A (nother) China Clay layout

[matto21]

OK, where to begin?

I've always had a passing interest in China Clay operations. I think my interest was initially piqued with the Pengwynn Crossing article in RM in 1994 (?). Ever since, I've kept an eye out for layouts that feature China Clay.

I don't know why, I guess it could be the ramshackle and run down nature of some of the locations and lines.

Anyway, the other morning I randomly had the urge to do some Googling of ECC locations and flick through some of my saved layout references, I still don't know what prompted it!

While Googling, I came across photos of Carbis Wharf and Ponts Mill and I was inspired!

I'm aware that I've made little progress with Talerddig other than a pile of half finished buildings and stock, and I am still plodding along with it (I will lay track soon I promise...) but there's nothing wrong with thinking/imagining out loud is there?

Now this probably isn't going to go anywhere, but I thought I'd start a thread just in case it does!

Matt

 

[jonte]

You’ve grabbed my interest straight away. Smashing idea, Matt.

Must check them out.

And absolutely nothing wrong with pontificating, starting, losing interest and then going off on a tangent. If the modelling’s good, who cares?

I recall Chris Nevard doing something similar, although from memory, it was more cement related, but my point is that I recall him writing that he quickly gets bored with a layout which is why he keeps them small. So if it’s good enough for a modeller of his calibre, it’s good enough for me

Contrast that with a modeller somewhere out there who claimed he was reluctant to share his modelling attempts with the rest of model railway world because, as he explained, if he didn’t finish it, he’d feel embarrassed. To me, that borders on the vain.

Looking forward to more, Matt.

Regards,

Jonte

 

[AdeMoore]

As a Withered Arm fan and anything vaguely North Cornwall Line Bodmin WenfordBridge I’m hooked!
Subbed looking forward to this, like a bit of thinking and imagining out loud!
Andrew Ullyott currently building Cheddar over on RMweb did a Carbis Wharf inspired layout in P4 Wheal Elizabeth.

Wheal Elizabeth | Layouts | Scalefour Society
Eurotrack 2009
More western region I’m guessing?
Cheers
Ade

 

[matto21]

Thanks both for your comments!

Jon, that'd be Cement Quay you are thinking of?

Ade, along with the aforementioned Pengwynn Crossing, other layouts that have caught my eye in recent years have been Wheal Elizabeth and Iain Rice's Trerice. There's also a thread about a layout called Trethosa on RMWeb, although sadly it hasn't been updated for a long time.

In terms of size, I don't envisage this being a sprawling epic, rather I was thinking about a footprint of 4' x 1'. Maximum train size would be four clayhoods. Locos could be 25's which could be shared with Talerddig or even a 37, of which I have a red stripe one stashed away! Some of the freight stock, clay wagons aside, could also be shared between layouts.

I'd idly thought about using one of those well known laser cut baseboard kits available with a fascia for ease and weight (I built the baseboard for Talerddig but I'd hoped to make it easier for myself), but having done some research online yesterday, these don't fit in with my budget, so some more thought is going to be required.

As a first step, I've ordered a Ratio Clayhood kit to test the water...

Matt

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Ah, you could always be different and set a china clay layout at the end user i.e. somewhere in the Potteries or heaven forbid in GW country near Worcester.

As a student I recall loaded china clay wagons sitting in the sidings at Stoke-on-Trent waiting for delivery to the Wedgewood factory.

 

[AdeMoore]

Oh nice work Matt ratio clay hood only to test the water mind! I must repeat I don’t need a clay hood I don’t need a clay hood! I tend to get swept along by discussions such as this one.
Do show us the outcome with it.
Baseboards not sure on your budget but I’ve seen the SMS ones built to good effect. No front fascia but you could add that.
LASER CUT MODULAR BASEBOARD FOR MODEL RAILWAY, DIECAST & MODEL DIORAMAS | eBay
Twin large ends and a large centre is change out of £50.00 delivered.
Me I’m really toying with styrofoam baseboards, well definitely gonna try a test one. Read on FB somewhere to make a bigger hole for point motors and install them from above as a module the point being removable, I like the sound of that.
I’ll look up the other threads you mentioned.
Cheers

 

[John Duffy]

Me I’m really toying with styrofoam baseboards, well definitely gonna try a test one.

Not wanting to send this thread off course but have you identified a decent source of styrofoam in the UK? I’m looking to do the same.

John

 

[PaxtonP4]

Unless you really want Styrofoam brand for some reason then extruded polystyrene foam is available from Jewson's - theirs is yellow.

 

[matto21]

Ade, thanks for the link, I'll have a browse later.

John, go off course as much as you like, this is only a random thought process at the moment anyway!

While browsing FB the other day, I came across a reference to Marsh Sidings in a disused railway group. Some further searching turned up this photo.

Now, obviously not China Clay related in the slightest, but I was really taken with the proximity of the line, road and buildings, so it's going into the pile of ideas for the layout!

Matt

 

[Ressaldar]

Not wanting to send this thread off course but have you identified a decent source of styrofoam in the UK? I’m looking to do the same.

John

Hi John,

Styrofoam (the blue stuff, and the flooring grade - Floormate is what you need) is stocked by Warren Insulation and Sheffield Insulation and I am sure that they have outlets throughout the country.



regards

Mike

 

[NHY 581]

Nice idea, Matt.

Trerice is 4ft 8 1/2 long.

I use IKEA table tops for my cameoesque efforts.

This is Bleat Wharf, my latest. 4ft x 16 ins.

Rob.

 

[AdeMoore]

While browsing FB the other day, I came across a reference to Marsh Sidings in a disused railway group. Some further searching turned up this photo.

Now, obviously not China Clay related in the slightest, but I was really taken with the proximity of the line, road and buildings, so it's going into the pile of ideas for the layout!

Matt

That’s a great bunch of photos there, very inspirational model layout wise.

Thanks Mike on the styrofoam I hadn’t actually got as far as finding where to get it.
I’d looked into this thread on RM and the various links in it of which there are lots! Styrofoam Baseboards ?
Your tops look pretty thick 9 or 12 mm where as Styrofoam Baseboards ? John there is using 4mm and only where the track is going but he does have cross bracing underneath which I’m hoping not to do. Second look is the last photo the bottom.? I’m sure it is so you make a box with a bottom and pop the styrofoam in?
Cheers

 

[Ressaldar]

Hi Ade,

Our boards are for an O Gauge layout 40’ x 16’ and the Styrofoam is 75 thick.

We are now some six years on and there is no sign of any working or delamination of the ply from the styrofoam.

Regards

Mike

 

[Tappa]

We did St Minions in a space a bit smaller than 4x1. China clays plus 25's
I'm sure there will be piccies knocking around the net of it.

Jeff

 

[matto21]

We did St Minions in a space a bit smaller than 4x1. China clays plus 25's
I'm sure there will be piccies knocking around the net of it.

Jeff

There are, and a very fine layout it is too!

Matt

 

[ullypug]

You can never have too many china clay layouts!! I did build Wheal Elizabeth a few years ago and sold it after some 25 exhibitions. The beauty of the layout was it wasn’t specific to anywhere or any time, meaning I could run anything I wanted. Dimensionally it measured 2m long and varied in width from 0.3 to 0.45m. Originally built as a FY to terminus, I extended it to through running meaning I could run passenger trains too.
Hope you decide to continue with it. Let me know if I can help at all.
Plans have been drawn up for Lizzie’s successor as I’ve got all the stock, and ordered more in the meantime with Kernow’s PRA’s and Tiger! Trouble is I’ve Cheddar to finish, a small PDSWJR layout to build etc., etc...!

 

[matto21]

Thank you Andrew, both for your kind offer of help and for your comment, especially as Wheal Elizabeth was a layout I followed over on RMWeb.

I've taken the plunge and ordered a clayhood kit, hoping to rectify the underframe issues along the way.

Matt

 

[matto21]

Hi chaps,

Just a quick question. Have any of you used flexible plywood such as this?

My local B&Q doesn't stock bendable MDF anymore (I bought the last sheet they had and used it for Talerddig's backscene!) and was curious about this as an alternative.

Thanks

Matt

 

[jonte]

Hi chaps,

Just a quick question. Have any of you used flexible plywood such as this?

My local B&Q doesn't stock bendable MDF anymore (I bought the last sheet they had and used it for Talerddig's backscene!) and was curious about this as an alternative.

Thanks

Matt

I haven’t, Matt, but could be worth looking into.

In the past, I’ve made a series of partial cuts in the rear of thin ply using a tenon saw which allows it to follow a curve without fracturing. Needless to say, it will, however, need supporting top and bottom to maintain the curve.

Hope this is of use.

Jonte

 

[matto21]

Thanks Jon, another thing to look into then.

I think I'm going to use the BB017 micro layout baseboard from Scale Model Scenery - I just need to do a bit of measuring when I get home and before I place an order.

Talking of ordering, I've ordered some lengths of flexi track today...this has snowballed quickly from an idea!

Matt