coronach

The layout is definitely 'evolving'! There are just a few Peter Handford ipod tracks - may be a few more CDs I would like to know whether the Peter Handford archive will be made available one day. I believe everything was placed with the NRM after he died.

Thanks Richard. I really like your models of Kyle and The Mound. Both stations look so realistic when compared with colour photos taken in the 50s and 60s. I particularly like The Mound. railways in Scotland are so atmospheric and they were/are a central part of the wider local community at each station with postbuses, mail vans and so on meeting infrequent trains. My first 4mm layout was a model of Mallaig but I never completed it before moving house. I decided to build a model of the Waverley route because there is scope for 'big' trains hauled by 'big' LNER loco's. My inspiration is photos of LNER locos in Scotland taken by WJV Anderson and his peers. There are some really good colour albums around nowadays. Also, Peter Handford made some excellent recordings of V2s, A3s etc on the Waverley route (of which I recently downloaded some as ipod tunes from Amazon!!! 69p each!!!). I look forward to seeing more of your work. Coronach

Thanks Gilbert, that would be very helpful.

Hi James, thank you for the compliments. I designed the layout this way to make the most of the available space. My gradients are steeper than they really should be which means that some locos suffer wheel spin with more than 4 Bachmann coaches. The class 40 and 45 will easily take 8 Bachmann mk1s and the Hornby pacifics (Britannia, A3) will take 6/7 but the Bachmann A1 and Jubilee slip like mad with more than 4 which is a shame. At least the Waverley route trains often had bankers on the back! My advice is to keep your gradients as shallow as possible but of course you only need a few inches clearance so it shouldn't be a problem. If anyone has any suggestions about improving the adhesion of a Bachmann jubilee and A1, please let me know.

A few more pictures. The lighting in the loft is terrible, either the flash is too bright or the pictures come out too yellow but it gives you a flavour!

I am gradually weathering all my stock to a consistent level. Mostly I use dry brushing and paint on-wipe off techniques using rail match, humbrol and precision paints. Roofs are 'roof dirt(!)' with talc brushed on when nearly dry to create a better texture. Frames and wheels are painted 'frame dirt' (!!) which is then similarly lightly brushed with talc. Rust colour (light and dark) is added to those areas prone to dry corrosion, oily areas is highlight with 'roof dirt' and then 'brake dust' is very lightly brushed over frames to highlight detail. The phrase 'little is more' applies here otherwise colours can be too garish. I also use 'roof dirt' on those areas where muck collects such as door hinges, door stops, roof board brackets and around window frames. This helps to emphasise the details and bring out the best in what are basically very good but originally shiny plastic models. I find that the only detail that needs to be added are carriage destination boards and tail lamps. Most of this approach results from years of observation looking at the real thing. It is important to understand how and why dirt builds up on vehicles, where it comes from (smoke, brake dust, oil, corrosion etc) and the fact that it gets there because trains move. You will notice that the state of vehicle that have spent years in sidings differs from vehicles that are regularly used. Unused vehicles tend to turn green and rusty whereas used vehicles turn brown and oily! I use the same approach to track and structures. The colour of track and ballast is just as important.

Here is a rough diagram of my layout. It is approximately 14ft square and the complete running length, including fiddle yard is about 80ft. There are four signal boxes and the signalling is almost complete - just a few shunting signals to finish at Whinburgh North. Whinburgh South Whinburgh North Whitrope Siding Slitrigg I started the layout about 10 years agoat a previous house and completed the track about 3 years ago after moving. I am in the process of renewing the original pointwork at Whinburgh North which will include renewing the inside single slip with an outside single slip. This is to ease the curve into the loop platform with the objective of smoother running. I am taking a series of photos and will post them when the job is complete. The last couple of years have focussed on formation of train rakes typically found on the Waverley route after the marshalling yards at Millerhill and Kingmoor were opened. This includes: The Midland Scot sleeper (class 40 ) The Waverley (class 45) The waverley relief (including through coaches from Bristol and Poole - modellers licence!) (A1/A3) Carlisle - Edinburgh semi fasts (A3/V2/B1/ class 25/26) Stopping passenger trains (V3/J39) Fully fitted and mixed freights (A1/A3/V2/K3/B1/class 17/40) Pick-up goods (J35/J39) A variety of parcels trains - my particular interest (any of the above!) It is helpful that there are now a few books with decent photos of trains that operated on this route. It is important form me to get the coaching stock right - most of which is BR Mk1 and Gresley/Thompson with a few Staniers and the odd hawkesworth/Bullied thrown in for good measure. Of course, with parcels and goods trains the options are limitless. I could fill the layout with parcels vans! Variety is the key. Thats all for now Coronach COL1STSOUTH01_20110407_130326.pdf

Thanks for the complimentary comments :-). All of the pointwork is handmade using SMP rail and sleepers. Plain line is SMP bullhead flexi or handmade flatbottom. Rails are 'notched' at 60ft spacing so that I get a realistic 'diddly-dum!' I cribbed this idea from the Alton layout 15 years ago. Signals are built using MSE components and mechanically operated using GEM lever frames, anle cranks and piano wire with exception of Slitrigg, which uses a handbuilt frame I inherited from a deceased elderly friend. Buildings and structures are all handmade using ply, card, plastic and are broadly based on NER or NBR structures. The layout is a spiral figure 8 incorporating gradients, which requires banking - interesting with analogue control! I am forming train rakes based on photos of prototypical trains and have written a typical 24 h timetable using the 'district controllers' book. I will take some more pictures and post them when I have time. Coronach

Here are some pictures of a very slowly kid evolving layout based on the Waverley Route in the early 1960s