Richard Thomas

Interestingly, but not suprisingly, there's a "stoney silence" on the GOG forum about Heaton Lodge

22 hours ago, FulhamTim said:

Thought I was making real progress until I realised as I fixed the last fishplate that I had glued the rail down the wrong way around so that all the keys were on the inside.  Thankfully I have managed to remove the chairs from the sleepers, which are already firmly fixed to the base board, and without damaging the rail that is correctly fitted.  As punishment I threaded the 50+ chairs on to a new piece of rail and will have another go tomorrow at gluing it down the right way around.

Yes......I have also managed to do this 

During the early/mid 60's I spent some time helping at the KESR on infrastructure clearance and maintenance and am sure that the yards at Northiam and Bodium were laid with lightweight (probably original) FB rail.  Bodium is such a lovely prototype to model and I shall certainly be following your progress with interest.

On 06/11/2020 at 18:29, FulhamTim said:

I have started to lay the track.  I have printed off the specific Templot templates for this board.  I have laid the track using the C&L Finescale parts (3 bolt chairs and 8 feet 6 inch timbers) with the chair keys alternated in direction on the basis that the track operates in both directions.  It is 60 feet lengths as the line was re-laid around 1948 (with track recovered from the Elham Valley Railway) so I am assuming standard BR practice.

 

 

Track laid on Templot template

 

 

Track ballast detail (station area).

 

I was not sure whether it was ballast or ash (apparently this was used until the demise of steam and the loss of this source of material)  Checking various sites ballast was around 2” in diameter (paragraph 4 and 5 of "Rail_ballast_technical_data.pdf") so is a scale 1.2mm.  Interestingly this dimension seems to be the one used for 4mm rather than 7mm.    Woodland Scenics Medium ballast is graded to 1.6” to 2.4” and Fine is 0.5” to 1.6”. The deatils are in the Woodland scenics Table. I could not find the Woodland Scenics Fine ballast easily in any decent quantities so I purchased some War World Scenics Extra Fine ballast.   I compared this to the Woodland Scenics Medium ballast and it is finer so I am using this as the basis for the ballast.  I have laid the ballast using dilute PVA applied with a dropper pre sprayed with water and washing up liquid to break the surface tension and allow the PVA to flow. 

 

When I get to the station/sidings I will user finer ballast material that is available from War World Gaming.  This site has a wide range of materials that I could be useful.

 

As you can see I have also started on the landscape.  

 

 

SculptaMold laid over the foam base.

 

I have used Sculptamold over the foam base.  It is a strange mix of fibres and plaster.  I have washed over this with Acrylic Burnt Umber and then with Vallejo Model Color Earth Textures - Dark Earth and Earth Texture Sand.  That provides the base before I tidy up the ballasting, apply flock, paint the track, add the fencing telegraph poles etc etc. 

 

Such a lovely project which I shall certainly be following with much interest.

Although I've seen various YouTube clips of Heaton Lodge I only found this thread last Tuesday, since then I've worked my way through all the postings every evening after work.

I must say that I'm exhausted and amazed, both by your stamina and enthusiasm for this project together with your obvious talents and gift of being able to observe and recreate such detail on your railway.

Although you are working single-handedly you are, quite rightly, not afraid to call in professional help when required.

Bravo Simon and I raise my glass to you!

Cheers

Richard T

Phil.  I do like your layout.  You have that rare gift of making the railway look like part of the landscape rather than the landscape being part of the railway!

Bravo, and please keep the updates coming.

Hello Colin...its definitely something that we'll look at....however, a lot of people won't use cards because of the security issue, you'd be surprised at how many people won't use them...and looking at the news tonight, regarding TSB....I don't blame them.

Jeff

I do think that your reply displays an element of commercial naivety!!

And just remember that last word,       RESTING!!!!!!!!    

 

It's very important that you do rest Andy, so catch up on some railway books and maybe some railway films on YouTube. The potting shed will still be there when you're fit and well again.

 

David 

Andy......please do follow the various Cardiac Rehab courses etc. that the NHS will offer you.  I had exactly the same procedure as you done in August last year, the aftercare that you will be offered is brilliant.  Go for it and Best Wishes from me!

It's very brave of you to dismantle the entire loco......it looks a to put back together!!

Well the first trains were run on the wharf this afternoon, even 33008 had a little run as well, and some shunting took place, must say we enjoyed the play, still plenty to do, next will start the cobble stones not sure how we will tackle that yet might be the DAS again ? l have got some warehouse ideas in my mind, but that will be much later,

 

Also l have put the layout up as high as l can and its now up to almost eye level....much better....

Is that a MOK Q1 loco George?

Hi,

 

I should have said that I am asking £150 for this loco Ono.

Forgot to put it in before.

Regards,

Dave

Hi Dave

Is it numbered 61, 36 or 55?

Thanks

Richard