MRDBLUE17

Hi Jamie, Thanks for your kind comments - I'm afraid I don't have a trackplan at present, I have failed at using any of the computer programes to create one and my original plan drawing which I sketched out isn't the same as what I built as I altered the storage sidings to create extra capacity for locos and DMU's by adding 2 long dead end sidings in. Even the original photo of the layout was before these changes. Once I have finished the ballasting I will do a photo tour of the layout so you can get a good idea of the track layout if that works out. Thanks Kev - I thought you would like a nice EWS skip - having seen them regularly and been hauled by them on the Fife circle services in the past they have grown on me - just a shame they replaced the 37's and 47's on the sleeper portions! Will be adding those nice Howes sounds as well at some point - I know not as nice as a 37 but it will add variety! Thanks, Mark

Hi Kevin, Really nice to see your layout in print - even better when the magazine was waiting for me today when I came home early due to the snow! Some really great pictures and that 205 unit looks really good close up. I noticed on one of your cassettes the model crane - that looks to be a ncie model and don't recall seeing a close up in your thread at any point but if you get chance I wouldn't mind seeing that one running into the yard. Keep up the good work, Thanks, Mark

HI Everyone, Still very much a work in progress but have finally been able to spend some time on 67004 the old lima version as it is needed for the sleeper portion to/from Fort William to Edinburgh. I have hard wired an old Bachmann 2 function chip I had spare which will do for now to at least bring it into use. Next I had to dig out the Model Rail article that George Dent had done - can't believe it was back in 2007 was convinced it was more recent than that and also found the DEMU forum to contain some excellent information to further improve the 67. I came across the class 67 web site as well that had a lot of reference photos to look at. My main grip was the molded block on the chassis. This is held on by 2 screws and contains a solid steel block. First I used a razor saw to cut off the fuel tank - the shape of this isn't bad and all I added was a new plasti-card end to this. The hard part was cutting the steel block down to size to fit back in but my large hacksaw got through it . I kept one retaining screw and glued the other end to the underframe. Next the Battery boxes had a new side added from plastic-card and the other face had the notched section cut out and several bits of plastic card cut and added as required. I painted these new ends black and set to one side and also painted black the new end of the fuel tank and once dry the Battery box was glued to the frame leaving a small gap between the two. The Air tanks required a lot more work but I think the effort was well worth it to create something that looks a bit more like the real thing. I cut two sections of tube 1/4 inch diameter about 27mm long roughly. Using what was left of the solid lima mold I hacked away and recovered the tank ends - the two seperate ones for one side had the detail removed and were glued onto the tub and then filed back to the new profile. I managed to retain the other end which has some more details on it as I thought it looks quite nice but rounded and filed the upright parts to create more shape and again had to carefully reduce the tank ends to fit on the tubes. I the used some T angle strips to create some brackets for the 2 tanks and added some more sections to pack out the underframe before fitting into position. Next some .2mm brass wire was bent and cut into sections similar to the model rail article and also working from photos of 67006 as there were some nice detail shots of a clean chassis these where fitted with glue and also some holes drilled into the tank ends. A couple of sections of 1.5mm rod where also added to try and represent what was on the real thing. This was painted black before some details were picked out in grey, white and red. Turning to the roof - I really hope a nice grill comes out at some point as that would make a massive improvement but for now all I have done is add a thin section of plasticard over the middle part to try and make it match the prototype a bit more. I also painted the whole thing in oily steel ready for further weathering. I have only detailed one cab end as it will always be on a train and retained the tension lock coupling at the other. I will add the other set of etched wipers I had as these are still quite visible due to the cab slope but apart from this will leave it as is. The lead end has had the coupling removed and as I have seen others do have cut the front valance off its bracket and added in a section of plastic strip and another to infill the cut out on the chassis and fixed this permanently in place with an extra section of plastic behind to add some strength. The buffer heads have had some oily steel applied to improve the look without having to resort to metal replacements and the air pipes and eth cables are the lima supplied parts. The right hand cable and sockets are a bit on the small side compared to photos but will do for now. I borrowed a Buckeye coupling and hook off a Bachann 66 along with the operating lever and added these in place as well. Once all painted this makes a big difference over the orignal large coupling at the front end. The cab end has had some extra details - I had a set of etched wipers in my details box which are far better than the large plastic ones provided and fitted these. The cab cables were removed with some thinners and a cotton bud and replaced with some fine copper wire and the etched wires provided a nice shaped brass off cut for the lamp bracket as well. Etched Nameplates are from Shawplan and were fitted after removing the lower edge and side off the larger printed ones. At some point it will get some weathering around the underframes and roof exhausts, I have seen models with the Intercity models disc brakes fitted which look to be a worth while addition and the lights and a sound chip should finish it off nicely. I hope someone will do a nice etched roof grill at some point and i can live with the moled side grills as once the lights, decoder and so on get fitted it will be best to keep this hidden inside! Anyway I am pleased with what I managed to get done on my day off and it helps to bring this model up to a better standard compared to what we can get out of the box. Hope you like the photos and any comments or questions welcome as usual. Thanks, Mark

Hi Everyone, Thanks for all the comments - Dave those photos are very useful and I think I will have a go at adding the white lines on the wheels at some point soon as they will be a nice finishing touch and I don't have anything with them on in my fleet. Alex not sure what will be collecting the loco yet but WCRC 37516 is due up the line to collect the Jacobite stock to return to Carnforth so might be taking 423 south as well! Andi I will look out for your mods to 409 when you do it to see what can be added to mine - although I was planning on getting some name plates before it enters service. Carl really like that bridge with the cables running over it - I know I should have been looking at the white tyre marks but they also look good on your model! PNE - I will take some more photos on the ballast, weeds, grass etc with some more detail when I do the section at the ends of the sidings as that will be more useful to you as there is a mixture of most things in this area, hopefully in the next couple of weeks or so. Thanks, Mark

Thanks Dave, That info is really interesting and that is the first picture I have seen of a 105 painted Blue grey, I had read before about a few getting this livery when in Scotland but only ever seen the pictures of them in Blue when in departmental ue in the North west. That unit will certainly look the part on your layout and capture that mixed bag look of the units around that period. And thanks for the info on the pipework as well. Having seen yours and Peters units this will help me to improve mine when I get around to it. Thanks, Mark

Hi Dave, I look forward to your updates, your photography is exceptional and you have captured the weathered look of that 105 brilliantly. I am looking forward to seeing this set complete as it is something different to what you normally see modelled. Do you have a picture of the real unit that you have worked from as that would also be interesting to see. I really like the pipework you have used on your DMU's it looks really good. I'm sure you have mentioned before what you use but I would be interested to know for when I eventually get around to doing my 108's. Keep up the great work, Thanks, Mark

Hi Everyone, Having seen pictures of DRS 37 423 Spirit of the Lakes on the WHL this year on different workings I thought it was about time to get it ready for service! The model was produced to an excellent standard as always by Andy (cairnsroadworks fame) and has been sat in its box since joining my fleet however with DB Shenkers poor old 37 fleet dwindling and this loco getting use on the line it is a key requirement for my model fleet. Having studied pictures close up in its current state I have added a few extra details since Andy produced it for me. The first was simple - paint the door grab rails white. Next I had obtained some checker plate thin brass sheet from Brian at Shawplan back in Feb at model rail and as this is quite prominent on this loco I decided to try and add some and painted it in railmatch acrylic gun metal to create a slightly weathered finish and I am pleased with how this has turned out. I have also added a couple of extra details to the nose end such as a Smiths screw coupling and the missing ETH connectors at each side of the buffer beam using some plastic strip sections. The final touch was to add in a fine metal wire between the other sockets on the right hand buffer/nose. The buffers grease is oily steel/jarvis black and some black carrs powder to create some texture. Hopefully the details show up ok on the photos! This loco is seen stabled at Rannoch having suffered engine failure (Don't worry I only need to buy a sound chip for it - as it currently isn't chipped for DCC so can't run at present) Andy I hope you like the additional details it certainly is one of my favourites! Thanks, Mark

Hi Alex, Looking really good - I can't wait to see this finished in 5 years time ready for that big open day! Its nice to see the old railfreight livery - a nice 31 in that wouldn't look bad! From those angles the Heljan 58 doesn't look bad at all - keep up the good work. Thanks, Mark

Hi Peter & Puffmeister_general, Peter I like your oil tanks - seeing your block working a while back actually made me get on with mine and also from being on the DEMU stand alongside Rodders with his knowledge of tanks makes me realise how much more I could have done but I am happy with them - just need to add an instanter coupling on the last one in the train and maybe a flashing tail lamp when I learn how too and that will be good enough for me. They were quite key for my layout as they crop in various workings from the various photos I found for research. I did spend some time this week searching the internet for videos of trains on the WHL and quite a few autoballaster workings from this year cropped up some with 425 on the front so I am looking forward to getting me set running once they come out. With regards to ballast I have been doing it in sections and roughly working to photos to get the right shades in the right places as best I can to start with and will see how it then looks before deciding whether it needs some track dirt sprayed on to tone it down and then add in more vegetation as needed. I have been mixing the shades in a small glass ramikin dish (the ones you get from the GU deserts) and I have a long handled metal spoon for spreading and mixing - the types you get in the tall mugs at christmas as it is quite flat and works well for me. The ballast used is the following: Scotrail light red - Carrs for Nairnshire Modelling supplies a decent size Jar for under £5 this is the main base colour used and in some areas as supplied to represent the freshest ballast. JP - fine granite chips (grey) this bag is one I have had for at least 15 years, only cost 60p but the fine chips have blended in really well where needed and will just about have enough to finish things as i want to I hope! I have also used Woodlands scenics medium brown and extra fine dark brown. This first of these is used in the front sidings and looks like the scotrail pink ballast when it has gone really dirty. The extra fine dark brown is really quite earthy and being fine is great for mixing to fill the gaps between the large ballast and also for a little sprinkle on the top after you have soaked the ballast in a PVA/water/soap mixture as it gives a nice weathered look. I tamp everything into place with an old paintbrush before dripping on the glue mix with a syringe. If you would lke any more info just let me know. Thanks for the interest and comments always appreciated! I have been working on a few details to a certain DRS machine that will be appearing soon! Thanks, Mark

Hi James, 37 425 came weathered from Trains on Time and with Howes sounds fitted. They have done a really good job on it, although it is going to get a couple of tweaks as I am planning to move the horns to the bonnet tops at some point as I have seen some footage on the net the other day of it back in April on the WHL with 5 autoballasters in tow and I have a set of 5 on order from Richard at the Train shop in Morecambe so hopefully will re-create this train soon. I have a model of 411 but it needs some work to get it looking as good as your version as I have seen it on Paxton Road looking excellent! The layout is built on 4 boards each 6' by 2' and then has 8 fixed trestles so can be moved but would need a van to do so. It might get a trip out in the future but only when I am happy with it so no deadlines to work to! Thanks, Mark

Hi Everyone, Thanks to you all for the kind comments! Peter - was it not the shell tanks that ran to Wales from Stanlow? I seem to recall seeing pictures of them you could always do the black ones as they look nice with the branding on them. My camera battery was running low but took a couple of pictures to show the current progress although with work being so busy this week not much spare time to get much done. I have got one picture of 37425 on the tanks running wrong line due to engineering work! Not the best for you James but I will get a better one at some point for you. I will also look at youtubeing some sound locos at some point as they might be a bit more interesting to see. (Will need to get the wife involved though for that to happen!) Got another section of ballast done at the south end of the station - quite pleased with the colours from blending the ballasts I have in stock compared to photos of the real thing. The fairy bottle in the background is the mixture I use - nothing too measured it just keeps getting added to - the last batch was made using the dregs from several bottles of PVA I had which had thickened in places but still worked well once a dab of fairy was added to the mix. I have also found some suitable lights for the layout after visiting Ikea. These black plastic clamp fitting lights were only £2.99 each and then 2 packs of energy bulbs meant that all 4 lights were under £20. They bulbs give plenty of light and don't get too hot. Just need to make some proper posts for them as I have just clamped 2 spare bits of timber to the layout for now. I have put them at the front as they spread the light back and will help to reuce shadows from the viewing side. I have also started to add the blue sky back scenes from Gaugemaster as I think they will work out ok once all the vegetation is in place and built up although I didn't get the middle sheet smooth at the bottom - but this will be hidden eventually so don't look too closely for now! Thanks, Mark

Hi Peter, I was going to say the same thing as Dave about the weathering on the BG as its super! I also like the filthy one as well and your growing collection of 33's all look very nice that shot a few pages back of all 3 together looked really good - could have almost been the end of Bournmouth station in the 80's if you throw in a 73 as well! Thanks, Mark

Hi Kev, Great to see your layout finally appear on here! I really enjoyed seeing it in operation at Barrow show and I am glad that you are only chopping it up to make it easier for use as I did think it sounded drastic when you told me but the option of doubling the storage roads could be good - just think of all those additional trains you could run and with all those sound fitted machines you have! If you ever want to run the EWS period let me know and I can bring some stock off Rannoch! Hope you don't mind the photos I took (could have been worst if I hadn't made the show it would be my mums dodgy efforts!) Thanks, Mark

Hi everyone, Pete - I quite agree with you about couplings - I think I will be adding scale ones to the end wagons in set rakes and I am also planning to add flashing tail lamps as well but I have not yet got a small enough circuit designed yet that will fit but hopefully a solution to this will be found at some point once I have consulted my cousin who is an electronics expert to help me out! Gary - I think the layout would look quite good back dated - I do have a 156 in the early livery but not much else to suit the Scottish region - I think I will concentrate on my chosen period first but could always have a running day with other people bringing early stock to run on it! Trains on Time have quite a few Scottish 37's weathered and renamed/numbered which are quite tempting but must be good for now! I am still in the process of ballasting and am now half way along the rear platform face. The front section main running line that the tanks are sat on has been done and as you can make in in the shots below the ballast shoulder helps to add some realism with the humps and bumps and hopefully helps disguise the trackwork scale issues a bit. Earlier this year there was a picture of 37425 at Perth on a short rake of BP tanks heading North. I have been able to recreate this short train with my 6 wagon set. I have weathered them all against protoytpe wagons from pictures in The tank wagon volume of the modern wagons in profile series which I find really handy just for this purpose. I have only made minor detail alterations such as the steps under the solebars as some only have the main rung in place and have altered the position of the Hazard boards on one and blanked out or removed various logos on others. I have not altered the springs or changed the tank top walkways as some should have the full length tops and different end ladders and I have also avoided renumbering just to keep costs down. My real aim with working to photos was to recreate the weathering, dirt and fuel spills found on these wagons to try and add some realism. A couple of them have fresh spills created using gloss varnish brushed on in a downward movement whilst others have darker oily steel railmatch gloss paint brushed on to create a darker greasy look. The black tank at the end has also seen some dry brushing with powders to capture the rust on this one and the tank top has a good coat of grime and bird muck dotted on which adds a bit of difference to the train. These were quite fun to do and whilst not exactly correct in build details create another short finished train for the layout. Hope you like them! Thanks for looking and any questions comments always welcome, Mark

Hi Dave, Those shots are superb, you have done a cracking job on those power cars - the weathering especially brings that livery to life so well you can almost smell the exhaust as it flies past - now if only we could capture that as well in this scale! Mark

Hi Alex, Nice picture - I really like the 60's in that livery as my first model was the old Lima one Steadfast when it first came out and even better with a 31 tooked in behind! Your model will certainly capture that atmosphere once its finished! thanks, Mark

Hi everyone, Pete - Not really gave it too much thought was generally just planning on keeping the couplings fitted as most trains will just run through. Some locos have detail at both ends so currently have thin bits of wire hooked loose over the buffers for coupling up to stock - these will be made more permanent at some point. Others will retain a coupling at one end as it makes shunting into the front sidings possible. Have just collected a parcel today containing my newest fleet member. 37 425 is fitted with Howes sound and came weathered with name plates fitted and details at one end already fitted for a very good price from Trains on Time in Paisley. I am very pleased with the model and the service from them was excellent. I sent an e-mail enquiry and had a response back straight away initially and once I had phoned with my details and payment the loco was sent next day delivery as well. They have a good selection of weathered locos on their website which is well worth a look. Already had it out for a play and here it is at Rannoch in fast fading light, idling away! Shame you can't hear the sound. Thanks, Mark

Hi Alex, The roof painted grey makes it look like the solid metal framework of the real thing and certainly seems to create the dark interior of the depot building it certainly is coming along really well. Have you thought about lighting as some carefully positioned LED's and fittings will really set off all your hard work really well and will add even more to the atmosphere! Looking great keep up the good work, Thanks, Mark

Hi Lewis, Carl is quite right it is a Motorart model to 1:87 scale. I got mine from Harburn Hobbies as they have a good selection of diecast vehicles in stock not a cheap model but it certainly looks the part - I have actually been on a tour of the JCB factory when I was 16 and at college quite a production line and the whole place was immaculate and they can do other colours than yellow if you pay for it! Peter & YVM - glad you like the scenic work - tamping ballast in place with a paintbrush does your back in but it is the only way I can get it too look right been working on the cleaner pink granite on the main line sections tonight and need to rememebr to create the right shoulder on this section like I did a good few years back on Victory Road - hopefully it will come together. 37 422 is one of the few locos that I have actually weathered and detailed myself and I am pleased with it, even was brave enough to let it out for a run at Bonnybridge exhibiton on Mikes layout! Need to get the rest of the Rannoch fleet up to scratch! Thanks for all the interest! Mark

Hi Everyone, Not getting to do as much work and updates as I would like and as a result the layout is starting to become a bit overgrown in places! The cottage at the north end has had a bit more work done to it following the Sunday on the DEMU stand at Dundee show a few weeks back but my main work has focussed on getting some ballast down and some vegetation. This is still wet but using a mixture of woodland scenics ballasts and some gaugemaster grass matts cut into small strips and glued between the sleepers and in bigger tuffs set into the ballast first helps to build up the textures I want. Whilst still wet I also added some Jarvis dark green scatter to add some finer texture. I will add more shades/ textures once the ballast has set hard and a final spray of track dirt will blend it all in but I am quite pleased with how it is starting to take shape. Any questions, comments welcome, Thanks for looking, Mark

Hi Peter, Those weathered wagons look really good, I have a rake of weathered Hornby models and to date I have only tweaked the Shark brake in the middle of the set. Looking at your weathering has given me some inspiration for when I finally get around to doing my stock up. I like the Irish Mail arriving and the slightly open door on the 31 really adds some life to the scene as well! Keep up the good work Thanks, Mark

Hi Everyone, Thanks for the comments. Glad you like the edging stones Kev - they are a real pain to do but having been off this week I found time to get them done and stuck down before I visited Barrow. Went in to Crafty Hobbies and got some senic bits and bobs whilst I was there including some nice reeds for the viaduct area whenever this takes shape! Just for you Phil I raided one of my bits boxes and found some items off an old layout to put around the shed. I even managed to get it glazed and cut out an individual brick to prop the door shut with. Will look nice when the long grass has grown up around it! The stones sets are all in place now and my new rake of JPA's is seen at Rannoch - far too long a train for on this layout but having just picked them up from The Train Shop in Morecambe had to give them a test run. Thanks for looking, Mark

Hi Dave, Really like your recent photos and the videos are great as well. I am quite jealous of your signalling whilst I can't see them clearly I can make out what is going on and the way they change with the routes being set and the indicators at the top make them absoulutly top notch and nice to see some very realistic train movements on a model as well. Please keep sharing them with us on here! Thanks, Mark

Hi everyone, Been a little while since I had time to update this again but I have been doing a few bits and bobs on the layout. Thanks for all your recent comments. Mike it was good to meet you too its nice to meet people that you chat to on here in person - I quite enjoy sitting on the DEMU stands at shows as you get to have a good chat with people and share so many ideas as well which is great. Two of my Rannoch fleet also had a run on Mikes New Garnock layout on the Sunday and seemed to behave themselves, 37422 and 47792 with a Howes chip in it. I think I might take my footbridge to Dundee as I will be there on the Sunday in a weeks time to show the progress so far - don't think it will be finished though. Carl - That link is very useful as I will be adding the modern embellishments to mine eventually - the yellow lines on the stair treads and hand rails etc. Mine doesn't have lights on it like that one though but I am planning to add lighting to all my buildings along with the blue stop board lights and the platform lights as well when I have time - I am going to make these from brass and have found some thin wire from an old printer PC cable which fits inside the thin tube I am going to use. I am working my way throught the long and tedious job of making all the platform edging slabs - these have to be cut from a slaters sheet in short sections as the sheets are not all in straight lines, which I only discovered when I put my steel rule over to cut them with. This actually makes life easier as they are very soft and will curl up. Using a triangular file I cut out a little notch between each slab and ensure these are cleaned up, then I score 3 lines to represent the grooves that run along them. As my platforms curve - especially the rear facing side the ends of some joints need to be angled slightly to create a nice flowing curve before being superglued in place. I am only half way through this stage! The photos should show make more sense. I have created a site for the cottage that sits at the North end of the station - This is being scratch built using wills lime washed stone sheets and will have wills slate for the roof. Using photos of the cottage on line I worked out a rough footprint for the building and cut this out of thick art card. I have also drawn out some approximate elevation shots and some measurements of each wall section and an overall rough sketch of how the cottage will look. All the photos I have found only show 2 faces the rear and the side facing the station so the rest will be made up to my plan in terms of windows and door locations and to suit my room plan. This seems to have become my DEMU demo project for shows as I started the work on it at St Andrews and got more done at Bonnybridge. Its quite good for this as I can easily stop to talk to everyone without it being to complicated to pick back up where I left off. All the main walls are now cut and next task will be to cut out all the doors and windows but you can see how it will all go together at this stage so thought it might be useful for others wanting to scratch build for themselves. Hope you like the progress and if anyone is going to Dundee next week, I will be around on the Sunday on the DEMU stand so come along and say hello if you can make it. Thanks, Mark

Hi Gary, I never tire from looking at your work, the way you have captured the atmosphere I can almost smell the damp sea air! That latest 37 really looks the part and I take it the previous photo wasn't any trickery and the car head light actually works? Very nice work indeed. Thanks, Mark