St. Mary Hoo - P4 Southern Region third rail

[Simon Glidewell]

My partially complete Kirk 2 BIL. This was originally an OO gauge model, built very expertly and owned by Colin Parks; it used to work on his Newhaven Harbour layout. Colin gave the unit to me, minus its bogies and buffers which he later used on another EMU he was scratch building. I've now converted the unit to P4 with a Black Beetle power bogie and Black Beetle coach wheels. The driver trailer has the correct bogie at the driver's end, unlike the Hornby model, which was made from the Roxey Mouldings kit. Quite a few details still need adding/changing plus final weathering. The power bogie uses modified Hornby 2 BIL side frames. It may be an old model but it has loads of atmosphere and it will be very much at home on the layout.

 

[Simon Glidewell]

The driver trailer, with the Roxey bogie. All the pick up shoe beams on both coaches are Roxey white metal castings. I removed the over scale and incorrectly shaped Hornby shoe beams from the motor bogie side frames.

 

[Simon Glidewell]

A Bachmann 08 converted to P4 a few years ago; it has the usual Ultrascale wheels and many additional details, including refined coupling rods, filed down from the ones supplied; new side frame leaf springs and damping rods. The lack of individual damper rods on both the Hornby and Bachmann models really spoils these otherwise excellent models. The two front air cylinders (out of view under the bonnet) are scratch built items replacing the under scale ones supplied with the bog standard model. The Hornby model also has the same under scale cylinders. The loco is incredibly reliable unlike my Hornby 08. I will be updating the weathering on the loco in the photo, adding oil around the outside frames, plus subtle changes to the body weathering.

 

[Alan]

Glad to see you back on here and looking forward to more photos of this very atmospheric line.

 

[Geoff]

Geoff

I copied this sometime ago is this what you were after .

View attachment 40181

Andrew

Thanks Andrew, that's one of them, I could look at that all day

 

[Simon Glidewell]

The familiar Bachmann class 24. At one time on the SR the class was quite a common sight and used to double head "The Golden Arrow" before the class 71's took over. Some of the locos were modified in the fuel tank area to reduce their weight over certain lines. The point lever has now been buried in the ballast. I am thinking of either updating or replacing the Southwark Bridge point rodding, using square section brass rod and new fittings. The whole of this part of the layout is due to be revamped and improved in general. One thing I plan to do is to repaint the rails in a light buff rust colour. I will probably replace the third rail side exit ramps too.

 

[Simon Glidewell]

I found this photo today from Plymouth which may well provide some inspiration for the CEGB line down to the coal wharf:-

https://www.flickr.com/photos/acton...-n9xesi-dpNY4w-bDXxBw-fbMNxD-jwK4uZ/lightbox/

 

[garethevans1986]

Nice layout, I love the overgrown feeling to the sidings.

Gareth

 

[Simon Glidewell]

Thanks Gareth.

 

[Simon Glidewell]

For the last few days I'v been bashing away with the 1:10 common crossing on my bisected point. Normally these are pretty straight forward to make, especially ones with B7 and B8 geometry. However, the very gentle angle of the vee on a 1:10 takes a fair bit of time to get right. Also having studied a number of real common crossings on bullhead points, it is obvious that many small details are more than often ignored or not added by modellers. I've added the two bolts attached to the splice and point rail of the vee (see the first pic) and the two heavy bolts that clamp the knuckle of the crossing and the wing rails to the vee. I also rebated the point rail to the splice rail. I also added plasticard between the vee and the wing rails to represent the bridge of the chairs. It all needs refining and tidying up, and the bridge at the knuckle needs squaring up a bit. All in all a very tricky and time consuming process that will no doubt "disappear" when painted! I've also made up the two switch blades (photos of these to follow). The two large bits of brass rod are soldered under the rails to secure the the whole crossing. These will be buried in ballast and will not be seen.

 

[Lyndhurstman]

All very nice. I like that you've included the gubbins around the nose that doesn't get modelled by most of us (including me!). The only drawback is I now have UB40 as an earworm...

Cheers

Jan

 

[Celticwardog]

Hi Simon

Didn't realise you were "Mr Hoo" when you commented on my thread. This is lovely stuff, obviously can appreciate everything as mine/ours is connected albeit a different era.

Taking a bit of a break with my own to be honest. Slogging away for a year to get it ready for a show which I didnt enjoy as much as I thought I would has knocked my stuffing out. I am revisiting what I used to with sci-fi models, piddling about with fibre optics is my sort of fun! Alas all the kits I had back back then are now very collectible and cost a fortune so on the look out for ones in tatty boxes (which are less)

I actually like the darkness in the picture of the halt, makes it look much more realistic. Personally the techniques the mags use of taking multiple shots and blending them together so everything is in in focus I don't think is realistic and adds to the "this is a model" effect, though I can understand why they do it. Shots were stuff is out of focus here and there look more real, as life is like that. That halt shot looks cold and lonely and makes me think of that feeling when you at a station and just want to go home, if that makes sense!

Lovely weeds on your trackwork btw. Easily as good as the Gravetts who are IMHO pretty much the best at that sort of stuff.

 

[Simon Glidewell]

Hi Simon

Didn't realise you were "Mr Hoo" when you commented on my thread. This is lovely stuff, obviously can appreciate everything as mine/ours is connected albeit a different era.

Taking a bit of a break with my own to be honest. Slogging away for a year to get it ready for a show which I didnt enjoy as much as I thought I would has knocked my stuffing out. I am revisiting what I used to with sci-fi models, piddling about with fibre optics is my sort of fun! Alas all the kits I had back back then are now very collectible and cost a fortune so on the look out for ones in tatty boxes (which are less)

I actually like the darkness in the picture of the halt, makes it look much more realistic. Personally the techniques the mags use of taking multiple shots and blending them together so everything is in in focus I don't think is realistic and adds to the "this is a model" effect, though I can understand why they do it. Shots were stuff is out of focus here and there look more real, as life is like that. That halt shot looks cold and lonely and makes me think of that feeling when you at a station and just want to go home, if that makes sense!

Lovely weeds on your trackwork btw. Easily as good as the Gravetts who are IMHO pretty much the best at that sort of stuff.

Cheers Celticwardog! Your very kind comments are much appreciated, especially as you are one of the Shelvington duo! Your joint layout is highly inspirational and any updates will be greatly received by me. I'm always on the lookout for classy SR third rail layouts to read about, but sadly they are very thin on the ground. I have seen a couple of others in P4 but neither have the right feel or atmosphere for my money. It would be ace to see both your layout and mine side by side at a show one day in the future. I couldn't agree more about the photography of layouts; much of what you see today is clinical in the extreme and far to bright and colourful. As to that photo of my station (if you can call it that! More akin to a staff halt like that at Hoo Junction) it wasn't originally dark like that but the person who photoshopped the background must have got the contrast and brightness wrong.

All the best
Simon

 

[Simon Glidewell]

All very nice. I like that you've included the gubbins around the nose that doesn't get modelled by most of us (including me!). The only drawback is I now have UB40 as an earworm...

Cheers

Jan

Many thanks Jan for your post; I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to reply! What was the UB40 reference about?

All the best
Simon

 

[ZiderHead]

One in Ten (1:10) is a great track from one of their first two albums - both of which are excellent whatever you think of their later stuff. Recommended


Edit: The playing and sound is killer on this track btw, especially the drums

 

[mopar]

Thundering Typhoons!!!
It's back on the web. I really enjoyed this layout when it was on the 'other channel'.

Very disappointed when it disappeared. Love the attention to detail, capturing the feel of the location to perfection.
Does the station building still have the graffiti?
Will keep an eye on this thread.

 

[Simon Glidewell]

Cheers mopar! Yes the station still has its graffiti which I applied by hand with a fine pencil and a biro. The waiting room to the left is fully detailed with a clapped out brazier and old posters. The windows have smashed glass. The platform construction follows East Kent Light Railway practice with corrugated iron and old sleeper uprights.

 

[Simon Glidewell]

Mitchell and Newlyn halt on the Chacewater to Newquay branch was even smaller/shorter than St. Mary Hoo:-

http://s271.photobucket.com/user/ewenfields/media/MitchellNewlynreverseview.jpg.html

And on the same railway was Trerice halt which shares a good deal of similarity with SMH:-

http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/uploads/7/6/8/3/7683812/____5850774_orig.jpg

 

[Simon Glidewell]

Although I haven't posted any layout modelling updates lately, work is continuing on the bisected point, albeit very slowly! It is getting close to completion now and I will add some photos very soon. I can't wait to move on to the bit I enjoy most, the scenic side of things.

 

[Simon Glidewell]

One from the archives when SMH was on the "other place". The second extension will be built beyond the old level crossing, and will include a fan of beaten up sidings in the power station area (to the right) and a continuation of the BR line (with third rail) towards Allhallows-on-Sea (to the left). I plan to develop the estuary landscape on this new board, with mudflats, etc.