young37215

I did something similar using servos and Megapoints a while back which is close to being perfect but not quite. The system works but the plasticard top is not long enough which means that you have to be very precise in where the train stops. With the benefit of 12 months experience, I will be swapping the plasticard top (the piece that sits on top of the the track) for the top piece of a Peco uncoupler. I have a number of these sat spare and hope that the increase in length will make it easier stop a train on top of the uncoupler. The servo element works very well, I have no plans to change this element of the uncoupler.

The space is about 14m x 3m but never feels enough. I now have 3 BSOT's in operation, numbers 9000, 9001 and 9015 with 2 more BSO's acquired waiting to undergo conversion. Two are in Oban rakes with one now added into a Mallaig rake which is the first time that I have used the BSO/BSOT in one of the Mallaig rakes and it meant removing a BSK to keep the load at 4. The Oban rakes have 2 brake coaches but I did not want 2 brakes in the Mallaig rakes and longer trains will not fit at Mallaig that easily which means as usual, a compromise is required. 9015 was the first BSOT to reach Mallaig seen arriving with behind 37175 and the 0837 from Glasgow which then formed the 1610 return. Both this and 9001 have yet to be completed either internally or externally but the lure of running meant they entered service partially complete.

Only 6, I ran out of space to build more! The 6 are Garelochead, Arrochar, Ardlui, Crianlarich, Fort William and Mallaig. At this time of year the sun, when it shines, creates some interesting images at Crianlarich as well as showing off the new trees.

There are a number of bauxite and railfreight red/grey images of OAA's on Flickr from the late 70's until the mid 80's if you look hard which leads me to the view that either livery option would be representative of the period. In terms of the balance between OAA and OBA/OCA, it should be borne in mind that the number of OAA's at 100 compares with the 1000 plus OBA/OCA hence it seems reasonable for the OBA/OCA to appear more frequently. In addition to those posted by 03060 above, bauxite examples below June 1981 June 1982 October 1983 February 1985

Interesting perspective in the last picture, makes me think I need to review my use of Peco's bench on my west highland layout which I have not previously considered to look out of place.

The station buildings and signal boxes are all scratch built mainly from card by a gentleman in Northern Ireland by the name of Ed Hall. The Sculptamold finally dried sufficiently to enable me to work with it which allowed me to add a little more to infill gaps and tidy the area up to a level I was happy with. I then decided that plaster cloth was unnecessary and simply painted the damp Sculptamold using a cheap acrylic burnt umber paint which will get dressed with scenic material once the remaining station area landscape is completed. All in all I am quite pleased with the outcome although the driveway at the southern end of the station looks wrong and needs more work. Now I can attack the mountainside rising to the west of the station (the area to the right in the first picture) at an approximate 50 degree angle. I am still uncertain about how high to raise the landscape so I will start by creating it in such a way that I can increase the height at a later stage should I feel the need. By way of comparison, this was the station entrance mid 1980's.

The evolution of the landscape at Arrochar station in pictures. First, earlier this year with polystyrene placed loosely on the embankment. Next step was to glue the polystyrene in place using PVA glue. Once this had dried I mixed up some Sculptamold which was used to create a rough skimmed embankment. I'll need to add some more to smooth out and complete the edges but as a first step, this was sufficient for my purpose. Once I am happy with the outline I'll add plaster cloth over everything.

I'll post something when I am a little further forward but it is the same method that I have used elsewhere on the layout. As is often the case in my experience, the Sculptamold was too damp to work with yesterday meaning I had play trains instead of working on Arrochar. It's a tough life I know but better to let the embankment dry out rather than let my impatience end up making a mess of it. In an effort to create some variety to the ususal angles for pictures, I set up the tripod to the side of Crianlarich to see if I could create the impression of being up above the station. 37033 was captured departing north with 7B02.

In between operations I started the scenic work at Arrochar yesterday. By the end of the day I had largely completed the embankment to the front of the station that runs down to Loch Lomond using polystyrene and Sculptamold. Hopefully it will have dried overnight and be workable later today. 37049 and 37014 arrive at Garelochead as they head back to Glasgow with empty Mermaids having discharged their loads somewhere to the north.

Hear Hear. There is no getting away from the expense of trying to to create life like lineside greenery. I am currently planning how the southern approach to Arrochar should be modelled where the number of trees and bushes required is frightening and, no doubt, the cost of modeling it eye watering. The number of trees that I used at Ardlui was far greater than I had anticipated and even now I question if I have added sufficient. As afternoon draws on 37108 is pictured departing Ardlui and winding its way south along the banks of Loch Lomond as it heads to Blyth with 6E46 comprised of empty hoppers returning for refill. It is not just Ardlui, all of the landscape could be more densely populated and just needs the weeks Euromillions numbers to match my selection so I can afford to do so! I am still working through the wagon fleet checking the back to back gauges and was surprised to find the Lima hoppers in these pictures which have been rewheeled with Bachmann wheels, were particularly tight. My surprise was based on my experience of running where they are probably the least likely wagons to derail and that on a layout where derailments are surprisingly few is saying something.

The Primo Spruce have been planted but not fixed in place as yet, the uniformity needs breaking up. The trees are certainly imposing being about twice the height of the previous trees.

The Primo firs arrived at the weekend and will get installed in the next few days. At first glance they look very good although a little uniform which means I'll need to tweak them to try and create some noticeable differences. At Garelochead 8D09 was booked to pass 1B15, 1823 Glasgow to Oban captured on the approach to its Garelochead stop headed by 37112.

I have not seen anyone attempt to add rivets but I have seen several attempts to fit the cantrail dividing bars using slithers of plastic cut to size and painted. None have been very good in my opinion, whether it would be any easier in 0 gauge I have no idea. The wet weather meant that I had a day largely indoors yesterday resulting in a little running. 37178 had charge of 8D09 and is seen arriving at Garelochead. The loco was outshopped from Doncaster in early 1983 having received a full overhaul and repaint making it one of those on my list of those requiring a light weathering and a few cosmetic tweaks.

For many years I was blissfully ignorant of class 37 roof and cantrail differences, then I learnt about them and started trying to replicate them. The following is a 'cut and paste' explanantion from an article I read and copied a while ago: 'D6700 - D6798 as built had riveted roofs, all vertical strips that run from one side of the roof to the other. These are double riveted on the first 42 locos, the next 56 had single riveted strips and the remaining split headcode and all centre headcode locos had welded (smooth) roofs'. The standard Bachmann riveted roof shown in the first picture looks single riveted. This loco was originally 37049 and which I renumbered to 37108, should be welded hence why I plan to file down the 3 central rows of rivets. The rivets at each end will have to stay which I am relaxed about which is just as well because I cannot see a practical way of changing these to the welded profile. Bachmann welded roof Cantrail grilles with extra dividing/strengthening bars were fitted to all RSH built 37's (D6769-D6795 D6879-D6898) and Vulcan built D6700 - D6705 but with a groove round as they were removable. Bachmann have not done many RSH locos, I used the limited edition 37003 for my 2 RSH split box locos 37081 and 37085. I don't have any centre headcode ones yet, I looked at the new styled dividing bar on 37194 and thought that it was a very poor attempt. Hopefully Accurascale get around to some of these in the near future as I am sure they will do a better job. Vulcan build cantrail grills RSH build cantrail grills have a central dividing/strenthening bar

It is mid October and Rapido's website still shows the OAA's as due this month. I cannot find any other information (and have no interest in newsetters), does anybody have an uodate on when we might expect these to be available?

Fortunately I only require 3 trees to represent those that were evident at Crianlarich during my time period. Even so at £14 per tree they are not cheap. Elsewhere I have been captivated by the SDEG's steam heat 37 book which, amongst many things, highlights the various unique features of individual locos. One of which is 37264 where I already knew my version was incorrect for the early 1980's, just prior to its late 1983 visit to Crewe works from which it emerged as the first official class 37 in large logo. I bought my loco 10 years or so ago as 37251 which I renumbered and added terrier logos prior to it being weathered by TMC. Back then I was blissfully ignorant of Flickr with its range of reference pictures and so missed several of the more subtle detail points. The SDEG book prompted me to make a start on the updates required to make 264 more prototypical. I started to remove some of the weathering in an effort to create a cleaner, weather beaten loco using enamel thinners and numerous cotton buds. The old Western Region headboard clips were removed with the intention of using them on 37175 but 1 of the 4 managed to make a succesful bid for freedom and now hides somewhere on the carpet!. From a Heljan detailing pack I added the nameboard bracket above the headcode, I still want to remove more of the weathering but the revised loco is nearing completion and a return to service.

Based upon the numerous pictures I have seen which can be found in the Flickr BSOT gallery created by SC55015, I think the vestibule ends are mostly, if not all, blue. Many appear black but this is krap uncleaned during carriage washing, not black paint.

Most helpful; thanks Andy. I am impressed by your woodlands, somehwere for Glenfinnan to run through I guess? I have ordered some of the 20 - 22 cm Spruce from Primo which will replace the existing and rather modest existing trees at Crianlarich. The whole area above the station could do with beefing up, hopefully the Primo Spruce will be the start of this.

For such a landmark group of trees I would take the pain of the cost just to create the right image above Crianlarich station and yard. No one has defintively identified the tress as yet, I am wondering if they are conifers like Leylandi planted by the house owner as a barrier between their garden and the railway? Given how little traffic there was I cannot see it being noisy area but some people are keen to mark their boundaries. Given the second picture below they are not Leylandi which would be much larger by now but still possibly a conifer. 40 years later and in 2021 only 1 tree appears to remain. It has not grown much taller but still looks like a conifer to me.

Thanks for the thought, as it happens I have a couple of spare class 37 bodies that I could use if practice was required. Perhaps a little arrogantly but I don't feel the need to practice, rather I need to get back into the routine of modelling. Since our return from holiday I have managed to spend more time outside making the most of the dry, warm weather. Judging by the frost on my neighbours roof Saturday morning, Autumn appears to be setting in. I travelled to GETS yesterday and was impressed by several of the layouts. WIth large crowds it was not easy to watch them operating and the trade support was modest. I managed to pick up a few bits and pieces but failed to get all of the requirements on my list. I like the Primo Models range of trees and will be reasearching pictures to see where I might add some of their impressive Larch and Spruce. My tree identification skills are in management speak 'a learning opportunity' but I want to update the 3 trees in the top right front of the first picture and growing out of 37 roof in the second picture below. What are they?

If you do not know what power your layout is drawing, how can you make an informed decision on whether you need a booster? I would accept that a meter is not required on an ongoing basis but as a one off exercise to know your power demand I consider it essential. I recently spent £80 on a DCC Concepts Alpha Meter which showed that I did not need the booster I thought I needed which in turn saved me the £200 that a typical ESU booster costs. The lack of comment on alternative wireless controllers reflects how few of them there are. I did not want to have to import Cab Control but given the limited choices and my precise requirements it was the best option I could find. Guagemaster's Prodigy Advance 2 wireless is an option but is dated technology much like the Powercab. I ran a Prodigy for about 10 years prior to Cab Control without any problems. Roco's Z21 is another wireless system but I know nothing of this.

On sale with Eastfield Media at £23 including P&P!

No, as I and others have stated, Cab Control (CC) is not currently available in Europe despite ESU stating they would be releasing it in Europe some time back. Importing from the USA is not difficult in the 21st century although this obviously comes with additional potential for issues if problems arise. My comments reflect my own experiences with CC which, after a lot of research, I judged to be the best option available for my requirements. Despite one or two teething issues which were mostly of my creation and resolved by a combination of perseverance and the assistance of several helpful RMWebber's, I am well pleased with CC. Referring back to the original post, the questions raised were 'What do folks think of the new DCC Concepts ESP Ψ Aegis 5 Amp Wireless System for PowerCab?' and 'should I upgrade to a more powerful and wireless system?' The conclusions reached seem to be Aegis is an expensive and less than optimal upgrade to 1990's dated technology where there are superior, more up to date alternatives available for similar outlay. If I were in the same position as the OP I would not be spending my cash on Aegis. Having used both Powercab and CC, in my opinion CC is a considerably better control system. Any decision to change controller is predominantly an individual and personal judgement which is likely best made if well informed about the alternatives available and with clarity over what is actually required. Hopefully the feedback on this thread will faciltate the OP's decision.

I arrived home yesterdy to find my copy of the book waiting. Wow, as others have said it feels like the definitive article for somebody who models the early 1980's Scottish era. My only negative is the level of detail contained in the book means that I have a lot of re-working and updating required for my fleet.

I was incorrect in making the statement and have updated the comment. What I should have stated was according to Platform 5's 1984 Coaching Stock book, 13 of the 18 BSOT conversions were SCR allocated. The other 5 (No's 9009,9010,9011,9013 and 9014) were allocated to Cambridge.