Crinan

[Signaller69]

19 hours ago, Alister_G said:

Merry Christmas Martyn, all the best for the New Year.

 

Al.

Thanks Al, and to you too.

 

Martyn.

[Signaller69]

22 hours ago, brylonscamel said:

 

Cheers Martyn, Merry Christmas and let me raise a glass of "Rob Roy" 12 year old malt (remarkable considering the distillery is only a couple of years old) in your direction.

Thanks Brian, here's to you too!

[Signaller69]

22 hours ago, Legend said:

Merry Christmas Martyn. Thanks for the inspiration . 

All the best Russell, thankyou!

[Signaller69]

A big "thankyou" to Brian McCulloch for sending me one of his exquisite Braeside Models hand finished, small batch, Highland 4mm scale "But & Ben" Cottages. Absolutely superb. Seen here posed on my "Dunnington" layout, but will become part of "Crinan" in due course, once the Club is open again.

 

Martyn.

[Alister_G]

That's lovely, can't wait to see it on Crinan.

 

Al.

[blueovalcraig]

Probably of no help now as I’m late to the party but here is a recent photo of ‘Vital Spark’ at Inveraray.  I notice it’s for sale.

 

Absolutely love this layout by the way.

[Signaller69]

2 hours ago, blueovalcraig said:

Probably of no help now as I’m late to the party but here is a recent photo of ‘Vital Spark’ at Inveraray.  I notice it’s for sale.

 

Absolutely love this layout by the way.

Thanks Craig, always handy, mine still awaits finishing touches to be honest. Although mine is based on Auld Reekie c.1970 when used mainly for Youth training and group holidays etc, in which condition I was fortunate enough to stumble upon several photos online.

 

Hope someone buys the Vital Spark, sad to see it not in use.

 

Martyn.

[Signaller69]

After a year with little progress and cancelled events, loss of mojo etc (with more of the same in the immediate future) the only progress has been that the layout is now set up again at the club, hopefully some work will be undertaken in the new year (not least to check if 2 years of storage have taken their toll on the wiring).

 

In the meantime, Merry Christmas to all and here's hoping for a brighter 2022.

 

Martyn.

[Robert Shrives]

Always enjoyed the thread and insights - it is a well modelled scene and I too hope storage has not been too harsh, Hopefully a reasonably good festive period and getting back to the layout will refire the mojo! 

Take care  and festive greetings.

Robert 

[lezz01]

Merry Christmas Martyn.

Regards Lez.

[Alister_G]

Merry Christmas Martyn, hope you have a much better New Year.

 

 

 

PS. If you've lost your mojo, look down the back of the couch - that's where everything else appears to end up...

 

 

Al.

[luckymucklebackit]

Merry Xmas Martyn - dont give up the good work, you are an inspiration to many.  As the song says "Things can only get Better"

 

Jim

[SHerr]

Hope everything is ok after storage, if it helps with your mojo seeing a post on Crinan reappear has made my day. I find the more Scottish layout posts on RMWeb, the more interest I have in modelling!

 

 

[Sludger]

Hi Martyn,

 

a Merry Christmas to you. Nice to hear tha Crinan has been

re-erected. Hope the wiring is not too bad and that opportunities

to adventure to new shows come about in the not too distant

future.

 

Trev.

[TheQ]

£115,000, for for the vital spark, I'm sure Para Handy could sort something out..

Making a model of her is on the todo list for my layout Tiree.

 

Glad to hear Crinan is resurrected, I'd love to see the layout sometime..

 

Happy Christmas folks,

Slainte Mhath.

 

[Signaller69]

Thanks all for your kind comments, they are much appreciated!

 

all the best!

[Signaller69]

Thankfully as the layout has been stored for so long, it has remained largely dust free; miraculous given that much decorating was taking place in the Clubroom for the first few months of storage. No major damage has shown itself so far either, although a full electrical test has yet to take place.

 

A small amount of work has been started though, namely the National Carriers Goods Shed has been removed and some TLC bestowed in the form of new guttering fitted (as some disintegrated during removal) along with refitting cosmetic lamps over the doors and a new coat of green paint based on the colour used at Kyle of Lochalsh c.1970 (on which it is loosely based).

I am currently undecided whether to 1) move this to where the Provender Store sits, mainly to allow a longer carriage siding where it is currently located, or

2) to move it closer to the front of the layout with the siding running behind it, although both options would necessitate some other track changes too due to the restricted width of the site. 

The first option would also allow the MacBraynes Depot building I built a while back (below) to be incorporated near to the Station Building.

This would also involve road alterations in the same area; I've never been entirely happy with how it looks anyway, but equally I don't want to change the character of the station area too much, or make it look more cramped than it already is.

 

Due to a lack of Exhibition invites currently though, now would be a good time to carry out such work.

 

The only recent photo of the layout is this one, with a couple of my old Lima CCT's which have recently been lowered using cast axleguards, flush glazed etc.

 

But at least the mojo is coming back as and when time allows.

[auxie22]

Those buildings look excellent

[Signaller69]

Well I have decided to go ahead with the sidings revamp. The coal yard / NCL shed area have been cleared and sidings are in the process of being prepared for realignment. As part of this, the NCL warehouse will sit on a new base of plinths rather than a solid platform, as the one at Kyle did as per this Facebook photo extract (complete with MacBraynes lorry who had the NCL transport contract)

(Note also the first radius set-track curve of around 100' radius which went to a wagon turntable at the end of the loading dock on the other side of the shed; another line went across parallel to the end of the dock from this turntable behind the lorry!)

 

However my revamped shed was a little tall and had a brick base thus:

Which was fine on a solid base, but not on pillars!

 

So to solve the problem, the brick base has been cut away leaving a lower shed (the doors were removed exposing the former colour):

 

The door depth (now a scale 7ft) will be increased a little and new doors made, along with a new base and plinth/pillar supports.

 

Hopefully some pics of what is going on soon.....

[Signaller69]

Couple of pics of what is going on......

 

 

The temporarily placed new track next to the supporting wall will be the lengthened and realigned carriage siding (the cause of the changes) with the nearer, second lengthened siding serving the repositioned NCL goods shed which will probably go beyond the Macbraynes (red roof) building; as can be seen this will require the old goods shed siding removing, along with the associated point, to leave 2 shorter sidings at the front of the layout (possibly with one extended along the quay embedded in the roadway, but disused - as it's a long drop to the floor if the layout gets knocked!). But I've not reached a final decision on this yet, nor the final exact building positions, but it will come to me!

 

The NCL shed is coming on too, the new base for it is currently under construction.

Edited March 9, 2022 by Signaller69

[ISW]

10 hours ago, Signaller69 said:

Couple of pics of what is going on......

Martyn,

 

That has all the hallmarks of a 'real' upgrade project; lack of access, difficult materials delivery, insufficient time, lack of workers, and cost overruns ... Really prototypical!

 

I bet you'll enjoy every minute.

 

 

Ian

[Signaller69]

8 hours ago, ISW said:

Martyn,

 

That has all the hallmarks of a 'real' upgrade project; lack of access, difficult materials delivery, insufficient time, lack of workers, and cost overruns ... Really prototypical!

 

I bet you'll enjoy every minute.

 

 

Ian

Thanks Ian,

Management are thinking of land filling the harbour to give extra space!

 

Martyn.

[Signaller69]

The shed has had its new base (from hardboard with wood strip edging) and support pillars made up.

 

Needing 24 supports, I wanted a simple method of production, so I used 5mm wooden square strip cut to 15mm lengths, with ID Backscenes self adhesive brickwork applied. The staff access doors at both ends need steps making yet.

[ISW]

3 hours ago, Signaller69 said:

Needing 24 supports, I wanted a simple method of production, so I used 5mm wooden square strip cut to 15mm lengths, with ID Backscenes self adhesive brickwork applied. The staff access doors at both ends need steps making yet.

Martyn,

 

Are you able to weather the self-adhesive brickwork?

 

I tend to 'print my own' brickwork using an inkjet printer (yes, I'm a cheapskate) and I've been wary of weathering (using an airbrush) due to the potential for the ink to' run'. I have toyed with the idea of spraying my inkjet completed brickwork with waterproofing spray (the one you use on coats, umbrellas, shoes, and the like), which I know doesn't affect the inkjet, and then weathering but not tried it yet.

 

Ian

[Signaller69]

2 hours ago, ISW said:

Martyn,

 

Are you able to weather the self-adhesive brickwork?

 

I tend to 'print my own' brickwork using an inkjet printer (yes, I'm a cheapskate) and I've been wary of weathering (using an airbrush) due to the potential for the ink to' run'. I have toyed with the idea of spraying my inkjet completed brickwork with waterproofing spray (the one you use on coats, umbrellas, shoes, and the like), which I know doesn't affect the inkjet, and then weathering but not tried it yet.

 

Ian

Hi Ian,

 

Istr the brick sheets are colour fast, I've not had any issues with washes so airbrushing should be fine? 

A coat of sprayed Matt varnish (I use acrylic car sprays) wouldn't harm though to be extra safe.

 

Martyn.