Max Legroom

Hi Mark I painted the rails Tamiya NATO brown and the sleepers were picked out in various greys and beiges especially in the sidings where I wanted a weather-beaten effect. Then I applied a few washes of dark earth and finally a stone dry brushed on to pick out the sleeper details. Quite a bit of work but then there isn’t much track so definitely worthwhile. All the best Max

Brilliant. What paint did you use for the red oxide buffer.

I've posted this in the class 26 thread but here is a substitute for a DMU at Perth in 1983. I think the coach is a BSO.

I’ve always thought that this was one of the best rtr diesels. Heljan really nailed the body shape in my opinion.

I remember Ian Futers upgrading a couple of the Lima 09s back in 1980 in Model Trains. I've still got the original article.

Looks fantastic in BRM. Brilliant work!

Hi Kevo It’s looking good. I like your station. I think the lower height works really well. Max

I've been a bit distracted from Strachur by a Portmahomack micro. However, that is now finished so I've put a couple of locos through the works. First up is 27012 which retained the tablet catcher recess into 1977 and had the bodyside numbers at the no.2 end nearer to the cab door than usual. It's from the most recent Heljan release. Next is 37051 in weathered blue. This is one of the original Bachmann releases with four-axle drive but runs nicely. Looking at the photo I realise that it needs small vertical handrails on the nose and the weathering looks a bit bright so will be toned down. I've got a feeling that the new Accurascale class 37 will make these Bachmann models look very dated.

I’ve just discovered this thread. What a superb little layout you have made. Buckets of atmosphere and I love what you have done with the steam engines. Just brilliant.

Hi Stephen I really enjoyed this issue, especially the Haymarket Depot feature. I’ve been having a bit of a cull of my magazines recently but I’m happy to say that no copies of Traction (going back to issue 1 with a few gaps) have ended up in the recycling box! Best wishes Max

Hi Kevo Glad to have helped you start a new micro. Are you going to start a thread on here? I'd love to know what you are doing. All the best Max

The train consists of an empty vanwide picked up at the RAF base, a van containing fertilizer and an MCO of domestic coal. After a bit of leisurely shunting the train leaves withe the vanwide and two empty MCOs. Later in the day an engineers trolley is pictured at the station.

A few hours later, a class 26 has arrived on a freight and draws forward to surrender the token to the signalman before reversing over the off-stage crossover and coupling up to the rear of the train.

It's August 1978 and Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty is topping the charts. 600 miles north of Baker Street, the first train of the day has arrived at Portmahomack from Tain having deposited a couple of passengers. After years of threats of closure the line looks secure and has recently been spruced up with some new signage. One of the old blue signs has been dumped in an open wagon in the yard. What were they thinking!

Hi Kevo Thanks for your kind comment. The fencing is Wills SS45. All the best Max

Thanks Sean A test with a class 26 showed that everything works ok so I’m going to have a proper running session soon. I can definitely recommend a small project as a second layout. The only problem now is that I’m already thinking about an extra section! All the best Max

I think I've finished with the exception of a few grass tufts. Now all I need to do is clean the track, wire up the controller and see if it actually works! The signalman is by Modelu and was originally on his way to Strachur before a last-minute transfer saw him head 200 miles further north. My original intention was to make the fiddle yard from plywood but when I realised I didn't have enough I had to use what was lying around in the shed, which is OK as it follows the spirit of the project.

Thanks Jerry I've had to have a rethink regarding the low-relief goods shed as the space available meant it would have been chopped off at one side as well as low-relief. A quick card mock-up showed this looked awful so I've decided it to replace it with a low loading dock and some fencing at the end of the siding. The story is that the original goods shed was destroyed by fire in the late sixties and the area is still wasteland, much to the disgust of the locals who rightly regard it as an eyesore! This scruffy corner should contrast nicely with the rest of the layout. I'll post a couple of photos as soon as I've completed the scene. All the best Max

I've made some progress with the ground cover.

Apologies for the poor quality (I don't have access to a scanner so it's a photo of a photo) but I thought this was worthy of uploading just because it's a perfect train for a small space. 26038 at Perth on 25 August 1983. I think it was substituting for a DMU.

Here is a quick update. The track has been painted and ballasted and the signal box is complete. The bridge and embankments are in place and the sand dunes between the station and beach are taking shape. Ballast is Woodland Scenics fine and is a mix of various colours I had to hand - mainly grey and buff. You can see how the layout is very much inspired by Ken Gibbons' Port Pennan micro. A low-relief goods shed will go in the right-hand corner.

Thanks Kevin. I've just used up scraps of foamcore board and card to make the embankment framework. Hopefully the plaster bandages should be going on later today. The Peco signal cabin is currently being painted. I've also got a Lanarkshire Models HR buffer stop to put together and I'm planning to scratchbuild a low-relief goods shed.

Here are a couple of photos showing progress so far. The station is a smaller version of Wick/Thurso made out of Wills sheets. The overbridge is also bits of Wills sheets and girders, and the small hut is by Auhagen with a corrugated roof. It was a free gift from Continental Modeller a couple of years ago.

Unfortunately I didn’t allow for the thickness of the cork tiles when I installed the back scene which meant that less of the water appears than intended which is a bit of a shame. The back scene is by ID Models. I can’t wait to get up to the West Highlands again. I would love to visit Kintyre. That whole area seems to be bypassed as most folk head further north.

Your 25/0 really looks the part. Very nice.