mallaig1983

Sounds a great way to of spent your weekends David. Some lovely coaches involved. I'm glad that the CR coaches were not used by 83 as personally that'll save me money. In time the rest of the set would make a great addition to my own layout. Andy

Will you not be modelling a part inside the tunnel at all David? Sort of half a tunnel? I guess the gradient might overcomplicate things if you need the fiddle yard to be on the same level. It's looks rather nice already, always waiting for the next installment. As an aside until when did the railtours run with that stock to Mallaig? Andy

Rob, Fort William wise your idea of me using it as a fiddle yard was indeed my first idea but then I got to thinking how interesting it would be to operate prototypically what with through trains to Mallaig splitting before reversing, coaches off the sleeper having others added to it, forming up the mixed train, adding the observation saloon etc etc. Basing these plans on YouTube footage, DVDs and the written accounts and using the 1983 timetable. I believe things changed in 1984 all Mallaig trains starting at FW rather than a couple of through trains but I'd be happy to be corrected. I could then run a line from Mallaig Jc behind Glenfinnan and into a fiddle yard on a lower level. Excited by the prospect. More expense now though as I'll need sleeping cars of both flavours and an ETHEL. I'll draw up a plan and post on my own thread instead of hyjacking this one. Your East Anglian haulage sounds an excellent use of your younger years. My misspent youth was bashing 50s in the most part. Only 50 of them so an achievable challenge. Not successfully in my case though. Great to see services have resumed on WHL4 Andy

I love your Fort William Rob. So much so that I've been measuring space to see if I can also accommodate one of my own. I think it will greatly increase the playability. I'm blaming you of course lol.

Hi Charlie, Little bit of a search found this thread so I'm a few months behind but could you tell me how to wire up this speaker please? I fitted one of Biffs chips this morning with a speaker attached but with an IP2 in the pack. Obviously I snip and trim the wires then solder but does it matter which way they go? Cheers

The Beast has spoken! I refitted the factory decoder to check that the loco still ran and all was fine. I then refitted the fried chip and although I can confirm the sound has gone it still worked the loco. So in effect I'd now successfully fitted 2 chips so with some trepidation I unboxed the second soundchip and fitted that. Bit of a heart in mouth moment but turning the wheel on the controller the loco moved. Dare I press F1? Of course I did and the joy of hearing the startup sequence was music to my ears. Went through the functions and then drove it around a bit. I wasn't quite dancing around the attic with joy but I wasn't far off. A very very happy bunny. Obviously the attached speaker supplied with the chip won't fit under the fan but there is another (admittedly rather odd looking specimen) in the box with it so that will need to be soldered in place of the large one. Does this need to be wired in a certain way or doesn't it matter? Thanks all for your kind words and support. Wish none of us had had to go through the experience and experience but it was comforting to know I'm not alone. Rob, thanks for the heads up regarding the dvd. I'd forgotten about that. I have it in stock so I will dig it out and have a good look again. This morning's other work has seen another coat of paint put on the coping stones. These are strips cut from evergreen tile sheet which I have cut into at regular intervals about half way along the join between the individual stones so as to allow them to be manipulated into the shape of the curved platform. I will paint the white line on these before fixing into place. Have to head into work shortly but a very rewarding morning. Andy

Haven't checked in with this thread for a while. So glad I did as these photos are really useful for myself so thanks for posting David

Very much so. Still sulking about it now. I just don't know where I went wrong. I do have another one but to scared to try it today so took the grandkids to Beddgelert for some fun instead.

Very pleasant day today working on the platform. Can't seem to find any YouTube tutorials on the way I'm trying to do it do I'm winging it somewhat. Happy with progress tho. Went through the drawers looking for the lamps I'd purchased so I could have a look and see what modifications were needed. Nothing similar seems to be available. Before I found them I came across a couple of sound chips I'd purchased at Warley a couple of years ago so I decided it was time to give 37 112 her voice. Fitted the chip and put her on the track to see how she sounded. A high pitched whistle followed by silence doesn't bode well does it? My modelling is generally 2 steps forward and one back but today was definitely 1 forward and 100 back. Pretty cheesed off but we go again tomorrow. All of the platform coping stones have now been cut and painted, the platform surface is glued in place so tomorrow I will fit the coping stones. Going forward decoder fitting will now be carried out by professionals. I'll happily pay £20 extra to save £100 wasted on a blown chip. Bit disheartened this evening. I'm sure food and a couple of nice drams will cheer me up tho. Andy

Thanks Rob. After watching your clip a few times I was on the net looking into it. I came across the roads and rails option. I wouldn't have the skills to do that myself either but would definitely consider getting them to do one or two of my fleet also. Thanks for your evaluation of cost Vs quality. Useful information. Like you I hope that the accurascale 37s sound that good. Thanks for posting the clip. Andy

That's awesome Rob. Where have you mounted the speaker? Andy

Hi JP, Thanks for your kind comments. Hopefully my layout will turn out as good as it is in my mind's eye. I will look forward to watching your version develop too. Best of luck with it. Exciting times. Andy

Please do. I'm building Mallaig in 4mm so would be interesting to watch your layout develop too. What era are you going for? Andy

Keefer, you are a star. Lovely map, very clear. Useful for me to for the roads on the housing estate. Good luck with your project JP. Will you be doing a thread? Andy

I was only watching this train feature on a dvd the other night (not a 27 on WHL tho). Id like to do a version for my layout based on the one in Tom Noble's Mallaig Extension in BR days. Looks great and more cracking photos Rob. Andy

The view from another angle. Very basic mock up but it's a start.

Very Very early stages of the mock up for the oil dock today (amongst other odds n bods). I think I've got the size and position there or there abouts. Pouring over photos but it only really appears in a photo of a train. Could really use a whole album where it is the subject. There is a second slightly higher level at the rear where 3 (different) tanks sit vertically so I'll have to see what's available and what looks right. I have some spare drain pipe which I think is right for at least one of them. I have photos taken by myself but the tanks have gone but in a way that's handy as I can see how the land lies. Just got to find them now. There are a lot of photos of houses on the same disk so I need to locate it. I had it a couple of weeks ago so it won't be far. Fortunately I won't need to build the whole estate but a couple of social housing bungalows and the rear of some semis in low relief will be adequate. The small block of tennament flats overlooking the whole scene will be quite prominent and important to get that right. Low or half relief I'm thinking. Andy.

Phew

Platform face weathering today but while it dries one thing leads to another.... Perfect excuse to play trains while enjoying a brew. This is normal right?

RSH BR blue with cutaway skirts is all I'm missing now coz I need at least 2. Hopefully good things come to those who wait. I'm ok with the slight delay to Q2 as post furlough there's a little bit of financial catching up to do. Can't wait to see them in the flesh. Andy

Just been up to the attic and although I'm chuffed with the results I agree Rob, they need more sleeper grime and black. I think I've taken twee railway prettiness and weathered as I've dated. However Mallaig's platform faces although a thing of beauty were absolutely filthy and I need to be a bit more ruthless. I came on this site for guidance and it's been given. Thank you. Andy

Hi Rob, thanks for your input. The platform faces have had the Everard Junction treatment with the sponge. I painted them a light grey with a couple of coats then added a darker grey and went mad with the sponge. In the pictures they actually look lighter than in reality. Sometimes I look at them and love them, next time I think another coat and a thrashing with the sponge. The pic you have put up they are filthy and I'm now thinking go filthy and go mad with the sponge. I have that pic and a few others and I think you're right. I think I'm just being a bit causatious. They look great in the flesh but not like the photo. Oo I know you're right. Dirty em up more. Input very much appreciated. Thank you. Andy

Lovely looking layout, great starting point. BR blue in Scotland? I'm in! Good luck with it Matt. Andy.

Scenic break prior to painting. The rock face is positioned to give an idea of effect. I need a LOT of rocks. Andy

Happy with progress today. Got both platform faces glued into position, scenic break fashioned from foam board and fixed into position and a start made on the small oil terminal dock before half an hour running a train to remind me where I laid my magnets before I laid the ballast. Time for tea now and I think I'll have a beer to celebrate. Andy