Almost Arley

[didcot]

I thought I would start a topic for my layout build. It's been a long time in the planning. A house move and renovation has meant it has been packed away for nearly 8 years.

I have partitioned the garage to give me a 12' x 9' room. 

So work can start on my Arley inspired layout. I've rescued the old boards and have a 3' wide run around the room.

I've started to lay things out. I have already built the shelter and have a outline of the station building. This will get remade as I'm not happy with it.

 

The platforms are too short, a through back to the earlier smaller layout. 

I've use Highely Box as a reference for the Arley Box.

 

 

I have also made a wooden template for the road bridge. The jury is still out on the profile. It drops to the left, but different pictures show different drop offs. It doesn't help that the bridge crosses the railway slightly skewed so you get different perspectives. I can’t find any civil drawings for the bridge. 

One departure from the prototype will be double track on the approaches. This is to give a bit more flexibility on what will eventually be a tail chaser.

Edited October 13, 2023 by didcot

[AY Mod]

I think you're there or thereabouts with the bridge angle and slope to be honest. Some nice work in there; coincidentally I was looking at a layout under construction the other day of Bridgnorth in 1960 at very much the same stage.

 

Of course the scenics would be a lot easier if you turned it through 180 degrees. ;)

[didcot]

Thanks Andy.

 

I did initially think about having it the other way around, but decided against it as the main station building would have its back towards you.

[Helmdon]

23 minutes ago, didcot said:

Thanks Andy.

 

I did initially think about having it the other way around, but decided against it as the main station building would have its back towards you.

 

I suppose you could always model it in heavy fog! In terms of scenery, are you thinking contemporary or period? I always thought an Arley backscene featuring the authentic gothic riot that was Arley Castle, and which must have prominently loomed over the station (to the left as you look at it in your orientation), would be interesting...

[didcot]

I'm aiming for the inter war years with usual anything goes caveat with regards to rolling stock to a certain degree. I've got the NRM KGV and also Burton Agnes Hall in WR colours, but everything else is pre nationalisation. 

[didcot]

Something I've never been able to do is walk into a room with a layout, bang on some Def Leppard with a suitable beverage and paint stuff. Base coat applied to the viaduct which will create a scene based on Daniel's Mill.

 

 

Here's one I made much earlier, the shelter.

[rovex]

If it's almost Arley, you could call it "Nearley"

[The Johnster]

Then you could have a station at the other end of the layout called 'Farley', and then one up a branch in the next room called 'Furtherley'. 

[didcot]

 

With the base coat dry thoughts turned to weathering. I tried dry brushing with a darker shade, but it looked terrible. So a quick wipe ready to start again, but I'm struggling to decide what to do. I'm aiming for a sandstone finish.

[didcot]

Today's job was salvaging an old baseboard to make the drop down for the viaduct. Even though it's a lightweight baseboard it's rather unwieldy. Job for tomorrow, locating dowels.

[didcot]

This weekend consisted of trimming Wills sheets on the little milling machine. Once set up it literally is just cranking them out. They are much easier to match when the edges are square. 

 

I also chamfered the corners to get a descent 90 degree joint. Seen above glued to the plasticard supports.

 

 

Next rectangular supports to true things up and also support the road deck.

 

 

Gentle warming with a hot air gun to get the profile and the road deck is glued in.

 

The sides of the prototype taper slightly and I did try to replicate it, but the upper profile makes it difficult to do. So flat sided it is.

 

Next job is to temporarily clamps the Wills sheets in place, mark and cut them to suit.

[didcot]

 

Wills sheets trimmed to just over size and glued on the outer faces. The off cuts were perfect for the road side faces.

 

 

Filed to size. Added the brick arch underneath and brick keystones. Next job is to blend the vertical joints. 

[didcot]

Work continues on the bridge. 

I've also started to layout the track work.

 

[didcot]

 

Been a bit slow going this last few weeks. But finally gotten to the stage where the bridge has been primed and a stone base coat applied. Need to think about the weathering.

[didcot]

Not much to report. I've added another layer of ply to the baseboard tops just to beef things up a bit. That's meant all my marking out has gone.

I haven't been idol. I've fitted digital readout to my small milling machine. 

 

 

This will help immensely when I come to mill the walls and window aperatures for Arley Box. I've drawn it out on graph paper, but it needs a bit more work.

 

 

Lastly a bit of planning on the other board. I was aiming for something like Didcot shed, but as always space is an issue. So I've had a look through my GWR engine shed book and come up with Westbury as inspiration. Given Westbury was my Great Grandfather's home shed and where my Mum's side of the family come from it's a good compromise. I will have to do away with plans for a lifting shop and compress it somewhat. The only niggle is viewing the back of the Coaling Stage. 

[didcot]

So I have been busy milling the sides for Arley Signal Box. I transferred my sketches onto a CAD package during my lunchtime and laid out the views.

 

 

 

I milled the sides from 2mm plasticard. The sides being held on the milling table with double sides tape. The digital readout is a godsend.

The pockets will have slat board inserts made from some evergreen moulded materials. I will trim those to size on the mill as well.

I've glued the brick sheet on the lower half and once dry will mitre the corners.

I need to file out the corners square as well. But pleased with progress so far.

Edited February 18 by didcot

[didcot]

 

I mitred the corners over the weekend and started to glue the walls together. 

 

 

And then added the floor which has helped square things up 

 

 

The brickwork on the corners has come out really well. I was a bit concerned it wouldn't look right, but the joint is hardly visible.

The wood board inserts are next and I have an interior on its way.

 

 

 

 

[didcot]

I'm struggling to fund any interior pictures of the original Arley Box. Does anyone know of a source?

[didcot]

Work on the box is progressing well.

 

My thoughts are turning to the lever frame.

 

The link below shows the 1960 track plan. I believe the numbers next to signal and points relate to the levers. But which is the point and which is the lock?

 

https://signalbox.org/~SBdiagram.php/?id= 669

 

 

[1722]

Just discovered this thread; lovely work and looking forward to seeing it progress. 

[didcot]

So some DIY has put a stop to progress. But I have managed to do something. I bought a battered Scenecraft Highley box for its chimney. It so distinctive and it was easier than making one.

I have struggled with the yellow brick painting and this is my best effort. I'm still not happy with it.