Upper Hembury, East Devon - a GWR / SR Branch line

[AdeMoore]

very nice work Colin, interested in your painting process it looks like you paint everything on the bench. Then add to the model and then you must tidy it up where necessary then touch up? 
Very refined I tend to do the opposite as I want it together now! Then deal with it! Impatient some people call it!

[Mikkel]

Lovely goods shed Colin, very nice work. Also good to see one of John Flann''s photos again, and nice to think that it has inspired yours. 

[BWsTrains]

The Cattle Dock and more on General Freight Handling

 

A detour back into the history of Upper Hembury is appropriate here to understand the development of the site between its opening and my 1930s setting.

 

The GWR acquired lands for UH as per the common practice of those days, by Act of Parliament in 1881. Times were very hard and a collaborative environment was in order, The Earl of Southampton was the richest / largest land holder in East Devon and he sought considerable concessions, seeing the railway as a positive for the area. So it was that an initial proposal included both access into the Tale Valley (across the Earl's own Estate) as well as on land he owned in the village, bounded by the Tale River to the West, Church St (to the North East ) and the Honiton Road to the East. 

 

In the first instance agreement was restricted to lands immediately needed to open the Branch Line to the original design, here:

 

 

 

 

Shown is the proposed original track plan and layout with a simple runaround loop and tracks to a Cattle Dock and General Goods Siding. In the original design the Bay siding was a concession to the Earl for his own personal train / carriage. The overall setting has similarities to the early design at Wallingford, but limited goods handling was managed via a small dock on the Spur, located off the runaround loop.

 

Later additions and expansion allowed for further sidings nearer to the Honiton Road and a dedicated Goods shed was added, adjacent to the Cattle Dock on the former Mileage siding (I'm unclear when this practice / naming came into use). After this, the original unloading Spur was used mostly for parking the likes of Goods vans but came back into use with the general growth in business activity. Easy end offloading of vehicles was a particular advantage.

 

The next stage of my project is the build of the infrastructure between the Cattle Dock siding and the Goods loop.

 

Edited March 12 by BWsTrains
correction

[BWsTrains]

The Cattle Pens will be built from the core of the Ratio Kit (502) but with an adjacent unloading dock also required, I built all the elevated sections in one main unit.

 

My biggest challenge was to manage the drop from the dock level to the exit level (originally at layout datum) so 15mm. To soften the impact of the slope I mapped out some contours on the Templot printout and decided that Church St., its buildings, the weighbridge and exit could comfortably sit at 5mm above datum so giving me a required drop of 10mm.

 

The early phase of this plan is shown with rough levels put down in 5mm and 3mm foam board. Intermediate numbers are as intended at this stage. The unloading exit route is shown in yellow.

 

 

Once I was happy this would work, all was fixed down and intermediate levels graded in using 1.3mm and 0.33mm card. The photo was at an intermediate point.

 

 

Next the main bulk of the remaining fill was with strengthened Plaster of Paris and the fine work with some acrylic filler. Again this photo after the first round, a second smoothing layer has now been added

 

 

From platform observation level the slope is now pleasingly smooth and unobtrusive falling away towards the buildings.

Edited November 11, 2023 by BWsTrains
typos

[BWsTrains]

Cattle Dock, the lower Pen and Goods / Animals Unloading Bay (continued)

 

Progress on various fronts interrupted by lots of other goings on would be the best way to describe my last two weeks. The latter has put a significant dent in the time available for the build but some light is appearing.

 

Firstly the Cattle Dock; the Ratio kit is a very nice bit of modelling and goes together well by applying careful attention to the details. In my case it was to be integrated into a larger elevated Dock are and so the under-support structure was omitted.

 

The general cattle management area bears more than a passing resemblance to that found at Kingsbridge, as this 1928 extract from a Britain from Above photo shows. As Upper Hembury preceded its more famous cousin, perhaps we can see echoes of it here.

 

The Dock Pens (4 it appears; 3+1) are boarded by a flat approach section leading to a long down ramp. On the far side of this there is a further very long further stock holding  pen. This latter pen has a siding beyond it for general open wagon unloading at ground level. The fencing of the lower pen area and ramp appears to have been constructed of Bridge Rail which allows for wider post spacing than the Post and Rails method found in the Ratio kit.  Both types of fencing were common in GWR Cattle Dock Pens.

 

 

To complete my entire holding area I needed a considerable length of pen fencing and I set about making some Bridge Rail for said purpose.

 

The broad Gauge Society has useful info on all the types of this rail from earliest Broad Gauge days up to 1891 and with one exception (the newest) the track had a thin flanges overall, 6" wide with a centre ridge 2" wide and high with a hollow channel (inside). The cross section hence looks like a hump back bridge even if this isn't the reason for the name! 

 

I made my rail by repurposing Slater's 1mm planking sheet. This 0.55mm thick sheet is quite deeply scored to define the 1mm planks and this can be exploited to double advantage.

 

1. a single 1mm strip is cut through, following the plank line. This gives a horizontal rough "D" cross section shape around 0.8mm wide (or a good enough proxy for 2" wide).
2. Any flash from the cut edge on the sheet is carefully trimmed back and then inverted to the reverse side.
3. The 0.8mm strip is glued (CA) at one end, positioning it centred over the clearly visible score line (i.e. the edge of next plank).
4. Once fully set, a very thin coat of limonene is brushed along the underside of the "D" section and the entire length laid down along the sheet. The adhesive has enough give for me bring up a steel rule against the D Section and align it perfectly straight along the sheet.
5. The sheet is inverted again to the front and a careful cut made along the next 1mm boundary to give me my 2mm wide (i.e. 6") rail profile.

This method gives a credible proxy for what I need but with an overly thick a flange section. Installed into a fencing section of 4 rails and three 0.8mm steel bars between it comes up fairly well as long as you don't get out the microscope!

 

 

Also getting some attention has been the ramp. As I had no more paved area from the kit to use, it was over to DIY, using @Mikkel's trusty method of indenting  EVA sheet, previously seen on UH for platform paving. 

 

The elevated loading area also is nearing completion and all this progress can be seen in situ held together in parts by blu-tak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by BWsTrains
typos

[BWsTrains]

Painting and installation of the lower pen fencing and the ramp has brought me a little nearer to the goal. Some gates and further fencing still are required to finish this section, oh, and as @john dew has reminded me, lots of weathering for the fencing and pens.

 

 

 

[BWsTrains]

The lower cattle pen has had its gates installed and suitable dirt treatment, more detailing still required but this'll have to do for now as I've got to move on to getting trains running for the festive season visitors.

 

 

 

.

[BWsTrains]

Operations testing went far better than I could have hoped after a quick wheel and track clean. Just a couple of the small tank engines had minor repairs done to my DYI phosphor bronze wheel wiper pickups. I'll come back to these later as the results are interesting but I need to record a video.

 

Next I went back to the storage area where I'd made a start on the supports for the fascia panels but then parked it for last Christmas, doesn't time fly. I dug out the support structures and reinstated them, followed by some quick cuts to sheets of MDF. It's been a superb day here so nice to work outside for added convenience / safety.

 

Panels have been attached for easy removal with neo magnets in the supports and thin metal sheet glued to the MDF

 

 

 

[BWsTrains]

Hornby Class 48xx Update

 

While a quality RTR 48xx remains somewhat of a "Holy Grail", I suffered my fair share of pain finding a model which to so central to my branch line memories. Much of what I reported some 5-6 years ago is now lost so excuse me if I revisit this topic.

 

The Airfix/ Hornby series of 48xx releases over some 38+ years saw some improvements (better motor etc.) but many of the legacy issues continued to haunt newer re-releases, most importantly rubber traction tyres on the rear driving wheel axle, sprung rear axle, generally poor wheel wipers, even in the latest "generation" Centre of Gravity problems.

 

None of these are conducive to giving a model anything near track ready, especially after a few years use when wipers often failed completely. My solution, after a few misadventures went as follows:

 

• Identify the best of the bunch and fine one. Easier said than done but with some excellent help from @adb968008 I settled on Hornby R2778 (4869 - GWR Shirtbutton) and by good chance one came up on pre-owned.
• Next find an Airfix 48xx as donor for a wheelset, (which have been out of stock as spares for ever)
• Swap out the dreaded traction tyres, quartering etc. and then remove all inside wipers. With further useful help from @Barry Ten I set about installing a full set of wheel rim wipers, as shown here.

• Add a hefty stay alive and 4869 would cross my worst insulfrog gap on Westown-Heathfield at as slow as speed step 6 on the NCE DCC control.

 

Only tweak which was needed in my recent service was to open out the BTB spacings to default and the loco runs very sweetly indeed, shown here at speed step 3 through my British Finescale OO turnouts

 

 

 

Edited December 6, 2023 by BWsTrains

[BWsTrains]

Station Approach

 

I've noted the significant influence which the Earl of Southampton exerted on development of the branch line. He anticipated having many guests, whether arriving via the LSWR (Sidmouth Jct) or the GWR mainline and wanted them to arrive at a station of note. Hence when it came to the approach road (for his visitors would be take on by Carriage to Dunkswell Grange #)  he had no desire to present them with a horse poo polluted rough macadam road. Instead a fine granite sett ramp was installed, it reached from Church Street up to the main station entrance.

 

This is my effort to produce this route of access.

 

 

 

As before I've used @Mikkel 's method, imprinting into EVA sheet. I'll follow with the details, but the source is on the Farthing Blog here

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/blogs/entry/23431-when-in-danger-or-in-doubt-progress-on-the-fourth-bite

 

This site offers helpful guidance ragarding late Victorian road suracing.

http://www.glias.org.uk/journals/8-a.html

 

To quote "Towards the end of the (19th) century, when wood and asphalt surfaces prevailed, granite setts continued to be used in preference to such surfaces where a good foothold for horses was essential, as when the gradient exceeded 1 on 60. They were also used where wear was likely to be high, as at road junctions

 

And this useful essential resource on horse poo  (again with thanks to @Mikkel

 

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/blogs/entry/24929-a-pictorial-record-of-horse-manure/

 

# The Earl had his own private stop at Dunkeswell Grange but it was ill-suited for his guests. There were many reasons of which I shall relate more in due course!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 12, 2023 by BWsTrains

[BWsTrains]

Paving Methods

 

Now into my second effort with this method, it's starting to become more comfortable and easy to apply.

 

Regarding materials, I have used two types of sheet, EVA and PS. The former is a tighter foam and well suited when you want a smooth finish on defined surfaces. PS is more open and is suited to surfaces like my pavers where you want a rougher finish. PS is trickier to emboss being more brittle than EVA, gentle even pressure is required to get indentations rather than cuts.

 

My EVA is in 1.5mm and 2.5mm thick sheets. Both readily available here at Daiso (although what comes and goes from "in stock" is somewhat hit and miss) at $A3.30 a pack I'm not complaining!

 

The 1.5mm is what I used for this latest project, the granite setts. The thinner sheet is well suited to when you want many even indentations, you press deep enough to near the far side (supported on a hard "safe" surface ( in my case my desk formica top)

 

The pics show how the embossing progresses, I chose a blue sheet as any residual colour print thru was suited to my target surface.

 

 

The embossing tools are simply old paint brushes, reshaped to give large and small sett sizes (4*3mm and 3*2.5mm ID)

 

The final tool, not shown is a 3.5mm flat blade screwdriver with the two leading corners ground down to curves. This was used only to deep indent the middle channel of the gutter before embossing with 3*2.5mm setts

 

 

Painting

 

The EVA sheet was primed with Dulux All Surface primer after embossing and then painted with two coats of Reeves "Intro" Artists Acrylic. Black / White ratio 40:60. This gives a very deep shade of grey but then repeated very thin washes of the same primer builds up the mortar in the recesses and brings the grey back to a more neutral point. The primer also helps reduce the gloss finish of the acrylic somewhat.

 

Edited December 13, 2023 by BWsTrains
Added Painting info

[peterm1]

Nice work, Colin. I imagine your eyes would suffer if you did too many in one sitting.

[Mikkel]

Looks good Colin. I find it stressful the first 5 minutes, then therapeutic for about 10 minutes, then very dull for about 50 minutes 🙂

[BWsTrains]

44 minutes ago, Mikkel said:

Looks good Colin. I find it stressful the first 5 minutes, then therapeutic for about 10 minutes, then very dull for about 50 minutes 🙂

 

Thx Mikkel,

 

I guess that it being my first time on setts, there was more challenge in maintaining the quality and positioning of each stone so I didn't have time to relax or get bored!  

[BWsTrains]

Returning to the Traverser entry screen, I've been working on a suitable transition between side and front panels.

 

First try at this was fashioned out of 6mm galv mesh overlaid with papier mache (I later switched to using a torn up old sheet). The final layers were PVA reinforced Plaster of Paris. 

An additional support was added and then attachment by magnets. (magnets on the uprights, thin sheet metal on the panel)

 

 

 

Using magnets, all the sections are easy to position and remove if required.

Edited December 22, 2023 by BWsTrains

[peterm1]

Nifty work, Colin.

[BWsTrains]

Best wishes to everyone for the Festive Season.

 

I thought I'd finish the year with a summary of some operations on Christmas Eve when our young Sydney visitors arrived.

 

First up a crisis at T minus 2hrs when any outbound loco from the station triggered a short on the single slip. A short which didn't stop when the loco was removed! After some calming advice from @SRman I went back and found the issue. The two slip switchblades were installed in the kit just a shade to close each other (where they butt up end to end but should have a gap!). Forward motion was enough to bring the rails together; issue was "fixed" for operation session but needs a permanent resolution.

 

Then Ops went very well, stock movements on/off the traverser, trains pulling into UH, loco then running around for the outbound run. Even a goods run where the uncouplers delivered superbly, amazing the youngsters with my ability to uncouple and then relocate wagons in uncoupled mode. A Brake van was even parked to the short dock siding while goods wagons were shunted around. Most satisfying.

 

I even enlisted some help on building further embankments but time just flew away all too quickly.

 

Finally, an overview of the Station and Yards, tidied up greatly for the visitors. From this angle nearly all the yard uncouplers can be seen. I was thinking to do more reporting on progress made during 2023 but that'll have to wait a few days. Young James from Perth and I might just make more progress once he gets here for the remaining days of the Calendar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 28, 2023 by BWsTrains
typos and more typos courtesy of autocorrect!

[SRman]

While my advice ended up not being on the right track (no pun intended), I'm glad it set you off on a more methodical approach to the troubleshooting.  You may be able to get a small slitting disc in to enlarge the gap then fill it with something with insulating qualities to stop the rails closing up again.

[BWsTrains]

Early last month I returned to look my Class 48xx which got a trial run on UH.

 

Over New Year we had visitors from Perth on an extended stay and young James was very keen to put UH though its paces, running the majority of my small wheelbase locos to the four corners of the layout. This in itself highlighted a range of issues requiring attention plus ideas for new opportunities. So much so that I'm prompted to prepare a 2024 Actions Listing.

 

Since I retired, I've had an aversion to being tied to action lists of most sorts (well beyond the weekly shopping run and OS travel). My attitude aligning with the late great Douglas Adams who once noted of Deadlines, that "he loved the wooshing sounds as they went racing by!"

 

Still, nothing's for ever and  I'm contemplating what might go on the list!

 

Returning to 4869 it occurred to me that its excellent running might offer hope that I could upgrade to sound. The newest generation ZIMO chips have a smaller footprint, and can support up to 1000uF of SA Capacitors directly wired. Presently I have 2200uF on board so first step was to pull the old install apart and explore how well it ran without SA support.

 

This shows the configuration as used in the video.

 

 

With the SA and Electrolytic Cap snipped away, the loco was given a brief test run. Wipers needed a quick adjust and then it ran very well with just the faintest of hesitation, probably due to my still not perfectly cleaned track.

 

The second photo shows a dummy MS500 Sound chip (14*10*3mm) installed over the motor, so I could test the remaining headroom in the firebox area. There is a 0.75mm spacer lifting the "chip" above the rotor. I can see there is a further clear 3mm above when the bodywork is fully in place and tightened, so I can leave a greater gap between motor and chip in the full install.

 

 

 

The Chip is as far forward as it'll fit but this leaves room at the rear for a tidy exit of the wiring down to the Cab floor. The speaker can then sit in the bunker.

 

 

 

 

[Neal Ball]

7 hours ago, BWsTrains said:

Early last month I returned to look my Class 48xx which got a trial run on UH.

 

Over New Year we had visitors from Perth on an extended stay and young James was very keen to put UH though its paces, running the majority of my small wheelbase locos to the four corners of the layout. This in itself highlighted a range of issues requiring attention plus ideas for new opportunities. So much so that I'm prompted to prepare a 2024 Actions Listing.

 

Since I retired, I've had an aversion to being tied to action lists of most sorts (well beyond the weekly shopping run and OS travel). My attitude aligning with the late great Douglas Adams who once noted of Deadlines, that "he loved the wooshing sounds as they went racing by!"

 

Still, nothing's for ever and  I'm contemplating what might go on the list!

 

Returning to 4869 it occurred to me that its excellent running might offer hope that I could upgrade to sound. The newest generation ZIMO chips have a smaller footprint, and can support up to 1000uF of SA Capacitors directly wired. Presently I have 2200uF on board so first step was to pull the old install apart and explore how well it ran without SA support.

 

This shows the configuration as used in the video.

 

 

With the SA and Electrolytic Cap snipped away, the loco was given a brief test run. Wipers needed a quick adjust and then it ran very well with just the faintest of hesitation, probably due to my still not perfectly cleaned track.

 

The second photo shows a dummy MS500 Sound chip (14*10*3mm) installed over the motor, so I could test the remaining headroom in the firebox area. There is a 0.75mm spacer lifting the "chip" above the rotor. I can see there is a further clear 3mm above when the bodywork is fully in place and tightened, so I can leave a greater gap between motor and chip in the full install.

 

 

 

The Chip is as far forward as it'll fit but this leaves room at the rear for a tidy exit of the wiring down to the Cab floor. The speaker can then sit in the bunker.

 

 

 

 

The other option could be to take power from the leading bogie of the attached Autocoach…. Or put the speaker into the luggage area. Obviously you are restricted that they will always run together.

[BWsTrains]

On 01/11/2023 at 17:18, AdeMoore said:

very nice work Colin, interested in your painting process it looks like you paint everything on the bench. Then add to the model and then you must tidy it up where necessary then touch up? 
Very refined I tend to do the opposite as I want it together now! Then deal with it! Impatient some people call it!

 

Sorry Ade,

 

I missed replying to your question.

 

You are correct, to the extent that I can I do the majority of the painting as I go. Usually a final wash of some sort will go on after assembly once I'm happy with the job.

 

Colin.

[BWsTrains]

Drawing up a full to do list for 2024 was too much and has been postponed!

 

After some quiet time spent in a darkened room to recover, I decided to push ahead with some key jobs which are both needed and I'm keen to get on with. Top of the list were my DCC Decoders and the scenic break at the entrance to the traverser. Available and willing young helping hands prompted in favour of the latter so here we go.

 

To refresh on the geography which needs to be taken into account in planning the scenery at the Tannery (South West) End. The viewer sees Upper Hembury Station and approaches from across the River Tale looking towards the South East. The scenery is dominated by the long ridge (running NE to SW) about 2km distant, culminating in Hembury Fort which holds a commanding view point over East Devon.

 

Hamlyn's Tannery is nestled close to the river and with good water access from the land rising behind. The building of the GWR line required construction of a small cutting (approx 30ft deep) in the elevated land behind the tannery. This is shown on the map, along with the new improved facilities for the relocated Creamery.

 

 

A useful resource is Google Maps Street view and from Grange Rd (marked) looking SE, the gentle rising hill leads up away from the road to the ridge and Fort in the distance. So in my scenic setting I've tried to capture the cutting, hills and ridge as best possible.

 

Stage one was to create scenic blocks to mask the solid Traverser end wall. I decided that the cutting embankments would make a good start and the young helpers were called in to cut wire mesh and plaster over the cloth base. Young S was puzzled at first by bits of tubing sticking up but then figured out they could hold trees.

 

Early days shown below here. Those embankments are too steep and need some retaining walls. In part I was expecting that dense foliage would mask the excessively steep contours needed in the available space. Some old hedgerow material was just popped loosely on to gauge how it might look.

 

 

 

I've settled on November 1936 for the date so hills will be in very late / falling leaf with most of the upper land already bare. First stage was adding mostly hedgerow Hawthorn along the leading edges, shrubs and the odd trial tree (later replaced)

So far so good but still plenty to do. After some more plant materials and a back-scene paint job.

 

 

 

 

   

Edited January 16 by BWsTrains
Minor updates

[john dew]

Hi Colin

 

Very promising back scene. I see the revised Ordnance Survey map shows how the goods yard sidings terminate at the rear of the High Street - I guess some of these buildings will be represented in the back scene. I know there is no space for the river at that end of the layout but I wonder if you could suggests its presence by creating a low relief version of the bridge?

 

I had not realised how close the Engine shed stop block would be to the river - good job the rear doorway of the shed is bricked up!

[BWsTrains]

Pushing ahead with the Back Scene I went back to Google Street View for more insights on the weather in late autumn, the colours, clouds, etc.

 

One thing which became very clear was that the Western slopes of the Blackdown Hills get plenty of "weather". Barely a shot posted around all the local roads and lanes without the hills shrouded in mist or worse, medium to dark clouds and fields in a dull olive green.

 

So to complete my setting I decided the mixed clouds over Hembury Fort (Trraverser end) would mark the rear end of a passing rain system, still visible over Upper Hembury itself (looking to the North East).

 

My first efforts are shown here, with suitable cutout props to represent the future buildings and at @john dew 's suggestion, a hint of a bridge in the background.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 19 by BWsTrains

[Mikkel]

Very effective. I've noticed some dark skies appearing on layouts recently, I like the effect. The hills are also nicely done, I think sometimes painted hills are made too green, these are very subtle and convincing.