Atso's workbench Worlsey V1 kit arrives!

[Atso]

Hi all,

Well once again I have found myself on the Tom and Dick and decided to finally get on with laying the track for my Hornsey based layout. The originally track plan has been extremely rationalised to fit in as many of the details as possible but the only feature to have moved location is the turntable and coaling facilities.

As this layout is only based on Hornsey I am evoking modellers licence and will place buildings that look right rather than spending time researching (not a favourite past time - although locos and stock are different, of course! ) but I will ensure that as many buildings as possible are made out of cream brick - which seems to have been the standard brick work in the area.

Some pictures below but no track plan yet...

An overall view of the Hornsey side of the layout - sorry its out of focus....

The site which will eventually be occupied by the sheds.

A view of the upper end of the station, a road bridge will be placed here instead of the prototypical foot bridge - Humourist is seen pulling a nine coach rake of Grelsey's

The main goods yard, currently home to a variety of locos.

Also, I am currently awaiting a Worsley Works V1 etched kit which will be my first etched kit but having seen to success achieved on another forum with a GWR prototype I feel that I might be able to 'give this a go'.

[Tom F]

You have a lovely collection of engines Atso. How big is the layout you are building? and is it a big loop.

I see a bit of Apple green there, is it a 1930's layout.

Or do you just run what you want?

Tom

[Atso]

Hi Tom,

Thanks for your lovely comments.

The layout is N gauge and measures 10ft by 8 ft and is indeed a big loop but will have the ability to run trains into a hidden fiddle yard should I wish.

The apple green engines give it away as c. 1930's doesn't it. I'm a fan of the LNER in it's glory days of achievement (with the press if not financially...) big A1's, A3's and A4's with some of the more mundane locos such as the J50 and J52 - can't beat it in my opinion!

[wehf100]

Nice stuff! I understand the flexibility of drawing up the plan as you go, but I'd recommend contacting the local library or record office to get a copy of at least the 6'':1mile os or even 25'':1mile scale OS map of the station area for either the 1924 or 1938 edition. It'll give you a great 'feel' for the area- and as you say- most buildings follow similar achitectural styles, so a good map would be enough to extrapolate a good deal of info with minimum research.

Anyway, with all that stock, have you though of building a layout of top shed instead?

Will

[Atso]

Hi Will,

Thanks for the advice - I'm plannig to visit Hornsey some time in the near future to get some pictures for the back scene and will try and find out what of the original facilities are still standing.

When I said that I wasn't going to do much research I neglected to mention that I have a copy of 'Great Northern Railway Engine Sheds' in my possession which provides a copy of a map of the area. In addition there is a great picture of the coaling tower which I will use as the basis for mine when I get around to building it.

I did think about building Kings Cross but, even in N gauge, the amount of room required to do it justice along with Top Shed and goods facilities made this a non starter. Therefore, my story is that Top Shed has become over crowded and therefore Hornsey is being used to provide addition engine roads for Top Shed - this was the original idea when Hornsey was first considered as a location for a shed but apparently it didn't get used that much by top link locos until the 1950's and 60's.

[Atso]

The Worsley Works V1 etched kit arrived this morning. Initial impressions are good as the etchings are nice and crisp and the chassis is a simple fold up affair. However the brake blocks haven't been etched through completely and there is no provision for the boiler - both the points I am happy to rectify with some brass tube and sourcing alternative brake blocks from another source.

Picture of the etch as it arrived below.

[wehf100]

Hi steve,

the etches look very generously arranged. Some N gauge brass can be so bunched up on the frets that is very easy to distort neighbouring parts when removing them from the fret. Not a problem with thicker brass in larger scales, but can be in 2mm!

I think N-brass make etched brake shoes of various types. What will you use for the 'castings'? Would foxhunter models sell any items from their K3, I understand the V1/3 is more or less a tank version of that engine anyway isnt it?

What are your plans for making the running chassis?

Will

[Atso]

Hi steve,

the etches look very generously arranged. Some N gauge brass can be so bunched up on the frets that is very easy to distort neighbouring parts when removing them from the fret. Not a problem with thicker brass in larger scales, but can be in 2mm!

I think N-brass make etched brake shoes of various types. What will you use for the 'castings'? Would foxhunter models sell any items from their K3, I understand the V1/3 is more or less a tank version of that engine anyway isnt it?

Hi Will,

Yes the etches are going to be a joy to cut out, the frames separated from the fret very easily and have folded up a treat. I'm thinking of using N Brass's Director fittings as they seem to be about the right height (tank filler covers from the J50 fittings) and in N the shape won't be as noticeable as with the larger scales.

What are your plans for making the running chassis?

Will

Pray!