St. Mary Hoo - a clapped out SR branch terminus in P4

[Nestor]

Looks like some "fun" new features coming out here.
Still enjoying the progress, keep it up and all that.

Nestor

[Rustyrail]

Cheers Nestor! I now have a new Facebook page for St. Mary Hoo if anyone wants to join:-

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1396782577253301/

[Rustyrail]

The first extension is now under way with the junction being the first port of call. This is a bisected point with the diamond crossing running on baulk timbers and is about 90% complete. The crossing part of it has been a bit of a nightmare to build because there are so many tiny bits of rail, mostly dictated by electrical breaks. This unusual PW configuration could be found at Dover Marine and Tonbridge stations. The track passing through the middle of this C10 point is part of the CEGB railway complex and will run to a coal wharf on the Thames estuary. The track leading straight on will go to Gravesend whilst the one to the right will go to Cliffe. Eventually working conductor rail will be added to the point.

[luckymucklebackit]

Amazing stuff, reminds me a bit of the stuff Mike Sharman used to build on his multi gauge layouts.

Jim

[THE CHIEF]

That's a very good bit of engineering. Its going to look very complex when the third rail goes on. I've studied that bit of track at Tonbridge so its great to see a model of that sort of point
How do you find P4? I see a lot of impressive models in the scale but very rarely hear people say they have fun with the scale. There's obviously something that keeps you coming back. Is it just the challenge or the enjoyment?
In either case, its always great to see more of St Mary Hoo

[SouthernBoy]

Technically and visually very impressive. And glad to see St. Mary Hoo has life again

[Rustyrail]

Many thanks Jim, The Chief and SouthernBoy for your comments.

P4 is great to look at. However, putting it all together is another story; it does require a great deal of care and time, making sure rolling stock doesn't fall off! When you see a P4 wheel flange you can see why care is needed; they're tiny, and contrary to what several other P4 modellers claim, the flange is an important part of keeping stock on the rails. It has taken around two months to get the point in the photos to where it is now and it is still not finished. The one thing I don't like about 18.83mm gauge is its restrictive nature; i.e. having to either convert RTR locos and rolling stock or build kits/scratch build. With OO there is just so much to choose from. Having said that I have no regrets building SMH and I'm very glad that I have, purely because of the way it looks, and it is fun... sort of!

All the best
Simon

[SouthernBoy]

I think whether it's SMH in general or these points in particular, the expression applicable to both is 'A Labour of Love'.

[Rustyrail]

Thanks SouthernBoy! Yes and a lot of grief!

[Dad-1]

I just wish I had the confidence that I'd live long enough to build my own
track ........ let alone in P4.
Great to watch & let someone else suffer the pain !!

Geoff T.

[Rustyrail]

Hello Geoff; yes this little blighter has taken around three months so far and is still not complete!

[Rustyrail]

The junction point is nearing completion now with just the cosmetic fishplates (lots of them though!), tiebar and wiring to do. The wiring is going to be very tricky...

[Dad-1]

That looks just sooo Good !!
Time to have the swear box ready as you make it live !!

So pleased to see action here, just a pleasure to look at such well made
track.

Geoff T.

[Bufferstop]

the flange is an important part of keeping stock on the rails.

It's all in the maths, lengths and widths scale by 1:76, if you built your stock from prototype materials the effects of momentum and gravity would scale by 1:438976 (76cubed). so the model is going to behave differently to the prototype, gravity, the rounding of the rail head and the coning of the tyres keep the prototype centred between the rails with just an occasional help from the flanges, in 4mm/ft they have a bit more work to do. It was a brave man who first decided to try P4 dimensions, and a real craftsman who made them work.

[THE CHIEF]

Its crazy to look at. Several sizes bigger than N but with tighter check rails I would fancy soldering feeds to those rails! You must build watches for a living
Looking at how flat those sleepers are is it difficult to ballast? Like do you have to build the track up?