Waverley West

Thanks guys. Hi Alex, It's a good old trusty Heljan. Must admit I do like them. Yes, they're a bit tubby from certain angles but apart from that they look the part I think. I'm sure you could come up with a good excuse or two for 47461 and 47541. They'd add some nice variety at Boxenby amongst all that railfreight grey! After all, I have 58s running through Waverley West on MGRs and I don't think they ever did that, unless you know different of course?! I've always thought that if I ever get bored of the layout, I'd have a go at a good snowfall. I think it would look good if done properly. I don't expect to be having a go at it anytime soon though! Cheers, Dave

Hi folks, The 105 power car is now finished, but the 108 has been delayed in the works, as I noticed on a test run that in the dark, there is a lot of light bleed through the white bodyshell from the interior lights. So it was back to the works for the interior to be painted to stop this. In the meantime, I've been working away detailing one of my ScotRail 47/7s. This has had full buffer beam detailing added plus the TDM cables. I have also improved the weathering a bit. I've also ordered some of those wiggly pipes (air brake cooling?) that are fitted on one side (please excuse the technical terminology). Unfortunately these haven't come yet, so the loco has been put back on the layout without them for the time-being. Here are a few photos of my latest projects... First up, the "new, improved" 47715... A cruel close-up showing the TDM cables and buffer beam detail... Next, the 105 emerges from The Mound Tunnel on its way to Fife, ca. 1980... ...and at the other end... Well, better go and do some work I suppose. Hope you like the pics. Any comments welcome! Cheers, Dave

Hi folks, 47715 disappears into The Mound Tunnel as it heads light engine to its namesake depot, Haymarket. Circa 1986... Cheers, Dave WW

Thanks Mark. Hi folks, I spent last night fitting the sound decoder into the 105 power car. It turned out to be a bit more involved than I thought, as the space Bachmann has left for the decoder is nowhere near enough for the ESU chip. Cue much cutting and filing. I eventually managed to make enough space for it by cutting away the base of the decoder space and angling the decoder above the plug. The bass reflex speaker is fitted in by cutting away the seats, leaving one seat width on either seat to reduce the visual impact. A few judiciously placed passengers and the final effect is not too bad. Here's a photo of the fitted decoder and speaker for anyone interested... The 105 is now basically finished. The 108 trailer car just needs a standard decoder fitting now, but this should be the same as my other 108s so hopefully won't be too bad. Photos of the completed unit to follow soon (hopefully!). Cheers for now, Dave

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 Thanks Mark. The unit is actually not based on a real one, it's just intended to represent the rag-bag of DMUs used on Scottish services in the 80s. As I'm sure you know, the 105s were used there in the very early 80s but although the 108s were used from Waverley in 86/87 (I think), they wouldn't have run with a 105 car, especially when in the white/blue stripe livery. One day I'll get round to buying and detailing a 101 for a truly authentic look but I think a Bachmann 105/108 combination will do quite nicely in the meantime. It's true what you say though, I don't remember seeing another mixed livery DMU modelled anywhere else, I'm sure it's been done though. I was thinking of respraying the 105 blue/grey but couldn't get the glazing out so I decided to just leave it, as plain blue is authentic for Waverley in the very early 80s anyway. The main pipework and coupling hook I used are the ones included with the Bachmann 105. And very nice they are too, better than previous Bachmann buffer beam efforts and more on a par with the excellent Heljan efforts. For the smaller cables I used bent wire of a diameter a little bit larger than handrail wire I think (probably around 0.5mm). Hope that helps. The aim was to create something reminiscent of this... Thought I better had, Peter. There's a guy on RMWeb who keeps mentioning it. Can't remember his name now, but he has a layout based in North Wales called "Llan" something or other. Cheers, Dave

Hi Mark, 425 and 423 look good. Being large logo, 425 would be my favourite. You probably have pics of 423 anyway, but here are a couple more of her on the Workington Shuttle earlier this year (driven by our very own Clagmeister) in case they're useful for weathering inspiration and those final details... Just looking at that second shot, those tyre marks would be a nice touch. Cheers, Dave

Hi folks, Just thought I'd post a few preview pics of my latest project - a hybrid blue 105/white-blue stripe 108 combination shortly to be arriving at Waverley West. I just have to fit some passengers and the sound chip now, plus a few finishing touches. The 108 body is a bit of a pain to get off, so these pics just show the 105. More to follow when I've finished it! Cheers, Dave PS Yes, I know the body's not quite back on properly!

Hi folks, The first from me for a while. A Class 105 arrives at Waverley, ca. 1980... Cheers, Dave WW

Seconded, Peter. Wow, Bruce, yet another superb video. Thanks a million and, dare I say it, more please. :D Cheers, Dave

Thanks for the kind comments, guys! I am currently working on detailing one of my ScotRail 47/7s with buffer beam detailing and push-pull connectors, as well as a 105/108 blue - white/blue stripe combination. Since the completion of the HST power cars, progress has been a bit slow, partly because I had spent two months on the InterCity HST coaches, only to decide to wait until the Extreme Etchings window frames and glazing came out. That was a bit frustrating, having got so near to finishing them. Anyone know whether/when the etching are out?? For certain reasons (neighbour-related again), I've not been having a great time recently and my modelling enthusiasm and pace has dropped off a little, but hopefully it'll pick up again soon. Hi Carl, You should know that I'm only allowed out of my cell at certain times. It always takes me a little while to find threads and your Glen Sannox thread is now being duly and eargerly watched of course, as you probably realise from my couple of posts so far. I'm still here, but something strange has been happening to my Waverley West thread over the past few days, as it seems to have disappeared off my "radar" (i.e. all my various listings). In fact I had to search in my profile to find it even though there have been quite a few posts on it recently. Not sure what that's all about. Hi Dave 2, Thanks for your kind words. Glad to hear your making progress. Building a layout does take time, especially when life keeps getting in the way. I try and do something regularly, ideally every day, however little, as once you leave it for too long, I find it's very easy for everything to stagnate and nothing gets done. Thanks for your words about my weathering of locos and stock. I don't "allow" unweathered stock on Waverley West, as I think it just looks like a toy, no matter how superb the model itself is. A bit of weathering just brings everything to life, even on relatively clean stock. I'm impressed that you're going for DCC sound in 'N'. I have enough trouble finding space in '00' locos for a speaker and decoder! Looking forward to seeing "Nae Laphroig" on this forum sometime soon. Had you run out of whisky when you were deciding what to call the layout by any chance? :lol: Cheers, Dave

Nice Peter, very nice. I especially like the weathering on the end of the BG. A small touch but one that makes a big difference IMHO. Coach ends almost always seem to be dirty, especially vans of course. Cheers, Dave

Hi Stuart, That's some impressive progress you've been making recently. Weathering the track has really made a huge difference. I especially like the depot area. I know what you mean about not being able to find time for a hobby though. Life really does get in the way sometimes! Keep up the good work. Cheers, Dave Waverley West

Thanks guys. Hi folks, It's been a bit sparse on the updates front recently for various reasons but I have been working away on the two HST power cars and these are now more or less complete. I'll post a few more pics when I get the tripod back from my mum (how dare she take her tripod) but in the meantime here are a few pics of them. I'm quite pleased with them. They are fitted with SWD sound chips and bass reflex speakers. The bass speakers are definitely an improvement over my other HST power cars which just have a normal speaker with a sound (resonance?) chamber. The trailer cars are also nearly finished but I've decided to use the impending Shawplan window frame etchings and laser cut windows so these are likely to be delayed a while. Hope you like them... First up is 43064 City of York at speed... Followed by 43198 waiting at the platform as it gets the road... And later at speed. 43198 has the typical HST oil spill down its bodyside... Cheers for now, Dave

Ambassador Bruce, you are really spoiling us with your videos. B) B) B) Cheers, Dave

Hi Jamie, Just noticed that I forgot to answer your questions. There are 35 points on the layout in total, all Peco code 75, except on the concrete sleepered mainline section. They'are code 100 there to match the plainline track. They're all a mixture of medium radius points and long radius points wherever I can fit them in. I deliberately avoided using short radius points though, for both running and realism reasons. There are also a few large radius curved points plus a three-way point in the depot to save space and add a bit of interest. Backlit pictures of the layout won't be so common now until the spring I'm afraid, as the sun doesn't reach round far enough to that window at this time of year. I will get back to doing them then though! Might be a few more night shots for the time being instead. Glad to hear it Stewart. You'll get there! (better I mean, not the paper shop!). Cheers, Dave

More great photos Gary. Please keep them coming. Lovely atmosphere. Looking forward to seeing the photos of fitting the headlight. I have a non-working one on 37043, so might try and do something with that (eventually!) Cheers Dave

Thanks Stewart! Hope the hip is improving every day. Thanks Peter. I always reduce the acceleration rate, usually to an absolute minimum (i.e. a high acceleration CV setting). I also decrease the deceleration rate so that I can take off the power and let locos coast more like the real thing. Sometimes I'll alter other settings, like the mid-range speed and top speed but it's mostly the acceleration and deceleration that I change. With the acceleration rate down, I can pile on the power, get lots of thrash and still only pull away relatively slowly. It makes driving both more fun and more realistic I think. All that's missing is some clag and the smell of diesel fumes. Not sure Mrs WW would approve of me adding those quite so much though. You know DCC on Llanbourne is only a matter of time. Go on, give it a go. You'll never look back. Cheers, Dave

Hi folks, Have finally found some photos mostly taken at Queen St back in 1986, not that I'm disorganised or anything. Here they are... First up a 101 calls at Kinghorn in Fife... Next some photos taken at Queen St. on 9 July 1986... 47711 ready to depart for Waverley 47705 ready to depart for Aberdeen 37422 arrives from Oban 37406 ready to depart 37405 Unknown 37/4 Cheers for now, Dave

...and finally for now, an HST for Aberdeen leaves followed closely by 47461 bound for Inverness. If you can see it, watch the signal ahead of the HST until it departs and then the one in front of the 47. The signal for the HST first clears to indicate tunnel 'Y', the third from the left and then reverts to red after departure. The signal ahead of the 47 then gradually clears as the route is set. There is no theatre on this signal (as per the prototype) as trains can only depart through tunnel 'X'. I think the quality of this video after uploading is probably so bad you can't see it (in which case my humble apologies! ). But maybe you can... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ATIQYGrsBk It all takes a little time, but as I say that's prototypical I guess. Because of the depth of focus and the confined spaces, doing an interesting closeup wouldn't be easy, but maybe I could try. Cheers, Dave

Here's another one as promised.... This one shows a 150 leaving for Dundee as a 107 arrives from Glasgow Central... This time watch the signal ahead of the 150. Again, it clears as the route is set for 'X' tunnel and then reverts to red after departure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWe34el5V4g Hopefully you can see what goes on despite the quality! Cheers, Dave

Hi Stu, I made a few videos for you last night, hopefully showing the signals in action. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I hadn't forgotten you! First up is 37043 leaving Waverley with a westbound parcels train. The video shows the route setting I use with my ZTC 511. Each route sets a predetermined number of points and signals. In this video, the 37 gets the road for 'X' tunnel, which is the second one from the left. The Mound Tunnels are lettered W, X, Y and Z (not sure what happened to tunnels A - V!). With so many points and signals involved, the sequence takes a little while (just like the real thing I guess!), so please be patient. The quality of the video after uploading isn't all that great, but hopefully you can see the signals change. In this video, watch the signal closest to the camera. The signal gradually clears as the route is set and the theatre indicator changes to 'X'. The signals revert to red when I activate another route (not automatically yet unfortunately). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l24DI0k201k Will post another couple soon. Cheers for now, Dave

Bruce, Wow, what a video. Happy, happy days. :D Interesting to see a couple of double headed 27s south of Dundee there. Didn't think they were that common. Anyway, I'm off to run a 27 on Waverley West after watching that. Cheers Bruce. You're a star. Cheers, Dave PS A while ago I mentioned I had some shots taken at Glasgow Queen St in 86. Well, after a sort-out I've finally found them so will post them soon.

Peter, tell me this, how am I supposed to concentrate on one project (i.e. my InterCity HST) when you keep coming along and giving me idea after idea... hmmm? Seriously though, love the weathering on the dogfish. Hope I can produce a similar effect and reproduce that photo. Cheers, Dave

More superb photos, thanks guys! I feel like a kid in a sweet shop on this thread. It's like having your own personal research team. Please don't forget those extra Waverley shots if you can find them, Bruce! Cheers and thanks again, Dave

Thanks for the Dogfish shots Peter. Will come in very handy. Some nice photos there too. I especially like the one of the 33 at the platform and the bloke on the platform. A very natural pose, unlike some figures you can get which look very staged. Do you happen to know where you got him/who makes him? Cheers, Dave