mallaig1983

I'll check it out. Thanks

Track laying has started in earnest today. Some tangible progress but slow. I'm using the fantastic Peco Bullhead track which to me looks really nice. However the rail joiners are tiny. Really tiny. It's a tweezers and a magnifying glass job but the effort is really worth it. I've needed a lot of patience. The dropper for the 'unifrog' has been soldered and dropped through a hole and the hole for the Cobalt actuating wire was drilled before laying the point. Also I drilled a hole for the uncoupling electromagnet before laying the Flexi over it. Lessons learned from last time. Tomorrow I'm going to fit the point motor and wire up. Will get some power to the track and test that section. If it all works nicely then I'll confidently get on with the rest of the track laying. Couple of photos to show where I'm at. Andy

Thanks Tim, great photos. Always appreciated and very thoughtful of you. I'm sorry you're trip has been hijacked by the pestilence. My trip there late May is looking very unlikely too. Next year hey..

I'll check it out. Thanks

Thank you. Yes I intend to represent the gradient on leaving the station. I have laid the board flat but I will be laying the track on a rising trackbed once I've worked out how to do it and how steep to make the gradient. I don't want to exaggerate it. I was umming and ahhing yesterday while laying the board. Decided to lay it level and work it out later. I'll re read that section of your thread to see how you did it.

Hi Rob, I have seen 45 degree section, I think it may of been on the Squires stand at Warley but now you ask I'm not certain. It's definitely out there somewhere. Perhaps it's available in wood to maybe. As for the tanks I made one of the vertical ones out of plastic pipe (B&Q) and then clad it in thin plasticard that I'd put rivets in by piercing gently with a pin. A huge faff but could of looked good weathered. I may go for the Bachmann ones tho, I'll have a look. They're quite distinctive for the layout so I want them to look right. The two long vertical tanks are not identical to each other so a bit of shopping around or scratch building will be needed. I plan to use the ratio ones for the small ones. Knightwing do a pack of the pipework with enough to do an oil refinery so you'll have plenty. Try and find a good photo from the correct period as they did change as the terminal built up. Trouble is most photos are of the train with just a glimpse. Video 125's "Steam to Mallaig" freeze framing may help. This is a way in the future for me as I only finished my boards yesterday and am just about to tentatively start laying the track. Got to get my head around Peco unifrog and wiring cobalt point motors. Electrics are not my strong point however last spring I did wire up my campervan conversation and everything worked first time so I'll take some confidence from that. Happy to of helped with the platform heads up. Least I can do after all the inspiration I've taken from your layout. Andy.

A whole day today spent laying out the 3rd board. So desperate to get it right. Up and down two flights if stairs watching dvd segments to get it right. Anyway the boards are finished. Tomorrow the civils move in and start tracklaying.

Hi Rob. I just want to raise a question as to your use of wills sheets for your platform fronts. Mallaig along with all other stations on the extension had concrete faces. I'm using plasticard and 45 degree section to create mine. I've obsessively researched Mallaig for years. Just thought I'd point it out in the name of help. What are you planning for station lamps? I've run out of options. If you have an idea can I nick it? Please?? My boards are now complete and track laying will commence tomorrow. Makes me smile that we have so many of the same locos. Love your layout. It's a huge inspiration. Best wishes Andy off of Mallaig 1983

Thanks newbryford, I'll have a search. Sorry for the typo. Andy

Modelling friends, I appeal for help. In the absence of a helpline email address at Peco may I appeal for some advice from fellow modellers? I have spent the weekend building baseboards for my layout with a view to spending the Easter weekend tracklaying. I'm using Peco 00 bullhead. Opening a point pack I read the instructions and found they are not electrofrog but something entirely new called ultrafrog! What on earth is this new beast. Just got my head around wiring electrofrog for the DCC concepts slow action point motor. Can anyone please explain what I need to do? Also any pointers on how to remove the spring so that the slow action motor can be I'm, slow action. At £30 quid s pop I don't want to be wrecking points units. Feel after a positive weekend of progress I've hit a wall, or two. Looking forward to hearing your advice and solutions. Regards Andy Mallaig1983 Thanks in advance

Rob, I notice you're not using cork underlay on your layout. On my thread I asked for the pros and cons for corking (or not). Can I ask your view on it please? Latest phase is looking good. Andy.

Yes indeed there is a model of the station in there. A bit earlier than my era but lovely to see the former station canopy modelled. I've been in there a few times. There is quite a bit about the railway in there. Some lovely models of Mallaig fishing boats too. The curator was extremely helpful in providing a photograph of the boatyard that the railway passes just outside the station. Sadly obliterated by the new road when built in the late 80s. The Heritage Center is well worth a visit. Thanks Keith. Andy

Happy days. They look and sound great in videos I've seen. I bet they made a great sound climbing cowlairs. Good luck with the layout. I'll be following with interest.

Thanks for your advice David. I have cork in stock ready to use, I just thought I'd ask advice for or against it so thank you. It sounds like your days in the mid seventies were well spent. I do have a couple of class 27s so once finished I can operate the late seventies occasionally. I love your aspiration to build Glasgow QS. I've daydreamed about it many times myself. Go for it. What era would you model? Edit Just seen your thread. Will follow with interest.

This crossover was where it all went wrong. It became very rough and caused constant derailments. I could of sorted it but I wasn't happy with the foam board I'd laid the track on. I won't be using it this time and the crossing is now all on the same board. You live and learn. This brings me to my first request for advice. To cork or not to cork for an underlay? What are the pros and cons from your experiences?

The semi detached house on the platform wasn't my idea of a station building it's just been placed to represent the station building

You can see the extra scenic area the new board (underneath) will give me.

Bit of a Sunday afternoon potter in the attic today. Set the board frames up and laid the old boards from the first (abandoned) version of the layout on top. This was to see what scenery could be incorporated at the front of the new boards as I have made them 6 inches wider this time and spent an hour studying photos and seeing how everything will sit. This is how far I got with the first incarnation before I became unhappy and abandoned it some ten years ago.

Wow! David this really is a fantastic layout. Everything about it is spot on. It just oozes West Highland atmosphere. Great backscene, scenery and attention to detail. This is such an inspiration for my own layout. You've set the bar on the top notch. If mine looks half as good I'd be happy. Really enjoyed catching up with this thread this morning. Please keep posting pics. Andy

Thanks Angus. I'm really enjoying reading people responding with these kind of stories. I've not even laid a length of Flexi yet and this thread has had so many responses. Some really great tales of the place. This month I will be getting the ply for the baseboard tops and a pack of Peco bullhead flexi so should have some tangible progress to share. I'm following Rob's WHL4 closely and it's a fantastic layout and being built at a great pace. Anyone not following that I recommend you have a look. He's set the standard and if Mallaig is half as good I'll be happy. The layout will sit along one side of my attic and I did plan for the fiddle yard to run along the other. However I've decided that the other side of the attic will now be Glenfinnan and the fiddle yard will run up the middle. This will greatly improve playability especially when visitors are here for a day of 80s west highlanding. Glenfinnan will be laid but scenery will only commence once Mallaig is finished. I've got 3 1/2 foot depth boards so quite a lot to fill. Lots of scratch built buildings to make but because of the curve of the station and my desire to model the slipway and boat repair facility this is how it's worked out. So lots of work to do and should keep me entertained for a while. Stockwise we're good. That expense has been covered over the last decade. Soundchips and speakers are slightly behind but will be caught up. I won't run anything without one as once you've got some locos equiped you don't find the quiet ones as interesting. Coaches I'm about 90% there for what I want. Even the inspection saloon that was used as an observation saloon in 84. Although I'm basing the layout in 83 there will be a lot of 84 there. I want to capture the 83 decrepitude but also the early"ScotRail' branding. Only Eastfields namers will cart the white stripe (July 83 to May 84) with all other tractor's in blue,most grubby. 37 122 carried it's suedo large logo/small numbers and logo livery into 83 and is in a box at my virtual Eastfield. Don't scold me for having it hauling ScotRail branded Polmadie mk1s please. I've ordered a couple of accurascale 37s with the white stripe, one of which will become 37 081 Loch Long. I never saw it but it's my favourite loco (pushing 50 003 into second (oh the clag)) and these are coming sound equiped. So once the track is laid things should really gather momentum. I'm looking forward to your encouragement and even your criticisms (don't pull me up on a 37 with the wrong type of cantrail grill please. Ill sort it over time but I just want my favourites to be represented (I'm a stickler for things being correct as anyone who rebuilt Welsh Highland carrieges with me will vouch) but after so long I just want things running) Thanks for showing your interest and I hope to keep it. And please keep your comments and advise coming. Thanks all. Andy

Thanks Rob. Yes things have changed there bit by bit over the years. You're correct about the time the pointwork was changed. I've done my research from books pre Flickr days. Long before that the loop used to extend behind the wall when the tracks used to go down to the pier. Obviously the station canopy had been gone a few years before too. The latest change is the station building has had a coat of render on the platform side. Looks awful. Research is all part of the fun. Andy

By my reckoning that's the rear coach and most of the next one overhanging the platform. Looks a busy moment too. Great photo I bet your special doing it's megashunt was great to watch. Guessing it was double headed back to Fort William once it was all put back together?

But oh so worth it I'll wager? Another great pic, thanks for sharing.

Yes, I've not seen anything longer than six coaches and when I rode the Jacobite a few years ago I wondered how they were going to run round seven cars. Oh, I see. The loop takes seven. I was happy how it looked on the MK1 attempt at the layout so I'm sticking with six for this one. I'm. Sure the platform only holds six anyway so on arrival with the loco on the buffer stop the rear coach of the six overhung. Andy

Sounds fantastic. I'd of loved to of seen the Western Isles back then. I love visiting now but I imagine things are very different to how they were back then. Great stories, thanks for sharing.