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FEBRUARY 2021 UPDATE
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HYWEL THOMAS
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KARL CROWTHER
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PAUL JAMES
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PETE JOHNSON
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MIKE WHITCHURCH
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KIER HARDY
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As the restrictions continue it seemed like a good opportunity to continue with a fleet of
five-plank open wagons that were planned to be the coil carrying variant Hybar Coil but
got sidelined several years ago. Here we see a start being made on the coil cradles using
Evergreen strip.
Most of the fleet were to be five-plank opens with two different styles of brake gear but
one was to be the later BR version of the LNER steel Hyfit. This used the Parkside kit as a
basis - the changes can be seen here.
The results of the work with the Evergreen strip - 11 coil cradles. These coil wagons did not
feature moveable beams like some of the other designs and featured fixed cross beams bolted
to the longitudinal beams. The wood grain effect was scribed in and bolt heads were then added.
With the wagon build complete painting was started with the interior planking. The first coat
looks rather garish but will be greatly toned down with washes. The cradles were painted
separately to aid with the later toning down and weathering.
Here we can see a pair of cradles complete and awaiting fixing into the wagons. The wood
graining benefits from the paint washes.
At last the completed fleet! The toning down of the interior planks show up well from this
angle. The lettering on this fleet was notoriously varied and a good selection has been
represented. The lettering, based on numerous photos, was created using Adobe Illustrator
and printed by Precision Labels a few years back.
A few examples of the different styles of lettering on this fleet can be seen here. Apart
from the home-created lettering the rest of the transfers came from Modelmaster and Railtec.
With the Coil Hybars now in service the next project was one of a small fleet of just 16
unusual coil wagons converted from ex-LMS 21-ton coal wagons. The chassis is Parkside and
I’ve made a start on the scant remains of the original coal wagon body.
These wagons were the predecessors of the later Coil A and B fleets (one soon to be modelled
by Accurascale) and here we see the wood lined coil cradle under construction.
The cradle has been attached to the chassis and a start made on the complex series of beams
that supported it. The wagons were built for traffic from the John Summers steelworks at
Shotton. They worked with the early Single Bolster conversions and a small fleet of these
will be next on the workbench as it is known this type worked into South Wales on at least
one occasion and that’s good enough for me!
A close up of the end show where the three-bar sheet support was once fitted. By 1969 these
had been removed and they could be seen carrying galvanised coil from Shotton. There is some
rivet detail to be added but this will use Archer resin transfers after priming.
The wagon is nearly complete now after attaching the rather fiddly perforated double strips
for locating the moveable cross beams.
And here we can see the primed wagon awaiting the addition of the rivet transfers and then
painting. An unusual addition to the Morfa Bank fleet where it will work with the Single
Bolster conversions carrying export steel from Shotton to the river wharf.
The track plan - For Kendal Castle, I’ve used the Furness Railway terminus at Lakeside as
the basis. Basically I’ve always wanted to model this station and fortuitously the site
available suited Lakeside almost perfectly. Yes it’s had to be shortened quite significantly,
but the train shed itself can be modelled to something like its scale length. Also, Lakeside
was single, rather than double track, but overall I feel that the plan captures the ‘feel’
of Lakeside pretty well. And amazingly it only took me an afternoon’s work on Templot to
design it! A couple of significant differences to the real Lakeside has been the need to site
the turntable/loco servicing area at the opposite side of the main running lines and the
inclusion of the canal basin (marking the northernmost end of the Lancaster Canal, which
in reality was at the station’s supposed location).
Here, all of the Templot plans have been stuck together and laid out on the baseboards,
giving an impression of how it will all fit. The main station building will be at right
angles to the end of the running lines. From the left are Platforms 1 to 3, with the Jinty
standing on what will be the goods shed road (on the right). You’ll note the incursion of
the Arnside-Kentside ‘main-line’ in the immediate foreground. I was going to screen this by
curving round the backscene in front of it. However, as this would have obscured the view
of the main station building, what I regard as being a signature feature of the whole project,
I’ve decided to leave this end open to view and just paint the offending tracks a neutral
grey colour so they aren’t too obvious to the eye.
Kendal Castle Templot plan from the approach end. I’ve actually added another road to the
goods yard since this photo was taken, to service the canal basin - there should be just about
enough space to fit the terminal section of the Lancaster Canal on the left hand side of the
nearest baseboard. One potential drawback of the configuration adopted is that the station’s
backscene will obscure the view of a part of the fiddle yard, and so I plan to install some
CCTV to alleviate this. Hopefully we won’t get too many derailments in this area and track
cleaning will be a bit of a challenge. I guess the backscene will need to be easily removable
for such purposes, but that’s a long way in the future!
After joining up all the Kendal Templot printouts I next cut it all up into manageable sections
in readiness for construction on the workbench. Essentially the track is being built with the
sleepers/timbers glued directly to the Templot plan (Evo Stik). Track rivets have been placed
at strategic locations. As I’m using scale depth plywood (1.6mm), the rivets aren’t deep enough
so they can be ‘closed up’ beneath the sleeper, but they should give some extra strength in the
horizontal plane. I drill 1mm holes into the wood and then grip the end of the rivet in a pair
of pliers and force them into the hole. After sticking down the sleepers, the whole lot is
given a liberal coating of ‘Polypipe’ solvent cement. Primarily this has the benefit of allowing
the plastic railchairs to stick to the wood more securely and it also seals the paper surface.
As with all such products, do take heed of the safety advice provided.
Since the last update when I had boarded and painted the garage / railway room, work has
now continued on the layout itself. With the tracks taking up most of the baseboard width,
I've built some extension pieces on the front of the layout so that the railway can become
of a scene, rather than engulf it.
Out riggers with a plywood facia ready for filling and painting.
A start has been made on the scenic work, starting with the platform and the road overbridge.
It shouldn't be too long before the snow storm scene can slowly turn to green.
Hudswell Clarke ‘D2502’ has been lightly weathered and is now ready for service. The finish
was based on two photographs from 1966/67 showing the loco after the application of wasp stripes.
The two B4 dock tanks have also been completed. 30096 is lightly weathered and has the usual
pile of coal on the tank top enhanced by a short handled shovel from the 247 Development etch.
Sister loco 30102 is in rather more neglected condition and still retains
the original British Railways badge.
Continuing with a Southern Region theme, a new project on the work bench is this Heljan
33/2 from the Hereford Model Shop. It is being finished to run in a 1968-1971 era to accompany
blue Class 04 ‘D2294’ amongst others. Photos show 6590 in ex-works condition in the summer of
1968, and these are the basis for the model. Shawplan ‘laser glaze’ has been fitted, along
with enhancements to the handrails, lampirons, and roof panel patterning.
It's been a few years since the layout was retired from the exhibition circuit, but I'm pleased
to say that it's still receiving attention out here in Spain. There's been repair work to some of
the areas where delaminated has occured, as well as a conversion to DCC underway. Here we see a
Brush type 2 undergoing testing at Pudsey Junction stabling point.
With some of the ballast lifted and track repairs / conversion work taking place, the point
operating solenoids are being replaced with servo motor control. This top-secret screen grab
from a video shows further testing taking place in the area.
Meanwhile down at the station end of the layout, the overall roof has been removed due to
damage sustained at a exhibition outing some years ago, but luckily it was at the rear and
out of view so has been held together with duct tape ever since. Were it not damaged I
probably wouldn't have done anything, but as it needed to come out I'm going the whole hog
and I'm replacing it with a customised laser cut roof kit, which is based on Bradford Exchange
and will be most suitable for the job. The right hand image shows further destruction
development work being carried out in preparation for the rebuild.
With the baseboards on their side, it makes for an easy and comfortable way to add detail to the
retaining wall. The platform tops are made from white styrene sheet, so after the painted detail
is added, the white edging can easily be represented by scraping with a knife blade. Cable brackets
are made by chopping the bottom sections from iron railings (from Kibri and Ratio plastic kits),
and the different gauge cables are represented by computer ribbon strip and copper transformer wire
superglued in place.
The lower support wall for Bridge Street has been constructed, and the lineside cables painted a
grey / black colour. The arches have yet to be weathered and will appear lighter in colour once
mortar washes and streaking are applied, whilst the platform tops will be darker when they're finished.
The top of the wall hasn't lasted the test of time due to a reaction with the glue, so will be
removed and rebuilt to match the new sections, and will be bonded in place with epoxy resin instead.
Due to the viewing angle, a non-functioning colour light signal (with position light and a theatre
indicator box) was located under the bridge, and will be replaced with a new working wall mounted signal.
The stairs down to the platforms are situated off-scene at the other side of the bridge and are
represented by these black styrene structures in silhouette form.
A view looking under Bridge Street showing the steps in position, which now restricts the light
shining through and gives a bulk presence to the area under the station building.
The buildings on platforms 3 & 4 will be located under the canopy consisting of this brick built
structure made from a MDF carcass clad with South Eastern embossed styrene sheet.
The windows on the other side of the building haven't been modelled, as they can't be seen from
the viewing side. Other detail parts made recently include a range of Cadbury chocolate machines
(with YZ chewing gum machines for the Market Street newsagent) which have been printed and wrapped
around some Evergreen section.
Inspired by the variety of platform buildings and canopies at New Barnet station C1970, the brick
structure has been joined by a timber structure, the latter having much higher windows
(for non-passenger use). Advert boards have been made from styrene sheet with 10 thou" beading and
the period adverts scaled down on the computer, printed and glued in place.
An aged piece of 4mm plywood from the works stores was cut to size for the canopy and bonded to
the pair of buildings, shown here with the upper sections under construction. Timber Tracks
LNER/GNR (cat no T4SNEV) laser cut valence has been glued on and given a blast of white primer.
A pigeon's eye view of the station project at the end of January. It's all looking a bit
grey at present, with more colour variations and finishing washes to be added as part of the
weathering process.
Everything in this scene (apart from the platforms and retaining walls) is removable for access
so that further detail can be added, such as additional support columns for the larger canopy,
installation of 3rd rail, litter on the tracks, signage, and populating with passengers.
Due to the lack of social interaction during this last 12 months, as well as no exhibitions on
the calendar, I'd like to share this virtual running session with you all, recording all of the
rolling stock and locomotives resident at Hornsey Broadway in January 2021. It's still very much
a learning curve with regard to filming and editing, but the process has been enjoyable putting
it all together (with help from Sara and her whizzy computer). Please click on the image to view.
