millerhillboy

Thanks Dave Will be attempting some sort of conversion in due course, Etched Pixel definitely produce fold up etches for split boxes. I've ordered a set so we'll see what they look like when they come. Any reason the buffer beam is black, I thought they would have been red. Of course it could just be filthy dirty!! Nice model though, Mercig certainly are quality work.

Have you renumbered either of both of the A1s? nice brake van positioning as well,

Ballast and trackwork colour looks spot on to me, very realistic.

Lovely stuff Dave, do you have any idea how Mr Mercig carries out the front end modificaiton. Was it a 44 with filled in nose doors as I'm contemplating or was it a split centre box model to start? Its certainly lovely and if I can get something like that I'll be absolutely delighted.

Lovely lovely layout for anyone on here who's not seen it in the past. I never tire of seeing it.

Nice timing Dave, with the impending arrival of Dapols green class 26 which is due for Warley if not before of which I have one ordered, how nice to have a superb pic of such a beast and lying on Millerhill of all places.

Yeah, I've had umpteen boxes of these now and I never see to get much use out them other than the larger sizes, the smaller ones seem to snap just by looking at them half the time. All I can say is look after the good 'un.

Can you advise where you get such a thing? I go through these mini drill bits like nobodies business?

Thanks Roy, yes at normal viewing distance both A3s are reasonably acceptable although I'm sure the new Dapol ones will bowl them out completely. Ah yes, I forgot about the external steam pipe modification. It was a 15 minute job, sections of Evergreen plastic pipe cut and filed to shape. Once pretty much the right shape, they were glued in place and then filler used to blend the join. Simples! Yes, I remember when I first saw the V2 and was amazed by the detail. However the boiler bottom skirt now looks rotten and hopefully eventually it'll get reworked to current standards. Mines is also lowered. Dr Al of this parish is the architect of this mod, and I'm sure its explained somewhere else on Rmweb. The difference is subtle but well worthwhile. I was pondering doing a 60813 with the stovepipe chimney but never got round to buying a second V2.

I also believe there is an issue with availability, certainly regarding the A1. I believe I was lucky to get one of if not the last one from the N Gauge Society shop. I also spoke with the Foxhunter chap himself and I can't quite remember what he said but he certainly didn't have any kits available.

Yeah, Foxhunter stuff is pretty good. Up until the advent of all these new lovely Farish steamers you could produce something better than standard Farish stuff, as in handrails, lamp irons and lots of other details Farish just didn't bother with. I suppose nowadays they are a bit crude but still can produce a damn fine model, and there's always the enjoyment of knowing you built it yourself. My Foxhunter A1 was a joint effort, my good friend done all the base work, soldering the tender together and as well as forming the boiler and cab nice and tightly together. I done all the detailing work and from my point of view I'd say they were excellent kits

I'll try again this weekend to get a better lineup photograph of the depot (nominally Niddrie something or other) quite liked the sound of Niddrie Cross possibly? On shed are the usual St Mag suspects '52 and '100, 60824 (again). D1970, D5066 from haymarket and a straggler D7614 from Eastfield has made its way east. Finally D1970 again passes a peak hauled engineers train, just emerging from the overbridge just south of the station.

Some more from the more 'built up end of the layout D1970, now since tranferred to the Bay of E, awaits at the currently nameless station, at the last stop before Edinburgh. 60824 also simmers in the station loop heading north on loaded 16t coal wagons, no doubt from Lady Victoria. D5066 works south on some tankers whilst 60100 by now is relegated to local stopping services

Thanks, I did do a fair bit detailing especially on the tender rears, but there's only so much you can do with them. Since I done those models I could revisit them and do more detailing, I've since worked out how to do front lamp irons and better couplings, and vac pipes. Apologies to the many non-N gauge modellers on this thread, as the whole discussion has taken a distinct turn towards 2mm. Surely with the imminent arrival of dapols 26 and exciting A3/A4 news in the pipeline hopefully we can be forgiven. I'm hoping a few picture might appease My (dads) layout isn't based on anywhere, other than its based on somewhere just south-east of edinburgh somewhere in the millerhill/niddrie areas to allow me to have a basis of WR stock but with some Edinburgh stragglers thrown in. 60100 Spearmint works northbound old farish mk1s, since replaced with the excellent new ones, I ought to photo the new ones this weekend when down visiting my old fella! Grimey St Mags resident 60824 works southbound

Is that the standard Farish 0-6-0 chassis with adornments then? The body looks 100 times better already stripped back, I think with a wee bit work you could turn that ugly ducking into something quite worthwhile actually. Some N-brass handrails and knobs would be a huge leap forward as well if you can be bothered with the strain on your eyesight. I done a Foxhunter A1 kit recently and whilst it was a fiddle it was worth it.

Roy I have all 3 in Farish format, just check page 1 of this thread although '41 is chassis-less and smokebox less at the moment, but renamed renumbered I was considering selling them (PM me if you have an interest) although I think I'll hold out for Farish to do the A3 and A4 replacements, not that I know anything, but I've just got a feeling they will try and recoup the investment from producing the 4 wheel tender drive at some point. I think I heard mutterings that Farish might have a few surprises up their sleeves so maybe its just that. Similar to the Farish/Dapol B1 scenario. As much as Dapol are to be congratulated I'm just not a fan of having a large driveshaft between cab and tender.

Can I ask whose disc codes you use? I assume being TPM it came with the TPM ones themselves? are they nice and fine? Just that I am coincidentally online this morning to try and obtain a set for a class 44, with a view to doing my 26 as and when it arrives?

A very crude shot from the dark of d163 progressing, finished item will be published in WR models thread in due course

Complete coincidence but I just narrowed a D163 over the weekend and had previously detailed one end. I also change the route indicator boxes to WR specials at both ends. I'll post mines as well.

Don't know if its intended but the pictures you've posted really really remind me of Carstairs for some reason, I guess its the blue 26 and OHLE although I don't suppose 001 would have been down there all that often. I must have saw 001 a thousand miles on the Cockenzie MGR loop.

Lovely stuff, it really emphasises the benefit of doing the space framed board (is that the right terminology). The landscape really looks like a landscape, rather than something based around a flat piece of wood. Keep taking your time and getting the landscape right as so far its more than paid dividends. The one huge benefit of N, other than the now ever improving stock quality, was always the 'trains in the landscape' appeal and you've used it to its full benefit here. I think the danger though is that sometimes its tempting to cram as many additional sidings and branches etc and you end up cramming the space. Definitely not the case here.

Riccarton Jn ........n gauge....... now that'd be worth seeing.

Lovely stuff Roy, a nice little stretch of the route with the bonus, at least for me, of being in N gauge. The signal box looks the part and the scenery work captures the bleakness of the scene nicely.

Well done Roy, resistance is futile. If its not here for another good few weeks then gives you a chance to put some pennys in the penny jar :-) before then.

Thanks Dave, good to know.