Max Legroom

Take the skinheads [to] Bowling (and then up the WHL to Arrochar and across to Strachur!) With apologies to Camper Van Beethoven! 24009, fresh out of Glasgow Works, at Strachur having worked a freight train. I'm pretty sure that this loco is RA 6 so someone is going to be in trouble for ignoring the RA 5 limit. It's a superb SLW model with Modelu crew and Railtec works plates which really should be blue. I don't plan to run it very often on Strachur as it's intended for a future Glasgow-based layout. It really is a great, if expensive, time to be modelling the Scottish Region in the diesel era. I can't wait to get hold of a Dapol class 29 in GFYE. Now I really must get round to fixing those points and adding extra scenic details. Static grass is the next improvement.

Hi Martyn Are the lower body panels on the 29 separate parts? It would be nice to have that prototypical ‘hanging at an angle’ look. Max

Thank you. I try to get up to the West Highlands every year but not sure I’m going to make it this year sadly.

I couldn't resist this little cutie! Just needed some three-link couplings, a driver and a dcc chip. I started to think about a distillery located a few hundred yards up the line, with dodgy track unsuitable for heavy locos so that the 48DS has running rights up to the sidings at Strachur station. Actually, I think this might be pushing things a bit but it's still great fun to run up the line.

The only thing that doesn't look quite right to me is the single track bridge where the track exits to the fiddle yard. For an urban terminus I think it would be better to have a double track bridge and extend the rear siding under the bridge, either as a siding or a running line as Dalnottar Riverside.

Did the original have a stove? It must have been chilly in there and I can’t see a chimney.

Gaugemaster DCC93 6 pin decoder is an easy installation.

One of Ian's layouts has been resurrected as Dalnottar Riverside. It's also on YouTube and particularly recommended if BR blue is your thing!

Thanks Owain. Really helpful. I’ll order a decoder and give it a go. Best wishes Max

Did you use the Gaugemaster dcc93 decoder? I was a bit worried about adding a decoder having read earlier comments but this sounds straightforward.

I noticed this too. All the photos I can find show the gauge so it looks like a mistake. I wonder if SLW will offer the part at some point as it isn’t something that can be easily added.

The Bachmann Peak was a huge leap forward in terms of running quality. I remember enquiring at a model shop if they had one in stock and being told by the owner (backed up by a couple of his other customers) that Hornby was far superior in terms of build quality. I started to argue that well-made rubbish was still rubbish but quickly realised that I was wasting my time. Both the shop and the pancake motor are now history.

One other minor omission on 24009 are the fuel gauges on the tanks at the number one end. Modelu produce driver figures and Railtec builders plates should complete things nicely. I must admit to being a bit nervous about doing anything to such a nice model. I’ll quite happily take a scalpel to a Bachmann 25 but this is on a different level!

Very nice Paul. What did you use for the extra SR brackets above the tail lights. Max

The extra brackets were fitted when it worked on the Southern at the start of it's career. I've looked at a few photos and it had them at both ends until the end.

Looking at a few photos of the real thing it looks like SLW have got the o/h flashes correct and different at both ends. Superb attention to detail!

Having had a closer look, the model lacks the extra brackets above the front lights and the o/h warning flashes on the front are in the wrong place from the photos I’ve seen. Be interested to hear what others think.

I’ve just received 24009 and it is absolutely stunning!

Hi Martyn I have to admit that following your Crinan layout was a big inspiration for me to get on with this project. Best wishes Max

Thanks Mark The stonework is Wills which is thick enough to support the bridge without any extra support. There are some plastic I-beam girders under the road surface to keep everything engineeringly sound. The bridge sides are also Wills and the weathering is Games Workshop Agrax Earthshade wash and Thyphus Rust with a small amount of orange dry-brushed to highlight the rust. I tried not to overdo the orange! All the best Max

Sadly, Deliverance is no more. It was just too big to store easily and was gathering dust. All of the structures have been rescued so perhaps a new improved version will follow one day ....

Here are a few pix of an uncharacteristically busy goods yard. Finally, who wouldn't fancy a few days in this caravan? Views across the tracks to Loch Fyne, a choice of indoor or outdoor dunny, and power/water in situ (see the fresh tarmac crossing the yard).

I'm really enjoying watching this layout develop. Just a quick question. When you renumber your coaches with Railtech decals, do you spray the entire coach with matt varnish or just the area around the decals?

A few snaps of Strachur taken at the weekend.

Does anyone know if any of the last few 50s on the LMR made it as far as Glasgow in the final couple of years? I'd be interested to know the latest date I could justify a 50 in Scotland.