Janus

30 August, 202531 August, 2025 / James Wells / Leave a comment

The lack of updates over the last few months shows how busy this summer seems to have been. The summer holidays themselves seem to have gone by a flash, it has been rather pleasant even if we don’t seem to have done half the things we set out to do!

Janus in Primer

Modelling wise I’m finding 4mm a bit fiddly at times now my very strong Parkinson’s meds have actually helped no end but I can see there’s still some way to go. For example the very intricate brake gear on the SPA wagons seems a bit too much at the moment. Very frustrating. It also hasn’t helped that the new shed leaning up against the access doors which means we can’t open them and sort the baseboards around which we really need to do to get on with more track laying and that’s before we even get to beginning to install the electrics!

British Steel Scunthorpe no. 50, circa 1992. Photo by Jeff Taylor.

One thing I have managed to look at is the Janus. It’s a locomotive type that just seems so associated with Scunthorpe to me and in whatever form West Halton had taken It would have had to include one of these. Mine has been in white primer for some considerable time so looking at it on the shelf I decided to add a bit of colour. As you will have seen before, Scunthorpe Steelworks Painted its locomotives In a white and yellow livery. The sense of white paint in such a dirty environment could be questioned It’s certainly made no sense to me! The white primer makes a good base for the whole liver as a result with really just the yellow needing to be applied to complete most of the livery.

Yellow

Michael Edge does like his sub-assemblies which makes painting so much easier. The bonnets come away so they can be painted separately Which avoids some rather awkward masking. I airbrushed the bonnets but I brush painted the rest of the yellow. It needed the minimal amount of masking to work this way. I’ve also kept some small parts separate until they’re painted just a simplify things a bit more.

Artwork for transfers – I’m no Fox or Railtec!

Scunthorpe Steelworks transfers are not available off the shelf so I’ve been working on my own artwork and hoping that printing them at home will be relatively successful! Matching the typefaces has been really difficult but fortunately there are quite a few sites nowhere if you upload a picture of the writing they will determine which typeface best matches.

British Steel Scunthorpe no. 54 cab side detail, circa 1992. from a photo by Jeff Taylor.

There’s quite a lot of trial and error with this process until you find the one that does look right however, hopefully, I’ve got something right here. Any comments and observations are very much welcome.

Trying artwork for size.

I suspect I got further to go than I realise but we’re getting there. I could ideally do with a another Janus but I don’t think I’ve got the time to do the same sort of job as I did on this one. He took quite a lot to model it in Scunthorpe condition which is not a criticism of the kit but more and an acknowledgement that industrial locomotives varied enormously. The Golden Valley Janus is not available option; as we’ve discussed previously it’s fundamentally flawed to the extent I don’t think it’s even worth bothering with certainly not for the standards I’m aiming for. Though I do have a spare pair of bonnets; the bonnets are very good and would save a lot of time over forming brass ones if I build another Judith Edge kit!

Yellow.

It still leaves a decision on what to do for more steelworks locos. I have a couple of Hornby Sentinel diesels which did work at various British Steel sites, including Normanby Park the first one hasn’t converted to P4 as well as at hoped. It’s incredibly rigid which doesn’t help in P4 so that’s something to look into. I have a kit for a Steelman, also from Judith Edge to build but it will need a new chassis scratch building as the intended power unit is no longer available.

There is one other option, the KR Models big Hunslets. Hmmm…

You didn’t really think I’d ripped it all up, did you?

1 April, 202522 March, 2025 / James Wells / 1 Comment

You didn’t really think I’d ripped it all up, did you?

A sign of things to come. A single class 20 on steel wagons, the inspiration for the whole concept.

No I haven’t ripped it all up and sadly there’s no Playmobil exhibition layout. But I do think a Playmobil layout would be really well received, you’d have to have a cold heart not to at least smile seeing Playmobil trains running around. I mean they’re absolutely delightful, aren’t they? The downstairs is regularly filled with a Playmobil system and it’s great fun! I’m not sure we work to German practice exactly, but between the children and I, well, it provides a huge amount of enjoyment.

Chris’ plan laid on his living room carpet.

On the subject of changes, the current plan for West Halton is some way removed from the original schemes drawn up. Going back to 2010, the late Chris Messer and I were discussing possibilities of modelling the North Lindsay Light Railway as both of us had quite an interest in the line. Chris had been planning a small layout based on Normanby Park Sidings and kindly let me have a copy of the Templot scheme which he designed. However he got distracted by other modelling interests and other layout schemes though he was quite happy for me to amend his plan for my own needs. So the initial plan would have been a small shunting layout of about eight feet long, with a modest fiddle yard serving it.

More of a shunting puzzle?

As you can see from the plan laid out in Chris’ living room it is much smaller than what’s currently being built in the workshop. I’m not sure at which point I actually started to expand the scheme but one initial design was over 20′ long! Sense prevailed however, and the scenic section was reduced to fit within the garage so at least that could go up in one piece. Only at exhibitions would the full layout and fiddle yards be able to be erected. I do now question the sense of a layout that can only be put up at exhibitions, operating at home will be pretty much impossible beyond just running things up and down the layout for testing. From a personal point of view I doubt I will build another exhibition layout, as operating at home has a lot of appeal for me. The Playmobil out in the lounge might not be taken so seriously but the sheer joy of operating between two stations on an end-to-end layout cannot be underestimated. For comparison, imagine just having toys out in the middle of the room and not being able to play with them. Hopefully you’ll see where I’m going with this.

However I’m digressing somewhat.

West Halton was developed around the concept of a further steel works along the River Trent and the exchange sidings which would serve it. You may think of Scunthorpe having one steelworks but the reality was many steelworks in the same area. The present works is itself an amalgamation of a number of smaller sites. Normanby Park works was a latecomer built further to the north along the Trent, so an additional works is not beyond the realms of possibility. And thus the sidings are going to have a real purpose. West Halton is a really nice location, indeed maps mark West Halton sidings very clearly though the reality and the layout will be somewhat different. Very different in fact!

Welcome to Wigan

The design has gone through many, many revisions until what what you see developing was arrived upon. It nearly ended up being built in Wigan, but that’s another story for another time.

I’ve even drawn up O gauge versions of the plan when I seriously considered abandoning P4 for the project and moving to 7mm scale. If the Dapol class 08 had been around then I suspect the project would have gone O gauge from that point onwards! The Dapol class 08 is a superb model and ridiculously good value. Their smaller O gauge locos are like gateway drugs for many people! Add in the former RJH range from PRMRP pretty much all the rolling stock you’d ever need is catered for, with perhaps a class 20 added in for good measure! The next big project will be O gauge though, I’m finding it a lot easier to handle the larger items these days. I make the occasional item for myself in O gauge and I’ve been involved with the National Railway Museum’s o gauge railway for a good few years now too.

Even though there are still some design elements still to be decided, the exact size of fiddle yards being one example, the design is just about there now. Off the layout wagons must be a priority along with class 08s and class 20s. Big, mainline motive power is catered for now and it’s all to easy to get distracted by the larger locos.

Life conspires against progress frequently but it’s getting there.

All Change at West Halton

1 April, 20251 April, 2025 / James Wells / Leave a comment

Sometimes a change is as good as a rest and sometimes that change can take people by surprise.

Do you ever feel that there’s no end in sight with a project? Maybe it’s partly that I just fancied a change.

My liking for Playmobil railways has appeared every so often and having seen Hornby tinplate at exhibitions it got me thinking… Wouldn’t a Playmobil exhibition layout make a very popular exhibit?!

So up came the P4 track and its track bed and down went to the LGB track!

And what a sense of freedom! The LGB track very easy to lay, it’s very solid and durable. The G scale method of power and wiring makes the electrical side of things much simpler and given that some of the locomotives are radio controlled isolating sections are kept to a minimum. What’s not to like?!

The Playmobil mechanisms are superb in the case of the track powered models the LGB origins shine through. Some of the models are forty years old and still run beautifully, definitely high quality. Well German engineering, what else would you expect?

Playmobil locomotives and rolling stock are typical germanic items, well if not based on anything in particular they are very typically German. The designers capturing that certain look. And if it looks right it is right!

I have been collecting items over the last few years, the plan was for something in the garden but for now that’s on hold. An exhibition layout though, to share the experience with many others, seems perfect.

Will it be well received? Who knows but for now it’s around the fun project – the basic track layout is inspired by German branch lines, house with the P4 projects capturing the everyday is the approach here. It’s just the everyday is presented with cherished German toys.

Although buying new is no longer an option the second home market is very healthy and you can pretty much buy any item you need. Some things can be very expensive but the degree of patience is often repaid with bargain prices.

Has anyone else had a modeling epiphany? Or is it just me?

Micromotor.eu Conversion

28 March, 2025 / James Wells / Leave a comment

Project Lockdown

I’ve been investigating a new option for repowering older models from micromotor.eu available from Peters Spares Model Railways in the UK. At £40 it’s not inexpensive but it’s on a par with a reasonable motor and etched gearbox but for refining an existing model it seems good value for a higher quality drive.

The kit’s contents.

Project Lockdown is the test bed for this work. Follow the instructions and you’ll not go wrong.

The kit provides a coreless motor, 3D printed motor mount, brass gear and wires/heat shrink tubes. Installation is quite straightforward.

Loctite 603

The only critical part is fixing the new gear in place. You could use super glue but a proper adhesive like Loctite 603 which is a much better option. One bottle will last you years!

New motor in place and ready for reassembly.

Performance, especially low speed control, is excellent, in a different league to the usual CD motor conversions. Steadily running at less than a scale walking pace is particularly satisfying.

Is the conversion worth £40? Definitely, especially for upgrading your existing Lima locos in a very straightforward way.

Clicky

Peter’s Spares

A Day at DEFine

1 March, 2025 / James Wells / Leave a comment

Part of the fleet

We had a great time at the DEFine Modellers Day. I spent the day sitting behind the table covered in dirty locomotives and filthy rolling stock. I also have many confused people who haven’t realised that my class 47s were based on Lima models! The reaction of many was absolutely lovely, with many kind words being said. I’m very nice gentlemen declared 47206 to be the best model of a class 47 he’d ever seen, rather humbling really.

The Hybrid Class 47, 47206.

I sent at least five people off to dig out the old Lima models for new projects. Several people said they’d fall followed Project Lockdown too – I do like it hearing from people that read what I write on here. Perhaps they should get out more?

The CAR brake van, B955091, in all of its tatty, patch painted glory.

My BR brake van got more attention than all the other rolling stock put together, everybody likes a brake van! The Cargowaggon received some very lovely comments too.

Emwell

I didn’t get much of a chance to look around the show but what I did see was superb. A real mix of scales and sizes – Emwell in S scale was delightful. And what a lovely size S scale is!

I’d like to thank the DEFine group for having us and putting on a lovely event!

Gallery

Exchange Sidings

2mmFS Group Display

Emwell Drewery

Emwell

Nine Spires East

Fryers Lane

Happy New Year & A Year of Reflection

31 December, 20242 January, 2025 / james6y99 / 1 Comment

I hope that all the readers of the blog have a had a really nice time and spent it with loved ones and relaxed and dear I say over indulged slightly I really do hope that you have all everyone of you have had a great time! I know I have!!

So, they say a picture can speak a thousand words and it can and it paint a picture in you imagination and take you back to a time a time and a place or even wish you was in that place seeing what the artist or photographer has captured at that moment in time. For us this picture started that process.

20169 meanders down the branch from Scunthorpe to Dragonby sidings with loaded BDA's on the morning of September 25th 1992.

2024 For one of us did not start well at all James W sadly lost him Mum very early in January, there are no words that anyone can say regarding loss that will take that pain away and all that comes with it but also on top of being diagnosed with a Parkinson’s himself in late 2023 and trying to manage his condition is by no means an easy task as always in the face of adversity he coped well very well given the circumstances and the time of the year.

Myself, I thought that to do anything would have been a struggle in 2024. However, This was not the case a chance post on Instagram by Willam Perkins (Wills Workbench) saying that he was selling his baseboards that he had bult for his Temple Mills Layout. The Dimensions of the boards fitted the bill of what we wanted nicely.

So Will and his Dad loaded up the battle cruiser and made the trek to the Frozen wastelands of East Yorkshire they was dropped off and placed in my garage for a week or so. Now, the saga of the base boards is a tale of woe let me tell ya! Mr Well’s supervisor at the NRM has constructed some for us they have been ready since the end of the pandemic but need some fettling, must be a lot of fettling as we still have no seen them yet!! The plan is when or if they ever do show up is to use them as boards for the fiddle yards, that is the plan anyway. This may change and deep down I think it will and can see some laser cut ones probably being used, this a decision that we will have to make quickly I think.

So with the base boards moved to the West Halton HQ and assembled, we set about primiming them and Mr Wells put his techincal drawing skills to the test and finalised the track plan, drew it out on something simlar to templot (for the life of me I can’t remember its name) and we settled on it and the next thing I knew 18.83mm track diagram is being printed out and the job of threading bull head rail started into C&L Rail Chairs started (How anyone can find this mindful is beyoned me!). That said rapid progress has been made with the 1^st 2 boards trackwork being completed and as the year drew to a close work is well under way with the last 2 boards this being the small exchange sidings and the line towards Winterton. However, with life and working shifts things get in the way and progress was slow of the School Holidays and with us working shifts its hard to get a good couple of days at it so to speak! None the less we have made great progress more than I thought we would have truth be known and for that I am very proud of.

Im not one to be all flowery about about these things but this medium is an artfrom of sorts and it has been amazing seeing bear wood turn into something and see your plans come off the paper and layed out infront of your eyes and especially after so long of talking about doing this layout.

So there we have it West Halton’s year in a review may not be much to some but its been enough for us as we are now starting to research the crazy of D.C.C. systems and what will fit best for us and measure up buildings that in use Scunthorpe that we can incorporate on West Halton.

So all that I have to say to all that have got this far is Thank You for reading to this point and Thank You for your countinued support and I’d like to wish you all a very Happy & Prosperous New Year.

Skoyles’y Out!

DEFine Modellers Day

13 December, 2024 / James Wells / 2 Comments

On Saturday 11th January 2025 we will be exhibiting at the DEFine Modellers Day at Risley Village Memorial Hall.

Capturing the mundane – 08405.

We’ll have a selection of the West Halton locomotives and rolling stock completed so far.

The DEFine Modellers Day is a world away from the increasing number of commercially organised shows the hobby sees; a small, intimate exhibition. One for the discerning D&E modeller.

Class 37/5, no. 37514 – a Bachmann model rebuilt with a whole host of Shawplan parts running on Penbits sprung bogies. See Model Railway Journal No. 253 for the full story.

Full details can be found here –

DEFine Modellers

An Update

21 November, 202427 November, 2024 / James Wells / 1 Comment

It’s been a while since the last update, summer, holidays, birthdays, etc have all taken precedent over the last few months but there has been progress!

We’ve laid a lot of sleepers!

I did make full use of child labour too! Abbie’s made a decent job of the sleepers she’s laid, probably between a third and a half of this board.

My wife Kerry was helping me thread chairs as some days I struggle and she tried laying plain track. She’s very good at it so 90% of the plain track on boards two and three is Kerry’s work.

I’ve been concentrating on the yard point work – one issue has been the rail I have, some lengths, have a slight vertical curve. On plain line it’s fine as the chairs anchor the rail but on switch blades, enough to have the ends of the blades stood of the slide chairs so a couple have had to replaced.

I do enjoy track building but I’m also looking forward to finishing it!

Making Point Blades using The Scalefour Society Jig

15 November, 202415 November, 2024 / James Wells / Leave a comment

Making your own track, especially points, can seem daunting. Maybe not so much plain track forming crossing bees, common crossings and point/switch blades.

You can make these all freehand but jigs from the specialist societies, The Scalefour Society in my case, make the process much quicker and easier removing most of the margin for error.

We’ll have a look at the Scalefour Society’s point blade filling jig which is available to members via the Society stores.

The jig is marked with A, B, C and D which denotes the length of the blade corresponding to the type of point you’re building. Load the rail one of the groves securing at the end opposite the type you’ll need.

In the above photo a B switch blade is to be made, the clamp is, you’ll see, at the opposite end.

Begin filing with a decent sized coarse flat file, keeping the file as level and as flat as you can. The jig is hardened steel so don’t worry about damaging it with files. It’ll blunt your files after a while though.

With the bulk of the metal removed I change to a finer file and finish off with fine emery – fine nail boards!

The result of the first stage can be seen – this is the side will be against the stock rail.

Remove the rail carefully and with emery cloth or boards smooth the ends to remove the burrs created by the filing and turn over and place it back in the jig so the head is on the outer side, like so –

Clamp in place.

With an engineer’s file with safety (smooth) edge file along the rail to remove the rail head.

Keep the file as flat and level as you can.

This will be the running edge so take care.

Remove the blade from the jig with great care, don’t force it! The edge, along the planed portion, needs a slight bevel and the top corner of the blade needs rounding off/blunting – both these are prototypical and aid running.

You can see how the real thing is finished off.