backwaterscotland

Nice to see the weather is it's usual bright, sunny self At least it's not snowing as it was the last time I was at Rannoch Andy B)

For Special Delivery by 1pm, £21.65 is any parcel over 2kg (up to 10kg) - I would imagine an O-gauge kit including the wheels (and by the looks of it some large-ish whitemetal castings) would probably weigh over the 2KG mark. Andy B)

The blog hasn't been posted to for nearly a year so I though a quick update was in order. Not a massive amount of progress due to health problems and getting distracted by building some 1980s Strathclyde DMUs and EMUs but the fiddle yard has had an extra siding added to add a little flexibility. The station building has had the metcalfe slates replaced with slaters plasticard ones and a coat of paint. It looks a bit better but still needs some more weathering. Finally, a view from under the bridge looking towards the station. Once the station building is finished, the small platform on the front right of the layout will be detailed and finished as an engineers depot with a portacabin. I also have a Gaugemaster "clouds" backscene to install. After that it will be some weathering, particularly the track and ballast, and some detailing. Andy B)

I know the Lima Strathclyde 101s were rare but £500 : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-Lima-Class-101-DMU-Strathclyde-Transport-101691-/160558145739?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item256202e0cb I do love the deceptive advertising as well : He didn't notice this one that I thought was overpriced at £199 then? : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LIMA-CL-101-691-STRATHCLYDE-SCOTRAIL-LIVERY-LTD-ED-NEW-/190504417162?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item2c5af2b78a Andy B)

Ebay's estimated delivery time is made up from Royal Mail's estimated delivery time (in this case 1-2 days) plus the sellers maximum estimated dispatch time (in this case "within 15 days"), hence the 16-17 days. 2 weeks to post a tiny item out though Andy B)

I downloaded the largest version of the picture and zoomed in on just the door and I'm not convinced it is NCL - looks to read POS...... something? Andy B)

Thornycroft is on the other side of the road to the bus (1st picture), Beford is in the background behind the bus (2nd picture) Andy B)

"Klear"ly taking the mickey - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Johnsons-Klear-500ml-Original-Formula-/260720434918?pt=UK_ToysGames_ModelKits_ModelKits_JN&hash=item3cb4261ee6 Andy B)

I do love understatement - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bachmann-31-508-Class-158-DMU-First-Scotrail-See-video-/220723430552?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item3364244498 From the way the livery is coming off on both sides I would say more than slight! Andy B)

If you have a look at their website, the layout in the pictures has "been delivered to a client" : My link - the ebay advert lists delivery in 30 days. You could always try the same sellers pre-wired fishplates at £10.99 for 10 : Ebay link Andy B)

There is another one listed by a different seller with a start price of £95 : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DCK-kit-BR-Derby-Cl-144-2-car-Railbus-suit-Hornby-Peco-/280599782233?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item41550ce359 I've been watching some of the DC Kits kits and they generally sell for more than the new price is direct from DC Kits Andy B)

Well, the truck is an ex-military Bedford MK 4x4. Might be an ex-army control truck but I though the army mainly used demountable bodies for control purposes. Strange selection of lights with orange, green and blue lights (and what is the round thing full of lights on the roof?). Green light is paramedic/doctor usually. Andy B)

Managed to find where I got some of the pictures from! : 101692 : http://darrel817.fotopic.net/p57919558.html 101693 : http://www.tayrail2.fotopic.net/p54989124.html 101694 : http://www.tayrail2.fotopic.net/p54989127.html Andy B)

The Regional/Scotrail 101s were allocated to Haymarket, the ones that went to Corkerhill were repainted into Strathclyde Red. I have pictures of 101692, 101693 and 101694 in RR/Scotrail livery. The Scot-Rail website details the Regional Railways/Scotrail 117s : http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/page/Class+117 Andy B) edited as I got my 101s and 117s mixed up!

Lima 117 resprayed blue with Trans-Clyde brandings - both a partially inaccurate title and overpriced? : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370423872926&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT Andy B)

They built a guided busway in Edinburgh a few years ago "to reduce congestion" - it is now being converted into part of the new tramway system (if it ever gets finished) and the buses have been returned to the (congested) roads that they were removed from. Andy B)

Is the "Getting started with Marklin digital" book really this rare? : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Getting-Started-Marklin-Digital-Book-/230497957664?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item35aabfb720 Andy B)

I did promise an update on the station building Current progress is that the main painting is finished and the windows glazed. Chimneys have been constructed from mounting board, Metcalfe stone card and the inside of a ball paint pen! I picked up some Peco doors which I've used for the most visible doors (i.e the ones on the right hand side of the building). The toilet interior has been made from a couple of bits of card with the "tiles" drawn on in pencil, given a wash of white acrylic and then gloss varnish. The canopy brackets and valencing are now all fitted - both are the excellent etched brass ones supplied by Lochgorm Kits (Website) Next up is to sort the slating on the roof - I've tried the Metcalfe Slate card (seen above temporarily fitted) but I'm not convinced, I'll have to see what my local shop has in next week. Finally, an overall view of the layout as it stands : Andy B)

The hut has been via the paintshop now. An initial undercoat of Halfords grey primer was followed by a thin coat of Humbrol Intercity Grey. This was then covered with washing in shades of brown, black, green and rust. Odd panels were then picked out again in Intercity Grey. The door is painted with artists acrylics and then matt varnished. In situ : Andy B)

On the layout there are only 4 buildings - the station building, goods shed, portacabin (for engineers use) and a small hut that stood between the main loop and the siding at Kyle until the early 80s. It can be seen here : Kyle Station 1982 As a diversion from work on the station building I looked at photos of the prototype hut and built this : Basic structure is artists mounting board, the door is a peco one cut in half and the cladding is corrugated plasticard left over from making the goods shed. Time taken to the current state, about 90 minutes. Andy B) P.S. an update on the station building will be coming soon

I finished this a while ago but forgot to post the pictures The 24/1 is now painted and numbered. It still needs headcodes fitted and some weathering to finish it off. Andy B)

The MS ending on the registration is Falkirk. The phone number is Glasgow city centre (possibly Port Dundas area which may be Scotrail House/Buchanan House). Andy B)

You could try Amazon or PC world. There are two main versions - Photoshop is the full package and is expensive, Photoshop Elements is a slightly reduced version which suits most people and is a lot cheaper at around £60. Andy B)

Some progress has occurred with the 24/1 as I have had the filler out for other projects and did the filling on this at the same time. Changes to the Bachmann bodyshell so far : Replace roof domes with headcode boxes - Brassmasters resin castings Replace side grille with 5-hole plate - Brassmasters etch Fill holes from disks - filler Fill recesses on roof - filler Add vents above doors - Brassmasters etch Add blanking plates where headlights were - Brassmasters etch Fill steps on bodysides - Brassmasters etch Cut Tablet Catcher recesses - plasticard and plastic strip I'm pretty much happy with the body now, next to the paint shed! Andy B)

It does look a little bright in real life but some mucky brown weathering should sort it a little. I have noticed one error, the roof is the correct height if the building is half-relief - unfortunately, the building is only about 1/3 relief so the roof looks a little tall. I'll look at it again in a few days and see if I can live with it. Andy B)