Brookhall Mill - A GNR(I) Micro Layout

[Tullygrainey]

Enjoyed your piece on Brookhall Mill in New Irish Lines, Patrick

[Patrick Davey]

On 5/12/2022 at 1:32 PM, Tullygrainey said:

Enjoyed your piece on Brookhall Mill in New Irish Lines, Patrick

Thanks Alan, appreciated!

Edited March 25, 2023 by Patrick Davey

[Patrick Davey]

Latest developments at the mill:

 

4 mm hardboard has been acquired and largely cut to size to start forming the backscene

 

The front of the scenic area has been painted black to tidy it up

 

The layout name is taking shape, there will be strip lighting behind this

 

Unusually I have a largely free weekend so hoping to make more progress.

[Patrick Davey]

Making progress on the GNR-style name board for above the layout.  Built from balsa wood and 10cm letters from Hobbycraft.  Need to round the edges next and add more coats of both colours before gluing the letters in place.

 

 

[Patrick Davey]

It's a cold December Sunday evening at Brookhall Mill as a Gardner bus arrives from Dundalk - a large snow drift has blocked the Antrim branch one mile north of Knockmore Junction and the bus will operate the staff shuttle service from Lisburn until the line is open again.  It's getting colder and there's a distinctive red tint in the sky so another fall of snow can't be too far away.....

At least the bus driver made it to the mill for the annual carol service, where the resident 'Mill Voice Choir' have been augmented for a cross community seasonal singalong.  Even the NCC choir was invited this year so Mr. Weaver must be really getting into the Christmas spirit!

Happy Christmas to everyone in the forum, thanks for all the inspiration and banter throughout the year and here's to much more in 2023.

Edited December 11, 2022 by Patrick Davey

[Galteemore]

That’s some choirmaster - not a trace of a County Antrim vowel in that diction! Lovely stuff Patrick. 

[Patrick Davey]

The nameboard for above the layout is now finished, it looks a bit big at this stage but there will be hidden areas to the left and right which the sign will rest upon so hopefully it will all look ok when it’s all brought together.  

Finished in the style of  a typical GNR(I) station nameboard, with black letters on a yellow background, and no border.

[jhb171achill]

On 11/12/2022 at 7:42 PM, Galteemore said:

That’s some choirmaster - not a trace of a County Antrim vowel in that diction! Lovely stuff Patrick. 

He's been too long in a small hostelry up in Buckna or Bollyclurrr, so he has, with Cushendall's best poitín, so it is.

[Patrick Davey]

I have always been a bit obsessive about taking photographs during a build and I have over 1,700 of Brookhall Mill by this stage......

So time to take a look back and see where it all started, and watch how it progressed.......

[popeye]

I love all the buildings, great work.

It must be near the end now.

[Patrick Davey]

1 hour ago, popeye said:

I love all the buildings, great work.

It must be near the end now.

Cheers Popeye and yes, very close!

[Patrick Davey]

A bit of a milestone here today as the first stage of the backscene comes together - currently just a sky blue with a possible upgrade to a photographic one to follow, but it's a bit complicated as one end would need to be 'industrial' and the rest more scenic, so I'm on the lookout for suitable examples.  I have seen different back scenes blended together so that'll be on the radar soon.

 

The left side of the back scene has a bit of extra depth to allow wagons to go fully into the mill:

[Patrick Davey]

Midnight at the mill

[ttc0169]

Looking well Patrick

[Patrick Davey]

22 hours ago, ttc0169 said:

Looking well Patrick

Thanks Noel, Happy Christmas to you and everyone at Tara Junction 

[jhb171achill]

That whole thing is a little cameo. Pure 1960-ish Dunmurry / Lisburn!

[Patrick Davey]

And we have a name!  The letters are maybe a bit big but they’ll have to do for now.  Work is ongoing to install the wireless lighting behind the name - I’m not sure if the power from this will be enough to light the layout properly so if not I will supplement it at exhibitions.

Edited December 23, 2022 by Patrick Davey

[Jarl]

This is a lovely layout, with superb structure and scenic modelling. I liked the write-up in New Irish Lines. Very importantly, you seem to enjoy the process (bar the usual hiccups along the way). Thank you for sharing it with us; I hope there's a chance to see it in real life at some point.

Michael

[Patrick Davey]

Lighting installed - comprises two cordless lighting strips which are USB charged and attached to a magnet affixed under two short pieces of hardboard, angled slightly upwards. Looks fine here but it remains to be seen if it is sufficient for an exhibition.  There are ‘warm’ and ‘cool’ settings too which make for a bit of variety.

 

The 'cool' light setting:

 

The 'warm' light setting:

Edited December 24, 2022 by Patrick Davey

[Galteemore]

One of the simplest things you can do on a layout is light it. But the effect is immense - as seen here. Great work Patrick 

[Patrick Davey]

11 minutes ago, Galteemore said:

One of the simplest things you can do on a layout is light it. But the effect is immense - as seen here. Great work Patrick 

Thanks GM - much appreciated.  Happy Christmas!

[J-Mo Arts]

The lighting looks fab! Merry Christmas! 

[Patrick Davey]

Just now, J-Mo Arts said:

The lighting looks fab! Merry Christmas! 

You too!!

[John-r]

Really something special, Merry Christmas.

[David Holman]

Proof that smaller layouts really benefit from neat framing.

Another Lily properly gilded!

[DB JOE]

Fantastic Work!!!

[Patrick Davey]

On 25/12/2022 at 12:17 AM, John-r said:

Really something special, Merry Christmas.

Many thanks - you too!

On 26/12/2022 at 11:27 AM, DB JOE said:

Fantastic Work!!!

Very kind thank you!

On 26/12/2022 at 8:00 AM, David Holman said:

Proof that smaller layouts really benefit from neat framing.

Another Lily properly gilded!

Thanks David!

[Patrick Davey]

A little post-Christmas present to myself, for being a good boy this year. 

Acquired from the nice folk at Layouts4u. Highly recommended.

[the Bandon tank]

I think the cool effect lighting rely suits the layout best. More Irish looking.

[Patrick Davey]

Some new characters at the mill......

Mr. Weaver was an ardent animal lover - here he is deep in conversation with his two cats, Merlin & Peregrine:

 

During their lunch break, Bertie Bellows and Sammy Screech would often entertain the other mill workers with their legendary duet of concertina and fiddle.  Mr. Weaver wasn't a fan though and they were generally banished to the end of the platform, where their mischievous melodies and horrible harmonies would drown out everything, even the drone of the newly-re-engined diesel locomotives:

Edited January 11, 2023 by Patrick Davey

[popeye]

Nice figures and cats.

You will need yellow lines on platforms or they might loose their legs and become loco drivers. 

[Tullygrainey]

Do I detect some customised figure sculpting here Patrick? I can't find Bertie or Sammy in the Dart Castings catalogue 

[jhb171achill]

2 minutes ago, Tullygrainey said:

Do I detect some customised figure sculpting here Patrick? I can't find Bertie or Sammy in the Dart Castings catalogue 

They were worried about appearing in the same catalogue as, y'know, themmuns who go to a different church........

[Broithe]

11 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

They were worried about appearing in the same catalogue as, y'know, themmuns who go to a different church........

Preiser do a selection of denominations of wedding groups.

No issues have been reported.

 

I know this, because I had to be careful to get the 'right side', as an acquaintance of the layout's owner was a CofE vicar, and also a noted participant in the world of radio controlled aircraft.

We added a piece of fine wire into the celebrant's bible, to convert it into a transmitter, and had a small plane suspended just off the church tower.

[Patrick Davey]

1 hour ago, Tullygrainey said:

Do I detect some customised figure sculpting here Patrick? I can't find Bertie or Sammy in the Dart Castings catalogue 

Ha! Not quite!

https://www.modelu3d.co.uk/product-category/finescale-figures/town-and-country/1948-1968-tc/musicians-1948-1968-tc/