young37215

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.

I had an e-mail exchange with Railtec yesterday where I appear to have offended Steve by asking for further changes to 3025. That said I can only feedback on my experience, it seems pretty clear that the 3 inch stripes are of minimal use in the conversion of a Hornby BSO to BSOT. Does anyone disagree with my view that the 3 inch stripes should go from 3025? Several Micro Buffet examples can be found on Flickr, 9007 and 9016 for example. I don't think that these will work very well as a transfer for a window cover, I consider it more effective to print my own window cover with the text labelling I require.

A Railtec 3025 transfers question for people consider. Below is a picture of 3025 as it currently stands, I have asked Steve to consider removing the 3 inch strips and replacing them with 2 inch strips because, based on my experience, the 3 inch are too big for the Hornby Mk1 BSO meaning I cannot see a use for them. Depending on the chosen BSOT modelled, the 2 inch strips are quickly used up which is the reason I need to buy another 3025. As currently compiled 3025 provides for the WHL Mk1 BSOT's most commonly seen, No's 9000, 9001, 9015 and 9016 with 2 alternative numbers where pictures of these BSOT's on the WHL have been identified. I have managed to create 3 BSOT's using one set of transfers albeit I am short of 2 inch strips because 9000 and 9001 had extended red stripes in their early days. The only item required that is not included is the covering of the window on the toilet side which I dont think is suited to a transfer. If people want Micro Buffet adding in to 3025, what should come off?

Thanks to SC55015, 9016 now has a Buffet signed window blanking. The Glue and Glaze at the bottom should dry clear. I need to fit a Buffet sign to the opposite window, I think one of the Railtec 3025 ones will do the job. I am waiting on a reply from @railtec-models to an email where I suggested some changes to the transfers on 3025. Clearly the space available is finite, to fit Micro Buffet in will require something else being removed. The question is which transfers offer the widest use?

I measured the Bachmann pipework at 1mm and decided to go with the 0.85mm option which translates to 65mm/2.5 inches ful size for the handrails. I'd agree that this is probably on the large size but painted it looks fine to me. I am looking at creating the window blanking for the BSOT 9015. Unlike others created so far which were simple cuts of card with no text and as can be seen below, 9015 requires 'Buffet' in white lettering on a black background which I was intending to make using MS Word and the Rail Alphabet font. Annoyingly I am finding this challenging, probably due to the fact that I rarely use Word these days. Has anyone any suggestions or, better still, has alteady created their own version and will let me have a copy?

Famous last words, I had to fabricate a second handrail for 9015 having already cut down the molded one. My version of a threesome shows 2 fabricated handrails and the third (the coach on the right) is Hornby’s out of the box molded option. The difference is not easily seen, I’ll leave 9000 as Hornby made it.

Having clarified that the brake end of the BSOT only has hand rails and with pictures of my chosen coaches, I set about fabricating a hand rail. Using some 0.85mm wire and a 1mm drill, I produced a hand rail. Easy enough to do but I question how much this will be noticeable? Pictures show a comparison of 9000 and 9001 where 9000 has the Hornby molded rail and 9001 the custom made one. I’ll paint the new handrail once it has been secured and some blue touching up is required on the coach end. At this time I am not persuaded to make more handrails, I don’t see any significant benefit of doing so. I have managed to lose one of the Buffet transfers from 9000 which means I’ll need to get another 3025 from Railtec. No big deal as I also want more red stripe transfers. Custom handrail Contrasting handrails

If you reduce the maximum speed then I believe the acceleration profile is adjusted automatically. On my Accurascale 37027 with its Loksound V5, maximum speed which is CV 5, has been reduced from 255 to 120. This creates a much more realistic effect when the loco is given full power from a standing start or is accelerated whilst in motion. Essentially you are creating the potential to use all of the speed settings on your controller by making this adjustment, unadjusted and to keep the unrealistic top speed down, I suspect you don't go beyond half power with the knock on effect being you miss out on the full range of sounds in the sound file. My experience is that you need to trial different speed settings on CV5 to find what works best on your layout.

Terrific video, O gauge can be really impressive. One minor observation is the locos rate of acceleration looked a little quick, one of the acceleration or top speed CVs looks like it do with tweaking down a little.

The BSOT remains on Commonwealth bogies. The brake end of the coach retains its handrails