Invernevis based on Fort William in N Gauge

[David41283]

Looking really good David, lots of Highlands atmosphere already. Nice to see the lattice work connecting the canopies portrayed too.

Martyn.

 

Thanks, as with many aspects of this layout so far, I had grand plans to scratch-build the canopies but having gone with the Ratio kits I thought that adding the distinctive beams were key to capturing the feel of the station, even with the off-the-shelf parts.

[David41283]

Evening all,

 

Enthused with yesterdays progress update, this evening I set the layout up, connected the fiddle yard and power and ran everything for the first time since ballasting. Fortunately the points all still worked, even the polarity switches. A few bits of ballast were chipped away and everything was given a good hoover.

 

I have now fixed the platform in place with impact adhesive. This seemed a good excuse to get some trains out to ensure all the clearances were adequate. What started out as a test run, ended up with a lot more stock out of the box than planned!

 

(Ignore the mugs in the background, they were weighing down the platforms while the glue dried!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrows plan is to ballast up to the edges of the platform to blend everything in. I am also contemplating using spare ballast on the shingle beaches, I think this would work from the point of view of using a limited "palette" of colours throughout the layout to tie it all together and create a cohesive feel.

 

Cheers

 

David

Edited December 16, 2016 by David41283

[shanks522]

Really looking good David, love the last shot with the 26s on the stops.

 

Graham.

[David41283]

Good evening everyone,

 

A long time since the last update. Mainly because we moved house early in the New Year and everything was packed away and I had more important matters to attend to.

 

The good news is we're now settled in and unpacked, and as we've gained a few rooms with the move, I now have a study with a designated "train table" to work on. I've even been given a whole dresser in the study to store all my model railway stuff    My family are already starting to refer to the "train room".

 

Anyway no-one is reading this for an update on my house or storage arrangements! Invernevis hasn't been abandoned or fallen by the wayside, although I have been slightly distracted by a very large Dapol 08.

 

The one thing which didn't get packed over Christmas were a few Ratio signal kits, which I used to make some signals before we moved. The main platform starter is modelled on the famous signal at the end of the platforms at Mallaig, which appeared to be a strange mash-up of components and looked a bit WR rather than SCR. The signals have now been painted and planted.

 

 

The "beaches" have gained some texture with various grades of stone chippings to represent the rocks and shingle.

 

 

The last couple of weeks have been spent working on my attempt at the "least square model building of the year" competition. However it is starting to come together now. I have pragmatically shrunk the iconic station building, and many of the arches have been replaced by easier-to-make square windows. It is just propped up with blu-tac for this picture and there is still lots to do.

 

 

Cheers

 

David

[Signaller69]

Good evening everyone,

 

A long time since the last update. Mainly because we moved house early in the New Year and everything was packed away and I had more important matters to attend to.

 

The good news is we're now settled in and unpacked, and as we've gained a few rooms with the move, I now have a study with a designated "train table" to work on. I've even been given a whole dresser in the study to store all my model railway stuff My family are already starting to refer to the "train room".

 

Anyway no-one is reading this for an update on my house or storage arrangements! Invernevis hasn't been abandoned or fallen by the wayside, although I have been slightly distracted by a very large Dapol 08.

 

The one thing which didn't get packed over Christmas were a few Ratio signal kits, which I used to make some signals before we moved. The main platform starter is modelled on the famous signal at the end of the platforms at Mallaig, which appeared to be a strange mash-up of components and looked a bit WR rather than SCR. The signals have now been painted and planted.

 

20170210_234017 (800x600).jpg

 

The "beaches" have gained some texture with various grades of stone chippings to represent the rocks and shingle.

 

20170210_234041 (800x600).jpg

 

The last couple of weeks have been spent working on my attempt at the "least square model building of the year" competition. However it is starting to come together now. I have pragmatically shrunk the iconic station building, and many of the arches have been replaced by easier-to-make square windows. It is just propped up with blu-tac for this picture and there is still lots to do.

 

20170210_234052 (800x600).jpg

 

Cheers

 

David

Signals and building look great David, being "based on" rather than an exact copy of FW is handy for the latitude it allows when doing buildings, especially size, windows styles etc as you say. It is still instantly recognisable as FW however and most probably wouldn't realise the windows were different without looking at photos anyway.

 

You are very lucky having a dedicated railway room, sorry, study! :-)

[David41283]

Hi all,

 

Progress is still plodding forward, here is a quick phone snap to show how "Station Square, Invernevis" is coming on. Still loads of gaps to fill and odd bits left to touch-in with the paints, but my station building is more-or-less finished. (just don't use a tape measure or set-square when you look at it!).

 

 

Cheers

 

David

[nick_bastable]

the station building looks most impressive please  carry on

 

Nick

[jonas]

Wooooah, just followed this over from the Poldeen thread. What a cracker! Keep up the good work mate.

[Signaller69]

Station building looks superb, you have really captured it.

[rob D2]

Super work.

I've often thought about doing FW in the 90s but I knew I'd need a photo backscene like yours and wasn't sure where to get one.

It really sets the location.

[David41283]

Hi everyone,

 

Thanks for the positive comments.

 

Having just looked at this thread on a computer for the first time in a while (as opposed to my phone) I can see how blurry my last few photos have been. I will endeavor to post some more.

 

Not much more has occured in the last month, mainly as my eldest has discovered games workshop, and my modelling time has been largely spent painting these guys (great fun!): Major off topic alert!

 

 

 

 

This little flurry of interest in the layout will motivate me to have a a break from the minatures and do some more this weekend!

 

Cheers

 

David

Edited March 31, 2017 by David41283

[justin1985]

I've just been reading through this whole thread - excellent layout!

 

I first found it when looking for layouts made with Finetrax. It's a shame you didn't think it was for you, but glad you gave it a shot, and it looks like you've made a great job of laying the code 55 neatly. Adding the extra sleepers at rail joins with copper clad looks like it's worked really well. With careful ballasting and weathering it can look very good. One tip I've picked up from TomE's Ropley thread is a great product called "Treemendous Earth Powder" which he's used as an even finer ballast - might be worth experimenting with an extra layer of something like that to bed in the track, especially in the station where ballast doesn't tend to be as fresh as on a mainline?

 

Just for interest, to go back to a bit of a question that was raised earlier on in the thread on the advantage of Finetrax when it's relatively close to scratch building, the two massive advantages are alignment, and even more importantly appearance. Finetrax is essentially the same as the latest version of the 2mm Scale Association "Easitrac" system, which now also uses pegged chairs. The key feature is the chair and the "daylight" under the rail. To replicate that with copper clad means using an elaborate (and complex, expensive) system of etched chair plates and cast dummy chairs.

 

I'm really impressed with your stock collection. The weathering looks superb! Looking forward to seeing the "red stripe" Scotrail 47 weathered - this is a repaint I've been planning to do too. Love that livery!

 

Justin

[bcnPete]

Nice project David - can't beat a bit of grubby BR Blue

 

Can you tell us a bit more about your loco fleet - looks like you have an interesting collection?

 

Thanks, Pete

 

EDIT: Just found your work bench thread

Edited April 2, 2017 by bcnPete

[Ben Alder]

This the role of parents to be a GW army painter for a time - they are looking good. During my stint I quite enjoyed it all - an element of creativity and the versatility of acrylics compared to rigid camouflage patterns and the gloop of Humbrol enamels of my youth.

 

 

Edited - spelling,

Edited April 3, 2017 by Ben Alder

[westhighlandline]

Stunning job so far, David! I really like your weathering skills on the locos and coaches.

 

I am curious about your ScotRail-liveried MK2s. They can't be the latest GraFar run of RTR models, as they haven't been released yet. So I guess you've put on some decals yourself. I've been thinking about doing the same to some of my coaches, yet couldn't find any proof online of Class 26s leading ScotRail stock (neither MK1 nor MK2), following the branding in 1983. Has anyone more information on this matter?

 

Cheers, Kosta

Edited April 3, 2017 by westhighlandline

[McRuss]

Hello Kosta,

 

I've found a picture of a Class 26 in large logo grey livery with two Mk2 coaches, the coach behind the engine was in Scot Rail livery. The picture is on page 61 of Modern Locomotives Illustrated  No. 201.

The picture was taken in 1990. On the same page there  is a picture of a Class 26 in the above mentioned livery hauling a train of Mk2 in blue grey, but behind the engine there is a Mk1 BG in Inter City livery.

These picture was also taken in 1990.

 

Markus

[David41283]

I'm pretty sure the 26s and 27s had been largely replaced by 37/0s and later 37/4s in the 80s. However I'm sure there will be examples of them being used.

My timescale is broadly 1975-85ish so I'm using various prototypes from all over Scotland throughout this period. All my coaches Mk1 and Mk2 have had Railtec transfers added, using a coaching stock handbook from 1980 picked up on ebay for reference.

[TomJ]

There are definitely pictures of class 27s at Fort William well into the 1980s and definitely after the 36s had largely taken over. Class 26 were far far rarer visitors to the West Highland however.

[David41283]

Hi everyone,

 

After the distractions of "BloodBowl" work has resumed in earnest on Invernevis.

 

Here are some quick photos of where we've got to, taken on my phone earlier this evening. I was in two minds whether to post these or not, as they look a bit rough and show some work which clearly needs a bit more finesse.

 

View down the layout showing the spread of the townscape and the development of loch front.

 

Station Square with extra buildings and a condensed representation of the small patch of park/garden behind the station.

 

I was planning to continue the buildings up to the end of the board, but couldn't the composition right to hide the backscene and fiddle yard entrance. In the end I have gone with a Kyle/Mallaig style rocky cutting and bridge which works much better. Still lots of blending together to do, but this is better than the trains appearing from a hole in the sky!

 

Two views of the loch front, still lots of work to do, but getting there.

 

Thanks for all the continued interest.

 

Cheers

 

David

 

 

[David41283]

While waiting for the glue to dry this evening I got a couple of locos out to see how things are looking.

 

27005 by the station building. This is pretty much the image I have been working towards!

 

The shunter figure marks the location of the uncoupling magnet!

 

Trying to recreate one of the iconic shots. Just need to photoshop in a loch, rather than my study as the background.

 

 

Trying to recreate a shot which has recently appeared on the web https://www.flickr.com/photos/96859208@N07/9877581936

 

The other end of the layout, newly installed fencing.

 

Cheers

 

David

[Signaller69]

Looks really superb David, really like how you have adapted the Ratio platform canopies to suit the location.

 

Cheers,

Martyn.

[David41283]

Hi everyone,

 

I've been working on the scenery this week, and it all feels like it's starting to come together.

 

Starting at the far end (fiddle yard end), the rocky cutting is now bedded in behind the signal box, in the foreground the path/track and fence have been blended in with some greenery.

 

This area then hopefully blends into a row of cottages, the continuation of the trees should join the two scenes together.

 

Next is the garage - roughly in the same place as the real garage at FW. 

 

Then the station area and low-relief townscape behind.

 

I have been working on the harbour wall too.

 

Finally the station forecourt at the far end of the layout.

 

A few days ago the early morning light was streaming into the study and gave far better photographic conditions that 11pm at night! Here is a class 26 waiting it's next turn of duty in the loading dock.

 

I've just cleaned the track, and hoovered the layout, so tomorrow I plan to connect up the fiddle yard, and the power and run some trains for the first time in a few months.

 

Thanks

 

David

 

 

[McRuss]

Hello David,

 

your latest pictures looks very good to me.

 

Markus

[David41283]

Evening everyone,

 

I managed to get everything set up this evening to run the layout for the first time in 6 months or so. This was the first time the built-in lighting has been on since I've done most of the scenic work, what a difference it makes!

 

In the first of three sets of pictures (I also charged up a reasonable compact camera, instead of relying on my phone) here are some overall shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I lost a bit of time this evening trying to work out why the fiddle yard points weren't working. Turns out I'd terminated all the common returns by soldering them to a bit of copper clad sleeper. Too much flux seems to have eaten the thin layer of copper breaking the return. Everything worked well once I'd swapped this for a couple of choc-blocks instead.

Edited May 25, 2017 by David41283

[David41283]

Some more photos of this evenings playing/testing...