Popular Post allan downes Posted April 27, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted April 27, 2016 Simon has give me the go ahead to post the first stages of Heaton Lodge Junction a massive four track main line layout in O Gauge so I thought it deserved its own thread. Enjoy ! Allan on behalf of Simon George. HeatonLodge40 HeatonLodge40Registered Member Members 16 posts LocationSheffield & Birmingham Posted Today, 09:24 Since this months BRM magazine has given the ongoing construction of Heaton Lodge an airing I thought if there was any interest I'd update progress here every few weeks.For those who haven't read the mag Heaton Lodge Junction is situated just West of Mirfield in West Yorks and is where the L&Y's Calder Valley & LNWR's Leeds to Huddersfield lines converge.From 1900 it's also where the LNWR's 'New Line' - a completely new route to Leeds began.In 1970 BR completely remodelled the junction, getting rid of the L&Y's lovely box, replacing the existing semaphore and ex LMS unique 'speed' signals with colour lights controlled by Healey Mills power box some 8 miles away. BR also utilised the first mile or so of the now closed 'New Line' and where the track had originally veered North after burrowing under the CV line it was reconfigured to meet with it thereby creating a non conflicting junction which replaced the original flat crossing.My interest in this location is personal as I spent about 3 years of Christmas and Summer holidays here spotting from about 12.I'd always harboured a desire to model the location and originally planned to do it in EM or P4 but settled on 7mm for a few reasons especially since Heljan are manufacturing loco's and rolling stock that exactly fits in this era.The model is 1.3 scale miles in 7mm set in the winter sometime between 1982-5 and works out at 160ft (55m) viewing area or 180ft including the covered curves at each end. The gradient of 1:137 is also being worked into the model meaning over the 160ft the track rises about a foot or so. It's a continuous run with a fiddle yard around 150ft long and 14 odd storage siding. About 40 odd 4ft X 4'6'' frames incorporating the track modules have already been manufactured by White Rose model works up in Bedale. Norman Saunders is the track builder whose using Peco concrete sleepers and flat bottom rail and C&L ballast to get the correct effect. Allan Downes has built the many bridges and tunnel mouths although I've covered his stonework in DAS and carved it to achieve the look of the dirty sandstone common at the location.To be candid I knew unless I spent much time practicing, given I wanted to construct all the scenery myself I was never going to be near to the standard of the above master craftsman so have spent the last couple of years practising static grass techniques, road making and fence/wall construction on about 40 odd mock polystyrene embankments to get near the right 'look' of HL in the winter.I'm a bit of a detail freak so I'm hoping the level of detail on the model will be high but I'll let you be the judge of that from the following photos.From the 40 plus boards in total down the viewing side I've finished 9 as of now. I'm finishing around 3 a month currently so the model is on schedule to be finished end of next year..Be happy to explain techniques I've used on to get the Winter look of course..Apologies for rabbiting on..here's some pics..Attached Thumbnails 34 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giles Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Good Lord, let me be the first to say this is absolutely stunning! Time for the rest of us to pack up! Where/when can we see more? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted April 27, 2016 Author Share Posted April 27, 2016 Good Lord, let me be the first to say this is absolutely stunning! Time for the rest of us to pack up! Where/when can we see more? Simon's hoping to finish it sometime at the end of next year and, for such a project, that's really going some. Anyway, he intends to keep us updated as and when. Cheers. Allan, riding on the back of Heaton Lodge ! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium The White Rabbit Posted April 27, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 27, 2016 Thanks for the thread & pictures. It's certainly one I'll be following. As well as the size and detail, the season - winter - will make this special. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 (edited) Simon's hoping to finish it sometime at the end of next year and, for such a project, that's really going some. Anyway, he intends to keep us updated as and when. Cheers. Allan, riding on the back of Heaton Lodge ! Well Allan without your advice and encouragement there is no doubt the project wouldn't have got off the ground as smoothly as it has..Wait while we get to the two huge bridges over the Calder you built Edited April 28, 2016 by HeatonLodge40 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted April 28, 2016 Author Share Posted April 28, 2016 (edited) Well Allan without your advice and encouragement there is no doubt the project wouldn't have got off the ground as smoothly as it has.. Wait while we get to the two huge bridges over the Calder you built The only advice I gave was not to let Robinson build the bridges ! Seriously though, you've got all the talent needed to carry this out on your own. Sure we discussed various techniques but who dosen't. It's how all model railways get built, mine included where I copy other people's ideas then claim I invented them ! Robinson's doing it all the time ! Anyway, who was it that was showing me how to make grass stand up and make realistic road surfaces - and who rivetted the bridges ! Cheers. Allan Edited April 28, 2016 by allan downes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 Looking at the sheer size and length of that cutting it's hard to imagine how the railway navvies of the day cut it all out with not much more than picks, shovels and wheelbarrows. Even by today's standards and with all the high tech earth moving equipment available it would still be a massive undertaking - then again, why did they need a railway cutting when the surrounding terrain looks quite flat anyway - and what happened to all the spoil ? Thank christ for hot wire cutters aye Simon ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Looking at the sheer size and length of that cutting it's hard to imagine how the railway navvies of the day cut it all out with not much more than picks, shovels and wheelbarrows. Even by today's standards and with all the high tech earth moving equipment available it would still be a massive undertaking - then again, why did they need a railway cutting when the surrounding terrain looks quite flat anyway - and what happened to all the spoil ? Thank christ for hot wire cutters aye Simon ! I wonder if the cutting was excavated to give spoil for embankments elsewhere, meanwhile easing the gradients a bit. Looking at the area on Google Maps, there seem to be lots of both cuttings and embankments. This looks to be a beautiful model; I hope to get a chance to see it one day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted April 29, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 29, 2016 (edited) Looking at the sheer size and length of that cutting it's hard to imagine how the railway navvies of the day cut it all out with not much more than picks, shovels and wheelbarrows. Even by today's standards and with all the high tech earth moving equipment available it would still be a massive undertaking - then again, why did they need a railway cutting when the surrounding terrain looks quite flat anyway - and what happened to all the spoil ? Thank christ for hot wire cutters aye Simon ! It's not that deep a cutting. And it may have been done primarily to provide material for the nearby embankment. (Edit: Brian beat me to it) Edited April 29, 2016 by Joseph_Pestell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Allan - very true about the cutting, the odd thing is the height of the banks seems to have decreased even over the last 30 years. But the work that went into them in the 1840's must have been huge. Originally there were only the two lines of the L&Y the LNWR lines added a few years later. If I'm honest the bank on the North side of the model (where the road is) is a little higher than it should be. But it gives it a bit more drama! Here's the location in a couple of different era's - in the steam pic the girder bridge taking the New Line to Leeds veers away North. Nowadays the bridge and line has gone of course apart from the first mile or so which is now realigned to make the 1970 junction using the original dive under tunnels.. Both these photo's taken from Woodend Bridge carrying the original access road to Mirfield Shed.. 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 The length of the four tracks from the bridge to the junction seen in the distance scales to almost exactly 40ft in 7mm. This is where we are now - the junction is being constructed by Norman Saunders as we speak. Then it'll all come to me for the scenery. What's impressive to me is Norman has even obtained the drawing for the point motors from Westinghouse (-now Siemens) to make a truly accurate model of the motor housing. The junction here features working cranks on the pointwork and the double junction is over 3 boards - 12ft! I must make an appointment to see my GP for the OCD 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted April 29, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 29, 2016 The length of the four tracks from the bridge to the junction seen in the distance scales to almost exactly 40ft in 7mm. This is where we are now - the junction is being constructed by Norman Saunders as we speak. Then it'll all come to me for the scenery. What's impressive to me is Norman has even obtained the drawing for the point motors from Westinghouse (-now Siemens) to make a truly accurate model of the motor housing. The junction here features working cranks on the pointwork and the double junction is over 3 boards - 12ft! I must make an appointment to see my GP for the OCD If you think that's impressive he has been making inquiries elsewhere on the 'net about the pattern of switch heaters in use at the time the model is set. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 One of my favourite pics from the late '60's and before the 1970 remodelling is of a TransPennine DMU about to pass under Woodend Bridge on route to Leeds (courtesy Neil Harvey) 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 With all the interest shown, maybe now's the time to reveal a few secrets Simon and in particular how you are building the embankments from scratch. I'm sure your methods will be of the greatest interest and, from what I've seen, quite revolutionary. Cheers. Allan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porcy Mane Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 What, no subway? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomstaf Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 This has really caught the look of a wintery day Allan and Simon! It's shaping up fantastically and I'm looking forward to seeing it! Cheers Tom Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Cheers Allan. I wouldn't say there's any revolutionary techniques involved but if anyone's interested I'll explain now the materials/techniques to achieve that Wintry rough embankment. That said, if Heaton Lodge had been modelled in Summer I'd have still used the blend of grass I use. It's easy to fall into the trap of green grass as it rarely actually is. Have to say Giles video's on here about static grass really helped a couple of years ago. However.. In the formation of the banks themselves given there is 100 metres it had to be a quick and easy method that gives outstanding result (Allan I took your advice that speed is crucial here). This bank below from carving the polystyrene to this took less than 1 hour which doesn't include waiting overnight for the ready mix plaster to set..its easy to do and gives great results. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 My banks are simply expanded polystyrene sheets glued with no more nails type glue leaving a square block about 9-12'' high. It's possible to use the old bread knife but an industrial hot knife that cuts/carves about a metre at a time is a good investment if your layout is large. Once the banks are carved to shape I use B&Q's ready mixed filler/plaster to coat the entire embankment. Once this is done I'll nab yet more pebbles from the garden path and press into the plaster. Leave to dry. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Ah sorry upside down but you get the drift. The walls are plaster cast from 10 commandments and using a hot glue gun glued straight onto the polystyrene. Then given a wash of dirty grey watercolours. Doesn't matter if the plaster hasn't fully set next on goes the PVA glue for the grass. I've tried all the static grass glues and to be honest PVA works just as well for me 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Then on with the static grass blend. I spent literally weeks of using various mixes to get the basic final blend for Heaton Lodge. It's 60% Mini Natur Late Fall 6.5mm and 40% Noch wildegrass beige in 12mm. Mini Natur is tough to get readily in the UK but it's first class stuff. I go to their German website and order in direct.. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Static grass machines..given I'm doing a huge amount I needed a powerful one but that's not to demean the others available. Mine is the RTS Greenkeeper from Germany and it's very good. On with the blend.. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 (edited) Now this is the critical stage that lots miss. Either.. Get some soil from the garden, bake it in the oven till dry then crush or sieve it till extra fine. Or get some of Treemendus' earth powder and liberally sprinkle it all over the grass. It immediately gives it that authentic matt look. Next get the vac out and pass the nozzle close to encourage the grass to stand on end even more. Almost there now.. Liberally spray Matt varnish all over the grass. Before it dries I use woodland scenic blended turf earth blend and drop it randomly here and there to mimic weeds. Finally.. Rough grass is different lengths so to replicate this spray more Matt varnish in random places before going over these patches with the static grass gun again. Give the whole lot more Matt varnish and we're done. Four foot of embankment not including carving (which is about an hour) and overnight drying time for the plaster is 1 hour and 10 mins. Beats a grass mat! Edited April 29, 2016 by HeatonLodge40 7 3 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted April 29, 2016 Author Share Posted April 29, 2016 Thanks for that Simon, now get off my thread !! Seriously though, a more than welcome masterclass in scenery build up. No faffing about, straight in and at it, all done in just over an hour. The way to go especially when you've got 180 feet of it ! Look foreward to more tuition - what you like at cathedrals ! Cheers. Allan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatonLodge40 Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Thanks for that Simon, now get off my thread !! Seriously though, a more than welcome masterclass in scenery build up. No faffing about, straight in and at it, all done in just over an hour. The way to go especially when you've got 180 feet of it ! Look foreward to more tuition - what you like at cathedrals ! Cheers. Allan. Cathedrals? I'll leave those to you. Haven't the foggiest mate! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giles Posted April 30, 2016 Share Posted April 30, 2016 (edited) Me too. - thank you for a first class exposition, on one of the most effective results I've seen...... Everything on this layout 'ties together' so well... A 'bench-mark' layout. Allan, look to your laurels! Edited April 30, 2016 by Giles Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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