jonte
Western Thunderer
“In all the years we’ve been married, I’ve never yet seen you build a train set with all the grass and trees (she means scenery) and moving trains like we’ve seen at the model railway shows!”, exclaimed my stoic other-half in a fit of disbelief when I announced my latest endeavour. And you know what, fellow Westerners, she’s right (as always; but don’t let on I wrote that).
You see, despite my litany of incomplete threads started with the best of intentions, it’s true that I’ve never built a layout - I won’t even say ‘finished a layout’ as, if truth be known, I’ve always been nearer start than finish. There are myriad reasons why, but the key is that I don’t have the skill or ability I like to think I have nor the stamina for maintaining an interest. So with the Mea Culpa done and dusted, what’s different this time?
Well, with the announcement several months ago of the joyous news that we are soon to be grandparents, and a long-held notion that all children like toys that move, I decided once and for all that this would be the opportunity to build something appropriate and see it through to the - I won’t write ‘bitter’ under the circs - end.
So, with the preamble out of the way, what to build?
The traditional roundy was an obvious choice, and for all the right reasons, but with only a realistic 5’ width or so available in my den, the choice of plan was limited. A mind to the future that would see my daughter accommodating it (she’s quite particular like her mother!), despite having a larger house than mine, soon put paid, so it was back to the drawing board. Now, I’ve always wanted to build Minories, but messing with the plan had me going round in circles before ending up with something gargantuan that bore absolutely no resemblance to the original. And this brought to light the main cause for my inertia over all these years: I’m plagued by indecision! So that was that.
But in essence, Minories unfettered, was something that had entertained generations of modellers, so who was I to alter it? (I did consider adding a couple of points from the kick-back out of platform three to join with the inbound line that would allow a train to enter the platform while allowing one to leave platform two simultaneously as per B’Head Woodside, but there I was going off on a tangent once more). So, with available space, design already worked out and a renewed determination to stick to the plan, all I needed to do was build it.
Easier said than done, but I got a head start when I mentioned being stuck for time to my brother-in-law, who in next to no time had the ‘carcass’ available to take away - I’m a little too dilatory for him, and my chopping and changing and delaying of working dimensions while work progressed, made him a little fractious but I’m pleased to report that, as you can see from the photos, I now have something to work with.
I’m still not sure about how the final scene will pan out, but eventually, I’m thinking of clothing the front in some sort of viewing screen possibly held with the use of magnets. I do however, have a number of old photos of Liverpool scenes which I’m hoping to incorporate.
Which brings me to the point of location, period and Company portrayed.
With it being just a train set for grandfather and grandchild to bond, I’m not going to be stuck too rigidly to prototype apart from to say that it will be a former GWR terminus, set in late BR days and based around Liverpool. Actually, I had Disused Stations: Birkenhead Monks Ferry Station in mind when I was thinking of a setting, but apart from the coincidence of also having had only three platforms, it will bear no resemblance to the original. I do have it to thank for the name, though; well the ‘Monks’ part anyway which contained no punctuation as far as I can tell.
In fitting with this contemporary plan, I’ve decided to use Peco Streamline (and what a job to acquire post-pandemic - thanks to Dave at Roxley models, here) opting for medium (electrofrog) points in keeping with the original design. I shall also be using standard Peco point motors. Fortuitously, the decision to build Minories as intended has provided the opportunity to use up all the point motors, flex track and wood I’ve accumulated over the years, so will keep it all topical in terms of carbon footprints.
Talking of using what I have and being relevant, I’ve decided to dig out from my wardrobe that Bachmann EZ Command controller that’s been waiting for it’s starring role for several years, so this will see me going DCC - control wise only; points and hopefully working signals will be SPDT switch operated with which I’m more familiar. As it’s new territory, I shall check that it all works by DC first, but I’m optimistic.
So, with all these firsts for me in my mind, fellow Westerners, I hope and trust you will permit me to introduce ‘Monks’, and while a little underwhelming compared to some of the very best modelling to be found here, I hope it might capture your attention and prove a little nostalgic for some.
Jonte
Folded. I've some clasps to to keep the boards attached (in the vertical) and yet to be fitted. The pattern makers dowel (male part) can be seen at the end of the fiddle yard board. Cassettes will be utilised here.
The frame including diagonals to prevent twist. These boards are bomb-proof, but care is still required to ensure that the board being lowered remains in one plain so as not to strain the pine hinge bearers.
The assemblage laid out with fiddle yard attached (which still needs boarding out).
Track has been laid out and datum marks made on backboard and ends as the whole will be covered in thick cork tiles with the ends laid in more 12mm ply to make the joints more substantial. To further assist with the placing of the points, holes have been drilled below frogs and tie bar and matchsticks inserted so that when turned over, they can be removed and the holes redrilled through the cork.
I wouldn’t have bothered corking the base as I’ve been at pains to keep everything flush at the joints, however, the track will have to be raised as I’ve decided to incorporate these redundant ‘supports’ into the station:
You see, despite my litany of incomplete threads started with the best of intentions, it’s true that I’ve never built a layout - I won’t even say ‘finished a layout’ as, if truth be known, I’ve always been nearer start than finish. There are myriad reasons why, but the key is that I don’t have the skill or ability I like to think I have nor the stamina for maintaining an interest. So with the Mea Culpa done and dusted, what’s different this time?
Well, with the announcement several months ago of the joyous news that we are soon to be grandparents, and a long-held notion that all children like toys that move, I decided once and for all that this would be the opportunity to build something appropriate and see it through to the - I won’t write ‘bitter’ under the circs - end.
So, with the preamble out of the way, what to build?
The traditional roundy was an obvious choice, and for all the right reasons, but with only a realistic 5’ width or so available in my den, the choice of plan was limited. A mind to the future that would see my daughter accommodating it (she’s quite particular like her mother!), despite having a larger house than mine, soon put paid, so it was back to the drawing board. Now, I’ve always wanted to build Minories, but messing with the plan had me going round in circles before ending up with something gargantuan that bore absolutely no resemblance to the original. And this brought to light the main cause for my inertia over all these years: I’m plagued by indecision! So that was that.
But in essence, Minories unfettered, was something that had entertained generations of modellers, so who was I to alter it? (I did consider adding a couple of points from the kick-back out of platform three to join with the inbound line that would allow a train to enter the platform while allowing one to leave platform two simultaneously as per B’Head Woodside, but there I was going off on a tangent once more). So, with available space, design already worked out and a renewed determination to stick to the plan, all I needed to do was build it.
Easier said than done, but I got a head start when I mentioned being stuck for time to my brother-in-law, who in next to no time had the ‘carcass’ available to take away - I’m a little too dilatory for him, and my chopping and changing and delaying of working dimensions while work progressed, made him a little fractious but I’m pleased to report that, as you can see from the photos, I now have something to work with.
I’m still not sure about how the final scene will pan out, but eventually, I’m thinking of clothing the front in some sort of viewing screen possibly held with the use of magnets. I do however, have a number of old photos of Liverpool scenes which I’m hoping to incorporate.
Which brings me to the point of location, period and Company portrayed.
With it being just a train set for grandfather and grandchild to bond, I’m not going to be stuck too rigidly to prototype apart from to say that it will be a former GWR terminus, set in late BR days and based around Liverpool. Actually, I had Disused Stations: Birkenhead Monks Ferry Station in mind when I was thinking of a setting, but apart from the coincidence of also having had only three platforms, it will bear no resemblance to the original. I do have it to thank for the name, though; well the ‘Monks’ part anyway which contained no punctuation as far as I can tell.
In fitting with this contemporary plan, I’ve decided to use Peco Streamline (and what a job to acquire post-pandemic - thanks to Dave at Roxley models, here) opting for medium (electrofrog) points in keeping with the original design. I shall also be using standard Peco point motors. Fortuitously, the decision to build Minories as intended has provided the opportunity to use up all the point motors, flex track and wood I’ve accumulated over the years, so will keep it all topical in terms of carbon footprints.
Talking of using what I have and being relevant, I’ve decided to dig out from my wardrobe that Bachmann EZ Command controller that’s been waiting for it’s starring role for several years, so this will see me going DCC - control wise only; points and hopefully working signals will be SPDT switch operated with which I’m more familiar. As it’s new territory, I shall check that it all works by DC first, but I’m optimistic.
So, with all these firsts for me in my mind, fellow Westerners, I hope and trust you will permit me to introduce ‘Monks’, and while a little underwhelming compared to some of the very best modelling to be found here, I hope it might capture your attention and prove a little nostalgic for some.
Jonte
Folded. I've some clasps to to keep the boards attached (in the vertical) and yet to be fitted. The pattern makers dowel (male part) can be seen at the end of the fiddle yard board. Cassettes will be utilised here.
The frame including diagonals to prevent twist. These boards are bomb-proof, but care is still required to ensure that the board being lowered remains in one plain so as not to strain the pine hinge bearers.
The assemblage laid out with fiddle yard attached (which still needs boarding out).
Track has been laid out and datum marks made on backboard and ends as the whole will be covered in thick cork tiles with the ends laid in more 12mm ply to make the joints more substantial. To further assist with the placing of the points, holes have been drilled below frogs and tie bar and matchsticks inserted so that when turned over, they can be removed and the holes redrilled through the cork.
I wouldn’t have bothered corking the base as I’ve been at pains to keep everything flush at the joints, however, the track will have to be raised as I’ve decided to incorporate these redundant ‘supports’ into the station:
