young37215

On 05/10/2023 at 18:03, billywhizz said:

Still have the vestibule ends to spray in weathered black

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.

11 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

Rob,

 

That last picture definitively rules out Larch as it would have dropped its needles in winter. So I’m 95% sure that it’s Spruce, probably Sitka Spruce which is what is growing in that large forest to the left of the top picture. They may well have self seeded from the forest. Spruce grows quickly - that why us foresters like it! Each whorl of branches represents one year’s growth, so I would put the tree in your second picture at 15-20 years old allowing for some growth at the bottom that we can’t see. So the three in your first picture were probably chopped down and this one has grown up since.

 

Here are some that I planted in my woodland in 2008, so a little younger than your example, but you can see how quickly they grow.

 

 

The Primo Spruce is a very good match

 

https://primomodels.co.uk/product/spruce-tree-model-20-22-cm

 

Don’t go for the Forest Spruce as this reflects trees grown closely together which will loose their lower branches as I explained in my earlier post.

 

Regards

 

Andy

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.

19 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

Primo do some lovely Spruce trees. I’d put those at c.50feet tall, so you would need his 20cm trees which would look very impressive…at a cost!

 

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.

On 04/10/2023 at 11:55, andi4x4 said:

 

You could always pick up some cheap bodies on eBay to use as testbeds rather ending up with a loco you are not happy with ......

 

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?  

16 hours ago, Tallpaul69 said:

I have to admit that I have little interest in meters, and fail to see their relevance to my 12ft x 8 ft layout.

It seems to me that if you feel the need for meters, you are probably too near to utilising your system's maximum power for comfort?

 

So maybe you would be better investing in a bigger power supply?

Either that, or the track on the layout is in need of careful examination and improvement?

 

Meanwhile there is a deathly silence in response to my question in my last post as to whether there are other Wireless systems I should be looking at?

 

Cheers for now,

Paul

 

 

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.

11 hours ago, 03060 said:

Highly recommended Andy if you can still find a copy, it will be £30 well spent, full of useful information and lots of great images (quite a few on the WHL.) First published 2020.

 

.... and yes ... that's a BSOT on the front cover ! ... oh, sorry ... wrong thread LoL !

 

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

14 hours ago, Izzy said:

Is this actually available in the UK/EU? The documentation states only made for and available in the US & Australia. I can’t seem to find a UK seller. Other ESU stuff but not this.

 

Bob

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.

On 02/10/2023 at 04:44, SC55015 said:

Question - a while back on this thread it was noted that all the BSOTs apart from one ended up on the ScR - does anyone know what that odd one was?

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. 

10 minutes ago, Tallpaul69 said:

What do you get with the ESU 7amp? 

Do you need a wireless receiver or is that included, and if included what does it plug into - can you use it with the NCE twin socket panel which I have fixed into my layout facia? 

 

Many thanks

Paul

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/

1 hour ago, JohnR said:

 

How so? Sound locos are more popular, and some modern locos (eg Heljan) can draw up to 1A each.

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. 

16 hours ago, SC55015 said:

 

The red now stripe went from being the longer style to the shortest style, now only covering the buffet and corridor/ex-toilet window - not the door.

 

This is SC9001 in October 1983, the best example I could find of that side:

 

On the opposite side, the buffet window - and the main pane on the ex-toilet was now painted rail grey as my earlier post. This is SC9001 in June 1983:

 

 

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? 

46 minutes ago, BoD said:

Only very subtle weathering needed there.

Sometimes just as hard to do as the more dilapidated look mentioned earlier.

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.

17 hours ago, SC55015 said:

Thanks, I've added it into my gallery with a few other newly found ones. This was a good find, the first decent shot I've seen of this part of 9000 in its later days:

 

 

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.

1 hour ago, thegreenhowards said:

You’d need to be brave and very skilful to replicate the condition in that photo.

Recreating 108 to look anything like its 1981 condition will certainly be a challenge, the opposite side of the loco looks even more dilapidated! 

14 hours ago, 03060 said:

Whilst on the subject of Midges (or even Midgets !) I have just come across this 1981 photo by Midgpee showing the old tea room at Crianlarich Upper. There's a lot to interest in this photo but particularly the stack of domestic coal which is possibly stacked on top of a stage of sleepers, what do you think ? Possibly another scenic detail to rival the dumped fish box pile at Mallaig that Rob and Andy have managed to achieve.

 

Photo by Midgpee, 1981.

 

Regards,

Ian.

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.

7 hours ago, ISW said:

I don't know if he 'vapes', but blowing the 'smoke' across the layout could also achieve a suitable fog/mist effect for photos.

 

Ian

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. 

On 22/09/2023 at 10:38, thegreenhowards said:

Are you going to add the buffer beam detail when you weather? I think that makes a big difference.

 

Andy

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.