Britains Biggest Model Railway - Heaton Lodge Phase 2! Packed Full Of Superb 'Trainspotting' Videos!

[@going2thedogs]

Great idea to represent the puddles. Thks for sharing. Happy Christmas.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

And the same to you thanks again for your support 👍

[@michaelscott231]

The most amazing thing with the size of your layout is the anticipation as the trains come up the track. It’s just like being there 40 years ago!

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

It is and that’s what I’ve always tried to capture. It never fails to get my interest when you see them approaching from a scale mile away. All the best. Simon

[@paulmarmion358]

I do enjoy your videos very much have a lovely Christmas 👍

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Cheers Paul all the best to you! Simon

[@mattsmith4605]

Merry Christmas, great video, I still have my Ian Allen ABCs.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Me too! And Platform 5’s! Best regards Simon

[@warwickroadmodelrailway]

Another great update. Thank you for sharing the progress on your layout. I am really enjoying the videos. Merry Christmas to you and keep up the great work.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks for your support really appreciated!

[@ADEONE-oh8mx]

Hi Simon. I built Marcway point kits back in the late 1980s. They are the only track pieces I brought with me when we emigrated to Canada. They did survive the journey but soldering to 40 year old pcb strips was a bit of a problem so I gradually phased in Peco points instead. Keep up the good work and Merry Christmas,

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Merry Christmas to you too. Marcway have been going decades havent they Best regards. Simon

[@dr.deborahkatharinestevens318]

What a super surprise to see your 9F making a light engine movement, Simon.👍 Amusement here too, at the oxymoronic "making of the unmade" demo.😊

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Ha thanks Deborah very good wishes to you 😀 Simon

[@Alistair-lr5wu]

I love these 'how to' videos you do, they're going to be invaluable when I get on to the scenery stage of my layout. Really looking forward to further layout updates as always. Have a good Christmas!

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thank you & all the best to you. Simon

[@JohnRich1415]

Another enjoyable video Simon, always very entertainingly presented. Looking forward to the Christmas special 😊

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks John all the best. Simon

[@geoffwest64]

Great video again Simon. Really enjoying watching how you do the scenic stuff. Love the puddles made from glass slides.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Pleasure & thanks Geoff 👍

[@highlandersixtysix]

Yet another super-informative video, it's an absolute pleasure to watch and follow along learning new techniques that are scalable. Thanks for taking the time to put this together in what IS Britains Biggest Realistic Model Railway (no question). Have a smashing Christmas!

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Ah thanks so much for the kind comments & the same to you too! Simon

[@johnpalmer5873]

Another excellent video. We learn from your methods and experience and if it is from trial and error - keep going! You've made a unique and special model which takes many of us right back to those important formative years that made us who we are now. Todays young people will not get these experiences and that is why your aims to take this layout to the public are so praiseworthy. I think this is a fantastic effort and you seem to have the focus and determination to succeed. Don't change your filming either, I like the mix you edit, it's varied and always interesting and ends too soon! Best wishes for Christmas and New Year

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Hi John, thank you so much for your inspirational comments really means a lot. I’m glad I’ve been doing the videos as it helps me keep enthused so to speak! Merry Christmas to you & thanks again

[@EdVanMeyer]

1200 grade wet and dry paper makes excellent fine tarmac road surface, use 600 for a rougher look surface, sheets can be painted as they are waterproof and used in car body shops.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Great tip thanks Ed

[@keithbridle8679]

Merry Christmas enjoy

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

You too & thank you

[@terrigoddard3448]

Always great to see a Romulan 56 Doing some graft.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

It is cheers!

[@TheDaf95xf]

Good evening Simon. Great update especially all the train spotting with the grids and tractors passing by 😊 Happy Christmas 🎄 to you and all of your family and looking forward to more next year 👍🏻

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thank you and to you too! Thanks for your support 👍

[@michaelclaydon1200]

Thanks for the video's. My favourite model railway channel and the best layout too !!!!!

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks Michael glad you enjoy them Cheers. Simon

[@JohnJohnson-xm2mu]

The more you see heaton lodge the more you realise how incredible it really is,great videos Simon I do use them for reference using the tips on my own layout,looking forward to seeing it when on tour,happy Christmas and thanks for sharing 👍

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks John & to you too. Glad they are useful 👍

[@gazpot]

Hi Simon thanks for another great video don’t worry I have disastrous modelling days as well you could try a jig to make the brass hand rails if you have trouble with scolding large items try a resistance solder station London Road Models supply them

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Good idea Gaz I’ll try that cheers. All the best!

[@duncanrhodes4778]

Another great video, really interesting stuff. I can never watch one of your videos and not wonder about which numbers you used for your lottery win, lol.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

I wish! As I said in an earlier comment I sold a business and when the money from that ran out I remortgaged the house! Seriously! I guess it’s priorities being single with no kids to pay for too 😀 Cheers. Simon

[@duncanrhodes4778]

Yeah, not having kids to finance is a massive advantage! I learned that one too late. Still, I really love your work, thanks for all the smiles you have brought me this year.

[@yeovilcentralmainline2307]

Hi Simon, for brass work you need to use something like a small Butane micro blow torch as my dad used on his brass steam models. these will give you a small, direct flame of great heat

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

I’ve just ordered one of these! Thank you 👍

[@yeovilcentralmainline2307]

@@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428 I'd be interested to see how you get on. Back in the day my Dad had a smaller blow torch filled by meths which was great for fine work. Merry Christmas, Mike.

[@cedarcam]

Mostly the Red Bank was class 40 hauled but did get other locos if none were available, even a 25 with 25 vans I remember one day going flat out but very slow. I always liked to see that train passing, some days with a DMU car on the back going to Horwich works. Scenery on the new section is looking good I like how you are making the puddles.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Cheers yea I remember seeing the Red Bank with two ‘40’s many a time

[@richardserridge2767]

A very simple solution is to solder with a small gas torch... Soldering irons are a bit useless for thick brass. I have a little gas soldering torch made by dremel and it works brilliantly.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

I’ll try that Richard thanks a lot 👍

[@lynnmorton7544]

Great progress, but I don't have a lot of faith in those glass slides, especially since the layout is going to be hauled about from town to town. Have you tried Perspex, something chunky enough to lie flat?

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Hi Lynn thanks for that. They survived the 3 exhibitions I did on phase 1 of Heaton Lodge to be honest. Once they can’t move they are fine it’s when you are setting them in you have to be careful. Trouble with Perspex is the eye can see the thickness and they don’t look as good 👍

[@simonburrows1467]

This is so impressive and thank you for sharing your expertise. I wondered if you have considered a more professional approach to filming your masterpiece. As a photographer I am always looking for ways to light my subject, simple things like a single light source to emulate the sun ect and focal points and depth of field. Also frames per second and playback speed can have an effect on filming models to help them look realistic. It may be worth considering hiring a professional film crew/company to really bring your modeling to life.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks Simon, it’s a question of cost to be honest. I only get a small income from KZbin at the moment so I’m basically doing the videos for other modellers benefit. Once they start earning money I’d definitely consider a more professional format but not an option at the minute. Best regards. Simon

[@mikehumphrey7413]

Have you tried silver solder when using this material? Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Mike HO in Australia.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

I’ll try that good idea thanks Best regards to you and thanks for watching ! Simon

[@stephenfoster225]

hi there, every time i look at your work i hav to be reminded that this is a scale model railway, simply stunning the realism you have created. I have a question , tongue in cheek, do you grow drugs, or rob banks, ( HA, HA ) the size and the rolling stock etc costs a lot of money due to the size of your Empire

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks Stephen 😀 No I haven’t got a cannabis farm in the basement either. 🤣 To be truthful I sold a business in 2019 I started back in 2007. When that money went I remortgaged the house. I am determined to finish this Phase 2 and get it in front of the public again. Obviously then the layout will earn money by charging a small fee to visit it. All the best. Simon

[@grenfellroad8394]

Surely braising that brass rod would be a stronger option, with Oxy-acetylene gear?

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Would probably work but how far do you go! Probably try one of those mini flame torches plumbers use next I think 👍

[@julianossowski1435]

@@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428 Yup use a mini propane torch and plenty of flux, once its hot enough it should flow just fine. Whole thing is metal so no worries melting some other part whilst you put the flame on it.

[@roberthall-h7r]

Simon, I have used a small butane torch for soldering heavy gauge brass with good results. If you use a good quality flux (Laco Flux is good) and plumbers solder wire you should get better results.

[@henrybest4057]

@@julianossowski1435 I agree, but suggest he does that somewhere safe, with no flamable materials around. He wouldn't want the layout to go up in flames. Also, thoroughly cleaning (a light sanding) the mating surfaces first will help.

[@cameronpatterson1045]

Hi from Glasgow Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 will you be getting a H.S.T 125 for the layout

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Yes there will be at least 1 HST doing the circuits. Thanks 👍

[@christopherhinton6456]

drill thread and screw the posts in to position.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Might try that cheers