Roger Sunderland

So, following on from my last layout, Carsdale, (see BRM Dec 2016) I'm looking to go back to a bit of urban grot for the next one. Been very impressed by Edge Lane junction, Wigan Wallgate et al. My youth was spent around the Liverpool to Southport line and Bootle junction was one of the few places on it where serious freight services could be found crossing over (under?) the electrified lines and linking the rest of the country with Liverpool docks. I have in mind a section of the electrified lines with 502 emus but with freights crossing over through North and South junctions. A little bit of "licence would give me the daily 2 coaches from Southport, added to the back of a Lime St to Euston service, plus a few troop or diverted services on the Liverpool Exchange to Southport line. With the tunnels and different levels it could be very interesting. I've seen various threads etc on here that mention this area but despite searching the Internet I'm struggling. Any help in where to go research wise, photos, articles etc etc would be much appreciated. Depending on the info I'll see if I can work up a plan. Here's hoping!

I'm sorry Mike, the unit and support vehicles are kept in a purpose built wooden box and are in store with the layout at the moment. If you look at the Nov issue of BRM you can se(some of it) on the Kensall Green shed layout.

If you are looking for a truly prototypical crane can I suggest you have a look at "Wild Boar Models" website.A 3D printed model, very easy to build and after painting and weathering really looks superb. It's also the model that Bachmann are threatening to release but don't hold your breath on that one. Our model runs on the "Horfield" exhibition layout and never fails to attract favourable comments.

Thanks for the photos Graham. The station building is also nearly complete, photos to follow. As some of you have made enquiries, Bournemouth West's first showing is likely to be at Swindon in September next year. Still an awful lot to do though.

Hi Tony Good to see you again at Wigan(working on Horfield and had a chat before dinner in the hotel). Admired the Isinglass van on your stand on Sunday. Can you tell me if the kit is generally available please?

And so do I Bert C . I used to go into the shop in Chandlers Ford and what a help Dave was. Sad to see this go but inevitable I suppose, as someone has said previously, getting hard to find specialist suppliers now.

Well it is portable and is designed for exhibition showing - so what are you thinking of Paul?

Many thanks for your help on this Paul, will give this a try. Frank would you like to have a go at this?

Yeah, I seem to remember someone said they were going to build one!!!!!!

Thanks for the encouragement Colin, much appreciated. DLT, we are aiming for a first showing around the beginning of 2018, fingers and everything else crossed.

Sorry 2P shot attached now.

Here goes with some more shots of how things are progressing. Apologies cos I'm no photographer. First up a shot of a dirty 2P leaving the station and passing the water tank area. Next a picture of what will be the forecourt area with the first part of the station and Queens hotel. Then we have a shot of the under bridge, still there, on Surrey Rd South This is Weymouth held at the signal The final shot shows the newly installed loco turntable in the fiddle yard, also gives some idea of the size of the layout

Hilarious, well said sir. Shades of here we go again with this one!

Now with added chimneys.

It's been a while, other things getting in the way again but the first part of the station building has now reached this stage. If it's upside down can someone please adjust. Why does it do that???

I agree with Heather Kay. There is no such thing as a concrete colour, depends on the weathering it gets. Having said that Railmatch concrete is a good base, then using photos or the real thing build up the weathering with a variety of washes and/or dry brushing, till you get the desired shades.

I promised a "build sequence for the station building so here goes. If some of the photos are upside down perhaps some kind soul would put them the right way up as I have not yet worked out how to do this. One of our group is able to provide a computerised (not laser) cutting service that can do incredibly accurate shapes from a variety of materials up to 5mm thick. The basic shell is cut from a very strong but light plastic material used normally in the sign making industry. The window/door spaces are cut out oversize. Why will be apparent later. Overlaid onto the basic she'll is SEF plasticard sheet, preprinted and with a backing of very strong double sided adhesive. The window/door openings in this layer are the exact size and again, computer cut.

Well testing has continued at a pace this week. Apart from some wheel guage issues (why do Hornby insist on a wheel guage different to all other known ones?) and a little tweaking of some point check rails all has gone well. I will post some photos of the trains we have been testing but a Bradford service comprising 11 bogies and a West Country has had no problems. Nor has the Brokenhurst push pull set comprising Hornby Maunsel set plus air control van and M7 so it bodes well.

Will do Paul.

Just an update. Today, at long last, the 16 road traverser and accompanying loop, to reverse full trains ready for their next turn, was finished and tested. Hallelujah! To be fair though we have only run a loco through everything so far - testing with up to 12 coaches is still to do. We had obtained the original plans of all the major railway related buildings some time back and Frank (better known as Ceptic Frank on this website) has done some fantastic work on scaling and drawing these to 4mm. The main station building has been broken down into 3 main parts and I hope to cover the build of the model in stages as I do it. The main shell will be from Foamex, as was the goods shed, with overlays of SEF English bond brick sheet. The main building was quite a complex shape. The following should give some idea but I will try and entice Frank to add some of his stunning drawings as well.

Apologies for the lack of any recent updates but November and December were a bit of a right off due to other commitments. Since the start of this year we have been concentrating on the fiddle yard, it is a mammoth task. Various plans, all involving ladder storage sidings were tried out but none really fitted the bill until one of the group suggested a traverser. But we'd need at least 16 tracks and each one would have to accommodate a loco plus 12 coaches says I - stupid boy! We also wanted to move locos to the front of outgoing trains so they would be ready for another incoming service, without having to physically handle them. So was born Dave's masterpiece and the initial results can be seen, hopefully, in the attached pic. The whole thing runs on rollers and for transport can be broken down into 3X 4' boards. No complicated electrics, except for a DCC reversing module and, best of all, not one point doing away with all the associated costs they entail.

Fabulous work on these buildings, they really capture the feel of the place. I lived my early years in Southport and spent many spotting days at both Wallgate and North Western. Will follow with interest.

Recently bought some Satin cote and gloss cote to protect transfers. Pants!!!!! From the description on the bottle I thought they would do the same job as The old Johnson clear. All it leaves is a nasty white chalky deposit ( even the gloss). Complete waste of money. As both Vallejo and Lifecolour paints are readily available online I don't know why anyone would use this inferior range.

Let's try this. The photos are never going to be the best, cos I'm not a photographer, but here is the tank house anyway. Base is Foamex, overlaid with SEF English bond brickwork and various micro strip. Still needs weathering before placing on the layout.

Thanks for all the lovely comments, we are all re-inspired. I'm currently building the tank house, quite an iconic building, before making a start on the station. Pics will follow.