This is exciting, I very much look forward to seeing updates and progress.
I’ve seen the Ikea KALLAX units used for many things*, but not a MR yet.

*we have bits of an old one in the garage for storing our Bromptons and in the shed for tools and stuff.

 

Wells-next-the-Sea as an inspiration fits very nicely as the station dimensions are on the small side.

The line curving away to the top serves the harbour and quayside but that is a bit too ambitious for the space that I have available. This is a lovely Great Eastern seaside terminus. I scaled the platforms at around 1 metre and if I don't include all the goods sidings I might be able to squeeze the loco shed and turntable into the space.

Such a wonderful location.

Best regards .................... Greyvoices (alias John)

 

Hi John,
Certainly looks like a wonderful choice of location for the new layout, very interesting track plan / configuration, with plenty of scope for scenics too.
Looks like you have a fair bit of prep work / sorting out, but sure you will also enjoy all those long lost / semi forgotten model reaquaintances as part of that as well.
Will be another very much looking forward to following your progress, along with your discoveries along the way.
Good Luck, have Fun & Happy Modelling, Cheers as always, Norm

 

I did something similar starting five years ago so that I had some to display my HO locos. It has ended up as a U shape. One side is supported by some very deep wall brackets, the rest is sits on a corner desk with a filing cabinet on one side and drawers on the other as shown in the picture below.

David

 

What a mess.

Nothing like! That needs a foot deep stratification accumulated over many years on the floor. It's going to be lovely...

 

yes John you must be ruthless in clearing that clutter and organising your space ...says the man whose attic, garage, garden sheds and cottage is bursting at the seams with important stuff that hasen't been used in over 2 x decades..

Wells next the sea looks like an excellent subject to base a layout on. I found that once I had decided on a period and period for my shelf layout, the ideas came thick and fast . Looking forward to following your progress.

 

I appreciate all of your comments, particularly the photo of the ordered calm of David's desk setup and 34C's honesty with his "foot deep stratification accumulated over many years on the floor" comment.

This hobby never ceases to amaze me with the seemingly endless byways and deviations that you have to negotiate to acheive your desired goal. I know the prototype that I wish to emulate and realise that I will need a mix of proprietory products and a modicum of scratch build for the model to look anywhere near Wells-next-the-Sea. So the process of assembling the constituent parts has started. I already have the turntable, own a few old unmade kits that can be utilised and my trackwork is basically catered for (I have a fair bit of DCC Concepts and Peco Bullhead items). I decided that my first modelling task would be to finally bring the turntable up to speed:

Brassmaster turntable bought many years ago for another project that never got past the armchair stage (one of many such projects).

This needs to be weathered/painted and then mounted in a baseboard. The turntable bridge itself is quite straight forward needing to be painted and weathered but the well needs some brickwork "around the rim" so to speak. I thought of scalescenes so I was about to download one of their brick sheets but first thought to try out their free test sheet and was dismayed with what my printer delivered:

............. and this was after installing a complete set of new cartridges.

What followed was hours of jiggery pokery with cleaning cycles and nozzle something or others plus downloading updated software ............................. then leaving overnight (as recommended by Epson) and trying again in the morning ............ the rsult:

Still not quite there but a distinct improvement. Now all I have to do is choose which brickwork to download. Unfortunately I don't have a colour photo of the Wells-n-t-Sea turntable but I am imagining a rather grimy darker effect .......... or should I go for a cleaner, fresher look.

At least all this mucking about with the printer has eaten up the time I should have been spending on the desk clutter clearout. Never do a job today that can be put off 'till tomorrow.

Best regards ................... Greyvoices (alias John)

 

What diameter is the turntable please? Can you manage a closer photo? Thanks.

 

I've had similar problems with printers and invariably down to infrequent use so the ink dries and clogs things up. Thorough cleaning usually sorts it at the cost of more ink!!
Appears your efforts have paid of with much better results.
Re the selected brickwork, use powders carefully to age and blend and remember the all important matt varnish to seal it and reduce fade. Something I skipped on my earlier builds to my cost!.
Sorry if this is something of 'eggs and grandmother' but just in case!

 

Hi John,
Agree with John /Shedman above on the printer front.
Also will be great to see your MetalSmiths T/T on the layout.
There does seem to be some information / images on the T/T but it's on fb something don't use here, but in case you do might be worth a look; from what can see seems to show some of the T/T well brickwork at least, which seems to have a light coloured mortar -

Redirect Notice

Also the below which you may have already seen from Wiki relates to the facilities inc the T/T that the station had over the years -
Facilities
[edit]
The main red brick two-storey L-shaped Georgian-style station buildings were constructed at right angles to the platform ends and incorporated a stationmaster's residence.

Wells had a combined engine shed and goods shed, with the locomotives having use of the whole shed when not required for goods. This adjoined the main station building on the Wells & Fakenham platform side. In 1929, the original 42-foot long (13 m) turntable was replaced by a second-hand 45-foot long (14 m) version. This lay just to the north of the station, and was capable of accommodating the former Great Eastern's Claud Hamilton locomotives and other 4-4-0 classes, but not the B12s or other large engines.[13] Wells was an outstation of Norwich depot and there were up to five locomotives based there. The shed officially closed in September 1955 and has since been demolished.[14]

Anyway hope it assists & just as a final thought, if you start off with a lighter brick can always weather it darker of course - maybe see what the photos show. Cheers for now & Good Luck, Norm

 

Some of those sheets are quite realistic but I have found a considerably superior DIY method that really gives a convincing scale and realistic representation.
I visited a few of the local stations on the Chard Taunton GWR line and took some pictures of the actual building I wanted to represent on my layout.

I then edited the images for colour brightness etc and cropped them where necessary.

Next step was to import the images into a scaler vector software like Coreldraw and then re-scale the images to the correct scale. Its possible at this stage to remove unwanted items or add items to the image then save and print and spray mount onto a suitable card.

The finish is extraordinary and the brain is totally convinced of the scale and authenticity of the result especially with just the yard lights on at night time.

Obviously all of these buildings are far from finished but I think it gives a good idea of what can be achieved for realism

 

Hi again John,
Have also come across this earlier photo of the station T/T circa 1900, when it had a windmill not too far away too, as link below -

Norfolk Mills - Wells Northfield smock windmill

Again hopefully might be of interest / use too.
Cheers as always, Norm

 

Hi John,

The turntable well measures 9.5 inches (25 centimetres), which equates in 1:76 scale to a prototyical 60 feet.

The locomotive prototype (ex GER/LNER BR J15 class) was 47 feet 3 inches long so the scale of the well seems accurate.

I have noticed that I refered to the model being made by Brassmasters whilst Norm called it a MetalSmiths model. I don't know which of us is correct; perhaps we both are but I think that Norm is more reliable than me on details.

I will take a few more photos John and post them on this thread.

Best regards ................ Greyvoices (alias John)

 

I have noticed that I refered to the model being made by Brassmasters whilst Norm called it a MetalSmiths model. I don't know which of us is correct; perhaps we both are but I think that Norm is more reliable than me on details.

I think you are both right. I remember seeing the turntable kit listed on metalsmiths but they have cut back their range to metals only. The model railway page of their website directs you to midrail center which doesn't seem to exist anymore. Sadly I suspect that that kit has been 'lost'.

David

 

Hi John,
For what it may be worth, I recently spent some time on holiday in Cromer and one of the places we went to was Wells - next - the Sea. From what I saw there, of the other buildings, rather than the TT Well, makes might suggest that the examples of the brick to the left of TX22 or dirtier version, to the left of TX 29 might suit the general area coloration. Given it's location a). next the sea and b). not next too much coal-fired industrial stuff (apart from the locos using it) it may be the less grubby one which might pass muster.

J

 

Follow up on turntable

I appreciate all contributions to this thread and I will refer back to your individual posts in time. However, today I dusted off the turntable to take some photographs as per johnhutnick's request:

The bridge just lifts off

The underneath

12 volt DC servo reduced to slow revs via the nylon cord wrapped around the mdf disc. I tested it with a basic Gaugemaster 12v DC controller (the auxiliary output from the LT Rolling Road) and both direction and speed accurately controlled from this setup.

Large brass weight placed on the central shaft that goes right up to the bridge.

Hopefully that gives you all the info that you need John.

Best regards .................... Greyvoices (alias John

 

It's a very well built turntable.
I like the detail on the bridge.

 

Refering to my newly aquired book:

........... I found out that the original Great Eastern turntable was 42 feet diameter which, upon becoming a constituent of the LNER in 1923, was replaced with a 45 feet turntable which allowed locos such as the 4-4-0 Claud Hamilton class (D15/D16) to be turned but still insufficient for the B12 4-6-0.

I wish now that I had ordered the MetalSmith 50 foot turnatable but the 60' will allow the application of rule one. I wonder if a Britannia will fit? I have not set out to model an accurate replica of Wells but, where I can I will attempt to be faithfull to the prototype; or at least .............. faithfullish. Believe me, that word does exist because it occurred in my old school song. How we hated that .................... as lambkins of one fold !!!!!!!! If only I could forget it.

Best regards .................... Greyvoices (alias John)

 

Hi John,
Its very interesting to see the more detailed photos of your version of the TT, as having seen the original photo of the complete TT & our previous discussions about it, over the years; the actual make up compared to the one in the Loft here, has some seemingly quite different parts of the assembly.
The Bridges albeit being different models, are similar in terms of there wonderful detail, the GWR 45ft model here as pic below, has the same lovely detail -

................ but the mechanisum make up, from the "blue" supporting bridge cross piece connecting to the circular perimeter guide rail, to the solid central bridge support weight, are very different from the version here - will also have to take some further photos & perhaps compare notes a little further.
Also interesting to see you tested / powered it from the GM Rolling Roads Aux power supply & all ran well in both directions through the motor / servo - again need to check a little further on the TT Model here ...............
Anyway no matter what, it will make a wonderful eye catching part of the new layout.
Cheers as always & Happy Modelling, Norm

 

Your GW turntable bridge looks great Norm.

Best regards ....................... Greyvoices (alias John)

 

Hi again John,
They are lovely models, if a little on the costly side, but always think a TT on a layout is always a centre of attention, so perhaps worth it, well that's the story here at least
Did at one stage also look at adding various different control set ups, for automatic alignment & track selections, off the top of my head cannot remember the company that talked too at the time, something like ADT or similar springs to mind, but it all seemed more than possible, also remember there were some videos around on such set ups; again will have a look in the files on the TT in the Loft.
Cheers again for now & Happy Modelling, Norm

 

Hi again John,
ADM Turntables was the control system people spoke to in the past about being able to provide something to work with the MealSmiths TT's; didn't follow it up at the time, but was certainly all very positive back then - wonder if that's the same system you have on your German layout TT ?
Have seen it in operation on a few Exhibition Layouts over the years, always very impressive & very nice slow / smooth action too.
Cheers again for now, Norm

 

Hi again John,
So given your OP on the Impulse Purchase thread - will you be adopting Rule 1 or even stretching an East Coast back story / what if sufficiently to allow your J70 to perhaps make an odd guest appearance on the new layout idc ?
They certainly are unusual little locos, with some strange appeal all of there own - cow catchers or not
Cheers as always, Norm

 

Rule 1.

As I said earlier I want to retain the most significant elements of Wells and running a prototypical service with correct locomotives and stock is high up on the priority list ................. but .................. I can deviate at times.

I will have to compromise on the track layout by shedding the harbour branchlet and dispensing with the sidings to the East of the locoshed. I of course have no room for the Heacham branch but I do plan a twist to this build which will be "L" shaped. I aim to build a motive power depot at a 90% angle to the station; transition from steam to diesel. It's separate from Wells station but linked by one track. In this way I can have a rotational fleet on the MPD which can comprise locos that would never be seen at Wells. So, sort of two stubby layouts joined at the hip.


There is always the possibility of building extra sections in the future to marry up with the two constituents of the "L" shape. The original plan of the West Norfolk Railway was to build a Wells avoiding line just south of the station to provide direct access to Fakenham and Dereham. The track bed was formed but no track was ever laid. Trains from Fakenham had to reverse in Wells station. This sort of history makes Wells-next-the-Sea such an interesting location. Who knows, one day I might just lay that avoiding line in 4mm though I will need to negotiate a tad more space with SWMBO. My study, which is actually the fourth bedroom, only takes up a third of the room whilst a TV and sofa take up the rest of the space. The fact that I already take up so much of the converted garage downstairs with the H0 layout does not provide me with a solid negotiating stance. Why do two elderly people need so many rooms?

Best regards .................... Greyvoices (alias John)

 

can never have enough room ,and the more rooms a place has , the more space to hide the odd track away

 

Or maybe, the more space to plonk old stuff, which will never - EVER - be used again; instead of disposing in one of the acceptable rubbish / re-cycling locations, readily available in this country...

How would I possibly come to that conclusion?????

J

 

Julian,
You have reminded me that I still have the sandwich baseboard that was used for the grandchildren's layout a dozen or so years ago. It's in the shed, stripped of track and cut into two longitudinally. I could use those if the dimensions are adequate. I have my dounbts about the Ikea storage thingy ....................... point motor and underbaseboard wiring might be tricky.

Best regards ..................... Greyvoices (alias John)

 

Julian,
You have reminded me that I still have the sandwich baseboard that was used for the grandchildren's layout a dozen or so years ago. It's in the shed, stripped of track and cut into two longitudinally. I could use those if the dimensions are adequate. I have my dounbts about the Ikea storage thingy ....................... point motor and underbaseboard wiring might be tricky.

View attachment 39672

Best regards ..................... Greyvoices (alias John)

Will be light & strong as well John, plus brownie points for upcycling / clearing a space too perhaps Win - Win eh !

 

You store stuff for 20 yrs and never touched. Guess what's needed the day after it's been dumped😡

 

Us males are notorious for our inability to multi-task but this trait gets worse as we age. I wanted to make a start on this project but my civic duties were weighing heavy on my mind. Returning home last night from chairing a meeting I realised that my diary was free for a couple of weeks (SWMBO permitting) so my thoughts turned to modelling. So this morning, following a good sleep I sat at my desk and contemplated my first steps. What about that turntable; untouched since I bought it over 10 years ago? I made a start on the bridge.

Before

After the first coat on one side

Not a paint brush or airbrush in sight. I decided to try out my recent aquisition of a set of AK Real Colors Markers (look I know it should be Colours but ............... ).

34 acrylic paint markers

I toyed with the idea of buying individual markers but in the end plumped for the full set. Ordered from Jadlam as they have freepost.

I used 5 of the markers on this first trial painting. I thought about first spraying with Halfords undercoat grey but decided instead to give the markers a real test .............. straight onto the metal and wood just as it came. No degreaser or preparatory solvent; just a blow from my lips to get rid of any lingering dust. That's a harsh test for any paint. I think a second coat is called for but I am impressed with this first paint. I have yet to pick out the Cowan Sheldon nameplate which was such a feature of these turntables but I'll first prime myself with a dose of alcohol before I attempt that (steadies my hand). Obviously once fully painted I will have to apply weathering but that can wait for the well to be painted and detailed ............ weather as a complete unit.

An extra bonus is no odour and no adverse effects to your lungs so I can sit at my desk with no mask and an unopened window (it is a cool morning). A backdrop to all this is cricket on youTube, Middlesex v Derbyshire in the county championship at Lords and Middlesex seem to have their tails up.

Happy days though I hope that Derbyshire holds out.

Best regards ............................. Greyvoices (alias John)

 

Hi John,
that's a good start and looking at that first paint they appear to cover well. I've been thinking of buying some of these.
Enjoy the cricket, look forward to seeing more progress.