MRDBLUE17

Hi Peter, Been busy so not caught up for a while with your thread - I like your layout as a terminus - sort of reminds me of the old Morecambe station before it closed as the track work for running around trains gives plenty of operational scope. If you were to make it a roundy one - it would be worth retaining several terminus platforms to keep the atmosphere and possibly just have a couple of through tracks or a freight avoiding line as well so you can have the best of both then. The shot of the beach back on page 18 makes me want a holiday in Aus again - the nearest I come to bright reflection on water is seeing the moon on the Forth when I am travelling home from work on the train! I liked the shot of the 33 on the single BG as well it looked very good parked up in the station. The NSE branding on the latest photos is also a nice touch - I remember seeing a short 3 coach set with an NSE branded mark 1 behind a blue 37 at Grange once although most former NSE stock was Mark 2 in the early 90's on the Barrow line. Mark

Hi Dave, Cracking job on 37 427 - especially like the shots at speed! One of my favourite liveries really would like a 31 in it though like what I use to see in Barrow when I was younger! Keep up the great work as always. Thanks, Mark

Thanks for the comments everyone, Clive I am glad ou like my layout and that you have found it on here again - work is busy at this time of year and not enough time for modelling but the tasklist is getting ever longer. Andi - stop tempting with ideas - I would like a charter rake possibly a nice West Coast formation but need to choose the vehicles carefully - this will wait unitl the layout is finished or I will never get anything done - The DRS 20 has already distracted me enough from modelling and has been happily hauling my 13 wagon rake of empty spoil around Rannoch since it arrived! Thanks, Mark

Really like the look of both of these - great attention to detail and they will look good on any layout shame they aren't going into operation as they look very good!

Hi Dave, That sneaky taster photo of your layout will certainly make the next issue worth looking forward to already and I've not even read this months yet due to work! It will be great to see a diesel era layout as the main feature in the lead up to Model Rail Scotland! Just a shame it won't be there as it would be great to see it fir real so to speak! Mark

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

Hi Everyone, Not got any modelling done but a parcel arrived Saturday morning fresh from the works of Andi - Cairns road works. My Bachmann sound fitted 20129 went away and has returned as 20307 in a weathered condition ideal for those RHTT if I had one! It appeared at Rannoch today with 37038 another superb DRS conversion by Andi. Looks and sounds brilliant running around the layout. I need to get my lighting sorted out for better photographs but thought you would like to see this loco on my layout. Hope you like it and thanks again Andi for another top notch conversion and repaint! Thanks, Mark

Looking really good James - I like the use of staples on the interior seating as it creates a depth of realism and great attention to detail by you. I will be interested to see the finished article as the Northern Livery suits the pacer quite well. Keep up the good work! Mark

Thankyou both for your kind comments! Might get more work done if I stopped playing trains - I even ran an old Hornby 56 and a pair of lima 31's tonight but never got any pics. Must concentrate on getting the track finished and wired for DCC then I can run my sound fitted fastline 56 as well! Thanks again, Mark

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/

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

Hi everyone, I found enough time on Sunday to finishe fitting all the window frames in place. They were all a snug fit and then using a straightened out paper clip, to permanently fix everything in place and fill the gaps, a line of superglue was added around each frame. I have had time to run a few trains and as I have not posted any trains for a while and following Grimleys request to see some traction thought I would share a few shots with you all. 37 422 is a heavy weathered Vi-trains model which does run very well but did take me about 6 months on and off to get it to this condition - based on photos of it in Rail Express. 60029 on the other hand has been run in only so far and was a real bargain at only ??60. It looks the part on the Alcan working from Fort William to Mossend shame they can't actually run on the line! Hope you like them and the building in the layout setting. Will share more as progress happens. Thanks, Mark

Hi Kevin, Your layout is superb, great era to model too with some very interesting stock, I have got 3 of the Vea kits but I don't have the skill to paint them to anywhere near the standard of yours and I like the weathering as well - really brings everything to life. Please keep posting more of your work as it is very good indeed. This will be one layout I will need to look out for at Exhibitions in the future alhough I don't get right down south to visit relatives as much as I use to so it might be a while but at least we can all see it on here. Thanks, Mark

Hi Trevor, I followed your link to your layout and was amazed by it very inspirational indeed and the layout is so well built puts mine to shame! It's a real shame that you have not been able to get on with it as it would turn out to be an excellent layout for exhibiting. The viaduct is very well done and the contours of the land make it look very real. I hope you can find a way to get it finished in the future. I can imagine watching the trains go by on it! Please keep me up to date on your progress with it as I would like to see more and I'm sure others on here would as well. Thanks, Mark

Hi Everyone, It is great to see that so many of you are back on here again and thankyou for all your kind comments it really does make it more worthwhile being able to share things on here. I have not had much time of late to get things updated or too much progress as I work in retail and this time of year is more manic than usual so all work and no play although I am off this weekend but will be Karting on a Stag do and I also have a football night out later as well and then football on the Sunday so won't get much modelling done. However I have fitted in some and here is what I have been up to. I kept forgetting to pick up some white spray paint for my etched windows but the other weekend Harburn Hobbies had a Hornby event which I went along to so finally picked up a can of Humbrol white gloss which following a couple of light coats has done the job nicely. (I was shown the new silver 67 & DVT and was very impressed with it so think that might be appearing on a run up the West Highland line in the future!) Although I had opened up all the window frames with a file before painting, with 2 coats of green on the frames, the window etches have been a snug fit. Only the end ones are glued in place the rest are just fitted for now but thought you might like a preview. I will be fitting LED lighting to the outside of the station as I have seen night photographs and think this will be more realistic so that I can operate a timetable with the interior of the building shut at most times of the day as it is in reallity. The limited signs of humans on the layout should help to create the sense of desolation once the scenics side of things develops. Hope you like it - the building seems a bit of a never ending project but hopefully I can get it to the standard I want eventually. Thanks again, Mark

Looking good Pete - This will have some very nice trackwork looking at that so far! Mark

Hi Peter, Really like your last updates. The loco and train pictures are always interesting - like the 25 and 40 together, not something I ever saw for real myself only in pictures I have seen around the Manchester area on the BOC tank trains - they make a fascinating pairing! I also like the above shots - the detail on the point rodding is extremely good and something you don't see so much of on deisel layouts! How is the extension coming along - sounds a bit hot to be doing too much work at the moment! Mark

James, That is going to be a cracking unit when it is finished! Like the look of it already with all the work you have done. Mark

Hi Pete, Oh no believe me she isn't - the tension certainly built up that week and I decided that it was best to move it back before she had any accidents near it as she would call them! LOL

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

Hi Dave, Your photography just keeps getting better! That 27 and the shots of the 50 are simply stunning. I got to hear the Hornby class 50 sound last week at Harburn Hobbies and must say that I was impressed with it especially when idling and I'm sure would sound good on your layout! Mark

Hi Dave, Its great to see your layout back on here - I use to follow your progress closely on the old site as there was always something new to see and your layout is amazing and living here in edinburgh I know the location very well and you have captured it so well. I hope know that you are back up and running that we will see plenty more from you over the winter months? Thanks for the paint suggestion - I have looked closely at your use of it on here and I think that will work well for me too along with the idea of a dark wash over it should do the trick very well on my viaduct. Thanks, Mark

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

Hi Everyone, I am glad to see so many of you have got back up and running on here. Still need to learn more about all the features as I have seen some very good blogs etc on here and want to make mine a bit easier to follow and use if anyone wants to refer to anything I have done. I have moved the Northern end board out into the hall as it is impossible to work on the outside edge as it fits behind the door and the around the wall of my train room. This has allowed me to fix the front facias and backscene boards in place. I have also got the holes drilled and cut out for all the wiring droppers and point motors that feed the storage sidings at this end of the layout. I have also been able to take a photo o this board so you can see how it all looks. The viaduct structure has had a blast of weathered sleepers when I was doing the track work so it stands out a bit. I have also got the rails rusted up tonight as well on the top of this. As far as the storage roads go I have added a single layer of cork, glued in place some SMP copper clad sleepers for soldering the rails to at the joint with the main storage sidings board and also fitted the point motors to each of the 6 points at this end with wires soldered in place and dropers on all the rail sections. I am hoping this will give me reliable operation with my sound fitted trains when I get it all wired up for DCC. I will fix all the track down permanently once the board is back in place on the layout so that everything has a good alignment and smooth curves as the tollerances are quite tight at this end but was all running well under test. Gary - that photo you attached looks fantastic - are you sure you were in Scotland with that weather - you couldn't have done any better than that! I will send you my details as that would look fantastic as my backscene - I know my backscene boards are a bit different in shape but that can be made to work and that left hand section would look really good behind the viaduct. Does anyone know a suitable spray can paint that is a good match for railtrack green for the bridge as the one I have based this on had work done in recent years and the main beams are green? Thanks for having a look and any questions, advice etc always welcome! Thanks, Mark

Hi Claggy, Real like your new photos on here - the shots around that crossing area look amazing! Your Ferry boat is really going to make your layout something different the detail on it is amazing and I enjoyed looking at Carls progress on here the other night! Keep up the good work and I hope to see more updates as it progresses. Mark