Monks Ferry: a layout for the Grandchildren.

[jonte]

The arrival of my first section of track heralds the start of the project:



Planning can begin.

Meanwhile, the glue-ing on of lamps to brackets to signal posts, continues in earnest before I face the task of re-routing several below board wires to accommodate, which no doubt will require use of the soldering iron and shrink wrap (if I can find it).

jonte

 

[jonte]

Work on the towers continues, but I’ve reached the point where I’ve run out of materials (I’m surprised at the sheer quantity of materials they’re consuming….)
Thus, a sojourn over the border into W. Lancs. will be required later today to restock. With Hattons gone and my local model shop seemingly running down stocks to concentrate on the sale of drones and RC models, treks of this nature will become more frequent. At the moment, costs of postage are mounting - a necessary evil I suppose - but if I need materials urgently, I’ve no choice but to travel. There’s a Widnes Models a short drive from Hattons- and well stocked too - but the website is none too specific, and I know from Hobbies’ site that they have what I need in stock. Never mind, I’ll go during my granddaughter’s afternoon nap so I won’t be missed.

With mention of towers (tower), all three sides have been fitted with their decorative features; the rear is just dressed as per the rest of the building as it will be almost hidden. I’ve started work on the plinths - with more on the bench being made ready - although the dearth of suitable materials has resulted in the sides remaining bare and unsightly:



Rather than waste valuable time at the ‘bench’, I turned my attention to the base to ensure the build stood up straight on its own, as it’s getting a little too difficult to hold as the build progresses, scrap styrene utilised for the purpose:



Finally, here’s a picture as promised of my attempt at the effects of acid rain:



As I wrote previously, it’s only a token attempt at this form of weathering/erosion, but a full blown replication of the process would just take too long to do it justice. I’ll still do a tad more before priming but that will be it. Incidentally, the ‘attacked’ freeze goes around the towers too just below the pelmet, with the amount of erosion being less severe in places as per the real thing.
Also seen are some minor additions such as the inclusion of half round to the top of the lower freeze, and lintels to the upper storey niches, once more from watercolour paper.

Cheers for now.

jonte

 

[jonte]

Pleased to report that the second of a total of three baseboards is complete, apart from countersinking the screw heads in the track base which will be completed when glue has dried.

The base shown complete and just needs the track bed attaching:



‘Two become One’ (Moira Anderson), assisted by bolts and removable hinges both sides:



The tracked goes on:




Not a bad fit, even if I say so myself, for somebody of extremely limited handyman skills:



Another henge-like appearance:



Tomorrow I’ll order yet more wood for the final push.

Frankly, it won’t be the last order either: so far, I’ve struggled with regard to access, and it’s only now at this point of construction, I realise that better access is required, both to aid future construction and maintaining the layout when finished. Consequently, the intention simply to extend the existing bench ain’t gonna cut the mustard, so a total removal is now planned once the third board is completed, to created a bench which is situated centrally along the available space so that both sides can be accessed a little more easily. Will still be a squeeze, but far better than the current situation.

This was realised when I to clamber onto and over the baseboards (yet again) to insert the removable pin into the split hinge that connects the two boards, on the far side. To say my patience is wearing thin……….

Still, pleased that yet more progress has been achieved, and more importantly, it seems to fit the bill.

So on that lighter note, thanks for your interest and likes.

jonte

 

[jonte]

I’m extremely pleased to report that the third baseboard is now complete, and along with it, baseboard construction as a whole.

Here are the boards connected together (the total length takes up most of the room, and I only just managed to get it all into the picture! It looks a lot longer in real life):



It really has been a tight squeeze:



(This end will need rearranging as it’s purposed for other uses - garden furniture storage - which will be undertaken during construction of a new bench to support the model).

T’other end:



I envisage a through station just before the curves at this end similar to Vauxhall in the Smoke (I have a name already: Tithebarn, just to continue the Merseyside naming theme). The awful modern office buildings seen a short distance from the station in popular views will probably be modelled in half relief behind the curves.

Further views (including a couple from the halfway line):






Way too early for scenic tasks, I thought I’d throw in a couple to show how and where the terminus (Monks Ferry) will be situated, using the shed roof (which will be cut down from three to just one roof), and the half /two thirds /one third, even(?) built station building, which will be sited above the curved tracks at that end to fit it in, and which will form my version of the classic train set tunnel:




Under the roof:



And finally, you’ll no doubt be pleased to learn (apologies for boring you all with these!), here’s one with the station building plonked roughly in the middle of the layout to provide another sense of scale (still doesn’t look as big here as in the room:



In all honesty, the whole layout will be deconstructed and turned one hundred and eighty degrees so that the station is at the far end of the layout. This will aid sight of the platforms as my preferred operating position will be from in front of the window (this way I won’t have to squeeze past the end nearest the door every time to operate it…….

Right.

Bit of a blow, as building this has involved some derring-do gymnastics to say the least, then it’s on to tidying up before ‘addressing the bench’.

Cheers,

jonte

 

[jonte]

Whilst I fully intended to address the next issue before track laying could begin i.e. a new bench for the layout to sit on, and as mentioned in my last, I couldn’t help feeling that that awful ancient ceiling light needed addressing too.

After seeing a set of six LED lights (240V) for sale on line, the notion of a sort of ceiling hung canopy or pelmet (suspended on chains like those above Billiard tables) occurred to me. So, with a further order for more timber secured, supplemented by some left over ply from the baseboard build, I set to work (as usual, no drawings or dimensions………..).

After a couple of days, a skeleton of sorts:



Then, some ply cladding to the sides:



……….and ends:



I really wish I’d bought an impact drill for all the screws in the build to date, however after already investing in some new electrical tools for the job in hand, I didn’t want to test the patience of the domestic authorities too much (I’ve already popped two drills thus far, having to rush out and by a third on Friday…..).

And so, say a couple of days to fill the holes and add a spot of emulsion or two, it will be on to fitting the lights, followed by an attempt to attach it to the ceiling, and I should be done.
It’s not full length (only eight feet), but it already weighs a ton. I’m sure there would have been a lighter way of doing it, but employing new ideas instead of sticking with the old tried n tested ways of yore, has already proved a bum steer, so I’m just sticking with traditional ways and materials which (I believe, not being a DIY-er) should do the job.

jonte

 

[jonte]

Another interim post just to continue my ‘warts ‘n’ all approach’ to this project.

I’ve begun wiring up the LEDs which will be a task in itself as each has to be tailored to its position in a lamp; this to ensure that feed wires don’t sag beneath the gantry and become exposed, the reason I increased the depth of the gantry crossmembers in the first place.
The process is extended time-wise by having to test each individual assembly twice: once when the wires are attached by soldering to a resistor, then removing the resistor to allow heat shrinks to be threaded onto each wire before adjustments are made, then reattaching the resistor and testing again to make sure all is still in working order.

Despite using the thinnest wire I could find (USB wire purchased for the task) it’s still a struggle to navigate them along a comparatively narrow corridor as this, as they’re stiffer than you would think when contorted as necessary. It also puts a strain on the bulbs in their holes, twisting them from their original positions and thus exposing the wires, which can then become visible through the gantry. In order to combat this, I’ve ordered some black-tac which can also be used to hold the pre-shaped wires to the crossmembers of the gantry.

To this end, I’m also going to retain the end pair of brass rods originally intended to enable the platforms to detach. These will help keep the wires horizontal and form a fulcrum for the wires to wind around as they descend along the stanchions. As it’s like threading a needle, their ability to slide in and out greatly assists with the task. Probably the only point working in my favour thus far……….

And talking of the gods conspiring…… when I came to remove the removable gantry section, only one end came away when I removed the brass ‘pins’ holding it in place. Bearing in mind I’d opted for superglue for the additional crossmember supports, my blood ran cold. Fiddling with a blade quickly followed by the blade of a screwdriver, it quickly became apparent that it was that particular end of the gantry which was stuck fast, or at least the lower third. Working with increasing force, I eventually managed to prise it apart using a large disposable stance bladed knife. Somehow, styrene glue had flowed into the lower joint fixing it fast and I reckon I was lucky to get it apart without inflicting further damage.
A quick clean up with fine files and wet and dry paper returned everything to normal.
The only good point was that it tested the robustness of the build, my scratch built additions proving their worth.

Finally, I returned the hand rails of the upper gantry to the jig for re-soldering as that bulbous joint on one of the legs was annoying me, to say nothing of the half hooped guard that had bent out of true when adding the offending leg. I should have extended the joint with the main rail further along. Perhaps it would have been easier to fabricate another, but there simply wasn’t enough brass rod left over to make a new one.

The realigned rail can be seen atop the gantry in this (still just placed for the photo) shot:



Hopefully I can return to the model tomorrow (Sunday) and complete the Led soldering job.

Thanks for reading.

jonte