High Peak Junction

[TT100 Diesels]

Hi Pete,

 

 They were resin casts from Phil Mason (Bluish layout). Quite rough, needed a lot of cleaning, fettling and filler. Plus a few of my own detailing tweaks. But I remain very grateful to Phil, who scratch built one for himself then took some resin casts. There is a colour pic of Phils scratch built one in Mixed Traffic. I think its one of the late 20 teens post AGM editions.

 

Probably the most difficult aspect of the build for me was the painting, especially the stripes. Its all hand painted and a lot of Tamiya masking tape. Taping up was a job and a half as well.

 

Also it did not help that 5 seconds after the final matt varnish spray coat outside in the garden, one of them fell off its stand and hit a patio slab, causing some damage to be repaired and redo some of the stripes, hey ho !

 

I will have a look at my photo collection, and see about doing a build feature here.

 

Cheers

 

TT100 Diesels

 

 

Edited November 12, 2023 by TT100 Diesels
Spelling

[TT100 Diesels]

So, another retrospective build feature, topical since TT Pete was asking just in up thread, the pair of independent snow ploughs:-

 

 

We have a pair of resin casts, which were kindly given to me by Phil Mason. As can be seen, they also have various recesses on the underside for mounting some sort of wheels! As these are not planned to run much, I decided to not raid my stock of pin point axles, but to chop up a couple of spare Triang wagon chassis, to just retain the wheelset bit, i.e. very crude W irons type set up. In the picture, the undersides have been hollowed out sufficiently to allow these wheelset units to fit in. The centre axle is simply a chopped up wheel cut away so it clears the track but not yet fitted here  (like the way the Triang TT 31 centre wheelset is configured).

 

 

Both have the wheelset units fitted to test for fit. Looking closely at the resin casts, there are a number of defects that required attention, cleaning up, filler etc.

 

 

Looking from underneath, the ex Triang wagon wheelset units in place for overall concept testing. Triang TT tension lock couplers are fitted, with a screw self tapped into the resin buffer and a brass rod dowel in the opposite side. I wanted to be able to have removable tension lock couplings so I could run them but also remove for periods when the ploughs would be long term stored / stabled in the yard and thus look more realistic.

 

 

Buffer beam details added, plus the under buffer snow shields. These are not quite full depth, due to requiring a gap to fit the tension lock couplers. A locating dowel can be seen. Also, up at roof level, the more correct shaped snow shield arrangement has been fitted from plasticard. Compare with the as supplied shield, as integral moulding seen on the first two photos. When checking photos of the real ploughs, this shield is angled upwards, but would have been a lot less robust had I tried to copy that, so I compromised my version for ease of construction and robustness.

 

 

Underside view of same end showing the snow shields and also a feel for how much more opening out was required to fit in the wheelset unit.

 

 

Both resin casts required a lot of fettling, in this picture we see the point where they were primed up. The moulded hand rails removed and holes drilled to accept wire hand rails. The access steps on the sides are recessed on the prototypes and these were replicated on the resin castings (see first two photos). However, they were quite rough and full of hard resin beads. They required the whole area opening out and inlaying with plastic card and then re drilling and opening out. I went for the easy option, I filled in and smoothed off the rough footstep holes and added micro strip to represent external foot steps, another naughty compromise !

 

That wraps up part 1 of this retrospective build feature at a convenient point.

 

Thanks for the interest shown just up thread for the snow plough test run train pics.

[TT100 Diesels]

So, we can rush headlong into part 2 of the snow plough retrospective !

 

The easy bit was painting them black. A bit harder to get the yellow areas nice and neat. But the plough stripes were a challenge.

 

To be able to place the lengths of Tamiya masking tape correctly to paint the black stripes, I resorted to applying two marker tabs, one near each end. These were hard enough to do accurately but at least allowed the lengths to be then applied accurately up against the marker tabs. And repeated through the process.

 

 

With tape lengths applied, on with the matt black.

 

 

And the result of the first stripe painted on both ploughs. Look closely and there was some bleed under the tape for touch up / rework. Same for the top stripe not unsurprisingly.

 

 

Once the stripes were finished, on to the fitting and painting of the wire handrails.

 

Also, the decals were in progress as well, the OLE flashes were Fox 3mm, all the others were from Woodhead 3mm modern image sheets. The number digits had to be cut out as individual numbers and applied one by one, a very painstaking and tedious task.

 

 

The ex works pair, pre weathering and pre rattle can varnish. This view also shows the shelf above and across the top of the buffers. These were made from plasticard. The tension locks also fitted in this view. Must have been giving them a test run 😁.

 

ADB965204 and ADB965243 were the numbers selected as they were vaguely central England allocated examples at my layout period. I had some good pictures of the Inverness pair to work from, same livery as these but did not want  an IS allocated pair on the LM region. Various web searches  made sure these numbers wore this livery in the late 70's, and there was quite a lot of variation out there.

 

Again, picture size limits conclude part 2, so a final posting will follow with part 3.

 

Thanks for looking in.

[TT100 Diesels]

Onwards to finish this snow plough build feature......

 

 

After a light weathering, both ploughs ended up out on the patio for two coats of the usual rattle can matt varnish, there, finished...... But this one fell off its stand on a box. The blue tack holding it onto an upstand for spraying  access lost its tack and thus on hiting the corner of a slab, an area of the resin cast was chipped out.

 

So back found the re work loop, filler, repaint the area, and some localised re weathering, and off for a second attempt at the rattle can matt varnish, finally success.

 

 

And there we have it, the completed repairs and looking good as new (well however old it was suppose to be in the late 70's).

 

 

This shows the pair of ploughs, completed with light weathering and tension locks removed. Look a lot better this way. Looking at real pics, snow ploughs tended to be more faded than filthy from road grime, probably because they just sit round in yards not being moved most of the time. That is the look I have tried to recreate.

 

 

And to wrap up this review, a rather apt photo. It's the two snow ploughs with my Class 20's in charge, but appearing on Phil Masons Bluish layout during St Johns Railex the last weekend in July 23. Apt because Phil scratch built one of these and ran of a batch of resin casts. The fact he gave me a pair, the very least I could do was to repay his generosity by giving them my best shot at making a "job" of them. I was pleased that Phil liked them so job done !

 

Once again, thanks for  the interest folks

 

Cheers

 

TT100 Diesels

 

Edited November 14, 2023 by TT100 Diesels

[TT100 Diesels]

Hello again, thanks to folk looking in and leaving feedback.

 

Something a bit different to show, have got a tiny round tuit on the signalling. Been a good while since the posts were planted and arms motorised and wiring locally connected up. Then nothing......

 

Next step is to cosmetically sort out the bases, the hole where the operating wire comes through.

 

 

The key issue is not gluing / gumming up the operating wire, so I made some thin card collars to go round the base with the cut section allowing the wire through. These were painted approximately ballast colour first then carefully pva glued in place.

 

 

Once the pva had set, The base of the signal posts were touched in with matt black (some scraped paint from intial installation). Once dry, did a rough circle of weathered black, the idea to ballast up to that and hopefully avoid the operating wire.

 

As can be seen, I slapped a bit of weathered black wash round the ground signals base area, to represent the oil / grease that soaks into the ballast over the years.

 

 

The double signal at the platform end was a bit easier, two pieces of slaters plastic card plank effect painted and weathered and simply blue tacked into place. The adjacent ground signal also got bonded down, with pva.

 

 

Then, carefully spreading pva with a paint brush around the base up to the painted weathered black and out onto the existing ballast, hopefully to hide the card collar interface, ballast drops were carried out. Need to wait for the pva to set, vacuum up the excess and hopefully the signal operating wires still work! 

 

 

Ballast drops at the end of the loop, all wet pva, real work in progress, thus time to do this update.

 

Will be fun when I come to weather the new ballast to blend it in with the specific ground conditions around each signal.

 

And my ever faithful 25s stand on shed, not going anywhere while the CCE department have a possession for signal works.......

 

Cheers

 

TT100 Diesels

[TT100 Diesels]

Picking up from the ballast drops above, once the pva set, it was vacuum up the excess ballast and then very carefully applying a ballast setting mix of 50/50 pva / water, because I like to lock in the ballast even small repair patches like this.

 

However, I made the mix a bit thicker on the pva to guard against a too watery mix capillary everywhere and gluing up the signal operating wires. Glad to say it was completed without any tears.

 

 

Then it was a case of weathering in the fresh bright ballast at each signal to try to match the existing surroundings. This is the two loop end signals, I am really pleased with these, they turned out the best. PS, don't worry about leaning signals, its the lens effect.

 

 

Main running line stop signal, this is my current offering after about four goes at it. It is more subtle in reality but I might have another go at the grey bit. But it has been a lot worse ! Apologies about 25071, it gets everywhere......

 

 

Station end. The bay platform starter signal is ok, again it looks better in the flesh, and I am happy with it. The main platform signal just has the boarding, it looks ok, but I may add a little more weathering.

 

So overall, very pleased, I have been stalling on the signal bases scenic job for months waiting for inspiration and a round tuit and fretting about gumming up the operating wires. 

 

Next job is sorting out the signal ladders, then that the cosmetic side is done.

 

Cheers

 

TT100 Diesels

[TT100 Diesels]

Thanks for the interest in the signalling works, been fitting the ladders, and just taken some snaps on the tablet cam so please excuse the wonky looking signals, they are nice and straight really (lensing effect).

 

 

Far end of the loop, front view. All the ladders are 4mm OO scale Wills, painted matt black.

 

 

Same pair from the rear.

 

 

The main running line stop signal. Front view. I also did a bit more weathering on the ballast at the signal base on this one, as mentioned in the previous post.

 

 

Station platform signals front view. Bit blurry, not much room to get the tablet in, right up against the signal box. 

 

 

Same pair rear view.

 

Really pleased with this lot now, the signalling is finished cosmetically which is one of the few major items that was still open on the layout jobs list. Still need to sort out the control switches and wiring looms out to the local connections under the baseboards, but that is for another day.

 

Cheers

 

TT100 Diesels

[Robert Shrives]

Great to the signals - as you note one of the last big jobs, it makes the scene complete and you will be busy talking past signals with the crews while S&T procrastinate! 

Have fun wiring up...

Robert   

[TT100 Diesels]

Hi, just a little update to show off the latest acquisition, a Lincoln Oaks class 08. For the build, it is on the scale specific, 3mm, what's on your workbench thread. However, now its finished, and on the layout, it can appear here. A few pics showing the old girl off........

 

 

Nice close up of 08685 on shed. This was a Derby Etches Park allocated loco in my time period, so just right to be sub shedded at HPJ.

 

 

Zooming out into a general shed view, the typical grotty faded 08 in the company of 25125 and 25071 in the shed.

 

 

And out on a spot of truck shuffling.........

 

 

As it trundles by....

 

 

Up towards the yard head shunt.

 

Thanks as always for the interest.

 

[bradfordbuffer]

15 minutes ago, TT100 Diesels said:

Hi, just a little update to show off the latest acquisition, a Lincoln Oaks class 08. For the build, it is on the scale specific, 3mm, what's on your workbench thread. However, now its finished, and on the layout, it can appear here. A few pics showing the old girl off........

 

 

Nice close up of 08685 on shed. This was a Derby Etches Park allocated loco in my time period, so just right to be sub shedded at HPJ.

 

 

Zooming out into a general shed view, the typical grotty faded 08 in the company of 25125 and 25071 in the shed.

 

 

And out on a spot of truck shuffling.........

 

 

As it trundles by....

 

 

Up towards the yard head shunt.

 

Thanks as always for the interest.

 

From bangerblue to dirty blue....fantastic work...

[TT100 Diesels]

Hi, started to have a bit of a running session and the camera ended up on the layout, as it does ! 

 

Tried a few more unusual views for a change, a bit more trickey getting the camera in, but gives the layout a different feel from the usual yard shots. 

 

 

Looking down to the station platform with a resin moggy thousand parked up while 31109 runs in on an air braked van train. As can be seen, still need to get the "clutter" sorted out, benches, running in boards etc noticeable by there absence.

 

 

Looking up the main line platform, No. 1 with the vans waiting for the off.

 

 

A rare view, can just get the camera on the platform up against the canal aqueduct to look the opposite way to the vans in the previous shot. It's the old Triang TT3 class 31, modified and repainted, a build feature shows what was done, back up thread at the bottom of page 2.

 

 

The vans run out under the aqueduct then plunge into the fiddle yard view blocker tunnel..... Seen from the high ground that drops away from the canal.

 

 

Meanwhile, down the other end of the layout, newly arrived 08685 starts to make  itself at home in its new shed, cozying up to the diesel fuelling rig and barrels of coolant, engine oil etc.

 

Hope these alternative locations for pics, not featured so much are of interest, and thanks for the ongoing interest, comments and likes etc.

 

Cheers

D.

 

[Red Devil]

Shed shot in particular is superb.....

[bradfordbuffer]

On 20/12/2023 at 22:27, Red Devil said:

Shed shot in particular is superb.....

Yep.    front runner for 3mm photo of the year!

[TT100 Diesels]

Thanks all for the interest and kind comments of my latest photos, especially re the 08 in the shed shot.

 

Moving on to something quite different, been on with a tiny little project to attack some of those finer details that are missing, in this case, signage. 

 

 

Workbench picture of various signs being finished off. The red ones are Sankey Scenics 4mm ones (photographic signage sheets), the limit of shunt is an old 3mm paper notices from a sheet I have of unknown provenance.

 

 

Limit of shunt, hardly noticeable but completes the shunting puzzle i.e. the run round ground signals required this to complete the scheme. So, all done now.

 

 

Meanwhile, down at the station, the platform access barrow crossing has finally got appropriate signage, i.e., Way Out and. Beware of Trains on the platform end.

 

 

And Beware of Trains when accessing the platform.

 

 

The sign boards were made from 0.8mm brass rod, with 0.25mm thick plastikard backing for the paper signs. It has moved things on a little more and hopefully a nod of approval from the ORR 😉.

 

And may I wish seasons greetings to everyone.

 

Best wishes

TT100 Diesels

[Hunslet 102]

Nice work, the devil is in the detail and certainly worth it.

 

Have enjoyed viewing your layout and posts, look forward to the next instalments.

[bradfordbuffer]

3 hours ago, TT100 Diesels said:

Thanks all for the interest and kind comments of my latest photos, especially re the 08 in the shed shot.

 

Moving on to something quite different, been on with a tiny little project to attack some of those finer details that are missing, in this case, signage. 

 

 

Workbench picture of various signs being finished off. The red ones are Sankey Scenics 4mm ones (photographic signage sheets), the limit of shunt is an old 3mm paper notices from a sheet I have of unknown provenance.

 

 

Limit of shunt, hardly noticeable but completes the shunting puzzle i.e. the run round ground signals required this to complete the scheme. So, all done now.

 

 

Meanwhile, down at the station, the platform access barrow crossing has finally got appropriate signage, i.e., Way Out and. Beware of Trains on the platform end.

 

 

And Beware of Trains when accessing the platform.

 

 

The sign boards were made from 0.8mm brass rod, with 0.25mm thick plastikard backing for the paper signs. It has moved things on a little more and hopefully a nod of approval from the ORR 😉.

 

And may I wish seasons greetings to everyone.

 

Best wishes

TT100 Diesels

Brill details....see the 08 had to photo bomb the picture.....

Time to make some YouTube running vids?

All the best G

[TT100 Diesels]

Hi, time for some more pictures of the layout, this time having another look at the engine shed, nicely illuminated with the lighting rig, a kind of follow on from the interior with 08 shot just up thread.

 

 

The RTC Baby Deltic D5901 takes a breather half in the shed.

 

 

Once empty, we can take a peek inside, with the fuelling rig and the associated barrels of coolant, engine oil and lubricating oil. The stirrup pumps in the barrels were bent wire and plasticard. Fuelling rig is more wire and plasticard while the barrels are Peco OO items and the pallets are also OO lazer cut jobs but cannot remember the maker now.

 

 

Off with the roof, another view from a different angle. LED lighting strip is bonded 

to a piece of wooden dowel which sits into the existing circular gable end vent holes. The supply feed requited a lenght of plastic tube in the corner of the walls to hide the wires. If they are disconnected under the base board they can be pulled up the tube and the dowel popped out from the roof area leaving the shed almost original build again. It also means the building structure can then be lifted off the "concrete" floor structure, which is bonded to the baseboards and track.

 

 

At the inner end, the supply feed wires are up in the roof so not normally visible if looking into the shed from the layout, unless a camera is poked in like for the recent 08 picture.

 

The idea was that the original steam shed was refurbished with a concrete floor and new roof, plus fuelling point to act as a depot for sub shedded shunters. As seen in the above pictures, it quick got filthy.

 

What is still needed to finish off is a fuel connection rig outside on one of the adjacent stabling roads so a rail tanker can be positioned and "connected up" as the fuel source. Layouts are never finished........

 

Thanks for the continued interest and comments,

 

Cheers

D. 

 

[TT100 Diesels]

Hi, well time to blow the dust off this thread, its been a while with nothing happening on the layout.

 

However, I have just completed a Lincoln Locos Class 45, finished as an ETH example, 45127, one of only two 45/1's still having split head code boxes in 1980.

 

The build has been covered in the scale specific / 3mm  / what's on your workbench thread. But now its finished, its all about the layout. The other thing is, this loco represents the final piece in the jigsaw for the required core traction for HPJ.

 

 

Starting with 45127 on shed, in company with resident Jocko, 08685, peeking out of the shed.

 

 

Seen coupled on to an unfitted minerals rake, but no problem for the big Peak.

 

 

Easing out of the sidings.

 

 

Later turned up again on an air braked van rake, probably a Speedlink feeder service from Toton to High Peak Jn.

 

 

It must be Sunday, with a line up of traction. All of the HPJ core fleet lined up, 25071, 25125, 20154, 20175, 45127, 47205 and 08685.

 

 

After some shuffling about the core fleet conglomerate around the shed area.

 

That's it for the moment, but more to come in a part 2 post.

 

Cheers,

 

TT100 Diesels

Edited April 17 by TT100 Diesels
Spelling

[TT100 Diesels]

Hi, part 2 of the latest layout update.

 

 

An unusual view from the back of the shed with the core fleet present.

 

 

45127 has moved onto the turntable.

 

 

 

Another shuffle round and a ground view from the station end of the yard. Again capturing the now completed core loco fleet for the layout. The other locos I have (and the unbuilt "stash" ones) will be occasional visitors.

 

 

All Sulzer line up.

 

 

A pair of 20's muscle into what was the Sulzer line up!

 

So there we are, a bit of fun with the camera, with a selection of 3mm blue diesels. 

 

Hoping these latest pics are of interest.

 

Cheers

 

TT100 Diesels

 

[Red Devil]

Cracking line up that Dave, looks superb!

[Hunslet 102]

Lovely update and some smashing photos, the layout looks great, really captures the essence of the era 

[bradfordbuffer]

1 hour ago, TT100 Diesels said:

Hi, well time to blow the dust off this thread, its been a while with nothing happening on the layout.

 

However, I have just completed a Lincoln Locos Class 45, finished as an ETH example, 45127, one of only two 45/1's still having split head code boxes in 1980.

 

The build has been covered in the scale specific / 3mm  / what's on your workbench thread. But now its finished, its all about the layout. The other thing is, this loco represents the final piece in the jigsaw for the required core traction for HPJ.

 

 

Starting with 45127 on shed, in company with resident Jocko, 08685, peeking out of the shed.

 

 

Seen coupled on to an unfitted minerals rake, but no problem for the big Peak.

 

 

Easing out of the sidings.

 

 

Later turned up again on an air braked van rake, probably a Speedlink feeder service from Toton to High Peak Jn.

 

 

It must be Sunday, with a line up of traction. All of the HPJ core fleet lined up, 25071, 25125, 20154, 20175, 45127, 47205 and 08685.

 

 

After some shuffling about the core fleet conglomerate around the shed area.

 

That's it for the moment, but more to come in a part 2 post.

 

Cheers,

 

TT100 Diesels

That 45 needs a rake of grubby GUVs!

[bradfordbuffer]

27 minutes ago, bradfordbuffer said:

That 45 needs a rake of grubby GUVs!

Sneak preview!

Oh! it appears to to be 25.5mm! over body scaling at 8ft6in....ops 3mm!

One more from the cyber world of 3d prints

WIP More to folow

 

Edited April 17 by bradfordbuffer

[TT100 Diesels]

Well, after over three months gap in posting on HPJ, I am pleased that folk are taking an interest, with likes etc, and thanks to Red Devil, Hunslet 102 and Bradfordbuffer.

 

But yes, grubby GUVs would be nice (loving the 3d print), but a rake of two f's would be just dandy! Anybody got a 3mm St Pancras I can run it out of ? 😉

 

Cheers

 

TT100 Diesels

 

Edited April 17 by TT100 Diesels
Spelling

[97406]

That 45 looks smashing, possibly the best one yet. Really captures the look well.

Edited April 18 by 97406