MRDBLUE17

Hi Peter, Cracking photos as usual and a nice train/loco to choose! Even when suitable tanks are available you will still need to run your MOD workings! Thanks,mark

Hi Alex, Its good to see you back on here as your thread is one I have missed due to your circumstances but I do hope things get back to some sort of normality for you soon. All the best, Mark

Hi Ian, I like the new box and it fits into the scene really well. The quality of N-guage keeps on getting better and your layout really show cases what can be achieved. I hope to see your layout again some day as it was great being able to see it in operation at Barrow last year. Mark

Hi Everyone, More of the boring work has been done on the layout but as before the boring jobs are essential! I have fitted the metal dowels to the other end with the viaduct section although I did have to prise the front scenic sections as I have managed to glue them together! Soon sorted and now I can ensure the fidle yard track work is aligned better. With the boards apart I also painted the top edges of the scenic section at the south end between the joints to help hide it as much as possible. I am also working on the garden for the cottage at the south end and my shopping list for Glasgow keeps growing as I hope to get most of the bits I need to finish the layout. I will be on the Scottish Modellers stand for the weekend so come along and say hello as it will be nice to meet up in person for a change! All the best, Mark

Thats a cracking recording of 423 Kev and nice to see your photos as well Ian! 423 is one of my favourites in the DRS fleet and thanks ot Andi Walshaw I have a model of it. Whether it makes Barrow or not depends on it getting sound and having time to add working lights to the Wipacs! 37409 is currently in service though just in case! Mark

Hi Chris Great looking layout you have and some very nice structures for it. I also found the video links very interesting especially 56 093 going through the loader. Shall enjoy watching this develop as I already am with Max's layout and his rather nice loading point! Keep up the good work. Mark

Hi Everyone, The weekend and some finishing touches tonight has seen the cottage conversion from the Hornby thatched kit into something a little more rural Scottish has been completed. With the additions of some down pipes with brackets to mount it off the wall, the lead flashing from tamiya masking tape painted and cut into strips and the glazing done using Klear and the blister pack from wills sheets including the open window which was a real pain to do but worth it. I have a tin with scrap brass from etches etc it always comes in handy but every so often I will come up with a stupid idea to make something just to see if I can create the silly idea that has come to mind. I have added a letterbox, door handle and brass knocker to the front door of the cottage. Why when you won't see this I don't know! Pointless as the wife has contributed! I also finally got around to ordering a few bits from Pete Harvey's excellent range. Details of which will appear on here as and when the various fleet members get them. I have started with the easiest of the detailing parts with the false seasts painted and added to my 150 power car. Simple but effective and I am pleased with the effect it creates as it does improve the look of the bare chassis block. Also great service confirmation of my order processed and items arrived the next day! So thanks Pete! Hope you like it and if you want a closer look I'll have it on the Scottish Modellers stand at Glasgow - it will be small next to Carl's fine ship! Thanks, Mark

Hi Everyone, The following photos might come as a bit of a suprise to you but Rannoch has gone blue! I know I'm far too early for April the 1st to get away with this one! These two Caley locos actually belong to my father in law as from time to time he finds the odd railway items which I clean up and service for him to sell on. I'm not sure of the origin of these as they are kit/scratch built brass and whitemetal construction. Both run without any work and have decent motors and brass gears with good pick ups as well. Being tender locos I can tell they have been run well in one direction on a layout in the past. I have been slow to do anything with them as they make a nice change to look at next to work bench. Sadly not being DCC they won't be running on Rannoch whilst the 4-4-0 could cope with the layouts sharp curves the Cardean certainly can't being close coupled to the tender and not much play in the driving wheels. Shame as soon as they are serviced they will be off my hands and sold on but thought you might like to see them anyway as I havn't come across these loco types before. Carl - no not staying over will be travelling through each day to the show. Thanks, Mark

Hi Mark, Its great to read about your layout progress on here, its very much been a layout that I have enjoyed seeing and even better that you are coming to Glasgow. I will be there with the Scottish Modellers crowd so will be able to see it in both its blue period and I'll have to take another look on the Sunday as well so will come and say hello then, All the best, Mark

We'll make room for that Carl - looking forward to seeing it! I'll have my sound chips fitted on the Friday and they'll be in service on Mikes layout if all goes to plan! Might not have the wing mirrors fitted by then but you never know! Mark

Sorry had forgotten about Bonnybridge - Hope you can make Ayr as that will be a fantastic train to appear on the layout and you will be most welcome to have a play - it will certainly overhang the platform but the large rear loop will hold it although block the next road so with some careful positioning it will all be fine. I take it you have some WCRC locos to match? Certainly bring whatever you like to run with it. I have 516 and 676 both Andi's excellent work although 676 still needs to go over to DCC! thanks, Mark

Hi James/Mike, I might bring the cottage to the stand and my OTA's and 156 project. Along with a couple of the Rannoch fleet for sound fitting including 37416 that Andi did for me. Then Ayr with the whole layout so you won't have far to go to see it James. Mike it will be nice to meet you at the show - your train certainly sounds intersting and one I am looking forward to seeing and even better if its running on Rannoch! Will you make it to Ayr for a play then? Thanks, Mark

Hi Everyone, It's been a while since my last update - trying to be good and get on with things as I really want to get the south end finished as much as possible by the end of this month. There will be small details to add over time but the main features should all be more or less complete. The main feature to complete is the cottage converted from the old Hornby thatched cottage kit. The front has been altered to look like a Scottish cottage with a new door, the etched frame was a spare from the etch Pete Harvey did for me and the windows built from plastic strip. The roof line has been altered to create a point at the top of the ridge and a new slate roof added from wills sheets the building just being the right length! The extension part has been built on at the rear and I have modernised the old cottage at the rear with the patio doors and modern double glazed unit with an open window. Some new facia boards and gable end timbers have been added from 2mm strip. Onto these U channel brackets have been added with some 1.5mm semi circle strip for guttering. The down pipes will be added using 1.2 mm diameter rod and some strip for wall brackets. The gable end has a new chimney stack from wills stone sheet with a chimney from plastic square section with notches cut in the top. The roof also has a new stone chimney stack with 2 small pots added. The cement render to cap these is shaped from some old bits of white tack. The photos show the work so far with the javis blue grey base layer added to the roof slates which I have then slapped on to undercoat the areas of bare plastic which will eventually have a nice blue shade from the humbrol range added. Thanks for looking and feel free to ask any questions or post comments Carl - thanks again for sharing your photos, great for the small details and look forward to seeing you at Glasgow. For those of you coming to the show please come and say hello - we will be in the extra Hall this year on Stand A8 and A13 as the Scottish Modellers crowd so hope to see those I know and some new faces from here over the 3 days! All the best, Mark

Hi Eddie, Thanks for the link as I hadn't seen your station building up to now but I am glad that I have! Sorry about the window sizes not being scale for the buildings on the WHL structures - I probably told you before but I took them from measuring my old Edinburgh tennament flat windows and doors as they were on hand to measure to create the effect. I will speak to Martin about etching the windows from your plans as he is pretty useful having done some 2fs stuff recently and he might be interested as he could possibly do them in 2 mm as well. I'll let you know when I see him next. I used the Wills sheet for the Shingles on the entrance shelter but filed them down first the main walls were done using a thin sheet from Slaters I think that created the effect - I agree 2mm would have been the best option but I couldn't find anything to suit either. It certainly looks very good Eddie and will look forward to catching up with you at Glasgow! All the best, Mark

Hi everyone, lmsforever - I thnk the vehicle you saw is the old campling coach that sits on what was the old turntable road running off from the back of the station - this would sit beyond my backscene between the trees and the cottage. I have seen a good photo of it close up from a friend but sadly no space to model it which is a shame as it would have made a nice cameo! I have finished the second of the three Hornby OTA's again with some inspiration from several DEMU members so a big thanks to you all for pushing me on to weather my stock and to add some details as well. This wagon was in one of Paul Bartletts photos on his site and showed only six posts. I have added in two piles of longer logs as seen on several wagons on the WHL which are cut from Budleia in the garden and the green is all natural. The small dead branches on this have a nice bark effect which seems to suit this scale ok. Strapped down with thin strips cut from tamiya masking tape painted a yellowy/white shade then washed with soem track dirt. I have made this the last wagon in the rake so added a screw link coupling and tail light along with the nice air pipe Hornby give you with the wagon. Having seen 37's on long rakes of these on the WHL I have altered my freight workings to have a long timber train which will eventually be 10 wagons once I get a couple of Bachmanns new VDA variant to play with. Work on the layout today has included some fairly mundane tasks which are invisible from normal viewing angles but very essential for the layout to go out to shows and be reliable in service. Thanks to Martin for sorting out some metal alignment dowels these have been added to the south end boards to give for the first time quick and accurate alignment - much easier than man handling the baords by sight and then bolts and wing nuts to tighten and align! The wiring on the fiddle yard board has now been finished at the south end joints with a simple new connector block that is above board for ease. I have then spent some time on the floor wrapping tiny bits of electrical tape around wiring joints to prevent shorts if anything moves in transit in the future. The final task today involved adjusting the soldered track to PCB sleepers at the board joints as 4 roads and the rear platform face had the odd issue and dips in them which could throw a wagon or two off and the leading wheel on the 66's behind the station. This just involed heating the joints and adjusting with some pliers. The end result seems worthwhile as I now have even smoother running over the joints which should make life a bit less stressful when it goes out for the first time! Thanks for looking, Mark

Hi Martin, Your welcome over any time for a play. I have also finished the second wagon with timber load but after 3 attempts can't come up with a decent representation of the 3 empty sockets on each side. I will come back to these again as it would just finish it off. Plan to get 2 of the VDA variant from Bachmann and change one to the Hornby type posts if I have enough spare from the ones I am doing to finish the 10 wagon rake. I have added the alignment dowels to the south end section today and just finished the wiring connector blocks on the fiddle yard side, off to get the front one done and may be add some photos later on! Thanks, Mark

Hi Peter, That row of houses does look nice - you could almost do with the door etches Pete Harvey did for my station as they have some nice relief in the cut out sections and they were designed so that I just stuck them to a larger bit of plastic card which would then allow them to be stuck in to the door frame with just the right depth. Add a small door handle of what ever other fittings you need and they would finish them off nicely. For down pipes I use 1mm plastic rod and some 1/2 round section for the gutters either 1 or 1.5 mm which gives a nice effect when painted. I do like your 33 with all that detail and weathering it is so convincing! All the best, Mark

Hi Kev, The subs copy tends to arrive a few days before it hits the shops so you might not get it till the end of the week all that way out in Barrow! You kept quiet about your train brakes though, but a clever idea - so next step must be to get them working with DCC! Mark

For those not going to Kendal you can see Loch Dour in this months Model Rail, my subs copy has just dropped through the door and it was nice to see your layout in print Kev, All the best, Mark

Hi Kev, They will all be very welcome for a play and must admit I'm looking forward to it! GM driving for you will be fun I will have a pair of them in service but I think you'll like Bifs sounds that are getting added to one of them soon. At least I still run plenty of 37's to keep you happy - I bet those 66's are first off for LL tractors when I go for lunch! Mark

Hi Phil, After you doing such a good job on that BDA and watching Carl and Mike in action as well despite it all looking a bit scary especially when you get a big brush and slap it all on first after seeing the results it does encourage you to have a go. Besides I thought you might hit me if I brought along some more wagons for you to do but I do need help with the VGA and I have found another example to model but you might not approve! Will I get an envelope like the Top Gear challenges! At least we have a good team of operators from the Scottish crowd to play on it! Don't forget my trip home to Barrow in October as well this year! Thanks, Mark

Hi Kev, Shame I won't be down for Kendal as it is always a good show and would be nice to see your layout again! I shall look out for your next vid sounds an interesting project still not interested in a nice EWS tractor to run on Rannoch in October! Hope the show goes well, Mark

Hi Everyone, Following the encouragement by a few modelling friends to get some more weathering done, and following a conversation with a fellow DEMU member this week, whose photo has inspired me to to have a go at weathering and detailing up one of my Hornby OTA's as it was too clean! Here are the results. I used Railmatch acrylic frame dirt for the grime which was applied then rubbed with a wet brush to help it lie and run into the gaps in the frame. This was then rubbed off with cotton buds, the stantions being the hardest part to clean up. The inner ends were weathered and rubbed down with some fine wet and dry to create the subtle rubbed and scraped ends and more dirt build up on the ends. The deck was also treated a a wash of grime. Some railmatch rust was brushed on fairly dry to add colour to the springs. The photo I saw inspired me to do the strapping which was pulled tight over the wagon deck with one newer blue stap to add further variety. These were made from tamiya masking tape cut into 3 strips before painted and then put onto the wagon with the first layer and the top strap stuck on backwards underneath the roller and turned back over onto the wagon deck to create the layer effect of the real things. These were washed with frame dirt to tone down a bit. I have learnt a lot of techniques from others this last year or so and I must keep practicing as I am pleased with the result and it was actually a very relaxing way to spend my afternoon off work. Hope you like the results, Thanks, Mark

Hi Carl, It will be great to see that up close! I will so some more weathering seeing your demo and then Phil doing the BDA for me has encouraged me to have a go at least. I have added various painted details to some wagons, like the other 2 BDA's for the Alcan train and I also added some china clay stains to the rather nice Kernow partially cleaned weathered silver bullets one is on Rannoch for the Corpach working. I have found the powders work well for the rust on the open wagons so I am slowly working through the rake. I will hopefully get to learn more and better techniques with more practice! See you at Glasgow, Mark

Having spent all my school holidays in Poole/Hamworthy when I was younger and still having lots of family in the area I recognise a lot of the locations and I am amazed at the scale and qulaity of this layout. I have crossed the line at the Holdenhurst road bridge on many occaisions in the past and have walked under the viaducts from my cousins house along and into Bournemouth along the seafront! Those are very impressive structures and really look the part fantastic modelling and please keep sharing the progress on here. Interestingly this week Michael Portillo's route has taken him along the south coast through Bournemouth and it is great to see the impressive station restored as i can remember in the late 80's early 90's when it was looking quite dirty which was a shame for such an impressive structure with its overall roof. Another relative was a signal man on the southern and has worked in many of the boxes along the route including Poole, Wool and Branksome at various times although retired for a good number of years now. Keep up the good work and the updates, Mark