SeanG

I have made a tad more progress with the platform since my last post. I decided to change my plans for the platform surface. I initially intended to construct from sandpaper, but having read the methods of the peerless Chris Nevard, I decided to use DAS modelling clay. A card foundation was laid for the platform surface which was then covered with a thin layer of the clay, stippled with an old brush and left to set. The rear walling is in place for a 'dry fit', and comprises of Wills Stone Sheets. I then painted it with a couple of coats of an old tester pot of matt emulsion that I found in the garage - B&Q's Lauren if anyone is interested - essentially a light beige. Next, this was covered with a couple of washes of watered down brown and black acrylic, until a suitable colour was achieved . Finally, the rear walling was fixed in place, and the front edging was suitably painted white. The facing stone, again Wills Stone Sheet, was also added. Hopefully a convincing platform has been created. I used the mantra of "you can always make it darker but not necessarily lighter...".

On the subject of feedback when things went wrong, I received the wrong item on a postal order from a model shop. A quick phone call and they sent the correct item out 1st class that day and told me to keep the incorrect item, despite me offering to send it back to them. This is where a genuine mistake actually led to a good review and me intending to use them again. Top marks Rhuddlan Models. Anyway, back to the bargains.... Our old friends in Hereford have a new class 87 for £55. Seems like a good deal to me... http://herefordmodels.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=340_350_354_352&products_id=12252

Many thanks for the kind words. I found that the weathering was rather straightforward. I used the aerosol version of Railmatch's Sleeper Grime as I don't have an airbrush. i have to say that it comes out rather easily after a couple of seconds, but best to test on a scrap of paper first. I found that 'less is more' and ended up doing a few passes with the aerosol.

Another major job has been to fit the points with a manual wire in tube system. This is a relatively simple way of doing things, but I have found that it works fine. For each point, I fixed two small timbers as supports underneath the baseboard (although one point utilised the existing main corner support), one at the front edge and one just behind the point. Holes had previously been drilled in the baseboard underneath each point prior to track laying. In each timber I drilled a 3mm hole and threaded some garden wire through. At the front edge, the holes were enlarged and a dowel fitted as a handle. Below the point, the wire was stripped of its casing and part of a paperclip has been soldered between the point tie bar and this wire. This has been a simple method, but has been effective so far, and if it breaks is easily fixable. The points will be operated from the front but if I ever wished to operate from the rear, it would be relatively straight forward to add a further timber to the rear and lengthen the wire. Apologies for the long essay (although I hope that it may help someone). As they say, a picture paints a thousand words....

I've made a bit more progress following my last post, but with shops reopening (to my wife's delight) and the football restarting (to my wife's annoyance!), progress has somewhat slowed. Nevertheless I have been able to mark out roughly the locations of structures etc, and tidy up the backscene. This was done by PVAing some wallpaper (pattern side down) onto the wood, and then giving it a couple of coats of a matt emulsion tester pot (think it is the same colour as our bathroom). The next job was to paint the walling which will form the station building, retaining walls and platform face. This was done by painting a Wills Course Stone sheet with black acrylic and then wiping off the excess, so that the black paint fills the crevices. After dying, the same was done with a brown acrylic to build some depth and texture. I have seen better efforts elsewhere, but am happy with my attempt. I then proceeded with starting to construct the station. The back wall was painted a darker colour, whilst the wall of the station building which will be under the canopy was 'limewashed' with white acrylic. The platform faces are from Peco platform edging (currently mid painting) and the platform structure is formed of stiff card. I have yet to complete the surface of the platform, but intend to do this with a sheet of fine sandpaper painted a suitable colour, which I find to be a suitable and cheap solution for such a surface. (Note that the siding track is covered in masking tape - this is a simple solution to guard from the sharp track ends - ouch! The keen eyed amongst you may have noted the Peco Highland Signal Cabin to the right. It needs a repaint and I have fitted it with a plastic tiled roof as I found that the laser cut roof did not quite fit correctly. I will post some pictures once finished.

That set is the wrong way round at Wigan - loco usually on the north end. But the GUVs were often put outside of the loco/DVT as not to break the TDM link between the two

Hi Jim, thanks for that input. It may certainly be easier than the rudimentary cassettes I have made. Do you have any pictures?

Looking good - right up my street this. Nice to see the 4 wheeler railbus, shame they weren't successful as may have kept some smaller branches open to passengers rather than just freight.

Many thanks kevo. Yes I see there are quite a few - perhaps the peco signal box has helped?

More progress has taken place on the layout, I have mocked up a brief setup (please excuse the masking tape), which of course was a great excuse to get out some stock and give it a bit of a run. 26044 awaits time with a passenger service to Dingwall. 26044 is seen again as a bubble car forms the passenger service today. Back on a passenger turn, 26044 awaits the off as 37238 (soon to be renumbered to IS based 37183) has arrived with a brake van. I have taken delivery of the delightful Peco Highland Railway Signal Cabin kit and so building that will be my next task.

Ian - that's a great set a photos to while away a few hours. Thanks for sharing. Graham - it definitely does help and is good to read such discussion Thanks to both

Thank you for your responses. I think it's safe to say that blue and white would be an appropriate colour. Looking at that Flickr link from PMP, Brora and Helmsdale were in white/blue; Rogart in light blue/blue; and Invergordon in white/black. So I suppose any could be appropriate. Many thanks

I have just purchased the delightful Peco Highland Railway Signal Box kit. My layout is set in the late 70s/early80s on the Far North Line. Photographs show a variety of colour schemes, but this may be a trick of the camera. Can anyone point me in the direction of what colour the signal box should be painted? Thanks

I've just picked up one of these delightful kits. Before building it I was wondering what colour it should be painted. I aim to model the late 70s/early 80s and have seen a variety of colours on photographs (although appreciate that different films/cameras may show them differently). Some appear to be painted black and white, some appear to be light blue with dark blue details, but whereas the official building colors were brown and cream, with light blue. I appreciate that being this far from London things may have taken a more local approach, but I am rather confused as to what was going on. Any help would be appreciated

Next job was to wire the layout using simple DC. It is likely that I will only ever have 'one engine in steam', so as is becoming the trend on this layout, nothing fancy required. With the layout wired, a perfect excuse to give the Class 37 a run out on test. Then it was time to paint the track. Firstly the rail sides were painted in Humbrol rust. Secondly, I sprayed the track with Railmatch Sleeper Grime.

Some more work on the layout today. I have constructed the cassettes - they are basic but do the job. I toyed with dowels to keep them in place but in the end have just decided to 'hold them to' - this will serve the purpose for me.

Hi Terry There is just enough room for me to get my hands in at present. As the scenery etc builds, I may employ a ribbon underneath to help lift it out

First job for the layout was to construct a baseboard. As noted above, I have reused a number of materials left over from a previous layout, so please ignore the scribbles on the baseboard. Construction is 12mm hardboard topped with 3mm cork, with 12mm timber supports at each corner. The backscene is formed of 3.6mm ply. You can see that it fits nicely into the Really Useful Box: Once the baseboard was complete, time to lay the track. With points in place, the rest of the track was arranged. It should be said at this point that I aim to use two cassettes to the right hand side of the layout to act as the other end of the run round loop. In time honoured tradition, a road overbridge will span the tracks and provide a scenic break. After dropper wires were added, track was glued down with a little PVA to ensure it holds its shape - the ballast will secure it properly at a later stage. I knew there was a reason for stocking up on all of the tinned items prior to lockdown!

Due to having materials left over from another layout, I have decided to commence construction of a small layout which fits nicely into the excellent Really Useful Box Wrapping Paper Box. The dimensions of the box allow for a 730mm x 230mm baseboard. The layout is based upon the supposed completion of the Cromarty and Dingwall Light Railway (see here for wikipedia article). The railway was planned to run from Conon Bridge on the Inverness - Dingwall line, up to the small fishing port of Cromarty. Construction of the railway was commenced but was not completed due to the outbreak of the First World War, and the line was never opened. I am supposing that it was completed post war by the Highland Railway, and then subsumed into the LMS, and British Railways. The line soldiered on into the 1980s, being served by a shuttle from Dingwall. Traffic warrants a 1 coach train of either BSK or BCK fashion behind a Class 26 or 37. Sometimes one of Inverness' Class 122 DMUs is a feature. Freight traffic is also prevalent on the line, with a variety of vans, 16t minerals for household coal and fuel tanks for the ferry across the Cromarty Firth. I aim to document the progress of the layout in this thread - comments and criticism more than welcome.

Superb modelling. I really like what you have achieved in such a small space. Really inspired me to build a second layout.

That link is great thank you very much. I note that tanks and hoppers seemed to be used - which type would these be? Would the Oxford Rail 7 plank wagons be too early for the 80s? Many thanks

I'm seriously tempted by Hatton's ICI bundle. However I mainly model the 1980s BR blue period. Having searched high and low, could anyone enlighten me of any more prototype information for this version of the loco? I'm specifically looking for: - where it operated - dates it operated - what wagons it would have pulled internally. - I'm presuming that a BR loco would have brought a trip freight and then the Janus would have moved the wagons around the internal system. Many thanks

Back to Hereford for this cracking deal on a 170: http://herefordmodels.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=340_350_355_357&products_id=11549

Many thanks for people's replies. Looks like it is doable with a tad of modeller's licence - great news!