MRDBLUE17

Hi everyone, Although given the current circumstances, with my business shut and no income from it, I probably shouldn’t have ordered a new loco. However the last DCC fitted 66088 on Hattons website was too much to resist and the model matches the details of the real loco very well from photos I found online. I will add sound later as the sound models have clearly sold well and Bifs sounds for this are very impressive. It’s a shame to read about all the problems encountered by fellow forum members as there is a lot that looks good about this new model and last year when I had a good play with Bifs sample on my layout I found it to run very well and of course sounded excellent. cheers Mark

Hi everyone, In these tough times we are facing I just wanted to share the excellent service from Steve at The Model Tree shop. I knew he stocked the Tasma range and had recently emailed for a couple of items to collect at Perth show in June that I need for my little layout project. Steve had already very kindly kept them aside for me and then with the recent news of cancelled shows emailed me so he can send them out instead. They arrived quickly and well packed. With so many shows now cancelled its well worth remembering the smaller specialist suppliers to get the bits you need for the projects you can get done over the next few weeks. All the best Mark

Personally it’s great that Accurascale are supporting the high street/ independent retailers. When home I go in Crafty Hobbies in Barrow, there are all the small bits and bobs you need. A good example being my request for rail joiners which I was able to collect at the show. Having good shop owners also mean you get great service. Living so far away from the shop I get emails or even Facebook messages about new items or to order something. I was at Glasgow and got an email from John with the Accurascale new 37’s when the team we’re just yards from the layout. I got my order in for 37026 straight away. Use your high street and support them more than ever just now.

Oh Yes please these would be great. My only problem will be purchasing anything new. With footfall into my business dwindling and costs to try and cover over what could be months things are going to be tough. Main thing is everyone staying healthy. thanks Mark

Hi everyone, Not that I really needed another 37, the spring release of 37800 in ROG livery was too tempting. I picked mine up from Rainbow Railways last night and it’s an excellent release from Bachmann. The small printing is particularly commendable along the lower body area, tanks and even the axle box covers which I can’t recall them having done before. I also like the fact they added the multi working plug on the nose correctly too. It looks to have been a popular release given it appears sold out at Bachmann and with several retailers. I am really hoping that a WCRC 57/3 appears at some point. cheers Mark

Hi, Yes I plan to be there with the rest of the Scottish Modellers. We will have our various modelling demos taking place. Rannoch will be at Bonnybridge at the end of April too. cheers Mark

Sorry but from 20 years in retail that comment is way off the mark. Very rare will you find a family with a buggy out shoplifting. Far too slow to get away and out quickly. You will often get the accidental picking up of items by children which are often brought back by embarrassed parents. Couples/pairs working together is common especially to distract retailers. Asking to get items so they create time/ counting of cash handed over/ Daisy chaining are all common practice. You will always get the opportunists o there own of all ages and backgrounds. The key is vigilance to everyone sadly.

Your right Mick about 142’s being everywhere. I was 7 in 1987 and very clearly remember my first trip on a working from Barrow to Lancaster before carrying on to Poole. It was a blue and orange pair from platform 2 which in itself was quite unusual with most services coming in and departing again from Platform 1. My horror that it wasn’t a battered 31 and rake of coaches or Class 108 DMU! 33 years ago I should probably get counselling to get over it! But really looking forward to recreating in model form. Cheers Mark

Hello everyone, A little modelling project I’ve had ideas to do for a while has finally become possible. Living just over the hill from Bo’ness I have often contemplated creating a representative set of of the SRPS Mainline charter stock. I’ve travelled on it around the Forth Circle and several times at Bo’ness and it’s well travelled with both Steam and Diesel haulage. It fits in my plans on a couple of future layouts and can run on Rannoch too. I’ve plenty of locos for it and with my interest in the WCRC fleet, already had some suitable candidates on the shelf. What has really prompted this project now is the appearance of 3 SRPS Mark 1’s in a train pack from Hornby in this years Catalogue along with the RBR announcement. I’ve spent a bit of time searching Flickr & the SRPS website to get an idea of workings and the formations. I found a nice shot of a DRS 66 hauling a 9 coach rake which helpfully included the coach numbers. Using this as a basis I could work out which vehicles were in other photos and work out a suitable train to model. I already had a Hornby FO along with Bachmann FK, RMB and 2x SO’s planned for another WCRC set but with the Jacobite coaches and MK2’s on order I’ve plenty for a long mainline working. The planned set will be as follows: TSO - 5028 - Bachmann with Commonwealths TSO - 4831 - Bachmann with Commonwealths RMB - 1859 - Bachmann with Commonwealths TSO - 4832 - Bachmann with Commonwealths TSO - 4856 - Hornby with B4’s BSK - 35185 - Hornby with B4’s RBR - 1730 - Hornby (will need a set of B4’s) FO - 3096 - Hornby with B4’s FO - 3115 - Hornby with Commonwealths (take from RBR) FK- 13230 - Bachmann with B4’s. With 5 coaches already it will be a case of getting the coaches from the train pack along with a maroon RBR from Hornby and I will need to get another Bachmann 39-051J SO in maroon as this already has Commonwealths fitted. The FK has swapped its bogies for B4’s with an Intercity example which will become 4999. So far I’ve removed numbers from the coach sides and the top roof lining in black and straw. This came off the Bachmann coaches easily with just rubbing using a dry cotton bud (I use the wooden cosmetic types which once worn a little gentle abrade the lining. Hope this might be of interest to others and creates a nice simple reference point of the info I’ve planned for my set. As luck would have it Hattons had a couple of pre-owned coaches on their website so the other SO was sourced along with the early FK release as this already had a yellow 1st stripe painted on which saved some time. The photos show the details removed from the FO and FK Thanks Mark

Thanks Dave. Progress isn’t as fast as I’d like but it’s getting there. Cheers Mark

Hi David, Good to see you back. This looks like another inspirational layout and a clever concept. will enjoy seeing how you get on. all the best Mark

Hello everyone, Rannoch will be attending Bonnybridge exhibition at the end of April. This is a very friendly show which we are looking forward to attending. With Glasgow show out of the way I’ve kind of made a modelling list for the year. The major project is the new 18 foot by 10 foot fiddle yard which will allow Newlands Park to be used again and 2 or 3 future layout plans to eventually get built. Building one fiddle yard for several layouts will save time and money. The new fiddle yard will have its own DCC accessory bus and control system using DCC concepts products. Thanks to Mick for all his help with this since Showcase 3 years ago and putting everything together with full explanations at Glasgow. The main reason for using DCC concepts is it provides very simple control via mimic panels which will allow anyone to be able to come and play. The points are powered with Gauge master DCC fitted point motors which simply wire into the BUS. I had made good progress getting the 12 foot of straight boards track laid and wired last year. The end boards are now clear ready for track laying to commence. Cheers Mark

Hi Charlie, Great news to see the first 142’s announced. You know I want one Provincial one with the Network Northwest logos. I will hope for an orange GMPTE to go with that in the future. I will have a pair of Northern ones probably go with the two branded versions ideally have one on the long distance Carlisle- Lancaster working. Thanks Mark

I knew Mick had been hit by them as he mentioned it at Glasgow. Just a thought that might help if they are known shoplifters for those shops in bigger towns possibly try and speak to the LP teams in department stores or supermarkets. They will usually get RACS photo files through (retailers against crime) which can be useful for getting names and getting them caught quicker. I wouldn’t be suprised if they go after other high end goods like perfumes etc elsewhere especially from the fact they travel around too. Hope that’s of help.

Hi Warren, Fantastic to see the terminus and all those other buildings appear. They really are top notch and capture the architecture of the area perfectly. No problems when you start your viaduct ask away although seeing the rest of your buildings I don’t think you’ll have any trouble. Cheers Mark

I must admit 37051 is fairly tempting to add to the fleet. 37026 is already ordered for this batch. cheers Mark

Hi Dave, Cracking photos as ever. Really like the MK2 cross country set, the weathering and detailing is excellent. I seem to recall seeing a photo of the crane on the Granton branch following a derailment or crash possible involving a 40? You can’t have too many 47’s for your era either! It’s funny as I’ve been watching footage on YouTube from around 89-92 and amazing how many of the ex Scottish 47’s found work in the northwest before many ended up down south. One I’ve got on my list to maybe do is 47597. Large logo blue with westie, and a larger 9. Shame you missed Glasgow it was a cracking show this year but hopefully see you next Feb up here. all the best Mark

It was finally good to meet the Accurascale team in person at Glasgow and see Gareth again. Thanks to them I got to have a little go of the sample Deltic on Rannoch. Now I know how popular the Deltics are to many, but they are well down my list of Diesels after 31’s, 37’s, 47’s, 60’s, 68’s and even 66’s! Don’t judge me lol! The reason I even mention the above is to illustrate my thoughts on how good the model is. It is simply the best 4mm model in my opinion that I’ve ever seen made. It’s heavy - I don’t think it will struggle to pull whatever train you want. It looks like a Deltic from all angles and has superb bogies, front end details and the fuel tanks look brilliant. The level of detail goes on well beyond what we’ve seen before like through the engine room windows and cab details. It truly will be an outstanding model and I will need to find room for 55022 to fit the more current years at some point. All the best Mark

Hello, After a few shandy’s and enjoyable evening of cards this has made for some light reading before bed! Last year I bought more new Hornby than I had for the last few years. I was hoping for a couple of things this year, the NMT HST power cars being the main item along with the GBRF 50’s (although I only want 1). My young girls like the flying banana so getting these and the extra coach will create a nice set. I’m more than happy with the compromise needed to create this as an affordable model RTR and I can always modify/improve where I can and if time allows. I’ve ordered far more than I expected too already and the SRPS coaches and RBR have kick started a modelling project to create a 10 coach set of the SRPS mainline charter set. I think this year is one of the best ever from Hornby. Plus the cake at Glasgow was a nice treat for our group Sunday morning. (Thanks to Colin) Lets all just enjoy our trains and be kind this weekend! Cheers Mark

Hi Warren, It was good to get to meet you at Glasgow and even better news to read that you are continuing what will be an excellent layout. That signal box is superb by the way. I like the worn washed white effect on the lower brick. I will enjoy seeing the continuing progress on here. all the best Mark

Hi Marlyn, It certainly was a great show, I spotted this layout on Friday and sadly never got chance to go and have another look. There were quite a few comments about how similar both stations are although different scales. thanks Mark

Hello everyone, Sorry I missed the previous posts until now. Rannoch has just returned from a very enjoyable 3 days at Model Rail Scotland at the SEC. Thanks to Ian for selecting the layout for this year and indeed for all involved in putting on a fantastic show with a high standard of layouts. I chose to stick to the earlier era around 2005-7 ish which meant plenty of battered EWS 37’s in action. I’m still amazed at the interest and comments I get about my little train set at shows and it was great to see so many RMwebbers in person. Rannoch has now gained a key missing item for the platform thanks to Ray. Ray from our group who took part in the scratch build challenge to build an item to put on a layout. TV celebrity Steve Flint aka Stern Steve and Archie Brown AMRSS chair judged Ray as the winner for his model of the statue of Renton at the platform end. Mark from Hornby Magazine was guest operator on Friday and nice to meet Richard who spent time filming so hopefully those not able to attend can still see some trains in action soon. Rannoch will be appearing at Bonnybridge at the end of April 25/26th. Thanks Mark

Bachmann had the sample of the 20/3 in the cabinets over the weekend at Model Rail Scotland. No photos but it does look a very nicely tooled bodyshell. The end details and extra tanks all look right to me so it is definitely my most wanted item from Bachmann this year. Cheers Mark

Hello everyone, Rannoch is all set up along with the Scottish Modellers/DEMU demo area behind. Plenty of grubby EWS 37’s in action along with several new workings compared to 2013, especially the Realtrack 156 that fills the main gap. Looking round briefly tonight there is an excellent selection of quality layouts which I’m looking forward to watching over the weekend. Hopefully see a lot of you over the next few days so do come by and say hello! Thanks Mark

I’m very much looking forward to getting to see the layout at Glasgow. So long as I can sneak off Rannoch for long enough! all the best Mark