Heaton Lodge Junction - The Devil Is In The Detail! Plus I Miscalculate The Cement Factory Size..

[@ADEONE-oh8mx]

As a Brit living in Canada I don't get the chance to see any UK outline layouts so this is a great inspiration. I a surprised you haven't mentioned 3D printing as this is my main source of all the fiddly bits for detailing eg pipes, dustbins and general junk. Keep up the good work.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks for your support. Yes I’m going to have to resort to 3D printing going forward for all the fiddly bits. Love Canadian railways by the way. Very best regards Simon

[@johnpalmer5873]

Always enjoyable, informative, atmospheric, thanks for sharing your model world

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Pleasure thanks for watching

[@roberthall-h7r]

Always look forward to your updates Simon. I especially like the small cameo scenes and your attention to detail that’s often missing on some layouts.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

I think the small details come from copying the real location, as there are so many things you wouldn’t think of if you were just making a scene up Thanks for your support 👍

[@josenoventa6852]

Superb, as ever.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks much appreciated 👍

[@davidcook380]

Absolutely superb modelling , Well Done

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks David. I think because I practised for 18 months to get the right effects before I started the actual building of Heaton Lodge, it really helped. Best regards. Simon

[@ChristopherLovett-l2j]

Hats off to you for managing all this on your own, I am retired and spend all my days working on my two layouts one is 17ft x 9ft OO and the other is 9ft 6 by 7ft 6 N gauge and given all my free time I still struggle to make decent progress!

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Yes I know what you mean though. Sometimes - especially when you’re on your own - you’ll get overawed by tasks that aren’t your favourite. I’ve often said that I make it a rule of mine to finish the day on a job I’m enjoying doing otherwise I might not come back the next day! Best regards. Simon

[@JohnRich1415]

Not long found this channel and am enjoying each new video. Totally awestruck by the fact that you work on your own building such a huge and great looking layout, very well done 😊

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks for the comments John very best regards.! Simon

[@musoseven8218]

Another inspiring video. When I saw HLJ in the magazines, I thought "Yeah remarkable layout", but couldn't take it in, the photos didnt do it justice (Id seen some of the late Allan Downes' builds and Ive always liked his work, I have a small building of his). With your videos and focus on specific areas its still mind boggling, but it really has come to life for me. I think your passion and knowledge add to that too👍😊👍

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks I always appreciate your support. It’s these kind of comments that really make a difference when you’re having a really bad day! Allan was a real character and worked so fast but kept the quality. Best regards. Simon

[@bramelsheretan]

what a fantastic idea of the etch, as usual a great update

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Yes I had to get an etchers make them for me. At least they are there to stay! Cheers Simon

[@highlandersixtysix]

Stunning work, Simon, and a credit to you. I don't want to ruffle feathers, but having visited GETS last weekend I'm at a complete loss as to understand the fuss over Making Tracks - an obsession about bike shelters and bikes, similarly with car parks, but not a soul to be found anywhere, no cameo scenes, nothing, and when you really look closely at it it has all the hallmarks of something being rushed and not particularly cared for. Heaton Lodge is a time capsule and the standard of modelling (there's absolutely nowhere to hide in 'O') is beyond reproach.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks again for your kind words. And the £100 donation! It’s these kind of comments that really help push me forward especially on crap days! Best regards Simon

[@Tom-Lahaye]

Superb details. Especially the arches between the bridge beams. An idea to replicate laminated car windows is to put some clear sticky tape at the back of the slide glass before breaking it.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Tom that’s a great idea about the laminated glass I’ll remember that. Thanks for the kind comment 👍

[@philsteele7151]

You may have only five k viewers but myself and a neighbour drove from near Buxton to Harrogate to see Heaton Lodge, thats worth more than a like and subscribe. I always figured the "beef" between you and Pete, for showmanship, arranged by yourselves a classic move.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

That’s good to know about you driving so far. Much appreciated Phil I hope next time you see it it will be even more worth it 👍

[@NewModelRailway1]

There's no doubt your layout perfectly depicts a cold and frosty autumn/winter day but what puzzles me is those models of you and your mates, trainspotting by the bridge, seem to show you wearing short sleeve T-shirts. You must come from a hardy breed. That solution for transporting your tall cement factory building makes sense as long as the venues where you will showcase your layout will also have a high enough roof to accommodate.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

You have a very good eye! You are correct though I should be wearing a few more warmer clothes

[@ModelRailroadWorldwide]

Thats awesome!!

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks 👍

[@thurstablelane7567]

Lovely work Simon, I’ve been really enjoying seeing where things are going and how you’re progressing! I’m in the process of getting a 7mm LNER B17 and a 9 Coach express set built. It would be an absolute dream to see it running on here.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

I love B17’s - I remember as a kid Hornby introducing the B17 footballer. Must have been the late ‘70’s. You’d be more than welcome to bring the express and we’ll give it a run once the extension is finished Best regards. Simon

[@chrisjackson1530]

Loved the dust freights at the end

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Cheers 👍

[@johnlladron735]

Looks incredible. What a work. Not sure what the mud slinging is all about with who has the biggest trainset though.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

It’s a bit of friendly banter! Thanks for the kind comments

[@johnlladron735]

@@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428 ok, I thought I'd missed something! I should add that to me Heaton Lodge is a different proposition altogether especially given the 7mm scale and the fact that you are doing so much of it solo. Thanks again for the videos, I don't care how big/small/nearly biggest/whatever it is!

[@nickbannister775]

Other than diverts using the Calder Valley Line before 2000 when Brighouse reopened there were timed Royal Mail trains, the Hull to Holyhead being one of them. If these were still running in your in your time period it’s one you could add. In my time these were always double headed, normally 2-8-0s.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Did you ever see the Austerity’s or 8F’s at Heaton Lodge Nick?

[@lloydscentralstation1245]

You are good at scenary

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks!

[@paulgodwin604]

Another top quality video Simon. Re the Sherpa Yorkshire Water van - can I query your layout time frame as YW Plc didn’t exist until 1989 when water privatisation came into being. All the best, Paul

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Ah yes you are correct! I’d have to give in to modellers license in that case! Best regards Simon

[@paulgodwin604]

@@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428 Rule Number 1 applies!

[@UndergroundEric]

Would be cool to see this and making tracks at the same exhibition someday, i guess it would have to be somewhere like the NEC. No disrespect to them but his is defo a level above in the workmanship i think

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

I’d be more than happy to show HLJ with Making Tracks. It’s about entertaining the public apart from anything else. I know Mr PW would not be quite as keen Best regards Simon

[@dr.deborahkatharinestevens318]

Six foot baseboard widths!?!😱.....I can foresee a certain Mr. George suspended on wires, perspirant with tension, like a character from Mission Impossible, inches above the trackwork trying not to break anything.😊

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

You’re right but don’t forget I can wheel the 6’ boards away if I need access to the main existing boards on trestles 😁 Hope you are well !

[@mikewhitchurch387]

Loved the PW reference, I know exactly what you mean and fully concur, to quote Monty Python, nudge nudge wink wink 😁.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

😁

[@ItzChaza]

the small details, id lift where that water van is and flatten some of the grass that he would have drove over so it looks like it just arrived as atm it looks like its been there for ages and the grass has grown around it rather than it just driving in, its such a minor detail but its the small things that matter

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Good point! 👍

[@mikeuk1954]

Can I ask if you intend to exhibit this layout? How much space will it require?

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Yes Mike it’s been exhibited before in 2021/2. Once it’s been extended it will be going out to various out of town shopping centres within a huge marquee. It needs a space of 200’ x 60’ Cheers. Simon

[@mrbluesky2050]

@@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428 Simon, two things, tone the brick piles down a bit, they look too new and a bit plasticy...dust over with some mid brown and rust... and secondly, isn't 'biggest' based on actual track metres not overall layout length? in which case. . . .

[@garylong7599]

Is the concrete works based on a real location?

[@TheWoodlandhoBo]

Pete watermans layout is OO gauge. Could you not claim the title of Britains longest O gauge layout? I witnessed Pete’s layout last weekend at GETs. To be honest I prefer yours as you have more little features to look at and also you claim to have done it yourself and not a whole team. Well done chap.

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

Thanks for your kind comments! There should be a lot more stuff to keep the public entertained with the new extension. 👍 Best regards

[@robd2184]

I hope when it’s all done , there’s still space to show off the BR era . I understand the appeal of the modern era to kids , but unless we want rusty sidings and some seriously repetitive trains it’s not of much interest to old farts like me !

[@britainsbiggestmodelrailwa1428]

There will be BR era events as well as steam - if I can persuade enough modellers to lend me enough locos and stock! 😊