit and soak one edge along the grain. This can then be rubbed along both rails with the grain of the balsa across the track. This wears 2 grooves in the balsa which make it easier to locate the cleaner on the track. The balsa doesn’t leave particles behind like a track rubber does and one piece can be used several times by varying its position on the track. The methylated spirit should be re-applied every so often. I’ve found this method to work really well. 2 1 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0ny Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 (edited) I have joined this group due to this blog. Can I just add to the praise for this project, it is a fantastic effort of blood, sweat, tears (no doubt) and perseverance. The skills and efforts are fantastic and I would like to congratulate Simon and all whose work has made it possible. Your continued efforts, sustained for so long, make me ashamed at my paltry efforts. I hope you have a successful New Year and remain virus free. Tony Edited January 17, 2021 by T0ny Spelling mistake 2 2 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HeatonLodge40 Posted January 20, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2021 As of today (20-1-21) the scenery on phase 1 of Heaton Lodge Junction i.e. the 200ft scenic side is finally complete. (I think the first static grass laying began in 2014)! I can’t remember how many bin liners of grass the scenery swallowed but it’s into double figures. The last smaller shipment from Mini Natur in Germany landed yesterday.. All that remains to do scenery wise now is another epoxy resin pour, as too much matt varnish in the air has dulled the shine of the river a bit too much. I’ve constructed the first of the two river weir barriers to hide the frame joins too. These will look far better once the epoxy covers the bottom of the barrels. So going forward there’s still a bit of non scenic work to do on this side which comprises: 1. Fitting the black Perspex sheets which will completely cover all the curves (which join the fiddle yard/Healey Mills to the scenic side.) I don’t want the trains seen here can’t work out why! 2. More black banners to hang down from underneath and cover the trestles in both the fiddle yard and connecting curves. 3. All the lighting gantries are awaiting assembly- these cast light onto the model from the front and over the heads of visitors 4. The backscenes to be printed onto the existing white aluminium boards and fitted (I’ve had made some special brackets for this). 5. 40 odd front information boards at the front to show pics of the real place & info. 6. The automation is still work in progress (cos of lockdown unfortunately) 7. crowd friendly barriers around the whole model - that’s nice ones you can lean on with a footrest so kids can get a better view (all being constructed) I reckon the above will take a couple of months before I turn my attention to the fiddle yard & Healey Mills. Both of these areas will also get backscenes too. HM will get its 100ft lighting towers first before I’ll get to work on the maintenance building & myriad of siding. On another note the steam fans amongst you are in for a treat soon. The 9F is currently being fitted with no less than 4 smoke units that will blast steam from the chimney, safety valves as well as the pistons and under the cab. In fact there should be so much you might not actually see the loco. Watch this space..The very last area to be static grassed..I always mix the grass together in a cheap blenderStraight from Germany the last bags from Mini Natur 29 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HeatonLodge40 Posted January 20, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2021 a view through the tunnel mouth looking towards the junction along the above ground Huddersfield lines. Ironically the retaining wall and most of what you can see can’t be seen from the viewing area!A view of the completed huge triangular scenic section with backscenes still to be completed and fitted 48 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HeatonLodge40 Posted January 20, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 20, 2021 Last shot of this triangular section. I’m glad I included it, it wasn’t in the original plan but the vast area makes a huge difference. You can just see the tunnel mouth of the overground Huddersfield lines in the distance.. 62 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 Cracking update well done on completing the main scenic section, as ever looking forward to all the process but particularly the Healey Mills section spent many an hour sat by the water tanks watching the trains dave 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 7 hours ago, d winpenny said: Cracking update well done on completing the main scenic section, as ever looking forward to all the process but particularly the Healey Mills section spent many an hour sat by the water tanks watching the trains dave Me too Dave I used to sit on the embankment near the signal gantry. I remember seeing a 37/0 pulling in a set of brand new Class 314 emu’s, still don’t know why to this day. They were new in ‘79 so must have been around then. Good days eh 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Crepello Posted January 25, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 25, 2021 I have to say that the adverts at the foot of the screen on this excellent thread are highly annoying. It would be nice to know how I can get rid of them. Does Gold membership enable this? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony Teague Posted January 25, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 25, 2021 28 minutes ago, Crepello said: I have to say that the adverts at the foot of the screen on this excellent thread are highly annoying. It would be nice to know how I can get rid of them. Does Gold membership enable this? I think so - I don't see any. (but you should check!). Tony 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltic9014 Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 3 hours ago, Crepello said: I have to say that the adverts at the foot of the screen on this excellent thread are highly annoying. It would be nice to know how I can get rid of them. Does Gold membership enable this? I don't know about memberships, but if you install an adblocker in your browser it will get rid of all the adverts 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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