SHerr

I assumed they were clay slurry, I’ve seen photos of Silver Bullets to Corpach but never 4 wheeled tanks. Unfortunately at present a couple of years late for my mid 80s layout but added benefits to all those other fantastic WHL layouts around for late 80s.

I’ve just found this looking for something completely different. I don’t ever recall any references to them working the WHL? Assuming they are the same as the Revolution one? https://www.jules-merlin27.com/Railways/Loco-hauled-on-the-West-Highland-Railway/i-5n3TTqk/A

A shout out for help please. I have managed to get hold of replacement bogies from the Bachmann Spares site for my inspection saloon as the original ones bent outwards. The only problem is I’ve lost 2 of the wheels from my original bogies. They are different size (point to point of axel) to other readily available Bachmann coach wheels. Does anyone know a source or at least product number please? Many Thanks

Brilliant, thanks Fran, the wallet has let out a huge groan though! Well my 1970s stock is looking like next year for the 24/1 so this years spend is still the same! I will just keep telling myself that until I believe the argument!

Looking great, I have 37043 on order, I’m seriously considering ordering a second one to re-number. Whilst Accurascale are relatively new in having locos on the market has anyone done a renumber or major decoration removal? If so is it relatively painless or a risk of taking off paint etc? Removing Large Logo numbers on other brands can sometimes be a challenge and. Don’t want to ruin a great loco.

That’s looks fantastic- my layout is set in 1970 and 1985. I’m struggling not to give in and pre-order a second SLW 24/1 and Accurascale split box 37/0 at the same time - plus I think one of the 24/0’s promised is a Long term Haymarket machine! Gulp!

Thanks for the replies. As I say, not a steam person so maybe a stupid question. Photos of 5305 and 5407 seem to have a dome and something in front of them (top feed?) but all the Hornby LMS liveried Black 5’s only seem to have a dome. Is this because the feed was a post LMS addition and therefore an ‘old livery’ on a later modified loco? Or just that I can’t find a suitable LMS Hornby model? For some reason I seem to be favouring an LMS liveried loco but may have to revisit my thoughts if the right body is not available.

I’ve managed to acquire some West Highland Green and Cream Mk1s and was looking for some advice on most suitable OO gauge traction options for circa 85/6. As a D&E modeller I’m a bit unclear on the subtleties here as I don’t really do ‘kettles’. A K1 repaint into Green for 2005 is probably out of of my ability range (hint to the special editions guys, I’m sure it would sell) so realistically looking at Black 5’s (Hornby Super Detailed). 44767 George Stephenson was definitely a regular but seems to have different running gear so presumably that’s out? Or is it? What are the other best options for ideally a renumber rather than full relining exercise? Any help, advice appreciated and particularly photos which don’t seem to be as plentiful as I had expected - certainly if you ignor 44767.

Thanks, it’s the Accurascale one that prompted the question as my layout is based in the Highlands with access to an Aluminium smelter but thought I’d never be able to justify one.

Is that a Coil A on the left? If so was that a regular visitor for something like Alcan traffic or other use?

Not interested in anything on there but what is of interest is what looks like a Polybulk in the cabinet behind. I can’t tell if that’s the original short one or a new larger ‘Grainflow’ type but promising either way as this has been missed for a good few years now.

Aaaarrrggghhh! I’ve just finished this! oh well I’m sure I will need some more!

Well that was my prediction in the more model ideas thread! Great news for all modellers (even though I don’t actually need one at the moment) and in one fell swoop every variant that Hornby have failed to produce over the last 20 years! Accurascale again showing up the former ‘big boys’.

Thanks that’s useful. I could do with a junction/bracket signal and the only Dapol ones are lower Quadrant to keep those pesky GWR modellers happy. I’d never realised the HR had them.

Forgive my ignorance, we’re there many HR lower Quadrant signals? It may help me if there were!

Yes I wondered about those. I decided to try the bearings as a cheap alternative and seemed to look good so decided to stick with them for now. I’ve read somewhere about people using similar. I’ve taken the easy option for the IS 24. There’s a SLW one on order!

I've managed to re-orientate the problem photo of the Signal cabin and taken a few more of today/yesterdays progress. Some point rodding and levers in the yard ahead of track weathering and ballasting, I've also made a start on the platform which was worrying me as to how good a curve I could make. It seems to be going fairly well at the moment although a fair bit more to do. Also finally, a recent purchase for the 80's theme is a second blue class 26. I've been trying to figure out how to do the Inverness headlights for a while. I have an ancient class 25 body that I use for trialling things on so I set about drilling holes on the front and inserted some brass bearings that were then filled with glue n glaze. Seems to have worked quite well when inserted into the 26

Some good progress recently despite me not putting anything on here. I seem to have got a bit of a roll. Foyers signal cabin 90% complete, just needs some gutters has turned out well with new roof cut from Wills sheets and Glue n Glaze windows. Photos will follow as they keep coming out upside down! A distant shot as D254 departs the yard with the Alcan train. Ballasting has commenced on the running section from the loch inlet back towards Foyers and a first attempt at some scenery which I am reasonably happy with. I’ve also fine tuned the Lochend track layout (again) and starting to get a lot more happy. Some shunting opportunities without it feeling over crammed. The track layout is part influenced by Brora amongst other places but the single platform I think helps.

Not centre head code (not yet anyway).

Nice to see that 47711 appears to have the correct style headlight and not the standard square high intensity that was shown when it was proposed on the old tooling. Now they have a car style headlight they can fit it to some centre box 37/0’s in large logo! I’m a little surprised there’s not something about the class 25, I would have thought Bachmann would have been busting a gut to get it out before the SLW one especially with their delays. Seems to be some reference in the early pages that samples are due shortly though.

Mines slightly different it’s ‘Scottish Region Colour Album No.1’ - looks similar but mine has some of those silly Kettles in it! Great reference material either way, very well regarded and often referenced on here, I might have to get the Diesel traction one to compare!

I know the feeling about changing your mind and buying different stock/locos. I was supposed to have 2 separate small layouts either side of the loft one which went from Norfolk to Devon, I bought a class 50 on eBay and less than a week after it arrived I scrapped it all and went for 1 bigger layout with 2 stations. It’s taken me years to get something I think I’m happy with and lots of stock purchases that haven’t run much. I’ve come to the realisation that what makes a good exhibition layout doesn’t necessarily make a good home layout depending what you want to do. A good exhibition layout probably only needs to hold interest for 20-30 mins max. Trying to copy this with small home layouts with 2-3 sidings means I’m bored after a couple of months. I’m sure not everyone is the same but that’s what I’ve found. Good luck with whatever you do.

There’s a photo in George O’Hara’s book of a 40 with 4 BRT’s between Inverness and Elgin (probably heading for Burghead). It’s dated 1970. Ive seen a few others with 7-10 hoppers around Burghead and Dufftown branches and I think I’ve seen a shortish train with a 40 on it at Muir of Ord but a quick Google has drawn a blank on that one.

There’s a photo in George O’Hara’s book of a 40 with 4 BRT’s between Inverness and Elgin (probably heading for Burghead). It’s dated 1970. Ive seen a few others with 7-10 hoppers around Burghead and Dufftown branches and I think I’ve seen a shortish train with a 40 on it at Muir of Ord but a quick Google has drawn a blank on that one.

That looks fantastic, I’m using a very similar theory/excuse around being able to run Grain workings. I’ve used the Walters Cornerstone kit which seems quite ‘anglicised’ but have wondered a few times about cladding it in corrugated sheeting. The other thing it will let you do if you wish, is potentially run a class 40 deep into ‘type 2 territory’ as they regularly ran to Muir of Ord Invergorden (for Alcan workings) and Burghead.