young37215

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.

ESU link to their marketing spiel attached below. Cab Control comprises 2 components and is all you need to operate a layout including an inbuilt receiver in the internal control unit which links via wifi to the Mobile Control 2 handheld unit. I have zero knowledge of what Cab Control can be used with as I use it on a standalone basis to run my layout. What I will say is that if I can use Cab Control, anyone can! https://www.esu.eu/en/products/digital-control/cabcontrol/

Based on my experience I disagree with this assertion. I have 20 plus sound chipped, 00 gauge locos including 4 Heljan ones which from my recently installed DCC Concepts Alpha meter, shows I draw a total curent that remains stable at around 1.2 Amps even when running several locos with sound on. My controller only provides power for the layout, I have seperate power supply for accessory control. As an alternative to Powercab I suggest that ESU's 7Amp Cab Control be considered. This is more up to date than Powercab, comprises a wireless hand held controller made and supported by a known German manufacturer which can be imported into the UK from the USA for a total cost of around £400.

Helpful clarification on 9001, clearly the external finish of the BSOT was changed around 3 or 4 years after its intial conversion. Until now in my mind I questioned SC55015's views on the use of rail grey painted on the window but the above picture is clear even to a colour blind person. I still think that an internal covering rather than paint was used on many of the BSOT buffet windows. What looks like an original cover can still be seen on 9003 below but, as we know, there were plenty of deviations from the original plans. For modelling purposes it is probably delving into too much detail but the BSOT's have got my interest and I would like to get a better understanding of how they evolved. I have looked in the early editions of Rail Enthusiast magazine which date from 1981 but these are silent on BSOT's. Does anyone have any magazines dating back to the period that might contain some information?

Indeed, I have several 'as new' locos that I want to lightly weather so that they look similar to 37081 above but I am not totally confident in my ability to do so. I mentioned above an article in September's Hornby Magazine where the techniques used look about right, I need to bite the bullet and try them out on one of my pristine locos.

Interestingly the original Buffet sign installed on SC9001's conversion has been removed from the coach bodyside and replaced by what I'll call the standard window mounted sign. I cannot determine the length of the red stripe above the windows which we know changed at some stage. Having created both 9000 and 9001 in the same style, I would happily change one of them to something slightly different if I can find pictures to support the change. This latest picture does half a job, ideally I need to find another 1983 picture of 9001 taken from the opposite side showing the buffet window cover. For comparison, 9001 as converted.

ESU announced Cab Control was going to be sold into Europe some time ago but not much seems to have happened. I imported Cab Control from the USA through Iron Planet Hobbies. Despite one or two issues along the way most of which were of my creation, I am well pleased with Cab Control.

25's were infrequent WHL visitors but by no means unkown during the class 27 era.

Interesting in that it is the original Scotrail branding that has been applied and the widow has been adorned with a second Buffet sign.. My understanding is that the application of Scotrail dates to 1984, prior to the adoption of ScotRail as the branding suggesting that this has been on the coach for a couple of years.

You gentlemen that have already received the new SDEG class 37 book have the advantage on me. I have had my email advising that the book has been despatched but I am away from home on holiday at present. My expecatations for the book are high; I am already looking forward to getting home. More pictures that are new to me are the ones below of 37039 arriving at Crianlarich with a down freight. The first wagon is an OAA with an excellent example of the load and tarpaulin I want to create for the Rapido OAA wagons which should be available shortly.

Recreating 108 to look anything like its 1981 condition will certainly be a challenge, the opposite side of the loco looks even more dilapidated! I have Harburn Hobbies coal sacks in the yard at Crianlarich which creates a reason for the MCV's being attached and detached to freights as required. Based on the above picture I need to think about elevating the coal sacks off of the ground and adding some more general junk to the yard. At a guess the elevation of the coal sacks would have been to make easier for manual loading onto the lorries engaged in local distribution.

I have plenty of bad habits but vaping is not one of them. With a combination of my lack of electrical skills and colour blindness, I suspect there is more likelihood of smoke/fog from a short circuit somewhere enveloping the layout. I am not sure when the doors were plated over on 37108 or the headlight added but as one of the first on 37's transferred to Eastfield for WHL operations, 37108 ran for several years with plated headcode and original doors. The standard of weathering in the picture below is fantastic. Eastfield must have worked hard to produce the effect, I hope that I can manage to produce something half as good. Note the unusual squarer profile on the buffers, I can live without this precision and am content with the Hornby class 50 oval buffers I fitted some years ago. However I do need to get the file and abrasives out to remove the inappropriate rivets on the roof of my model. Another stalwart of WHL operations in the steam heat era was 37081 seen here departing Garelochead for Glasgow with 1T45, 12.45 ex Mallaig.

Absolutely yes to fitting bufferbeam detail, indeed several of the fleet already have bufferbeam detailing to some degree. The only question is one of timing, I still have yet to find an acceptable way to do away with the tension lock coupling which is essential so as to free up the space for bufferbeam detail and snowploughs. I have not added the Accurascale detailing yet where, based on comments in the Accurascale thread, I am hoping this provides some inspiration. 37108 with some bufferbeam pipework visible and 6E46 arrives at Crianlarich on its journey to Blyth.

At Ardlui 37027 arrives and passes southbound 8D09 from Oban headed by 37178 waiting for the single line to clear. After 37027's departure north, 37178 and the slackly timed 8D09 make a leisurely southbound departure. Both locos could do with a light weathering, I am minded to follow the 'less is more' techniques described in Hornby's September magazine.

As a youthful haulage basher I did a number of all lines between the early 1980's and early 1990's. The transformation in the rail network over that timescale was huge, early ALR's were spent on steam heated Mk1 rolling stock with numerous overnight trains running to a variety of destinations. With these made up of large numbers of sparsly populated compartment stock a reasonable nights sleep could be had using one side of the compartment as a bed. Changes of train in the early hours at obscure places like Pitlochry and Retford stick in the mind, the larger stations like Crewe and York usually had a buffet open 24 hours a day where a hot drink could be obtained. By the 1990's all trains were electrically heated, overnight trains were substantially less in number and choice of destination comprising Mk2 bucket seats in which sleeping was a challenge. Second generation units were everywhere having largely replaced loco hauled trains which were few and far between compared to the halcyon days of the early 80's. For some reason my interest in bashing waned! I hope to do a ALR in the next year or two to see how the network has changed over time using hotels rather than trains for my sleeping arrangements. There is still some passenger track that I have not travelled over although I will not be doing much by way of loco hauled travel.

Also from Tuesday's running 37085 arrives at Mallaig with the 1630 from Fort William. After a run round the train awaits the departure of the 18.40 return to Fort William.

With the wind and rain outside yesterday, it was a day made for indoors and playing trains. Amongst all of the ensuing excitement, I also spent some time with the new back to back gauge which highlighted a number of wagons which were tight to gauge where I hope the effort will pay a dividend of improved running going forward. Still operating the 1983 WTT, 37027 threads its way through the landscape on the approach to Ardlui heading north with 1B14, 1636 Glasgow to Mallaig.