4mm Johnson’s Wharf - cameo layout

[John57sharp]

Yesterday I hit a personal milestone, having at last managed to get far enough into a project to have all of the track played and wired up and working, I took the tentatively named Johnson’s Wharf to my friend Rob’s house as part of his annual model trains running day.

The Wharf is a stretched version of the Scalescenes boxfile canal scene, with the outer skins being made up of plastic card to give better texture than brick papers. I'm currently waiting for a batch of etched window frames from London Road, who have taken on the Brassmasters range, which is holding me up at present with the buildings.

The baseboard is entirely foamboard for lightness and the whole thing fits in a plastic crate arranged upside down like a cake stand.

A short clip-on sector plate serves on the right-hand side, and I'm considering a demountable run-off to the left to increase the operating potential.

The mill building with the barge loading chute was meant to be more central, and may yet end up being so as things develop.

The track is 00 Code 75 and so far I have just a (very well suited) Hornby Peckett 0-4-0, though I was able to try out Rob’s Bachmann 08 (don’t go too fast with it he said, as if I had any room to accelerate!) This worked very well and I hope to source one for myself soon.

I learned a lot of lessons just taking it away from home, and I am spurred on to have it finished in time for next year’s event. I've been much inspired by many on WT, not least Sheep Bloke’s many layouts, and also James Hilton’s Paxton Road blog.

 

[John57sharp]

Current state of play

 

[jonte]

A smashing composition, John, and I look forward to seeing how the foamboard fares as I tried it experimentally several years ago and it seemed fairly robust. I didn’t travel with it as you intend, but couldn’t see any reason why not, it’s light weight being a bonus in this scenario.

Well done!

Jon

 

[steve50]

Your layout is looking good so far I'm interested as to how was the baseboard made, did you brace the underside much?

 

[John57sharp]

Thanks @jonte and @steve50 for your interest. The foamboard is braced, I just used strips cut to the width of my steel rule for convenience. I am beginning to think I may need more, the layers of card etc on top have caused a minor warp, but it's not too bad and I think I can improve it.

This was a typical case of starting a smaller (boxfile size) layout, but wanting more and adding another sheet, so there is now baseboard stiffness in the centre, which I think is why there is a bit of a bend. I’ll photograph it next time I turn it over.

Latest photos



I don't much like the black line I've introduced along the right-hand side of the cobbled pathway, which may be today’s first focus.

TTL
John

 

[John57sharp]

No posts here for a while, but that doesn’t reflect the progress that's been going on: Johnson’s Wharf has been out on its first public outing, albeit to a mate’s house for a trial run. This was educational for me and proved that the cake box idea works in practice.

Numerous details, building, figures, and wagons are being worked on, and I'm pleased to say that I think that I have solved the problem of the left-hand edge of the scene. I was much inspired by James Hilton’s Inside Out diorama, and thought about aping it in 4mm, but then I thought I could incorporate something similar into the left-hand end of Johnson’s, using the lovely little Vincent model I have waiting, to replicate another, similar shot from another Gifford/Gamble book:





Here’s a very rough mockup of what it might look like.

The view for my version of Inside Out.

Not sure what will happen in the foreground yet

More progress in my next post.

 

[jonte]

It’s a real boost when a pinch of an idea comes to mind; at last there’s light at the end of the tunnel!

If you’re anything like me, John, you probably spend more time mind modelling than the physical stuff, but the trouble with that is that it’s frustrating when ideas come (and mainly go) with not much progress to show for it.

However, I’ve discovered that card mock-up modelling really helps in this regard, and even if the idea for which it was created doesn’t seem to fit, at least the visual and tangible aspects it provides can perhaps offer another possibility (one which didn’t come to mind). This saves going round in circles in one’s bonce with nothing to show for it, so it’s great to see it appears to be working for you too

Keep keeping on!

Jon

 

[David Hall]

......to replicate another, similar shot from another Gifford/Gamble book:

That's a wonderful book isn't it. My dad had a copy, and I poured over it when I was young. Now that I'm a bigger lad, it has been liberated and now resides in my bookcase, not my dad's..... I don't know whether he has ever noticed

As for the layout, you're developing something really nice here, so I look forward to seeing it continue to develop, however slowly that may be. Keep up the good work

 

[Joe's Garage]

A very nice scheme coming on here John, I too like the Vincent in the shed! Must be a very wealthy engine driver or is it the line's owner!

"you probably spend more time mind modelling than the physical stuff". I like that quote Jonte...I must remember it when ask on my own modelling progress.

I knew David would like that book...more industrial lines.

Cheers Julian

 

[John57sharp]

Thank you for the comments and the likes - all very encouraging. Mind modelling is indeed a major part of my world!

I hadn't thought about the financial aspect of the Vincent - I'll have to concoct a story…. Something to mull over at halftime tonight maybe?

There's been some small progress with the barge today, and a smidge of wagon work. The major thrustbis towards firming up the additional buildings needed.

Thanks again
John

 

[John57sharp]

Time has been in short supply, and the odd strands available have been used to further a few wagons, but this weekend a breakthrough occurred! I’ve been mind modelling a great deal, principally over how to block the view at the left hand end of the scene. Various thoughts came and went, a few small purchases made which weren’t needed….

The answer turned out to be close to home, even closer to @jonte ’s doorstep perhaps, on the Leeds Liverpool canal a wharf used to have a wooden shed with a large overhanging canopy for transshipment of cargo into the yard. It’s gone now I think, leaving only the listed brick warehouse on the bridge on Bankhall - which used to have a “drive-in” basement for the vessels to turn into for loading.

I’m going to steal the form, slightly lower, and only using a segment of its length. Hasty creak packet mock-ups below….


The shed is just visible here on the left.

 

[jonte]

Time has been in short supply, and the odd strands available have been used to further a few wagons, but this weekend a breakthrough occurred! I’ve been mind modelling a great deal, principally over how to block the view at the left hand end of the scene. Various thoughts came and went, a few small purchases made which weren’t needed….

The answer turned out to be close to home, even closer to @jonte ’s doorstep perhaps, on the Leeds Liverpool canal a wharf used to have a wooden shed with a large overhanging canopy for transshipment of cargo into the yard. It’s gone now I think, leaving only the listed brick warehouse on the bridge on Bankhall - which used to have a “drive-in” basement for the vessels to turn into for loading.

I’m going to steal the form, slightly lower, and only using a segment of its length. Hasty creak packet mock-ups below….

View attachment 259246View attachment 259247
The shed is just visible here on the left.

Smashing idea, John!

Plenty of character without overpowering the scene (dimensionally proportionate). Dilapidated (in the shot) with a variety of surfaces in varying states of degradation. A real weathering challenge. That wood……..

The canal still fascinates with punctuated views and glimpses on the train journey to town (infrequently so these days despite my free travel pass; one or two advantages of being ‘old’), however this aspect won’t be visible from the railway which is in a cutting at Bankhall.

Due to health matters with both myself and better half of late, we’ve been more or less confined apart from the odd hospital visit, but thankfully we’ve started to venture. As the location is a relatively short drive away, I’ll try and visit over the next couple of days or so - grandchildren duties permitting - and check it out for you (I’m afraid phone camera and iPad is the best I can offer).

I’m not sure whether there’s direct access, John, at this point (from local knowledge gleaned from when I first joined The Job having been posted to Bootle which covered the area to just south of Millers Bridge, there’s a footbridge but no direct access to the bank from memory) although it looks in your photo as though sight of the location can be gained from the road overbridge. I’m sure that there must be one or two points of access from the industrial sites/yards either side of the road, so worth a ‘mooch’.

Leave it with me.

As for unnecessary purchases due to the employ of mind modelling………I’m way too familiar with that scenario.

Cheers for now.

Jon

 

[John57sharp]

Jon you are all kindness, but I’m afraid your ventures would be in vain. The shed was demolished a few years ago and the warehouse is now wrapped in scaffold and netting etc, no doubt becoming expensive homes in the future…. This is the Streetview from now and 2022. Fortunately there is enough there and on Albany shots I can’t put on here that will cover it.

I’m sorry to hear that you are both poorly, I hope the Spring helps you recover. It feels like everything is warming up now…

Thanks goodness we have interests to occupy us indoors, once the chores are done!

I’ve managed to measure the mock-up in the available space, and will start on a shell for the building next time I’m at the workbench, but don’t hold your breath…..

Cheers

John

 

[jonte]

No probs, John, and thanks for letting me know.

Thanks also for your kind concern.

Good luck with the project and I shall follow with interest

Jon

 

[John57sharp]

A few more steps along the way.

On Johnson’s Wharf, having identified, designed and started a trans-shipment shed based on one I'm familiar with from Bank Hall in Liverpool, I got the baseboard out of its box to do a fit check with my old Hornby Dublo Class 20. I think it's a tad too high, which is easy enough to sort.





The Type 2 is about as old as I am, and is too much of a treasure to update, so she’s getting a clean and service for occasional use.




There’s been a fair amount of wagon building going on too, I don’t need many wagons, but I do enjoy making wagons, so I’ve a brace of Chivers kits underway, all opens. Chivers kits are so easy to make up, they just fit together well and look terrific.

 

[jonte]

A few more steps along the way.

On Johnson’s Wharf, having identified, designed and started a trans-shipment shed based on one I'm familiar with from Bank Hall in Liverpool, I got the baseboard out of its box to do a fit check with my old Hornby Dublo Class 20. I think it's a tad too high, which is easy enough to sort.





The Type 2 is about as old as I am, and is too much of a treasure to update, so she’s getting a clean and service for occasional use.




There’s been a fair amount of wagon building going on too, I don’t need many wagons, but I do enjoy making wagons, so I’ve a brace of Chivers kits underway, all opens. Chivers kits are so easy to make up, they just fit together well and look terrific.

Great start, John. Captures the ‘look’ of the prototype quite adequately even at this early stage.

Enjoy the wagon building.

Jon

 

[Joe's Garage]

Very nice John....

"The Type 2 is about as old as I am...". Funny you should say that, but having seen last week 20007 just South of Birmingham along with what I thought was 20005 (it must have been 20205 the train was moving fast) both preserved and fit for mainline duty I looked up these locos.
20007 is exactly 1 day younger than me !!!!

As Jon said enjoy the wagon building.

Cheers Julian