[Mallaig and the Road To The Isles]

Looks a nice job, I am interested in class 20 speaker options because I am not happy with the current ones in mine. The Road & Rails video sounds pretty good, I would appreciate your feedback on the sound quality after a week or two of running. 

[Glenfinnan Station in O Gauge]

 1988 video has quite a bit of Glenfinnan around 16 minutes.

 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

Some wonderful scenery in the video below which is filmed in a much higher resolution than was available back in the 1980's. I find video like this fascinating and very helpful in planning how I attempt to model the WHL. 

 

 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

21 hours ago, BoD said:

Have you given up on the idea of replacing the tension locks with a wire loop?

 

No but I am some way away from undertaking the work and I remain uncertain about the optimal way of fitting wire loops.

 

23 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

Rob,

 

I believe that the central section of the snow ploughs was removed in summer (or supposed to be!). Would that make it more practical with tension locks?

 

Andy

 

I agree, my understanding it was a mandatory thing required by the authorities to make coupling and uncoupling easier. I recently acquired a Scottish Region Sectional Appendix for 1977 which I am working through, it will be interesting to see if the snow plough removal requirement is in here. 

 

Accurascale provide 2 styles of snow plough, the second one is in 3 parts where it may be possible to fit the outer ploughs and retain the tension lock. I'll have a look at this set up on 37027 because it would free up a set of ploughs which might work on a Bachmann loco. Although 37027 only wore the white stripe for a few months, it was photographed both with and without the centre section of the plough.

 

 

 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

37027 and 2B13, 08.45 Fort William to Mallaig, begin the climb up to the mountaineous section summit with 37027 wearing its new snow ploughs. I am not certain about these but given the tension lock coupling, they are the best solution I have seen to date. To be truly authentic most of the WHL4 37's should be snow plough fitted but this is something I have not found a solution to. I have a number of Bachmann snow ploughs and am wondering if I can create a similar fixing to attach these to a loco bufferbeam.

 

 

 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

Having created a new version of 37022 for WHL4, the old version need a different guise. Bought professionally weathered some years ago from Grimy Times as 37085, renumbered by them from the original 37049, I renumbered this to 37022 because it had the incorrect cantrail grill arrangement for 37085. A further renumbering to 37037 was straightforward although the round buffers at number 2 end need changing to oval ones. The original model of 37049 has round buffers which need pulling out which I find usually destroys the sheath of the buffer. The Accurascale buffers removed from the new 37022 would have been an obvious replacement but these do not fit the Bachmann loco; fortunately I have a few sets of Hornby class 50 buffers which do a nice job on the Bachmann 37. 

 

The new numbers will be weathered and sealed at some stage to finish the loco off. WHL4 now has a version of all of the main steam heat, split box 37's that worked the WHL in the early 1980's. What I really want now is a manufacturer to produce a BR blue liveried centre headcode, RSH built version with the correct cantrail grill arrangement so that I can recreate the handful of ex South Wales steam heat 37's in the 3718x to 3719x range. 

 

The old 37022, perhaps I should call this 37022 before works visit

 

 

Buffers removed

 

 

Hornby class 50 oval buffers fitted and loco renumbered

 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

I have renumbered 1 of my 2 Accurascale 37027's to 37022. This involved the removal of the old number and name, a change of buffers from oval to round ones and the painting over of the red bufferbeam. Nothing too taxing although the removal of the old nameplate shows up which I hope will be cured by a pass with the airbrush filled with matt varnish. In addition I added the loco crew at both ends and fitted the Accurascale snow plough for use with tension locks which I shall trial for a while to see how they function. Finally I changed the 4 Ohm Accurathrash speaker for an 8 Ohm one courtesy of Accurascale which makes me feel happier that my loco is now compliant with ESU's 4 Ohm minimum for a Loksound chip.

 

Transfers removed 

 

 

Crew fitted

 

 

Bufferbeam repainted

 

 

The finished loco

 

 

Accurascale snow plough

 

[Fixing Woodland Scenics to the layout]

I use PVA extensively with Woodland 
Scenics products with no ill effects. It works fine for me.

 

Scenic Cement is a WS in house product, effective but expensive.

[Glenfinnan Station in O Gauge]

My version of Word is an antique but I am fairly confident that the functionality can be found in more recent versions. The box shown below is opened by selecting Format and then Font.

 

[Glenfinnan Station in O Gauge]

1 hour ago, thegreenhowards said:

I’m back to painting my signal box today. I’m basing it on this picture, in which the steps are still dark green. I think I’ve also seen them in yellow green and white. But this is roughly the right era for my main focus of early ‘80s. It 

 

 

 

Here’s my attempt. I mixed a bit more hello into the yellow green mix and added a bit of white to both as suggested by @03060. I think I’m happy with the colours now, but I’d welcome comment from those less colours blind than me! 

 

 

 

I’ve also had a go at printing the signal box sign. I think the letters are slightly too big and need to be spaced wider (anyone know how to do that in word?). But the colour seems OK. Again, comments welcome.

 

 Anyone know where I can source the ‘passengers must not cross the line’ sign? Sankey scenics do the lower half with ‘Warning….£200’ but I can’t find the upper bit anywhere.

 

Andy

 

 

 

The repainted signal box looks good. I agree the character spacing on the sign could be widened, you can usually do this in Word by altering it through the Font tab where you will find a character spacing option.

 

John Upton (RM Web John M Upton) did some custom signs similar to what you seek for me a while back. I was pleased with his work and service and happily recommend you speak to him about your requirements.

 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

I have ordered more supplies of coarse turf which should have arrived by the time we return home from a short break. Before leaving I managed to prepare the smaller lochan in anticipation of trialing epoxy resin as water. Having read that epoxy resin is good at escaping I have attempted to make the lochan a securely sealed environment. As a base layer on the polystyrene landscape is cling film on top of which I laid more plaster cloth and painted it using several coats of Woodland Scenics water undercoat of differing colours. I hope that the colour scheme will create the murky water effect that I seek, by the time we are back home the paint should be dry and ready to receive the epoxy. 

 

Cling film and extra plaster cloth added

 

 

First coat of Woodland Scenics yellow silt applied.

 

 

After several coats of Yellow Silt, Hunter Green undercoat was added liberally to the base of the lochan. 

 

 

 

[Glenfinnan Station in O Gauge]

10 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

After the tour I spent a few days staying in Morar with some hill walking friends. And then on Thursday they all went home and I had a day mainly spent on a Glenfinnan site visit. I took loads of photos and some will trot out over the next few weeks as I continue detailing the layout. But I also spent some time checking out other iconic locations on the West Highland Extension in case I get the opportunity to include any around the garden.

 

I’ve put this video together as inspiration.

 

 

I hope you enjoy it. Sorry it’s only got sprinters in, but if there’d been decent trains out, I’d have been in them!

 

Andy

 

 

The Mallaig run round was very informative as well, having seen a number of pictures of the BLS tour I am now regretting that I did not book on it. Interesting to see the dog box on the back of the 2 car unit crossing Glenfinnan, I thought these were intended for Oban trains only. 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

Ever onwards with the scenic work at Arrochar which occupied most of yesterday. By the end of the day I had laid so much scenic material that I ran out of coarse turf, the upside is I now have scenic material covering two thirds of the area. Only the central section remains largely untouched where I want to make some minor changes to the landscape before adding material. More scenic material was added at the southern end of Arrochar and the lane leading up from the car park was painted. The wing walls to the undepass were fixed in place.

 

Lower level looking north 

 

 

Upper level looking north

 

 

Arrochar headshunt

 

 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

2 hours ago, Dunalastair said:

Looks good, and I appreciate the constraints of compression, but has the signal cabin ended up just too close to the platform edges? I am possibly sensitised to this issue by my current Banavie PIer station diorama project. Shuffling the cabin just a little back towards the station building, if that is still possible, might help the credibility.

 

https://westhighlandline.org.uk/arrochar-and-tarbet/

 

Of course, it might simply have been 'plonked' for the image and since been moved up the platform.

 

The platform was extended in the late 1980's, the signal box is in its correct place for my early 1980's era although the platform is not as wide as it should be. A second imitation signal box used as a waiting room was built when the station building was pulled down, I am not sure when but think it was into the 2000's.

 

 

 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

Not much done yesterday with glue drying. I did run a couple of engineering trains by way of a test and everything appeared fine. 27041 and the Eastfield breakdown train head south passing 20085 and empty Grampus heading north.   

 

 

 

 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

Another day of progress at Arrochar with a further 1000mm of the upper area landscape tweaked, plaster clothed and painted. Scenic materials were added to the 2000mm of finished landscape which is always the point where the final appearance takes shape. Trees and bushes need adding along with alot of detailing and tidying up but the station area and surrounds at Arrochar have taken a big step forward. 

 

 

 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

I returned to the outstanding scenic work yesterday making a start on the area around Arrochar. Whilst waiting for plaster cloth to dry I added cable trunking and point rodding and removed 100mm of the 2 sidings which were cut using a razor saw, cleaned up and painted to blend in with their surrounds. I was not happy with the approach that leads to the yard from the station car park and added more Scultpamold until I was satisfied that this looked more prototypical. 

 

 

Approach road before work

 

 

approach road after work, the lane needs sanding before painting

 

 

By the end of the day I had added and painted about 1000mm of the landscape above Arrochar. If the paint is all dry then I should be able to dress the area today and add more plaster cloth heading south to the natural break at the end of the station platform.  

 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

Some weathering of late, 37027 had Railmatch weathered black airbrushed onto its roof as exhaust. 37178 had its chassis lightly weathered using Railmatch frame dirt and the roof was misted with light coat of Railmatch roof dirt. Thinned weathered black was applied to the radiator grills on both 37111 and 37178 which helps break up the solid blue. I have'nt tried the roof dirt before and really like the addition which softens the new paint look that a model typically comes with. If I can summon up the confidence I shall do the same to several other locos including 37027 which still look too 'out of the box' for my liking. The contrast of 37178 against 37111 is subtle but very noticeable. 

 

 

 

 

[Mk1 BSO.T Scotrail branding question.]

A couple of posts ago I  showed a picture of SC9005 in largely pristine condition. Following an airbrushing sesssion here are a couple of pictures of my latest and final BSOT conversions 9011 and 9005 with weathering applied. Both have had the original Mk1 bogies swapped for Commonwealths and the addition of Railmatch enamel roof dirt and frame dirt makes a big difference in turning the 'out of the box' condition into a what looks like a well used coach. It is a simple enough process and well worth the effort in my opinion.

 

The transfers have not been sealed as yet, I'll wait for the enamel paint to harden first before applying a matt varnish and the internal work of replacing the seating bay with a counter remains outstanding.  

 

 

 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

37043 was allocated for the daily Oban to Sighthill freight where the WTT allows time for picking up wagons at stations south of Crianlarich as required. In addition to crossing 1B14 at Ardlui, 2 loaded OTA's were collected and added to the train. 

 

 

 

 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

Virtually everything was put back together yesterday, the exception being the last BSOT conversion SC9011 where I still need to fit the internal window covering and cut out the seating bays. 4 of 5 rakes of coaches were set up wth the 5th awaiting the finished SC9011. All in all a productive few days completing a list of jobs that had been outstanding for a while, I really hope to use the momentum this has created to get on with the mountaineous section scenic work.

 

37111 arrives at Garelochead with 1T45 12.45 Mallaig to Glasgow.

 

 

 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

With the passenger rakes in pieces, the only potential for running are freight and engineering trains. 20228 is seen at Crianlarich awaiting the departure of 37049 before it can exit the Pway yard with a short engineering consist.

 

 

 

 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

Tangible progress, the Queen Mary repaint is complete and the wagon returned to its usual place in the yard at Crianlarich. It needs transfers but I dont have any so they will have to wait. The other rolling stock that has been painted is drying out before being put back together, a little patience to allow the paint to harden pays a dividend although I find it hard to wait. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Auchentogle]

8 hours ago, SC55015 said:

The base needs insetting into the ballast and the lever shortening - shoulder height at the top of the swing seems a little too high.

 

I suspect that it is the lever that is out of gauge, I have yet to find a point lever that feels the right height and I have tried several. 

 

[West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout]

9 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

Always nice to see a 27…although I wouldn’t have said that back in the day!

 

I did'nt do many WHL trains for haulage, there were too many easier new engine options in the central belt to cover. However on 5th August 1979 on a Scottish Region rover I had 27019 on 16.38 Glasgow to Mallaig to Dumbarton which was the only 27 I had on a WHL train. Dumbarton was a frequent move for me with the northbound sleeper, I would travel north on 1S19, the Bristol to Glasgow sleeper where a compartment could usually be found for a good nights sleep, for a bleary eyed walk across town to Queen Street to cover the sleeper. If I needed the loco it would be the Dumbarton move for an EMU back into Glasgow and Casy Jones for breakfast!

 

Yesterday was a constructive one where the airbrush helped me complete all of the rolling stock roof painting and a large part of the chassis weathering. There is another few hours of work to go but hopefully I can complete this today. 37049 was captured a few days earlier arriving at Crianlarich with a Glasgow bound train from Oban. By the time 37049 runs again it should have been given a light weathering.