Jack P
Active Member
Hi all,
First proper thread of my own - mainly to document the slow progress of my first layout, Hardham Junction.
A little backstory, between August of last year and January of this year I finished the first part of the renovations on my workshop. This was to address some of the major weathertightness issues, and refit the interior to better suit my needs.
When we moved in, this side of the shed has been built as an extension to the pump room for the pool, and had been built to an ok standard. The main concern was the lack of insulation, or any moisture/water barrier. I'll likely cover this in more detail later, along with some of my other modelling work before starting the layout.
Anyways, Hardham; the junction in line from Pulborough to Arundel, diverging to Midhurst, fondly referred to as the 'mid-sussex line'. Sleepy in comparison to some other Southern Railway Junctions (Clapham anyone?). Rebuilt somewhat extensively in 1946, heavily simplifying the track plan and losing the spur running to a local brick company, a location that I stumbled on, mostly by accident but brimming with multiple points of interest. The topography is interesting, being mostly flat, but falling away either side, and then on one side crossing a bridge, and running under one on the other - both within sight of the signalbox.
Other features include the elevated Saxby & Farmer signal box, 3rd rail twin track main line (with diverging non electrified branch), and Level crossing on a crossing turnout - closely followed by the junction turnout itself.
So, the model. Why here? I could list of a number of reasons, but the truth is that I found the trackplan in a book that I was reading about something else, did some measurements and conversions into 4mm, and really couldn't find any glaring or obvious reasons why it wouldn't work for my current ex-LBSC/ex-SECR section focused approach to modelling. Plus, the more I looked, the more I liked. My chosen modelling period is the summer of 1947, so this was perfect. A rough trackplan was made in anyrail.
Right, so, with that sorted, I set about building some baseboards.
Fantastic! Except... wait... I should've figured out how big the boards needed to be before I built them. 'Doh!
No worries, some extra wood for the fire.
Version two coming together, the changes are the length, width and number of boards.
Assembly
This was my first attempt at building baseboards, second if you're including V1. I did it all with handtools and a drop saw. Parts cut from 9mm Ply, primarily glued together, with panel pins providing the mechanical fixing. I was concerned about this, but they seem to be plenty strong enough.
You can see the main differences, I've opted for rectangular boards, there are now three of them, and they're wider than before.
I've done a few little bits and bobs, since then, but work has stalled while I build the track and figure out how best to do the baseboard tops.
Lever frame - this will control the turnouts and signals, as well as work the crossing gates. I'll have a spare lever which i'm still trying to decide what to do with.
Bits for the signals themselves. I need to come back to these now that the materials I need have arrived.
Finally the crossover. Which is two adapted Finetrax kits, however since building, i've realised that the trackplan I ended up using has introduced a curve in the wrong place, so these may end up being scrapped - if this is the case, I'd like to try and build my own turnouts.
Really that's all for now. I've got plenty of learning and research to do from here, stock to convert, stuff to build, mistakes to make, and then rectify.
Any questions, please do ask.
First proper thread of my own - mainly to document the slow progress of my first layout, Hardham Junction.
A little backstory, between August of last year and January of this year I finished the first part of the renovations on my workshop. This was to address some of the major weathertightness issues, and refit the interior to better suit my needs.
When we moved in, this side of the shed has been built as an extension to the pump room for the pool, and had been built to an ok standard. The main concern was the lack of insulation, or any moisture/water barrier. I'll likely cover this in more detail later, along with some of my other modelling work before starting the layout.
Anyways, Hardham; the junction in line from Pulborough to Arundel, diverging to Midhurst, fondly referred to as the 'mid-sussex line'. Sleepy in comparison to some other Southern Railway Junctions (Clapham anyone?). Rebuilt somewhat extensively in 1946, heavily simplifying the track plan and losing the spur running to a local brick company, a location that I stumbled on, mostly by accident but brimming with multiple points of interest. The topography is interesting, being mostly flat, but falling away either side, and then on one side crossing a bridge, and running under one on the other - both within sight of the signalbox.
Other features include the elevated Saxby & Farmer signal box, 3rd rail twin track main line (with diverging non electrified branch), and Level crossing on a crossing turnout - closely followed by the junction turnout itself.
So, the model. Why here? I could list of a number of reasons, but the truth is that I found the trackplan in a book that I was reading about something else, did some measurements and conversions into 4mm, and really couldn't find any glaring or obvious reasons why it wouldn't work for my current ex-LBSC/ex-SECR section focused approach to modelling. Plus, the more I looked, the more I liked. My chosen modelling period is the summer of 1947, so this was perfect. A rough trackplan was made in anyrail.
Right, so, with that sorted, I set about building some baseboards.
Fantastic! Except... wait... I should've figured out how big the boards needed to be before I built them. 'Doh!
No worries, some extra wood for the fire.
Version two coming together, the changes are the length, width and number of boards.
Assembly
This was my first attempt at building baseboards, second if you're including V1. I did it all with handtools and a drop saw. Parts cut from 9mm Ply, primarily glued together, with panel pins providing the mechanical fixing. I was concerned about this, but they seem to be plenty strong enough.
You can see the main differences, I've opted for rectangular boards, there are now three of them, and they're wider than before.
I've done a few little bits and bobs, since then, but work has stalled while I build the track and figure out how best to do the baseboard tops.
Lever frame - this will control the turnouts and signals, as well as work the crossing gates. I'll have a spare lever which i'm still trying to decide what to do with.
Bits for the signals themselves. I need to come back to these now that the materials I need have arrived.
Finally the crossover. Which is two adapted Finetrax kits, however since building, i've realised that the trackplan I ended up using has introduced a curve in the wrong place, so these may end up being scrapped - if this is the case, I'd like to try and build my own turnouts.
Really that's all for now. I've got plenty of learning and research to do from here, stock to convert, stuff to build, mistakes to make, and then rectify.
Any questions, please do ask.
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