HeatonLodge40

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

Very grateful to you for that contact Andrew. He’s a top chap and they are superbly made

Still working on this last bit of HLJ namely the upper Huddersfield lines. These are actually only visible head on and from a good 6/7m away, but I’ll have to detail them otherwise it’ll just bug me. So today I’ve installed the retaining walls that meet the scenic break tunnel mouth. Fictional of course but every layout needs a scenic break I guess. The walls are actually plastic sheet glued onto foam board. Just couldn’t justify scribing DAS clay for something virtually invisible.. I prime these then simply use various mould green paints to go over them followed by gloss varnish to get the wet look. I’m reckoning this part of the line would get little sunlight hence the green damp walls. Immediately behind the walls is a separate section mounted on a trolley but where the camera is can never be seen in reality. That said the trunking goes all the way down, plus the other usual lineside stuff. The superelevated track leaving the tunnel makes a huge difference when you’re watching trains lean into a curve. Well worth modelling. I leave this lot to dry tonight and work on the trackside tomorrow. On another note the first of the 48 handcarts are starting to be delivered. These have a removable top deck so each can carry a 4’x5’ frame on both decks. I’ll probably attach some sort of rubber/foam to the metal horizontals to give some cushioning. These won’t be needed for quite some time for obvious reasons but at least I’ve enough space to store them

James I’ve thought of that but there isn’t the height sadly. !

Hi Les I started off using Scalelink. However I ended up having 100 large sheets specially made as the amount I needed would have cost a fortune.!

Yea it’s annoying cos the tea urn is the other side of the layout which now requires getting on hands and knees to access. On another note once Healey Mills at the other side is finished next year I’ve been working out there should be 9 x 56’s, 3 x 47’s, 5 x 40’s, 3 x 31’s 7 x 37’s and a few 08’s actually ‘based’ there. So they will basically live ‘on shed’ rarely going onto the main lines. I’m really looking forward to constructing HM which will of course be fully manual. With 8 large gantry towers lighting up the yard it should be great fun

Finally a closer look at that fencing, definitely improves the lineside if it’s done correctly

Another view with the track heading south west .. & lots of fencing waiting to be painted

Track circuit transmitters.. made of brass rod end slices. Cables yet to glue on and join to the rail as per the prototype, then weathering

Its always frustrating how when you’re coming to the end of a project how you suddenly find an easier way of doing something previously laborious. Ive just been laying the last of (I estimate about) 900ft of individual 1cm sections of concrete trunking. I’ve always used superglue but realise too late PVA is just as good and takes a quarter of the time. Last couple days I’ve been working on the lineside features for the upper level Huddersfield lines. After ballasting the track I add the concrete trunking (Evergreen styrene Channel section 268 - know it off by heart now), fencing, relay boxes, speed signs and track circuit detectors (TCT’s). These last yellow square objects are often still seen near the trackside even today although the newer grid type between the rails are more common nowadays. The fencing I use is Slaters wooden post type. It’s easy to distress and paint, tho you have to remember to cut off one post at one end (no fencing has two upright end posts) and some flashing. I prime it and spray it with AK interactive damp green and it looks good (another advantage of modelling a winter layout). Peco fencing is far easier to install, given it bends to contours, but I’ve never seen triangular horizontal fence slats so it’s a no no for me. And If I need fencing that follows the lie of the land I usually scratchbuild from styrene. As most will modellers will know fence posts are always upright whatever the contours of the landscape. Anyway some snaps of the very last bit of HLJ - the track of which is on a 1:90 gradient.

Those are some great memories to have! Yes the Hargreaves fuel oil terminal stayed open till the 1980’s and after the ‘New Line’ closed in the mid ‘60’s it was accessed via the L&Y line to Bradford via Heckmondwike. I’ve got some footage of a 9F climbing light engine up from HLJ through the dive under and up towards Battyeford. Thanks for sharing those memories Mac. Simon

Good question. One of the slowest running locos is a kitbuilt 08 which moves at about 3/4mm a second. Watch this space I shall try it !

Thanks for those comments Tony. Can I also say a huge thanks to my fellow modellers here on RM web who have offered their support over the years. It’s really made a huge difference. As phase 1 of this project draws to a close I’ll soon be making a start on phase 2 - a slice of Healey Mills. And hopefully when Covid has been finally overcome, the model will begin traversing the U.K. In the meantime the basement is being converted into a live streaming venue which will deliver super quality footage from mainly GoPro’s in multiple locations. As well as this we’ll have in-loco footage & aerial footage via a zip wire. Rob & Jonathan, the software chaps are confident this will be operational in the next few weeks. Back to this weekend and I’ve been working on the final triangular section. A more detailed update soon..

Yes true - there was actually 125 freights in both directions up to the late 1960’s. This when there were 4 tracks going east (as of now), 4 tracks west to the Calder Valley (L&Y), 4 tracks to Huddersfield on the LNWR route & the 2 tracks going directly to Leeds via the Dive Under (New Line). See diagram. Of course the New Line was shut in 1965 and that first part inc the dive under realigned to join the 4 tracks going east/west in 1970. I’d love to have been around then

Yes you are all dead right well spotted! There was only one occasion I saw loaded MGR’s heading east, in all the time I spent there. Just didn’t have time to change both trains onto the correct tracks. There was an occasional MGR on the Huddersfield lines heading east but never going up the dive under gradient, for obvious reasons.

If you’ve 10 mins spare bring your sandwiches for some trainspotting. Here’s a demo tape while I get to grips with videos.. This one is entitled ‘Coal is King’..and features Heljan’s brand new 56 hauling loaded HAA’s, a kit built Romanian 56 gets to grips with empties in the other direction, a ‘Peak’ with an unfitted freight and a little class 101 DMU heading west

Those last pics of the 56 have inspired me.! I shall have to add some newspapers and crew to the 56 before it goes back to Brian. In fact digressing somewhat, the MIOG event at the weekend meant HLJ was used for the very first time, as its meant to be. i.e with all 28 fiddle yard roads being used constantly. It revealed some small issues with faulty droppers etc which were easy fixed. Since then I’ve got no modelling done as I’m running trains all day. I knew this would happen.. New video on the 56 is being put together at the moment..

Thanks Giles coming from you that is most appreciated

Hi Mike, yes well spotted. Haven’t got around to it yet but it’s on the cards. Thats speed weathering for you

In the first video try and see how long it takes for the 56 to hit the gantry signals which automatically change to red.. In the meantime here’s another..

Ah yes, Well can I say with absolutely no disrespect to my friends at MIOG I was simply providing a venue for them to host their virtual event. My own live streaming later this year will be tested to destruction before a single frame is let loose believe me. I won’t be using the same equipment to boot. That said it was good experience for me watching, and they are a great well meaning bunch of modellers who were doing this for the second time. Anyway... Ben Jones at Heljan was brave enough to leave me his one and only Class 56 sample which I’m now testing to absolute destruction. Today (after he went home) it has run none stop with a fully loaded MGR train with 50 (yep 50) HAA’s. The Grid has run non stop for three hours through complicated pointwork, up 1:80 gradients and roared through the 35ft long dive under tunnels until finally being shut down at 8.10pm this evening. Now of course I’m biased being sponsored by Heljan but what a beast! I’ve always had a thing for Grids so if you share this passion I’m planning a ‘Grid’ day once more samples from Heljan arrive. This day will consist of nothing but live footage of Grids hauling huge trains. Assuming the power supply in the basement isn’t tripped, if you like ‘56’s you’ll be in for a treat. In the meantime here’s some quick snaps..

Couple more short vids here ..

Hi Andrew The 9F has the standard set up fitted by 55H who built it. I don’t think the speakers are as large as those fitted in the diesels. To be fair the 9F does sound pretty good in the flesh - the whistle especially so. However the smoke unit has packed up so it’s off for a new one soon..

For weathered concrete Precision Paints do the best shade I’ve ever used. To get the rough effect sprinkle on talc when the paint is still wet. For different shades of concrete do three mixes of the PP weathered concrete, 1 original, 1 with a few drops of pale yellow enamel and another with a bit more pale yellow. To finish I dip a toothbrush in yellow paint and flick spots of the paint over the concrete once dry to represent moss