Popular Post class26 Posted November 1, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 1, 2020 (edited) I have spent a long time in the shadows on here learning much from the many excellent layouts and hopefully this will have born fruit in this layout. I did hint at the layout recently on the Scottish kits page and was encouraged to reveal more so here we go. A long modeller of the Scottish scene, probably due to holidays many years ago when the class 26`s and the 37`s were ruling the north I did several attempts (all bad) at the Kyle of Lochalsh before migrating to the Far North line itself. My previous layout, now no more was a freelance FNL layout but before long I was growing dissatisfied with it and planning this layout where the centre piece is Forsinard. For those not familiar Forsinard is the final passing place before Georgemas Junction and now the only passing place between Helmsdale and Georgemas, a little oasis. I was attracted to it really for its setting, I could have chosen any of the passing stations on the line. A visit to the area in 2017 saw many photos taken and I travelled the entire length of the line so took photos from the 158 , it does get up a fair speed in these parts so there are many blurred photos ! There is I believe even a stretch of 90 mph between Forsinard and Georgemas !. This layout was intended as a retirement project, to be worked on at leisure and in normal circumstances not started on for a few years yet but Covid 19 has changed my plans as I find I now have much spare time due to our business (who would be in travel now ?) temporarily closing . All previous layouts have had too many compromises and this time I was determined to compromise less. The far north of Scotland needs space if modelling anything outside the stations themselves so a shed measuring 24 x 12 was commissioned, ground cleared with the shed finally arriving in June (already 3 months late due to lockdown). Initially my thoughts were to do a roundy roundy with Forsinard on one side leaving a huge space to model the very empty Flow Country found between Forsinard and Georgemas. At this point I must thank Mr Ben Alder of the Far North line for his invaluable help in the planning stage. Whilst I wanted the continuity that a roundy gives this would have meant storing lots of trains in hidden sidings and my previous layout suffered from this. I mean not really knowing where trains were and then the cleaning of hidden track , derailments etc. Ben Alder suggested adding Thurso and after much umming I have gone with this. As Ben said, Thurso has the benefit of being very compact plus there are numerous photos of the station . I will still have a hidden loop going round the layout behind the backscene but little in the way of storage. I should say I was not keen to have a fiddle yard as I wanted the maximum scenic area possible and I hope this all proves workable. In many ways Thurso will act as a scenic fiddle yard. This meant the Flow country area had to be shortened but I hope my compromise works. There is still approx 16 feet of winding single track after Thurso. The idea is that after leaving Thurso trains will immediately enter the Flow country and then , behind a hill (ie hidden) there is the option to take the loop (and even wait a while) round the perimeter before entering Forsinard station so time will have elapsed. After Forsinard the one small non scenic area is where i can manually turn the train, placing the loco at the opposite end of the train for its eventual return via the loop, then Forsinard, Flow country and finally lines end at Thurso. That`s probably enough description for now. The area most developed currently is the Flow Country so I will end with a couple of photos to give a flavour The bridge in the second photo was made for me by YorkModelmaking. There are several lattice type bridges between Helmsdale and Thurso / Wick which I believe are unique to the Far North line. I was going to make do with a Peco girder bridge but am so please I asked Julie at York to make this. The decking in the photo is only a trial, I need to alter it yet. The 37 in the first photo is appropriately 37261 "Caithness" ! Edited November 1, 2020 by class26 spelling 24 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railfreight1998 Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Looking forward to seeing this progress mate. Looks like it will capture the open country nicely. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post class26 Posted November 1, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted November 1, 2020 (edited) And Forsinard on the opposite side of the layout. The crossing gates , like the bridge are probably unique to the FNL and once again are courtesy of Yorkmodelmaking. Should anyone want either the bridge or gates do contact Julie at Yorkmodelmaking. Can`t be the first time the deer has seen 37261 ! Edited November 3, 2020 by class26 23 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsforever Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Good to see the Far North being modeled I can recomend a dvd that covers the whole line ,Return From The Far North from 225 Studios.Very good views of scenery and all filmed from a class 37 , good luck look forward to reports on progress. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
definate maybe Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Looking forward to following this. My Favourite line, shown off in a lovely space, to what appears to be a high standard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
manna Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 G'Day Folks Looking good, thought for a moment you were doing a 'Snow' layout. manna 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Alder Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Looking forward to this one developing... good to see another FNL layout ... I get a bit lonely here sometimes.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pH Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 14 minutes ago, manna said: G'Day Folks Looking good, thought for a moment you were doing a 'Snow' layout. manna And there are still the remains of the snow fences! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class26 Posted November 1, 2020 Author Share Posted November 1, 2020 28 minutes ago, manna said: G'Day Folks Looking good, thought for a moment you were doing a 'Snow' layout. manna No, just at an elementary stage. Static grass to come 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
manna Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 G'Day Folks Snow layouts, being rare, thought you might be doing it as it is for a third of the year. manna Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bell Posted November 1, 2020 Share Posted November 1, 2020 Looking forward to seeing this develop. Cheers David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sulzer71 Posted November 2, 2020 Share Posted November 2, 2020 Love It! Looking forward to seeing your progress on this Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class26 Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share Posted November 16, 2020 (edited) Some small advances on the layout over the last few days but still handicapped by the lack of Peco Bullhead track and points so the Thurso section is very rudimentary at the moment. Starting with a couple of photos the Flow Country section south of Thurso. For those not familiar the Flow Country is a beautiful but desolate area of peat bogs mainly in Caithness with little in the way of population. Forsinard lies here, an oasis and the only passing place between Helmsdale and Georgemas Junction. There are few trees (save for recent plantations) and those that have dared to grow are often bent over due to the wind or have given up on life completely . There are even fewer houses and those that exist are often abandoned such as the derelict croft featured in the second photo. Also there are many snow fences (seen in the distance on photo 2) which these days are rather dilapidated but I think really set the scene. The bridge in the distance on the first photo shows the entrance to Thurso station and civilisation ! Photos 3, 4 & 5 sees 26046 passing south through Forsinard with an empty freight Please bear in mind that all trees are just plonked on for effect at the moment and the signal boxes are not the final ones, the actual ones are being scratch built at the moment . The boards for the backscenes are also old ones, again just for effect. that`s a job for the New Year and a visit to Caithness to take some photos for this purpose, C 19 allowing Edited November 16, 2020 by class26 19 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TravisM Posted November 16, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 16, 2020 (edited) I had a enjoyable afternoon visiting the layout, giving my Bachmann Class 37, 37424 a test run and it didn’t look out of place. Can’t be said about my Hornby Class 60, 60044 which definitely looked out of place but fun watching it trundle about Edited November 16, 2020 by jools1959 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium SHerr Posted November 16, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 16, 2020 This is looking fab already. I really like the idea of the desolate moor which is very rarely modelled as most can’t resist the temptation to put tracks on it. Out of interest what have you used for the gravel platform surfaces? I need something similar and haven’t figured out the best way to go yet. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class26 Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share Posted November 16, 2020 (edited) 11 hours ago, SHerr said: This is looking fab already. I really like the idea of the desolate moor which is very rarely modelled as most can’t resist the temptation to put tracks on it. Out of interest what have you used for the gravel platform surfaces? I need something similar and haven’t figured out the best way to go yet. Thanks The gravel platform surface is a mixture of Gaugemaster N gauge brown ballast (which isn`t very brown) put on first then a light dusting of 4D Models sand as the Gaugemaster alone is not quiet right The Flow Country I intend to model in autumnal colours, not much green, more yellow and heather. Just working out exactly how to get the mix right ! My original track plan was to be a roundy roundy with no terminus station and would have entailed a larger desolate moor section but my concern was storage as this would have entailed maybe too many behind the scenes tracks and the hassle that goes with them so in exchanges with Ben Alder (FNL) the idea of Thurso came about which will act as on scene storage as well as allowing for shunting. Edited November 17, 2020 by class26 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhb171achil Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 The old stone cottage with the ivy all over it - what's the origin of that? On my Irish layout I'd like something like that, as such structures are very plentiful in rural Ireland! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class26 Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share Posted November 16, 2020 (edited) 36 minutes ago, jhb171achil said: The old stone cottage with the ivy all over it - what's the origin of that? On my Irish layout I'd like something like that, as such structures are very plentiful in rural Ireland! It comes from Skytrex of Loughborough https://skytrexmodelrailways.com/ It is their model barn which is actually 2 floors high but I just cut off the lower floor and it made a very good abandoned croft. You will find it on their site under rural buildings Edited November 16, 2020 by class26 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium SHerr Posted November 16, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 16, 2020 2 hours ago, class26 said: Thanks The gravel platform surface is a mixture of Gaugemaster N gauge brown ballast (which isn`t very brown) put on first then a light dusting of 4D models sand as the Gaugemaster alone is not quiet right The Flow Country I intend to model in autumnal colours, not much green, more yellow and heather. Just working out exactly how to get the mix right ! My original track plan was to be a roundy roundy with no terminus station and would have entailed a larger desolate moor section but my concern was storage as this would have entailed maybe too many behind the scenes tracks and the hassle that goes with them so in exchanges with Ben Alder (FNL) the idea of Thurso came about which will act as on scene storage as well as allowing for shunting. Thanks, I was stuck between fine ballast that I thought might be too big and kids play sand (have some in the garage) that may be too fine - I suppose by mixing the 2 you’ve got past both issues. I had also wondered about scenic scatter but thought that would also be too fine. Also after zooming right in to look at the texture of the platform surface I have to say your coping stones on the far platform are exquisite (being a Civil Engineer who’s worked in Rail all my life and dealt with many a coping job I’m drawn to silly things like that!) They seem to have a slightly non uniform thickness that just looks so realistic for a natural stone slab. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class26 Posted November 17, 2020 Author Share Posted November 17, 2020 (edited) 8 hours ago, SHerr said: Thanks, I was stuck between fine ballast that I thought might be too big and kids play sand (have some in the garage) that may be too fine - I suppose by mixing the 2 you’ve got past both issues. I had also wondered about scenic scatter but thought that would also be too fine. Also after zooming right in to look at the texture of the platform surface I have to say your coping stones on the far platform are exquisite (being a Civil Engineer who’s worked in Rail all my life and dealt with many a coping job I’m drawn to silly things like that!) They seem to have a slightly non uniform thickness that just looks so realistic for a natural stone slab. Don`t zoom too closely ! My modelling always has rough edges. The tufts of grass are placed at strategic points on the platform for a reason ! The coping stones by the way are from Scale Model Scenery. https://www.scalemodelscenery.co.uk/ They are the Steam era ones as the Network Rail modern ones would not look quiet right (to me anyway.) They are as supplied and simply painted with diluted Humbrol acrylic primer. In places I may have used a little too much primer but this does give a non uniform appearance. Edited November 17, 2020 by class26 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TravisM Posted November 17, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 17, 2020 Chinchilla dust which you can buy in pet shops is used by N gauge modellers as ballast as it’s finer. I suppose you could use it on the the platforms as it’s probably closer to the stone that was used. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class26 Posted November 19, 2020 Author Share Posted November 19, 2020 (edited) A few photos from today. Firstly 26027 arrives at Forsinard from Inverness. At last a box of Peco bullhead track arrived this morning (minus the points) so I managed to crudely lay out Thurso with some old Code 75 points used for guidance Finally I received a weathered mk 1 from Richard Dockerill who just happens to live half a mile from me. The photo isn`t great but the weathering is exquisite and not done justice by my photo. If anyone wants Richard`s contact details please ask. Edited November 19, 2020 by class26 14 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
definate maybe Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 Absolutely love the latest images. Can’t wait to see progress. Can I ask what size the Thurso aspect takes up Take care/ stay safe mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class26 Posted November 19, 2020 Author Share Posted November 19, 2020 2 minutes ago, definate maybe said: Absolutely love the latest images. Can’t wait to see progress. Can I ask what size the Thurso aspect takes up Take care/ stay safe mark Thanks ! From the (non existent) buffers up to the bridge on the entrance to Thurso station site it is exactly 9 feet in length by 30 inches wide increasing to 54 inches at its widest which allows the loading sidings to achieve some spaciousness It is remarkable how little space Thurso takes and it was this very point, made to me by Ben Alder that persuaded me to include Thurso There may not be too much more scenic work now until the spring as the weather turns colder it is making drying things out almost impossible. The next job ought to be wiring the layout up properly but my electrical skills are severely lacking. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TravisM Posted November 19, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 19, 2020 (edited) Pictures look great, I’d love to come up again and see the progress you’ve achieved. I assume you’ve sorted the baseboard warping with keeping the heating on? Edited November 19, 2020 by jools1959 Typo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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