meanach

The first time (I think ) since 1988 that you could record 2 lots of tractors passing on the extension ! It’s uncertain at this stage if the west coast rake had any passengers but it ran as a class 2 headcode , which is odd if it was actually a class 5. I also know somebody who claims a few individuals were on board ! A huge shame LSL didn’t advertise their working more than 4 days in advance . I for one would have been straight up there. There aren’t many who could drop everything at such short notice and position themselves for it.

For those wanting some better sound this is how my 37260 is set up, thanks to Simon at Proper sounds.

I grew up going train spotting at Crewe 1987 / 88 . Then in 89 I started riding behind locos on the Derby - Crewe / Llandudno and thus began my bashing era. Therefore the period you are modelling is very evocative to me. If I had more space and wasn’t obsessed with 1980s highland railways then this is the kind of layout I’d like to attempt. I very much look forward to seeing it extend , especially as the standard of every thing you do is top notch.

A hard won 37 was this one ! Dodgy soldering sockets , dud bogies (after I’d weathered everything and reattached the bogie chains !) . A bogie swap later and re attaching some detail that fell off , 37260 is finally in service ! The first ready out of 5 I’ve been working on since last Autumn. Although some of the delay is due to having elderly , unwell parents to look after , a lot of the extra time it’s taken is purely down to the frustration of Bachmann’s poor quality control. The speakers are an essential upgrade and this one has had its chassis milled by Simon at Proper sounds. Unfortunately he’s stopped this service as he’s busy with Revolution trains. Ploughs are Heljan class 47 from the old tool version. As the Bachmann ones are only fit for the bin.

I’ve been looking at the 37/4s during their time in Scotland in the 80s / early 90s. I notice that some seem to have swapped bogies quite a bit . 37405 being one that had cast then fabricated.

Great weathering as usual . I’ve contemplated this one myself. It ran for a good while after its ousting by the 37/4s with crudely removed name plate scars both in Scotland and south Wales.

Hi . Thanks for that . I have indeed snapped one on 37260. I couldn’t see where to route them past the fuel filler pipe? At least I think that’s what it is ! I mean I can see the pre drilled holes but I couldn’t get the pipes to route around it. No photos on line seem to show them fitted. The 2 at the opposite end were quite straight forward.

Have any of you fitted the sand pipes ? I’ve a 37260 and another 5 x 37/4 to do. I’m struggling to work out the routing of the sand pipes at one end . I can see the holes but I can’t seem to see a way they are meant to line up !

You model the same time frame as me! I didn’t know about 260’s bogie swap either! The next question is ; are the cast bogies under the 37/4s the same as the cast bogies under 37/0 ?!

Or, as I did for the same project, buy a grey departmental 262 and utilise the chassis. I sold the body on auction for a reasonable amount.

On the subject of bogies , does anybody have a list of which 37/4s in Scotland in the 80s had cast or fabricated bogies?

As a fellow Scottish 37 modeller, I’m interested to hear how you’ve overcome the snowplough problem?

37418 by Kurnow is based on its recent retro repaint (now in Loram livery) , finished to modern standards . It all depends how happy you are at removing decals . The orange cantrail line is lower on 418. It has modern style overhead warning flashes. It also has a Wapping great name plate to remove! A better base model may be 37430. (TMC have 1 left on sale) . Both have a too skinny top lamp iron. 421/422 had top lamp irons like 37401- (Wider). An old VI trains detail sprue is a good source for these. Ian

I know from my own experience that even when I thought I’d sealed the base of my river on Meanach , the resin escaped. My own river method was to seal in my various enamel painted pollyfilla bed with varnish. I left that to cure for about 6 weeks before using 2 bottles (6 months apart!) of Woodland scenics realistic water. I tried other manufacturers but I found them thinner and more prone to yellowing in strong sunlight.

‘They pretty much all had the fireplaces in place when I started Ian , not sure when they were removed though . Most of the signalmen had electric heaters on though . ‘This is a reply from John Hynd who is a bit of a legend of a driver at the fort. He started late 79. Fantastic interior work Rob !

Im not sure if I should be worried but mine showed dispatched Friday but I haven’t had them. Which carrier are you using ?

Thankyou so much! I have searched for years to find photos of Thames OTA on the west highland prior to 1989 and found nothing. Now the 5 boxed Hornby OTA I’ve had sat in a drawer for years will be getting a legitimate re-spray!

If they do that’s the ultimate in realism, especially if they deposit a big oily streak down the side!

Ooh 9 stanchion Thames water board OTA ! Do you know what year this is please?

Almost every one of the 37430 / 401 /423 I’ve taken apart have this issue yet Bachmann told me they hadn’t had any feedback regarding this issue ! Admittedly this was a few months ago but yours and others post highlight this is clearly a common manufacturing fault.

All mine make that noise , so I’m guessing it’s part of their DNA !

It’s looking great . Your buildings look fantastic . Fence posts are tedious . I’ve done feet of them in total but they are worth the effort. That large logo 37 reminds me of my first ever spray paint when I was about 14/15. Lima 37012 redone as 37111 to be more contemporary!!

I like the angle looking up on the 4th pic.

Being a fan of 37404 I absolutely love your version of it. I was considering doing the same . How have you done the nose, was it a nose swap or filler to remove the centre lamp iron? Also interested in whose ploughs you’ve used. Approximately half of the new tool Bachmann 37s I have bought have had that nose end socket problem, yet Bachmann told me I was the first person to have mentioned it !!! There is a path to better sound , but it’s not a straightforward one ! (See photos). - Last option doesn’t involve milling the chassis but using a Rail exclusive baby boomer in the tank and a ‘boomer’ in the fan recess.

In a word , yes! They sound extremely tinny straight out the box. The larger Bachmann speaker also is not glued or sealed so it vibrates / rattles horrifically . I can only assume their research and development department are deaf!