HeatonLodge40

Last shot of this triangular section. I’m glad I included it, it wasn’t in the original plan but the vast area makes a huge difference.

You can just see the tunnel mouth of the overground Huddersfield lines in the distance..

a view through the tunnel mouth looking towards the junction along the above ground Huddersfield lines. Ironically the retaining wall and most of what you can see can’t be seen from the viewing area!A view of the completed huge triangular scenic section with backscenes still to be completed and fitted 

As of today (20-1-21) the scenery on phase 1 of Heaton Lodge Junction i.e. the 200ft scenic side is finally complete. (I think the first static grass laying began in 2014)!

I can’t remember how many bin liners of grass the scenery swallowed but it’s into double figures. The last smaller shipment from Mini Natur in Germany landed yesterday..

All that remains to do scenery wise now is another epoxy resin pour, as too much matt varnish in the air has dulled the shine of the river a bit too much.

I’ve constructed the first of the two river weir barriers to hide the frame joins too. These will look far better once the epoxy covers the bottom of the barrels.

So going forward there’s still a bit of non scenic work to do on this side which comprises:

1. Fitting the black Perspex sheets which will completely cover all the curves (which join the fiddle yard/Healey Mills to the scenic side.) I don’t want the trains seen here can’t work out why!

2. More black banners to hang down from underneath and cover the trestles in both the fiddle yard and connecting curves.

3. All the lighting gantries are awaiting assembly- these cast light onto the model from the front and over the heads of visitors

4. The backscenes to be printed onto the existing white aluminium boards and fitted (I’ve had made some special brackets for this).

5. 40 odd front information boards at the front to show pics of the real place & info. 

6. The automation is still work in progress (cos of lockdown unfortunately) 

7. crowd friendly barriers around the whole model - that’s nice ones you can lean on with a footrest so kids can get a better view (all being constructed)

I reckon the above will take a couple of months before I turn my attention to the fiddle yard & Healey Mills.

Both of these areas will also get backscenes too.

HM will get its 100ft lighting towers first before I’ll get to work on the maintenance building & myriad of siding.

On another note the steam fans amongst you are in for a treat soon. The 9F is currently being fitted with no less than 4 smoke units that will blast steam from the chimney, safety valves as well as the pistons and under the cab. In fact there should be so much you might not actually see the loco. Watch this space..The very last area to be static grassed..I always mix the grass together in a cheap blenderStraight from Germany the last bags from Mini Natur

Back to the triangle today and although I’ve almost static grassed the whole area of about 60sq ft I’ve never been happy with the  visible joins between the sections mounted on the trolleys. 
So today I decided to use a spare box of 50ft of ‘stone’ walling to disguise these joins.

I’d asked ‘Ten Commandments’ about five years ago to run me off 300ft of their excellent plaster cast walling that runs almost the full length each side of the main lines on HLJ.

It’s the most realistic walling I’ve come across although it’s quite brittle but takes watercolours really well.

Having dug some more sections out I start by brushing on a thin wash of burnt umber and grey and let it soak in. I often spray the top in matt varnish and and sprinkle on Woodland Scenics burnt grass flock along the top to mimic moss. Might mist a bit of green over the whole section too before fixing it in place using a hot glue gun.

Once in I disguise the joins with the old dolls hair (postiche/canopy) then sprinkle on the crushed leaves material or more ‘burnt grass’ flock.

Finally the whole lot gets the frost treatment.

Anyway it’s disguised the gaps ok & with more slaters fencing added too I’m a bit happier.

First post of the year, hopefully a better year for us all. 

I’m cracking on during January finishing the triangular section of scenery. 
Basically I make a list of all the details to add (once I’ve completed the static grass) which is what I’ve been doing today. 

I’ve allowed two weeks to get all this done after which I’m going to start assembling all the lighting gantries, which provide light from the front and above. 
 

No reason to post these pics it’s just my favourite location on HLJ.

I’ll update soon..

Well folks here is the first of the Modelling Masterclass series - this one dealing with that ubiquitous subject of creating the best static grass.

Apart from realising I need to lose a few pounds I quite enjoyed making it. Hopefully get a bit easier as the series progresses.

Thanks to Jonathan D for filming & editing it..

Been rather a stressful week I don’t mind admitting. 
It’s been at the back of my mind for some time - given the sheer size of HLJ, and the constant testing work the locos are undergoing, I needed to get a proper maintenance schedule sorted out.

This all came to a head on Wednesday when a (prearranged) film crew arrived to capture footage of HLJ. As well as putting up with multiple locos stuttering (despite the track being clean) they just missed kit built 56009 lose all its wheels from the front bogie before collapsing on its side like a dead pig.

So I've now stopped modelling temporarily so all locomotives can go through an 'A’ exam which by my definition is wheel clean, pickup clean & oiling gearbox & axles. 
Have to say I put a 46 (and my pet Colas 60) through it today and both now run perfectly.

With a couple dozen Heljan locos due to land next year I’m going to have to be much more disciplined with maintenance from now on.

Added to which I’m going to offload much of the kit built traction cos they seem to have between them a similar traffic availability of a real Clayton Class 17.  
 

Incidentally the camera crew were filming for another series next year celebrating Hornby’s centennial. Whilst HLJ has little to do with that subject they are devoting a whole episode to HLJ which is very flattering. They are due back after Christmas to film at the real location. Should be aired in March next year I believe. 

There’s even 5 minutes on static grass! 
 

Starting next week I’ll be uploading the first in a series of YouTube videos (with the link on here) on creating particular types of scenery found on Heaton Lodge Junction.

Without wishing to come across pompous, these videos will be the first in a series of ‘Modelling Masterclasses’ with the emphasis on redefining realism.

I suppose, given this projects timescale I’ve picked up and learnt a lot of what to do, and what not to do’s.!

Moreover the great Mr Downes taught me how to work fast without compromising on detail.

So next week will see the first video on creating the ultimate in static grass. It’s quick, it’s fast but gets great results.

I’m planning future videos on : 

: modelling water features

: modelling undergrowth 

: modelling lineside features such as concrete trunking

: civil engineering eg retaining walls

: stone walls & fencing

: roads & tracks 

: paths and walkways

Anything else of interest you’d like to see covered let me know.

Simon 

oh and it’ll all be in the book too 

Dolls hair before and after..

need to clean the excess flock off the concrete trunking yet 

Still working on the 30ft final section of double track- yep the Huddersfield upper level lines.

Three layers of static grass later, plus lots of dolls hair to create undergrowth/weeds & the small embankment is coming together.

Pics show the bare dolls hair (often sold as canopy or postiche) being covered with spray matt varnish. After the dolls hair is soaked I sprinkle woodland scenics Earth blend through a sieve. Just ‘lifts’ the scenery off the floor if you know what I mean.

Two lines on the left are the (usually covered) dive under lines 

Not much modelling this week for a change. What I did do is adding detail to the Huddersfield double tracks on the upper level. 

However I did run Heljans new 56 for a full 8 hours last week on an Eastbound MGR train - I’d been wanting to do this for a while.

Totting it up I’m pretty sure it covered around 7 miles (which is, ironically about 5 times the length of the real Heaton Lodge Junction) by the time it was shut down at 6pm.

The trusty old kit built Romanian 56009  is also seen here heading west a minute or two later. The sound file on this is so much better, hopefully it’ll soon appear on the Heljan 56 

56064 is booked in for an oil and wheel clean tomorrow 

A very short clip here but shows what maybe achievable with weather effects in the future.

Using a backscene that rises up and over the layout which can then project mist, and what looks like rain I’m pretty sure can be done