West Highland Line V4, a 1980's West Highland Line layout

[mallaig1983]

7 hours ago, Signaller69 said:

Interested to see you are doing 37112. Here are a couple of rather poor photos I took c.1983 at Mallaig on my first trip on the line (photo of photos sorry).

 

Martyn.

Fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

[young37215]

14 hours ago, Signaller69 said:

Interested to see you are doing 37112. Here are a couple of rather poor photos I took c.1983 at Mallaig on my first trip on the line (photo of photos sorry).

 

Martyn.

 

Interesting pictures which show several changes from the original condition of 112 when first outshopped in psuedo large logo in 1981. Buffer beam cowls have gone, the access doors on the bonnet have been painted black and shed stickers have been applied. There might be more but I have not found them! 

 

I have decided that I will model the 'first edition' simply because it involves the least amount of work. Hopefully I can make a little more progress with this today.

 

 

Elsewhere I have started the weathering of the new wagons, it is still work in progress particularly with the creation of rust and distressing the 'out of the box' condition to something more dilapidated. So far I have stippled sleeper grime onto the body sides, run a black wash around the framework and airbrushed frame dirt onto the frames. These should now be dry enough for a further layer of paint as I try and build up the density of paint to create the run down, rusty effect I seek, something along the lines that Meanach has managed with his rather nice work on Turbots.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[meanach]

On 10/04/2022 at 09:12, thegreenhowards said:

Rob,

 

That paint removal happens to me all the time when masking. It’s very frustrating. I’ve now got to the stage where the only thing which I will mask is a factory finish. Anything else, I know it’s not going to work and generally either hand paint - if there’s a clear line to paint up to - or leave well alone.

 

If anyone has the solution, I’m all ears!

 

Andy

Hi . Have you let the paint fully cure for 48 hours before masking ? I use Tamiya mask and I don’t leave it on very long either. As soon as the paint looks dry , off comes the masking tape. I’m hardly a prolific re sprayer but I’ve not had this issue on my own painted stuff or factory. 
 

I like the weathering above . I’ve got a rake of VEA to do soon, including that model above . Despite my Parkside kits , the Bachmann ones were just too stunning to resist ! 

Edited April 13, 2022 by meanach

[young37215]

5 hours ago, meanach said:

Hi . Have you let the paint fully cure for 48 hours before masking ? I use Tamiya mask and I don’t leave it on very long either. As soon as the paint looks dry , off comes the masking tape. I’m hardly a prolific re sprayer but I’ve not had this issue on my own painted stuff or factory. 
 

I like the weathering above . I’ve got a rake of VEA to do soon, including that model above . Despite my Parkside kits , the Bachmann ones were just too stunning to resist ! 

 

I used Tamiya low tack tape on paint that must have been applied months, if not years ago by the previous owner. The tape was on the model for a couple of days which in hindisght may have been a mistake, like you I am not a prolific re-sprayer meaning I have little experience to draw upon. That said I am pleased with the coverage of the re-sprayed blue areas, the only way I can see that it could be improved is by stripping the loco entirely of both paint and glazing. Neither seemed a viable option hence I have a less than perfect finish but something I can live with. I hope that a little weathering will hide the weakest areas of the finish. Whatever the reasons for the paint coming off I have now got to a position I am now happy with. Yesterday I added the numbers and other transfers which make a huge difference to the appearance and touched up a few areas by hand. Today I aim to add weathering to the roof with the aim of being able to varnish tomorrow which hopefully will complete the project. 

 

I agree the Bachmann VEA's are rather nice, I have in mind adding the engineers olive green one scheduled for release later this month to the fleet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[thegreenhowards]

6 hours ago, meanach said:

Hi . Have you let the paint fully cure for 48 hours before masking ? I use Tamiya mask and I don’t leave it on very long either. As soon as the paint looks dry , off comes the masking tape. I’m hardly a prolific re sprayer but I’ve not had this issue on my own painted stuff or factory. 
 

I like the weathering above . I’ve got a rake of VEA to do soon, including that model above . Despite my Parkside kits , the Bachmann ones were just too stunning to resist ! 

I’m similar to Rob, in that I always leave plenty of time for the paint to cure (7 days+) but sometimes leave the masking tape on too long while waiting to get round to a second coat.

 

 

[billywhizz]

Looking at how the paint has peeled away from the body side, my guess is that the previous owner didn’t clean and de-grease the bodyshell properly before painting. Also looks like the is no primer either. 
never had any issues with Tamiya low tack tape, although before anything goes near the paint booth, it is thoroughly scrubbed with a cheap kitchen cream cleaner and primed. Tamiya fine primer is normally my primer of choice. 
Cheers. 
Bill. 

[Legend]

It looks perfectly fine to me . Thinking this is recent history remembering pictures of 37112 and was it 37111 appearing in Rail Enthusiast Mag as 37s were transferred to WHL and these two appeared in pseudo large logo .....but its actually 40 years ago   aaargh !   I really think it looks fine as is and I'm struggling to see paint defects 

[young37215]

Weathered black airbrushed around the exhaust and boiler ports and then 37112 was finished off with a coat of matt varnish to seal everything together. I had been nervous about adding the weathered black which I had not done before but it was very straightforward. So much so that I used the excess paint to do the same to 5 other locos which meant I could tick them off of the outstanding work to be done list.  Small enhancements to the individual locos in isolation but something that I had wanted to do for some time and good to get done. On the subject of detail I identified that in 1981 112 had a single ED shed plate transfer on one side of the body only which I duly added. 

 

The re-spraying process has taken far longer than I had anticipated, whilst I am sure professionals will take less time, I now have a better understanding of why it costs so much for this sort of work. The one outstanding task is the cab door handles where I now regret removing the molded handles; although it should not take long to fabricate replacements in hindsight I now consider this an unnecessary step too far. Not a problem, mistakes are how we learn. The end result is 37112 looks far better than I had hoped for, all that remains is to reassemble the various parts removed whilst painting and I have another loco available for service.

 

With 112 just about finished I will return to the weathering of the new engineering wagons before packing the airbrush away. Then its back to some late season running.

 

Weathered black added to the roof

 

 

The varnished bodyshell drying off, the matt varnish tones down the blue nicely  

  

 

A quick test run was necessary before the bodyshell is re-attached to the chassis

 

 

Additional loco exhausts and boiler ports were sprayed black 

 

[young37215]

Back to operations after a week or two on project type stuff. A new working day based upon the 1983 WTT begins where fresh from its repaint, 37112 was allocated to 7B02, 0520 Mossend to Mallaig Junction Yard and is seen in bright early morning sunshine on the approach to Garelochead as it heads north.

 

Other news, I have 40 used Peco point motors intended for automating the main fiddle yard which I have now decided to sell. They are now listed on Ebay along with 40 RK Components toggle switches in lots of 5. This is because I intend using servos controlled through my Megapoints network for the fiddle yard so when I motorise a point I get the additional benefit of directional indication on the main control panel. I know that I could use Megapoints to control the solenoids and it may be that I go down this route if I do'nt manage to sell them. Hopefully this will not be the case as I would prefer servos to solenoids simply because servos are less aggressive to the point they are changing. 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 15, 2022 by young37215

[Torbay Express]

On 09/04/2022 at 14:34, SHerr said:

Thanks, it’s the Accurascale one that prompted the question as my layout is based in the Highlands with access to an Aluminium smelter but thought I’d never be able to justify one.

Only problem is, unless someone wants to split a triple pack, they only come in threes.

[young37215]

More playing trains operational activity over the last few days, what has been noticeable is the amount of dirt that has accrued on the railhead during a period of relative inactivity. This leads to brief interuptions in power getting to the loco with the resultant hesitation in sound. Interestingly after several trains have passed over the track I noticed a reduction in power interuption, presumably the effect of the loco wheels 'cleaning' the railhead. I ended up cleaning the wheels on several locos and things appeared to settle down. 

 

37112 arrives at Garelochead with 7B02

 

 

 

 

[young37215]

At the other end of the WHL, 37012 arrives at Mallaig with 2B13, 0845 from Fort William and runs round to form 2B20, the 1100 return. The additional 100mm of baseboard is proving to be a real enhancement to this section, not only is there space for the low relief station building, the usual 4 coach length trains now fit in the platform and behind the signal. I have not connected the signal to the servos yet hence the unfinished area around the base. I had hoped that I could do this in situ but having made a brief attempt, it is clear that I need to lift the baseboard onto the workbench to complete this. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[young37215]

Further south, 37112 continues her northbound journey seen trundling through Ardlui.

 

 

 

 

 

[03060]

2 minutes ago, young37215 said:

Further south, 37112 continues her northbound journey seen trundling through Ardlui.

 

 

 

 

 

 

With baled wood pulp for Corpach, perhaps ?? 🤭

[young37215]

23 hours ago, 03060 said:

With baled wood pulp for Corpach, perhaps ??

 

That is what I consider to be under the tarpaulins. Of course I shall need a few of Rapido's OAA's when they arrive, the Corpach pool ones seem like an obvious starting place. I also need to find a way to mimic the tarpaulins used on the south bound workings that cover the whole of the finished paper wagonloads. Having looked more closely at freight wagons in the last few days sheeted (check spelling carefully) open wagons were more prevalent than I thought and for realistic operations, I need to add some of these to my south bound trains. Rapido's announcement caused me to start looking for examples of the OAA because I could only recall seeing OBA's and OCA's in pictures. I found nothing obvious in my searching on Flickr beyond the picture posted by 03060 in the OAA thread, then 'British Rail remembered volume 4' DVD came to the rescue with numerous OAA examples seen at Mallaig Junction and in a Corpach bound freight. Now my only concern is where I can store even more wagons.

 

Whilst on the subject of freight traffic it seems appropriate to show a few pictures of 37051 arriving at Crianlarich with 8D10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 19, 2022 by young37215

[03060]

Paul Shannon's new book, Rail Freight Scotland (Key Publishing) contains 14 WHL related photos (there are 3 in the Glasgow section.)  NB - This little picture book covers the whole of Scotland from the 80's to the present day, with a 'matt' finish to the photos ....useful to some .... but not a classic WHL book (IMHO.)

 

One 1981 image is of 37 111 heading North with 5 empty OAAs, whilst another Northbound train image has 37 027 hauling 11 OBAs with sheeted woodpulp bales ...to be honest I can't tell the difference between the shape of the sheeted loads travelling in either direction so you could multi-task some of your wagons to run either loaded (sheeted) or empty on both Northbound and Southbound freight trains. It all seems a little confusing to me standing here from my 2022 viewpoint but I suppose that it made sense back then ....what we need is more of the Wagonload Weigh Tickets like the one that appeared on the current OAA thread to explain some of the destinations and loads.

 

OAAs tend to turn up in photos taken around Tom-na-faire and Mallaig Junction, I'm sure that there are some photos in the Bradford Barton books (up in the loft) and possibly another on Ernie's site in the Roy Bridge to Tulloch area, featuring Class 27s.

 

Happy hunting.

Regards,

Ian (on nights all week.)

Edited April 20, 2022 by 03060

[young37215]

16 hours ago, 03060 said:

Paul Shannon's new book, Rail Freight Scotland (Key Publishing) contains 14 WHL related photos (there are 3 in the Glasgow section.)  NB - This little picture book covers the whole of Scotland from the 80's to the present day, with a 'matt' finish to the photos ....useful to some .... but not a classic (IMHO.)

 

I was unaware of this until now, a copy was duly purchased yesterday and I await its arrival with interest. Although my searching has not been that wide ranging, pictures of OAA's seem rather thin on the ground. According to Rapido only 100 OAA's were built compared with 800 OBA and 500 OCA so perhaps the limited amount of photographic material should not come as a surprise. Whatever I will make a pre-order for the 2 Corpach pool wagons over the next few days.

 

The late running 1B08, 0806 ex Glasgow arrives at Crianlarich where it passes 8D10. 8D10 will wait at Crianlarich to pass booked 1B10, 0837 Glasgow to Mallaig which follows closely behind 1B08.  

 

 

 

 

 

[young37215]

I have spent some time lately on researching WHL engineering trains and building up a small fleet of dedicated wagons to replicate them on WHL4. To add a little variety I have created a couple of paths in the WTT for daily engineering workings to break up the more conventional passenger and freight workings. Using one of the paths 37039 with revised headcode panels arrives at Ardlui with new rail heading to Crianlarich. The consist is a copy of a picture from Key's Modelling Engineers wagons taken at Dingwall on the Far North line and which seems reasonable to replicate on the WHL. The Salmon wagon lacks the rail lifting cranes which I intend adding at some stage with cranes available from Shapeways.

 

 

 

 

   

[meanach]

Is that one of the short Flangeway Salmon wagons ? They have been doing a deal on those as they have some accurate length ones in production . Is that consist vac brake?

[young37215]

9 hours ago, meanach said:

Is that one of the short Flangeway Salmon wagons ? They have been doing a deal on those as they have some accurate length ones in production . Is that consist vac brake?

 

Yes, it is a Flangeway 'shortie' although I paid full price and should get the correct length body once available.  The consist is a copy of a picture, the wagon is unbraked hence the inclusion of the 2 brake vans.

 

37081 has charge of 1T24, 0700 Mallaig to Glasgow seen on the approach to Crianlarich.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[young37215]

On 19/04/2022 at 14:09, 03060 said:

Paul Shannon's new book, Rail Freight Scotland (Key Publishing) contains 14 WHL related photos (there are 3 in the Glasgow section.)  NB - This little picture book covers the whole of Scotland from the 80's to the present day, with a 'matt' finish to the photos ....useful to some .... but not a classic WHL book (IMHO.)

 

One 1981 image is of 37 111 heading North with 5 empty OAAs, whilst another Northbound train image has 37 027 hauling 11 OBAs with sheeted woodpulp bales ...to be honest I can't tell the difference between the shape of the sheeted loads travelling in either direction so you could multi-task some of your wagons to run either loaded (sheeted) or empty on both Northbound and Southbound freight trains. It all seems a little confusing to me standing here from my 2022 viewpoint but I suppose that it made sense back then ....what we need is more of the Wagonload Weigh Tickets like the one that appeared on the current OAA thread to explain some of the destinations and loads.

 

OAAs tend to turn up in photos taken around Tom-na-faire and Mallaig Junction, I'm sure that there are some photos in the Bradford Barton books (up in the loft) and possibly another on Ernie's site in the Roy Bridge to Tulloch area, featuring Class 27s.

 

Happy hunting.

Regards,

Ian (on nights all week.)

 

My copy of Paul Shannon's new book was waiting for me on my return home from a few days away rail touring. Although the WHL material is limited and the picture quality modest as 03060 highlights, several of the pictures are of interest to me. What is also of interest is Shannon's statement that WHL freight trains were run as either vacum or air braked as loads required which is borne out by several of his 1981 pictures. I am confident that the volume of vacum braked freight will have reduced during my 1980 to 85 time window but the thought of a few vacum braked freight trains is now firmly implanted into my mind. The appearance of 37111 in its short lived psuedo large logo livery in several pictures is also spookily timely as I have been pondering whether I want a second large logo loco and if I decide I do then 37111 will be top of my list. 

 

Whilst on the subject of freight, 37051 and air braked 8D10 are seen arriving at Garelochead with recently painted wall looking a little less intrusive than the white. 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

[lmsforever]

Like the last photo that natural archway over the access steps is still there ,you have captured the character of the line very well its my favourite psrt of the country.

[young37215]

Capturing the essence of the line is what WHL4 is all about so it's nice to hear that others see this in my pictures. We are off on holiday to Dorset so won't be doing much modelling for the next few weeks. 37081 arrives at Ardlui with 1T24 which is the last of my current set of photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PeterLoader]

Hi

Can you repost the track plan please as I assume it is yet to be restored

[young37215]

3 hours ago, PeterLoader said:

Hi

Can you repost the track plan please as I assume it is yet to be restored

 

The thread entry below has the reloaded track plan and video of WHL4 as it was February 2021. The video is out of date, I will see if Paul Coia is available for an update.