meanach

37240 sits in Meanach yard awaiting an evening outing with the vac brake Grampus set.

Just stumbled upon this and so glad I did . Some of the best modelling I’ve ever seen . I grew up walking and cycling this line . My dad , who’s not an enthusiast , remembers travelling south for a job interview in Derby in a maroon mk1 compo and what he believes was a peak.

Amazing photos . This looks just like the photos I’ve seen of the old Fort bill station . Lots of atmosphere . Look forward to seeing it on the exhibition circuit .

I too am interested in the 37 mod . I’m sure you’re aware but just in case, the fan grille Heljan use on the 26 is wrong. It should have only 4 cross braces? Or none at all depending on the loco modelled . Love that peak! Cheers , Ian

Love the box and that swing bridge , sublime!

Hi . They are Noch 57329 . But buy them direct from Germany or else you'll get totally ripped off for them . £22 a sheet over here and I used 2 1/2! £10 a sheet direct from a German model store . I've washed and dry brushed them. The ridge tiles are from York models.

37416 crosses the river bridge with the afternoon Inverness - Fortwilliam service . Aerial helicopter view included! For the briefest of periods at this time of year , the layout gets bathed in warm natural light . I was working on the roof of Meanach’s station and noticed a photo op. The station building was originally built long before the house was even purchased ! It was my first ever attempt at kit bashing / scratch building . As a result it’s not a perfect rendition by any means . The worst culprit was the roof which I struggled to get the pitch right for. It was also a scale 10 feet too tall . It’s glued well and truly into its location so removing it is not really an option . I decided to work on it in situ and took a scalpel to the balsa wood roof . After surgery I’ve re tiled it and it now has a more realistic height .

Hi there and thanks . Polyfilla base with enamel mixes to give it some sense of depth initially . Then wood land scenics realistic water . Expensive as it took 3 bottles over time !!! But I personally think it looks better and is easier than varnish layers . Just don’t pour it on top of their ‘water effects’ ! I discovered to my horror that it creates a nasty , sealed in pva mess!

Off the work bench , my rake of 11 PCA metal air. These have been on the ‘to do’ list for a couple of years at least. I noticed an alarming price difference between the last 3 I bought and the ones from 3 years ago. Weathered using enamel washes with weathering powders to create a dried cement effect. ‘Winter streaking grine’ again came in very useful . Once the majority of that was rubbed off, I used almost dried white spirit . Then dry powders with a dab of enamel wash. Transfers are from rail tech . Again , partly done for a forthcoming layout in the distant future, set in 93-94. In the meantime they will have a few run outs on Meanach . I appreciate in 88 they’d have been quite a lot cleaner. The under frames received a light air brush of frame dirt and dirty black. 26035 seen at the helm , just before the foot crossing.

Whilst I'm in a 20 mood... 205 seen basking in the afternoon sunlight last Autumn. I've bought 2 more 20s recently . I'm after pics of 127 please from 1987-88 , if any of you have any!

Hi , don’t know if anyone can help ? I’m after pics of 20127 during its time fitted with RETB aerial . Cheers, Ian

I *think* I’ve seen a railfreight red 26 with another varient again . Stag and highland rail writing but the smaller size.

That sounds like a deal ! I really enjoy making the scenery . It’s only polystyrene blocks which I then shape with aluminium car repair foil then covered in plaster bandage. A spray with track dirt then Hornby turf , layers of static grass and then start planting the trees ! Some bought , some made using sea moss covered with glue and dipped a few times in scatter. The rock faces are chopped up woodland scenics plaster moulds . Cheers , Ian .

20114 is seen shunting timber from the loading yard at Meanach. One of the few regular West highland RETB equipped bombs of the late 80s. This is fitted with a zimo 644 and digitrains sounds. Zimo speaker and stay alive super cap, which works amazingly well compared to the free effort that comes with the chip. The weathering was done by brush with enamel washes and paint as at the time i didn’t own an air brush. It requires a pass of the air brush with some ‘dirt’ on the bogies to finish it off . This will happen soon as I’m currently weathering some PCA wagons .

I think they were etched posts in the bay but they were one of those things I picked up at an exhibition and saved ‘for a rainy day’ ! Possibility they are Langley but I’m afraid I can’t remember for sure! Thanks for the compliments on the layout .

37411 slows for the curve down into Meanach . Seen at the distant signal marker board. Working 2Y16 , the afternoon down train to Fortwilliam . 411 has been a troublesome machine . It seems to have a habit of re setting sound chips! It also got accidentally sprayed with a fine coat of rust . I had to re do the weathering . Now it seems to have moments of refusing to start! It was my second ever class 37/4 for haulage and my first in large logo livery in July 88. It features as my profile pic in a shot I took at Ardlui , Sunday 24.7.88.

Wow! Genius ! I’d never in a million years have thought about doing it that way! I mainly use computers for doing rosters at work or buying train related stuff or vinyl !

Hi , I always enjoy seeing this layout at shows. Is the little hut at the end of the platform ramp scratch built ?

Can I ask what you use to strip them ? They don’t appear to be in any kind of Bath . I’ve used super strip but you certainly wouldn’t want that splashing about !

For those of you wanting better sound from your class 20s , here’s my solution ! Having scratched my head and tried milling chassis etc . I have now settled for the much easier nose end chassis chop! Zimo speaker mounted in the nose which also allows space for a super cap where the original speaker sat. After months of them being sat in bits I’m looking forward to the return of Meanachs resident out stationed trip / yard shunter. Being a Derby boy originally , I have many fond memories of riding behind class 20s. Even a single one (227) once, nose end first down the Matlock branch .

Cheers . Actually I have no track plan. I didn’t even have one when I built it ! Ha ha . I knew what I wanted in my head . At some point I’ll get somebody more computer competent than myself to knock one up! It’s essentially a single track with the island platformed station as a passing loop. The station has a truncated cattle dock , now a Loco spur . I was partly inspired by work for that one! At the side of the station is a 2 siding timber loading area with a longer head shunt which is parallel to the left hand running line . Ian

A distinctly B.R blue running day today . Doug Johnson brought over his nicely weathered (and loud!) 24s & 25s. Turning back the clock to the mid 70s . Thanks also to Doug for the camera pics . Makes a change from my usual phone camera pics .

Personally Id go with what was right for the area I’m modelling or what the majority of your other buildings are made from . I was going to leave building a layout until I retired . Then I thought , what happens if I don’t make it that far! Ha ha . If you’re able to build ( and have the time ) to construct the things you have so far , then I’d say you could do at least a modest exhibition layout .

Wow! Totally love this . They bothy with the landrover looks like Meanach bothy in the Mamores. Great back scene too . May I ask where you acquired it? I’ve been looking for something similar for several years !

Some more from this afternoons running session . 26023 approaches the recently installed crossing . A view also taken from across the river from the bothy. 37033 approaches Meanach station at the head of a rake of VGA vans brought down from Fortwilliam yard. Thanks to Chris Smout for the photos.