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MRDBLUE17

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Blog Entries posted by MRDBLUE17

  1. MRDBLUE17
    Hi Everyone,
     
    I don't really get around to updating the Blog much but thought I would let you know than Rannoch has been wired up ready for DCC control. I still have one board to finish at the viaduct end but having installed all the droppers from each track section as I built the layout the job of joining everything up on the 3 boards was completed in a day and apart from the slight issues with the3 way points the layout has gone over to DCC control using my Gaugemaster Prodigy. See my layout thread for many images of spagetti - or wiring for the technical term! Next will be the point control once I have obtained the necessary decoders and then the daunting fact of how many sound decoders I still need for my Scottish fleet for this layout has also become very prominant.
     
    With GBRF now running the Alcan flow I have been able to keep my motive power up to date as Richard at the Train shop in Morecambe had one Bachmann 66725 Sunderland left which has been suitably finished with little westies on the cabsides seen at Rannoch!
     
    Thanks for looking,
    Mark
  2. MRDBLUE17
    Hi Everyone,
     
    I have not really bothered to update my blog quite as I should. I am continuing to document the building of Rannoch in the layout topics section for anyone that is interested showing all the stages of the build and the techniques I have used as well - it may be of use to some of you and comments and advice is always welcome as it is helping me to get the layout to the standard I want to achieve - well hopefully that is the plan! The roof of the station has now taken shape and I hve even recreated the chimney stacks on top as well. There is still a lot of work to do before everyhting is complete but it is making progress again. Here are a couple of shots with more details of the work and photos on my Rannoch layout topic.
     
    Chimney stacks in progress

     
    Building in place on layout with main roof structure taking shape

     
    Thanks for looking,
    Mark
  3. MRDBLUE17

    Trains at Rannoch

    By MRDBLUE17,

    Hi everyone,
     
    Having now fitted all the window frames on my station building in place - I decided that it was time to run a few trains at Rannoch. I have added more to my layout topic in layouts and have also altered my settings on there as it will now be quicker to go straight to the new content currently on page 5 as having transferred all the original thread over it took a little while to load with all the photos on 1 page so reduced the number of entries per page to make it easier for anyone to follow. The entire build of my layout from the start is on here if anyone hasn't seen it before.
     
    Here is 37 422 heading South through Rannoch with a spoil train and later 60 029 with the Fort William to Mossend Alcan working.
     

     

     
    Hope you like it so far and please feel free to ask any questions or leave a comment!
     
    Thanks,
    Mark
     
     
  4. MRDBLUE17

    DRS Chopper at Rannoch

    By MRDBLUE17,

    Just thought I would share a photo of my new DRS 20307 done for me by Andi of Cairns road works fame! Mine was a bit different from the others Andi did at the same time being the old style DRS livery and a nice coating of grime to match 37 038 that he had done for me earlier. This is another brilliant conversion which really looks the part. Thanks Andi. I have added a few other shots to my layout topic. Hope you like it.
     

     
    Thanks,
    Mark
  5. MRDBLUE17
    Hi Everyone,
     
    Really need to get better at adding new things onto the blog but work has been busy of late. I have had the not so fun task of masking the station building recently so that I could add the green paint to all the wooden framing on the building. The colour decided upon for Rannoch is precision LNER Doncaster green (dull) which seemed a good match with the research photos. I used Tamiya tape and this a took about 2 and a 1/2 hours to do due to all the window and door openings. Here is a photo to show how things are progressing:
     

     
    The North board which includes the viaduct and the entrance pointowrk for the storage roads has now been fixed down permanently with the rail ends soldered in place to some SMP copperclad sleepers. I have given this a good test and all the curves into the sidings have been shaped to be tight but are smooth enough for all trains to pass through safely even at full speed so that has gone as planned. Just need to get the track fixed in place and droppers attached on the main storage board and then a full wire up to DCC will be done. I spotted a bargain class 60 on Hattons website on Monday EWS 60029 for only ??60 which arrived on Thursday and was sent up the West Highland line to Rannoch (I know they don't really run on this line but they are among my favourite loco types so will appear from time to time!)
     
    New pointwork and track fixed in place

     
    Missing link over the viaduct has now been fixed in place to get a good smooth joint between boards

     
    New 60 at Rannoch

     
    Thanks for taking a look.
     
    Mark
  6. MRDBLUE17

    Rannoch North Board

    By MRDBLUE17,

    Hi everyone,
     
    I have been busy over the last few days/evenings with the North end of the layout. This board has been moved to the hall to allow access to it so that I can get the track work and board facias etc finished. I have also had to add a few dropper wires from the various track sections and also the point motors so that everything can be linked up at a later date ready for the switch over to DCC. For more photos and details of the work please see my layout thread Rannoch Moor under the layouts topics section.
     

     
    Thanks,
    Mark
  7. MRDBLUE17

    Wills Garage kit

    By MRDBLUE17,

    A little while back I had built the Wills garage kit to go next to a cottage at the south end of Rannoch. I wanted to create a nice run down sort of feel to it so had distressed the doors to represent rot and wood splitting, one window has been boarded up and the whole thing given some brown and black washes to represent a worn and faded creosoted look. The roof was also quite fun to weather with some silver and rust shades added before toning down with some black and dark green washes. The only issue after spending time getting the doors to look right this side faces the backscene boards and won't really be seen from normal viewing angles so at least you can see it on here.
     
    Mark
     

     

     

     

     
     
  8. MRDBLUE17

    Rannoch Moor Returns

    By MRDBLUE17,

    Hi Everyone,
     
    The only advantage to the site being down is I have made good progress on Rannoch but now things are back I thought it is about time I bring you up to date with the progress of my modern image layout Rannoch Moor. I have been redesigning the storage roads as I have too much stock planned for this layout so I now have the space for an additional four 2 car units of 156 / 158 length. The re build has also given me 2 longer loops so again gives more flexiblility in operation. This is now loose laid but connected so I can have a play to test everything works as planned. I have also re-aligned the curves at the North end as they were too tight and not smooth enough for all locos to go around and this is also a big improvement. I have also been able to give some of my more recent purchases a run out including my DRS 57 and FNW blue 150. Hopefully you will be able to see the pics attached to give you an idea of how things are looking. I will get more on here as time allows.
     
     



     
    Hope everyone has made the transfer across - any comments always welcome.
     
    Thanks,
    Mark
  9. MRDBLUE17
    Hi Everyone,
     
    Finally had some time today to get my old Rannoch Moor thread moved over - I have put all this into the layout topic section as I have transferred all the old pages onto this so you can follow hoe the layout started and how it is currently progressing. Now I am back to this point I will add some new updates once I have taken some more pictures.
     
    Thanks,
    Mark
  10. MRDBLUE17

    Rannoch with Windows

    By MRDBLUE17,

    Hi Everyone,
     
    Here are a couple of shots that show the finished etches done for me by Pete Harvey of PH Designs. They are very fine etches and way above anything I could have scraped together by any other methods and really help to capture the character of the real thing so I am really pleased with how they have turned out. I used Games workshop white primer followed by a couple of light coats of Humbrol gloss white. They were a snug fit into the painted frames and using a paperclip I then ran a thin bead of superglue on the inside edge to secure and fill any gaps. Hope you like it so far. Next to plan the roof and insert some interior partitions!
     

     

     

     
    I have also added the link to Rannoch in layout topics so you can see more of the layout and the complete build so far if anyone is interested.
     
    Thanks,
    Mark

    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/1970-rannoch-moor/
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