Max Legroom

Hi Mark Scenic section is 8 foot by 14 inches and the fiddle yard is 4 foot long so maximum train length is a type 2, two coaches and a parcels van. I'll draw up a trackplan shortly. There is no run-round so all stock has to be shunted. The excuse for this arrangement is that the station was intended to be a passing station but funds to continue the line south dried up. Anyway, on with painting the track if I don't get distracted by the joys of DCC. Max

Ah the joy of Christmas! So I was going to spend a few hours painting and weathering track. Instead I started running trains and I suddenly realised what DCC is all about! Look the drivers cab light is on! Felt like a kid at Christmas for the first time in many years. Merry Christmas all.

Cracking thread!

Apologies if already mentioned, but a Class 06 to the standard of the Sentinel shunter would be nice.

Forgot to mention that I've used cork tiles under the track.

I've managed to make some progress over the weekend. The wiring is in and it all seems to work! Here is 27037 testing the pointwork. Points are Peco code 75 and the plain track is bullhead. A couple more shots with a few structures in position. Next up is to paint and weather the plain track and construct a few Lanarkshire buffer stops. All the best Max

Quayside, footpath, railings, track, railings on low wall, road with parked cars including VW T2, house fronts! This is almost too perfect to model. Even if Fort William isn't your thing, you could do a lot worse than incorporate some of the elements in the photo. Very inspirational!

I've just ordered a few of the 1/76 figures for the first time. Delivered next day and I have to say these are a step change in terms of realism. All of my old white metal and Bachmann figures are going to be banished to the inside of coaches!

Possibly, though this is my first dcc layout so I've got to get to grips with that side of things. I've been building the stock up for a while so should be good to go on that front.

Progress at last! I ordered three baseboards from White Rose to speed things up. If I'm honest, I've never quite managed to master using a jigsaw so this seemed to be a good way of getting things moving quickly. Here are a few pix while I was playing around with some track and stock. This should give a good idea of the track plan.

My only concern with D5131 is that it was withdrawn in mid-1971.

Very sensible to keep track as simple as possible!

Hi Alex Looking forward to seeing this develop. Always good to see a West Highland layout. Max

The photo of the class 29 on the bufferstops is so atmospheric! Bits of Mallaig and Fort William - fabulous stuff!

Hi Martyn I like the look of that Polak grass. I notice that they do pink wild bushes that, to me anyway, look a lot like heather. I'm not sure if they might be a bit too tall for heather but I might try some on Strachur when I finally start building it! All the best Max

Looking forward to seeing this develop.

Thanks Kevin Looking forward to these new titles. Cheers Max

Definitely recommend this issue if short lines are your thing. Plus some Erie Lackawanna as a bonus! And the sun's shining!

Great shot showing the end of the BCK. Note that the end lettering has been completely covered in grime. Something to bear in mind if you don't want to add the lettering yourself.

Hi Kevin I love Seventies Spotting Days Around the Scottish Region and never get tired of flicking through it. I don't suppose you have plans for a follow up? Best wishes Max

Now that 25/0 is very nice!!!

The station building is Peco and I think it looks the part. The intended line was to be a light railway so I wanted something that would fit that scenario but still look substantial enough to go alongside the canopy and storm wall. It will go across the buffer stops at the left-hand edge of the layout so I've modelled it in half relief. After a bit of thought I went for a cream finish with brown trim. I think white and blue might be a bit bright for this outpost. At some point it's going to be weathered to reflect the exposed location.

Hi Noah That's a really nice layout. I like the way the road crossing is at an oblique angle as it creates a nice impression of space. Too many of us (me included) put the crossings at ninety degrees to the track to maximize track space to the detriment of appearance. Max

I always thought that the building right behind the bufferstops on Newcastle Haymarket looked a bit vulnerable! Great layout all the same.

What a fabulous little model. The yellow version could be justified as an industrial just about anywhere (with a bit of modeller's licence).