west highland Mallaig and the Road To The Isles

[StuartMc]

On 10/12/2023 at 21:16, DavidBird said:

 

No, still the best fish and chips!

 

This reminds me of a story, of fish and of the amazing the things you do when you are young.

 

In 1988 or so BR had these cheap go anywhere tickets offer and about 5 of us from the Rail and Transport Society at Aberystwyth Universitity looked to see how far we could go and back in a weekend - so Aberystwyth to Mallaig and (immediately ) back it was - just becaues we could for £15 or something.

 

The memorably point is that for the whole journey one of the guys was telling us how good the fish is at Mallaig, and was really looking forward to it - but after hours and hours of travelling we arrived - only to find the fish shop did a half day Saturday and didn't reopen until Monday.
 

[DavidBird]

On 03/01/2024 at 10:59, StuartMc said:

 

This reminds me of a story, of fish and of the amazing the things you do when you are young.

 

In 1988 or so BR had these cheap go anywhere tickets offer and about 5 of us from the Rail and Transport Society at Aberystwyth Universitity looked to see how far we could go and back in a weekend - so Aberystwyth to Mallaig and (immediately ) back it was - just becaues we could for £15 or something.

 

The memorably point is that for the whole journey one of the guys was telling us how good the fish is at Mallaig, and was really looking forward to it - but after hours and hours of travelling we arrived - only to find the fish shop did a half day Saturday and didn't reopen until Monday.
 

 

It's not like that now.  They close in November and don't open again until March.  Still, the Pub does F&C carry-outs - and does them very well, too!

[mallaig1983]

Gosh, 3 months since my last update! 
Not a great deal to report on layout progress but I did decide it was about time that the tide came in. I had always planned to use resin to make the sea but I was not confident that I could dam it properly and prevent it leaking out at the edge of the board so I thought I would trial the toilet paper method. I went about 5 layers thick with it and once I had worked and manipulated it I was fairly happy with it on a test piece so I went ahead with it on the layout. Again I was happy. Yesterday I bought some cheap acrylic paints I’m the local B&M and attempted to get a colour match comparing it with a photo of the exact same area. I was happy with all the change in shades achieved but the end result was way to tropical. So I have since painted over it with a base coat of a much paler blue. It was a fun experiment but hopefully the next version will be more realistic.

 

The toilet paper glued and sculpted to shape.

 

The first version 

 

And how it looks now after a base layer of sky blue.

 

I need to get some green and grey involved but first I need to pay a visit to The Range I’m Bangor and get a tube of light blue as I’m now out.

[Dunalastair]

The sea on the West Coast and between the islands famously can look tropical in the right light - something to do with the white sand, perhaps. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 30 by Dunalastair

[mallaig1983]

14 minutes ago, Dunalastair said:

The sea on the West Coast and between the islands famously can look tropical in the right light - something to do with the white sand, perhaps. 

 

 

 

 

 

yes absolutely and it’s very clear but I really needed to tone mine down as it doesn’t look like that every day. Lovely photo, Morar?

[Kylestrome]

3 hours ago, mallaig1983 said:

I need to get some green and grey involved but first I need to pay a visit to The Range I’m Bangor and get a tube of light blue as I’m now out.

 

I agree that you definitely need to go more in the direction of green to represent deeper sea water. The shoreline is rocky so there's not much white sand around Mallaig itself.

Edited March 30 by Kylestrome

[mallaig1983]

My 20148 has had a little holiday in Leeds. Sounds much better for it. Really excited for her return and lots of running on Mallaig. I think Fort William are going to have a class 37 shortage for a few weeks.

 

Thanks to Richard at Roads and Rails.
 

 

 

[mallaig1983]

20148 arrived home this morning and is seen ex works at Mallaig this afternoon.

[young37215]

Looks a nice job, I am interested in class 20 speaker options because I am not happy with the current ones in mine. The Road & Rails video sounds pretty good, I would appreciate your feedback on the sound quality after a week or two of running. 

[mallaig1983]

4 hours ago, young37215 said:

Looks a nice job, I am interested in class 20 speaker options because I am not happy with the current ones in mine. The Road & Rails video sounds pretty good, I would appreciate your feedback on the sound quality after a week or two of running. 

To be honest the video doesn’t do justice to the sound. Even after a minute or so running I said to myself “that’s insane “. It really is something very special and leaps and bounds above the original factory set up from 15+ years ago. I need to turn the sound down though! I double headed it with an Accurascale 37 and it drowned the 37 out. On the basis of one running session I would highly recommend the tablet speaker. I will give an update after a few more sessions.

Major grin factor.

[mallaig1983]

After a few attempts I finally got a shade of sea that I was happy with. I have been adding gloss varnish twice a day since Sunday evening and will continue to do so until my tin is empty so a few more days yet. This is how it’s looking so far.

 

 

 

I continue to operate most trains with 20148 as I am still over the moon with its new voice. The quality is at least equal to my Accurascale 37s possibly just squeezing ahead even.

[Module00]

On 14/04/2024 at 13:44, mallaig1983 said:

To be honest the video doesn’t do justice to the sound. Even after a minute or so running I said to myself “that’s insane “. It really is something very special and leaps and bounds above the original factory set up from 15+ years ago. I need to turn the sound down though! I double headed it with an Accurascale 37 and it drowned the 37 out. On the basis of one running session I would highly recommend the tablet speaker. I will give an update after a few more sessions.

Major grin factor.

Interesting this Speaker... 🤔
Maybe I should put it in my latest acquisition, the 20048 (a Scottish one). 🥰

Edited April 28 by Module00

[Module00]

I really like the result of the sea. I have to resurface the Loch on my layout, and I love the way your water looks. I really like waves. 👍

[mallaig1983]

2 hours ago, Module00 said:

Interesting this Speaker... 🤔
Maybe I should put it in my latest acquisition, the 20048 (a Scottish one). 🥰

20048 was at Fort William for a period in the summer of 1984 and did do a passenger tern to Mallaig. I like this loco. To be honest Alain I watched it on your video and thought it sounded good already 👍

[TT100 Diesels]

On 27/04/2024 at 11:04, mallaig1983 said:

After a few attempts I finally got a shade of sea that I was happy with. I have been adding gloss varnish twice a day since Sunday evening and will continue to do so until my tin is empty so a few more days yet. This is how it’s looking so far.

 

 

 

I continue to operate most trains with 20148 as I am still over the moon with its new voice. The quality is at least equal to my Accurascale 37s possibly just squeezing ahead even.

 

Hi Mallaig 1983,

 

This final version of the sea really "pops", it looks the biz. It was well worth the effort of all the trial and error in your earlier posts.

 

I have played about with woodland scenics resin water effects but not convinced. Its not as good as what you have achieved here.

 

Cheers

 

TT100 Diesels

[mallaig1983]

I really wanted a resin pour but there was no way I could contain it across that large open baseboard and two boards join that wasn’t exactly millimetre perfect. Toilet roll and pva was the route I chose, and layering with gloss varnish takes days but what is the rush? The main point is getting the colour right and this did take a few stabs. It’s been very rewarding so far and there is still much to do. 
Thanks for interacting, life alone in the attic can get lonely at timed so

feedback and comments are welcomed and very much appreciated.

 

Just have a go at various techniques. I have a few experimental boards here. My build is painfully slow but it’s because I’m learning, experimenting and flying solo but everything I share is the result of learning. Don’t settle for your first attempt if you’re not happy. Just keep bashing away.

Good luck with your build but just be patient and keep trying until you are happy.

 

[61656]

On 11/04/2024 at 23:09, mallaig1983 said:

My 20148 has had a little holiday in Leeds. Sounds much better for it. Really excited for her return and lots of running on Mallaig. I think Fort William are going to have a class 37 shortage for a few weeks.

 

Thanks to Richard at Roads and Rails.
 

 

 

That speaker definitely sounds the part. I have 2022 factory fitted class 20’s which are pretty good, but not as bassy. 
 

The improvements in speaker quality in recent years is really noticeable. My early locos from just 8 years ago sound very tinny by comparison. 
 

My current favourite is the Cavalex 56, which is like having the real thing in the room with you. It sounds so heavy that you start to think about the structural integrity of your joinery!

[mallaig1983]

58 minutes ago, 61656 said:

That speaker definitely sounds the part. I have 2022 factory fitted class 20’s which are pretty good, but not as bassy. 
 

The improvements in speaker quality in recent years is really noticeable. My early locos from just 8 years ago sound very tinny by comparison. 
 

My current favourite is the Cavalex 56, which is like having the real thing in the room with you. It sounds so heavy that you start to think about the structural integrity of your joinery!

I must admit I am envious of those of you enjoying your Cavalex 56s. I would love one myself but can’t justify it. I’d love a Accurascale or Bachmann 31 and an Accurascale 50 too lol. Funds don’t permit purchasing locos that I don’t need for Mallaig at the moment even to run when no one is looking. 
Enjoy and feel free to share that joy on your YouTube channel when you get the time.

[David Bell]

I think you have nailed it with the sea. Looks great.

Cheers

David

[mallaig1983]

Just checked what my YouTube subscriptions had posted and Roads and Rails have put up Richard’s latest video. Mallaig’s very own 37051 has not featured on the layout yet because I hadn’t fitted a decoder. But Richard has! And I think she sounds just perfect. I’m a excitable just hearing it but on reading Richard’s words in the description I’m positively hyped haha.

I was ridiculously impressed with the speaker in the 20 but I think this may have gone one better. 
Can’t wait to welcome her home and the Fort William thrash merchants are excited too.

 

 

Edited April 30 by mallaig1983

[Module00]

On 28/04/2024 at 20:31, mallaig1983 said:

20048 was at Fort William for a period in the summer of 1984 and did do a passenger tern to Mallaig. I like this loco. To be honest Alain I watched it on your video and thought it sounded good already 👍

Oh thanks for that information. 😃

[David Bell]

On 30/04/2024 at 23:21, mallaig1983 said:

Just checked what my YouTube subscriptions had posted and Roads and Rails have put up Richard’s latest video. Mallaig’s very own 37051 has not featured on the layout yet because I hadn’t fitted a decoder. But Richard has! And I think she sounds just perfect. I’m a excitable just hearing it but on reading Richard’s words in the description I’m positively hyped haha.

I was ridiculously impressed with the speaker in the 20 but I think this may have gone one better. 
Can’t wait to welcome her home and the Fort William thrash merchants are excited too.

 

 

That is a very impressive sound! Now you just need to get them to do a 27 for the full WHL set. 

[mallaig1983]

15 hours ago, David Bell said:

That is a very impressive sound! Now you just need to get them to do a 27 for the full WHL set. 

I have some 27s at the back of my Eastfield cupboard David so all in good time 😀

[mallaig1983]

Mod Podge Gloss has been applied to the water surface and blown on through a straw to simulate smaller ripples between the larger ripples. I did this in small sections taking my time as it dries reasonably quickly and becomes un blowable. Feeling a little light headed and allowing the mod podge to cure thoroughly I had some fun with a running session.

The new kid on the block 37051 departs Mallaig making plenty of noise.

The novelty of running 20148 still hasn’t worn off and it is seen here covering for yet another poorly class 37. 

 

37012 Loch Rannoch appears in fine fettle though and arrives at Mallaig and runs alongside the Atlantic. The driver has put his fishing rod in the rear cab and will go in search of his supper before departing with the last service of the day to Fort William.

 

[Module00]

20 hours ago, mallaig1983 said:

Just checked what my YouTube subscriptions had posted and Roads and Rails have put up Richard’s latest video. Mallaig’s very own 37051 has not featured on the layout yet because I hadn’t fitted a decoder. But Richard has! And I think she sounds just perfect. I’m a excitable just hearing it but on reading Richard’s words in the description I’m positively hyped haha.

I was ridiculously impressed with the speaker in the 20 but I think this may have gone one better. 
Can’t wait to welcome her home and the Fort William thrash merchants are excited too.

 

 

Sound is really great.