aberdare

Morning all

I have an old Danish friend of mine and his wife visiting today. So once I have given the house its final clean we and they have arrived it is off out for a spot of Sunday lunch, a day off from kitchen duties for me then.

I doubt I'll get much modelling done but then I get a number of days like that.

Whatever your doing have a good day.

Jim

Morning all

from a bright and sunny East Yorks. Much better than yesterday when it was wet & grey and I had to take wife to Hull for some appointments, it wouldn't be so bad if I didn't live in the far north of the Riding and the Hospital is in the far south of it. Good job it is only a small County but it still took an hour and a quarter each way.

So a much quieter day today and some time for myself I think as the wife will be in bed most of the day.

Very sorry to hear of your friends loss Debs, I can only hope you both get through it OK..

As for 7th birthdays I can't remember mine either, I think we were living in Tobruk at the time though.

Morning all

Bit of a dull grey start with drizzle here on the Yorkshire Wolds and looks set for the day. I had better find something to do in the old garage today but have to be careful of some drying varnish - and no, I did not varnish the Physio.

I hope the problems that some of have all resolve themselves over the next day or so.

Morning all, I hope there's room for another 'litlle un'. I am usually up and about at this time before embarking on my domestic/caring role and of course always on RMweb. I am a pretty quiet, easy going sort of person who believes life is too short to get wound up about anything, so I don't.

Looks like being a nice day so may get out into the garage after physio this afternoon.

Jim, you are capturing the magic of Hemyock and it's a pity the 'outside' working conditions prevent progress there.

 

But looking forward to indoor work on the buildings..

 

 

Regards,

 

 

Thanks John

I am sure there will be odd days when I will get out there even if it is to fit the odd thing or two. I will be carrying on with all the buildings over the winter and hope to have them all completed by the spring.

Very good looking layout John, and nice to see Hemyock modelled in its original form.

Will you be modelling the various odd weird and wonderful locos that ran in its early days?

 

All the best,

Dave.T

Thanks Dave

I always wanted to model in its early form and of course will use the trees that overhung the station, a good a backdrop as any. But that has just reminded me that could be another winter time job. As for the rolling stock I will want to make the engines, starting with 1300 with a straight backed bunker and open cab. I just need to practice my loco building skills again on a number of unfinished kits. In the meantime I will use a Metro tank which I hope to modify and my Ratio 4 wheelers plus a few brass kits i have had for 30 odd years.

I have made a start on the platform - for the third time, didn't like the first two - and hope to have this in place so I can complete the ballasting etc between the platform and the river bank retaining boards (completed today).

Hi Jeff

Been a bit tied up with the wifes appointments etc the last few days, but with reference to the glue I only used the contact adhesive to tack the track before fixing it with PVA and ballast. As with others I used a decorators scraper to get them up but I did damage a couple by being too heavy handed and impatient.

Your trackwork is looking good and I look forward to more progress.

Jim

Hi Jeff

I have just fixed my cork and track with a contact adhesive. The cork has adhered well to the board as I found out when I had to move a bit, I totally destroyed the cork and had to sand the board to relay it. I found it stuck the track down initially but with the warm weather of the last few days it has allowed a little bit of movement between joints (I have no rail joiners) where I think the curvature of the track has pulled it to one side, it is minimal though. It could be that I have only tacked it in place awaiting ballasting for which I will use PVA.

All the best in your track laying.

Jim

Hi Nick

Thanks for the comment. The mortar is just the base of the wood with a diluted matt white wash, it depends on how much light is on it as to how white it looks which you can see when I used the flash. I think it looks enough like lime mortar to pass.

I did look at using coffee stirrers as I have loads but they were a bit too wide and didn't absorb the creosote so well. I tested them first to compare results and to check if the stain dissolved the glue I used, obviously it did not, which I was pleased about.

I hope to spend the best part of a day on it this weekend all being well.

Jim

I have managed to spend a bit of time on building the Cattle dock during the evenings as I need this to get the correct position for the road and bridge over the river. Here is a brief update of progress so far.

The Cattle dock was made from a block of MDF and covered in some thick paper stones - these are all parts from my wifes scrap box from when she built Dolls Houses, I cut the stones to random sizes and fixed them individually. It took some time.

The colour was already painted onto the stones when I found the paper. The stones were then bent around the corners and fixed.

After a few painstaking hours I have this.

It was then time to sort out the sleeper made ramp that leads to the dock and again I discovered some balsa wood scraps in the box and made them from those. These were fitted to a cardboard frame and all glued to the dock itself.

Colouring was by using some creosote substitute that was knocking about in the shed - well it is what would have been used isn't it. I did have to leave it outdoors for a bit though.

I hope to get a bit more colouring complete and then move on to the dock rails and the groundwork on the base of the pen as and when I get time. Hopefully after Friday I am hoping to have a bit more time.

Jim

I've just spent over 3 hours in the company of fellow RMwebber Schubert, playing with track, in situ, in the bunker.

 

This has led to major changes in the trackplan - mainly driven by the size of the curved Marcway points which didn't fit the geometry of the existing, Peco 75-based plan (see much earlier posts). Consequently, other ideas emerged... details and (very messy) pics to follow.

 

With any luck, tracklaying will commence within the next few weeks... Now, what do I need to order? Cork rolls, Dremel, Evostik, drills, files... great fun!!

 

Jeff

Hi Jeff

Firstly well done on completing the Viaduct, it is definitely something to be proud of. It is good to know that the track laying is about to start at last. As for the plans they never seem to fit, even with mine which is a prototype model I have had to fit a 6" extension to part of it despite measuring it all out and being confident it was correct. Sometimes things just don't look right and it has to change.

I look forward to the new plans and seeing that watching that permanent way go down.

All the best

Jim

Yes - stopped in Hemyock at the Castle SC apartments a long while back - a good holiday - was there a connection with the St Ivel Creamery - Works? - I recall some sort of Branch Line......

 

....remember a first visit to Beer when there (1995) and the excellent PECORAMA

I've not been to Beer since 1984 when I went for a management job at Peco, got down to the last three then it was postponed because of poor sales due to the home computer boom. When I was invited back down again I had already moved on, Oh well, what could have been - certainly not a 27 year break from the hobby.

On my visit to Hemyock there was nothing left to see except a building site.

Hoping to get some work down around the Cattle dock area this weekend before next weeks heavy schedule of the wifes appointments which will slow things up.

Jim

If you can ever visit Coldharbour Mill at Uffculme you'll find an 'every station and halt' model of the branch. The car park to the mill is on the site of Coldharbour Halt, and you can walk the line into Uffculme along the footpath.

Luckily I visited this in 2002 before venturing on MkII. It was closed to the public at the time but when I got talking to a member of staff I was allowed a private viewing, can't remember what happened to all my old photos though.

Hi Paul

Have read your thread from start to finish over the last couple of evenings, your work is indeed something to be proud of. I shall follow with interest from now on.

Jim

Nick

Thanks for your comment and I hope it lives up to my expectations too, you always have an idea of want you want it to look like but achieving it is another matter. I will probably extend some of the scenery in places once it is permanent as I always feel it gives it atmosphere, I will just do my best and see what happens.

John

Yes you are right that is a good book and one of the ones I am working from (I listed the title wrong in my first post - oops). Thanks for commenting and I hope I can capture the feel of it that makes it so attractive.

Progress today.

I had a bit more time than usual today so got 'stuck in' literally. All the track has now been fixed except for the two shed lines to allow final adjustment when they are built. The final end of the factory line has also been left until I work on that end. The river has also been cut out as far as the road bridge.

After doing the final adjustments I couldn't resist taking this shot to see if it matched the one in the book, it just needs the driver and not my temporary branch engine.

Which should look like this http://www.disused-s...k/index34.shtml

Jim

Hi Joseph, just seen your comment come through as I was writing. Yes, I am looking forward to doing the Junction as it will be the main focus of the layout, I've got an awful lot of kits to build as well to get all the stock. It looks as if I'll be busy for many years yet.

Hi John

Thanks for that,I was hoping it looked something like it. The two sheds aren't really that close as there is a gap between them, I think the end on photos make it look as if they are touching. Space is not really an issue as it is 11ft long and around 30inches wide, I may have to compare it to pictures in other books I have and adjust before a permanent fix is made.

I have seen the book you mention and may buy it as even one extra photo could be useful, I have been tempted a couple of times. Thanks for reminding me.

Jim

After following a few threads on here I thought it was about time I made a start. I have yet to replace my garage (old asbestos) which has a distinct lean with a newer workshop (20x10ft) some time next year. In the meantime I have started on the branch terminus as a friend has kindly offered to house it during the destruction and erection of the aforementioned buildings.

A brief history of events

I first stared this layout (MkI) back in 1978 and got both stations and some buildings in place before changing jobs and of course house causing it to be scrapped in 1984. It was started again in 2003 only to be stopped again the following year for yet another job/house move. I moved with it twice more until taking early retirement to become a carer and downsizing in 2010 when it was scrapped again. So here we are with the final version - I am not moving again.

The start

As I need all my savings for the new shed I started the layout on some old doors and have got some track laid to the following state so far.



I have been comparing the laid track with early photographs to try and get the correct alignment with the original station. Believe me it has been moved and re-pinned several times despite having a grid system to get positions correct to my drawing. I also made a couple of temporary sheds and a platform to help in getting the correct positions.



Hopefully I have captured the lay of the tracks well including the sharp curves. Next job is to complete the track laying to what was the old butter factory and cottages beyond the station, then chop out the river. I will leave some of the scenic details until next year when it has a permanent home and I can cover the join.

References are from several books including;

GWR branch terminus Vol 2 - Paul Karau
Branch lines around Tiverton - Middleton Press
Culm Valley light Railway - Michael Messenger

and of course http://hemyock.org/m...070125171009335

I hope the link works as It is the first time I have tried it!

Jim

Hi Jeff

I have been following this from the start and I must say the Viaduct is looking good, you must be relieved it is close to be finished. I have been waiting for the track to be laid and am looking forward to how it progresses from there, It's hard to believe it has taken over 500 posts to reach that point though isn't it?

I hope to get 'stuck in' on my layout next year when I should get a new garage, in the meantime I shall continue following yours, be inspired and dream.

Jim

Jim, I was a complete scenic novice when I started MM and had only limited experience of making building kits before constructing the Weighbridge Office which was my first scratchbuild. If I can do anyone can. Have you started your own layout thread as I would like to see how you progress?

Hi Nick

I will be posting something soon as I have just started to lay some track for Hemyock, I just need to check the alignment against the pictures I have. Progress will probably be slow until I get my new workshop next year, in the meantime I will be inspired by work like yours and have a go.

Jim

Hi Nick

Great work and a fantastic layout, like others who have commented I think the photoshopped background is very good. I too have just started a GWR branch and need to include a lot of the things you have on yours, if I can achieve anything close to your work I will be more than happy. Some of the things are the timber framing on the station building, short flat topped water tower and the general yard appearance.

I shall look forward to more on this.

Jim

I have just discovered this thread and I am impressed by what you have done so far. I am going to Kitbash/renovate a lot of my models in the near future and it is good to see some of the techniques used and what the results are. I shall be following this from now on as I am on the site a bit more than I used to be, hopefully I will be happy enough with my efforts to post them too.

I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Jim