tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40220641842704824982024-03-13T15:03:38.932+00:00East of ArisaigDedicated to the West Highland Railway, and in particular my research and modelling efforts.
Please don't post comments of a general nature - I'll eventually get around to removing them - comments specifically relating to the content of this blog are, however, very welcome. Thanks!Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-68194652896121687532014-12-23T11:05:00.001+00:002014-12-23T11:06:40.126+00:00Farish Mark 1s and 2s - 2mm FS conversionThe Association shop is out of stock of the 15.2mm axle length 7mm diameter coach wheels which (I think) should be the choice for converting new-style Farish Mark 1s.<br />
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So, I have a cunning plan. I have stock of 12 axles worth of 14.8mm axle length wheels which fit the old-style Farish Mark 1 bogies. They're not exactly a B1 but they aren't too far away. And with a little hacking / adaptation of the coupling pocket they nicely steer the new-style Mark 1 close coupling mechanism, which I'm tempted to keep - perhaps with some kind of homemade hook and pin or bar coupling between most of the vehicles and DG's just on the ends of each set. Pics of this conversion to follow.<br />
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I wanted a couple of coaches to get running on my test track / other folks layouts quickly though, so I thought I'd do the Farish Mark 2s first.<br />
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I browsed through the Association shop product list and ordered some 6mm diameter plain disc wheels on the 15.2mm axles (recommended for Farish in the shop list). Unfortunately the axles are too long. Checking with a micrometer the Farish axles are about 14.0mm. I hadn't realised but apparently Farish are now using a variety of axle lengths in different models. I'm not quite sure where this leaves me other than with 20 axles worth of wheels I can't immediately think of a use for!<br />
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Over on <a href="http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/forum/147-2mm-finescale/">RMWeb's 2mm FS</a> section, Chris Higgs has suggested using the 2-022 wheels which are on a 14.2mm axle and Jerry Clifford said he would advise either using the wheels on 15.2 on something else and either getting the Farish wheels turned down or popping some bearings in the Farish bogies so they suit a different axle length. Another option would be to use "standard" 12.25mm axles with brass bearings mounted at a suitable spacing into the bogie frames (Izzy suggested using thin plasticard shims to ensure the spacing is right.<br />
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Needs some thought then!<br />
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<br />Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-41181187139015556612014-12-01T21:45:00.001+00:002014-12-01T21:45:53.067+00:00Resurrecting some 2mm FS Projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Now that I've tidied the snug /railway room up, I've restarted work on a lowfit and an ex LNER Toad E. These are N gauge kits but receiving 2mm FS wheels and DG couplings for a new project, but they were started in the mid-90s when I was at Manchester MRS and (very loosely) involved with the iconic Chee Tor layout.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l6rhlzQVQ0s/VHzhd18HzwI/AAAAAAAABX4/oeRhRvjV1gM/s640/blogger-image-1834033555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l6rhlzQVQ0s/VHzhd18HzwI/AAAAAAAABX4/oeRhRvjV1gM/s640/blogger-image-1834033555.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Lowfit on Peco chassis. The buffers have been replaced with the old 2mm Association white metal castings (these parts are more robust lost wax brass castings these days). I've filled in the gap in the buffer beams where the coupling would have been and now I've laid in some Squadron Green putty to level out the areas where the DG couplings will be epoxied. Next step will be to file this smooth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BboyzX4d2z8/VHzhjyWtDgI/AAAAAAAABYA/_JWZ0Y4LOu0/s640/blogger-image--404878349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BboyzX4d2z8/VHzhjyWtDgI/AAAAAAAABYA/_JWZ0Y4LOu0/s640/blogger-image--404878349.jpg"></a></div>Brake van chassis with new centre section of the headstock in 60 thou x 30 thou styrene. Next step is filler as for the lowfit, then a little work to the body. You can see the roof which has had separate torpedo vent castings added already.</div><br></div>Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-47105919001261442972014-07-24T13:51:00.003+01:002014-07-24T13:51:05.846+01:00Class 40 012 Aureol on the S&C 14/05/83<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yN0wvrEvuv0" width="459"></iframe><br /><br />
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Just found this gem, not only Aureol on the S&C but also 27004 on some kind of special at Appleby. Anyone any idea what that was?<br /><br />
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Some real modelling inspiration there :-)Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-34026301844718212402009-11-27T23:12:00.003+00:002009-11-27T23:17:15.067+00:00A West Highland 8'x4' Layout Design in OO<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Over the years I've done quite a few West Highland based layout designs, so I thought I'd showcase a few of my ideas on the Forum.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is the first - a rough sketch done using the demo version of Rail Modeller v3.1.6 for Mac. I'm evaluating this at the mo with a view to buying it - the other options are mostly PC based, but I'd rather use the Mac than my laptop most of the time. Anyway here's the plan:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/SxBdPb5vklI/AAAAAAAAADI/i6BP1roIojA/s1600/Picture+7.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 162px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/SxBdPb5vklI/AAAAAAAAADI/i6BP1roIojA/s320/Picture+7.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408925672241336914" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#1C2837;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is a solid 8x4. It could easily have an operating well if stretched to 8 x 5, but I'd like to operate from the front, where the view is best. The layout gives the option of just watching trains go round in a grand setting, or of doing some shunting, but the stock for shunting would need to be fitted with automatic couplings.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There is a simple loop of Peco Setrack or Hornby Track, with a length of flexible track in the reverse curve at the front, which passes over a viaduct. The loop is served by three storage loops in the fiddle yard, which accommodate 6', 4'6" and 4' long trains. In the modern idiom this would cover a 66 or 37/4 hauled freight, the sleeper with a 66 or 67, and perhaps a set of 2 class 156 units in the shortest loop (these could run in both directions).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Below the viaduct (perhaps about 8" to 12" lower than the roundy-round track level) I have included a classic Inglenook shunting problem, based on the former Crianlarich Lower station, as used in the 1970s and 80s for loading pulpwood - there are some excellent photos of this in Tom Noble's "Profile of the Class 26s and 27s" [Bradford Barton]. An alternative, more up-to-date use could be for civil engineers vehicles. The siding lengths could be adjusted to suit - I've drawn these for the classic 5/3/3 wagon capacity Inglenook with 5" long wagons. This section is design for Peco OO finescale track. The Inglenook is not provided with a fiddle yard, but one or both of the straight roads could be extended under the main fiddle yard loops and curved round to enable the wagons to be changed off-scene. I'd bring the track right up to the edge of the board at the front (possibly with an unobtrusive stop block or means of preventing the loco shooting off into space). This would give the maximum space for photography, something else which I'd like to be able to do with my eventual layout...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This design provides many of my potential requirements in a relatively small space, but would be best sited with access all around, or at least to the bottom and right side as drawn. It's a long reach in to sort any problems on the fiddle yard out, especially with a decent height backscene, which would be necessary to give the appropriate scenic setting.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, I hope someone finds this of interest - please feel free to post any comments or suggestions. There will hopefully be more to follow when I dig out my designs folder and get the scanner fired up... </span></span></div></span></span></div>Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-90100961554518606882009-11-21T22:09:00.006+00:002009-11-27T23:19:25.133+00:00Railbuses from Heljan!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/SxBeaVOJ91I/AAAAAAAAADQ/ItEeYlxcTcI/s1600/Leeds_Middleton_railway_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1018379.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/SxBeaVOJ91I/AAAAAAAAADQ/ItEeYlxcTcI/s320/Leeds_Middleton_railway_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1018379.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408926958938093394" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Wickham departmental railcar 999507 "Elliott" on the Middleton Railway 20/09/2008</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Photo by "philld" used under </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia">Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike License 2.0</a></span></span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:medium;">A shot in the arm for the 1960 era modeller of the southern section of the West Highland... Heljan have announced that they will be producing the Wickham and Park Royal railbuses used on the Craigendoran to Arrochar services between November 1959 and November 1961.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:medium;">Something to look forward to over winter...</span></div>Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-9269334323180835482009-07-29T21:07:00.005+01:002009-07-29T22:03:29.032+01:00What - a layout???<div style="text-align: left;">I had great fun recently at the RM Web member's day operating Nick Palatte's excellent little layout, "Lochnagar".</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/SnC2wWZYYcI/AAAAAAAAAC4/2EzJwijl79Q/s320/2007-047-1464.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363988097960272322" /></div><div><br /></div><div>This got me thinking about the boards which have lain dormant in my workroom for almost two years now, while I worked out if I could do something along the lines of Neil Rushby's equally excellent and even littler "Abergwynant".</div><div><br /></div><div>I think I've come to the conclusion that Neil's plan would have two drawbacks for me: firstly I'd like the run-round operation to be visible on the layout, and second, that whilst I love the sense of space Neil's layouts (even the tiny "Shell Island") convey, I'd rather have a little more operational interest - I want to get the little 'un finished quite quickly so I can concentrate on building more stock and move onto "big layout", which could well have no pointwork on the visible section at all. </div><div><br /></div><div>Having a little shunting / terminus layout that could co-exist and give some operational interest will work well, and Nick's basic plan for Lochnagar was fun. I've tweaked a little to suit my space, and mocked it up on the boards to get used to the idea.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is an end on view of Nick's layout:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/SnC2_vzysoI/AAAAAAAAADA/uvx5fQFjKMQ/s400/2007-047-1463.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363988362479972994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>My main change is to change the run round points around so the up (non-terminus) end leads onto the headshunt, not under the bridge, keeping locos in view while they're running round. This will enable the bay platform point to be closer towards the bridge, meaning the overall platform length can be increased so that coaching stock will be stood adjacent to the platform when the loco is running round. I've also realigned things so the boards will be a bit wider (to get that illusion of space) and the general alignment will be on a convex curve.</div><div><br /></div><div>In terms of stock, a little layout like this isn't too bad. To start with I'll probably do a set of 1968-70 stock with mostly HJ 27s and two carriage trains, together with some traditional 4 wheel short wheelbase freight wagons (I have a good selection of these nearly done, with justr a few details, lettering and weathering to do). The '29 ( a story for another day) will also go well. I reckon four trains for each era (2 passenger and 2 freight or 1 freight and 1 parcels) should be enough, with maybe a few spare wagons.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other initial set of stock will represent the end of loco haulage out west, with a couple of 37/4s (I may even treat myself to a Railfreight liveried 20), some nice interesting civil engineers' stock, and a 156 unit.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't generally like cassettes, but given the space constraints and the need to operate from the front at home, with the cassettes slipping out from the back along the wall (across the entry door), I think they will be the way to go for this layout. An era change should be as quick as two trains to clear the layout of stock and a switch of station signs and road vehicles. We could run 1970 on the even hours and 1989 on the odds...</div><div><br /></div><div>By the way, the big layout will showcase some of the classic WHL scenes, particularly the civil engineering structures (but almost certainly not Glenfinnan viaduct - I wouldn't have room for anything else), and I'll be able to just run (scale length) trains around in the shed to suit myself and any visitors. </div></div>Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-64890368878866505372009-07-27T07:20:00.003+01:002009-07-27T07:32:39.141+01:00Update and Jobs List<div style="text-align: left;">Hello all, and sorry for the long lag since I last posted here. Work has been very busy, but in between I have got a tiny bit of progress made with the West Highland Line modelling and research.</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/Sm1JQnz6BWI/AAAAAAAAACw/bc8eiiObhQY/s320/37424-County-March-19891299.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363023281181558114" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>37424 nears County March Summit on what appears to be an SRPS special, December 1989</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>(c) Jim Tinnion Collection</i></span></div><div><br /></div><div>I finished the first Mark 1 coach (a Second Open) whilst demonstrating on the <a href="http://demu.org.uk/">DEMU</a> stand at Kidderminster, back in early Spring, and I've made more progress towards finishing a batch of open wagons (including a tube wagon) that I started a couple of years ago. These are now all weighted and have reasonable representations of the brake gear (clasp gear is a b****r to do but looks good, and there are some shortcut).</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been buying a bit more stock to populate the layout with, most recently a Hornby 25 (to go on a Bachmann chassis) and a returned limited edition 37025 in large logo from Bachmann's stand at the <a href="http://www.rmweb.co.uk">RM Web</a> members' day (saved about 20 quid because one of the buffers wasn't weathered).</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, I've been scouring various sources for archive photos of the West Highland: the picture at the top of the post is one I got off eBay.</div><div><br /></div><div>More to come, hopefully more regularly now things are calmer at work...</div></div>Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-77754224134938319602008-12-09T21:49:00.007+00:002008-12-09T22:11:55.073+00:00More on (or moron) Mark 1sFinally, I've some more progress on the Mark 1 coaches. The RB has had all the ridged dome vents added (ABS, I think), and I've finally got the BSO sides onto the remains of the Mainline Blue/Grey BSK last seen in <a href="http://eastofarisaig.blogspot.com/2008/01/update-and-mark-one-coaches.html">January</a>. Here's pretty much the current state of progress, with Bachmann B1 bogies modified by filling the mounting hole and re-drilling for a smaller pivot, an interior made from the BSK "cage" and guard's compartment (with the cage shortened) and an FO interior loo (I picked up the interior from Railwayana at Warley for £1.95). The middle bit will come from a TSO interior or some Southern Pride bits.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/ST7oN0FdpOI/AAAAAAAAACg/V5e8xjC36nA/s1600-h/IMG_9661.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/ST7oN0FdpOI/AAAAAAAAACg/V5e8xjC36nA/s320/IMG_9661.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277911137342301410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">BSO body, interior and bogies<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/ST7qCWJkJgI/AAAAAAAAACo/Jbjm4G8pQC0/s1600-h/IMG_9660.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/ST7qCWJkJgI/AAAAAAAAACo/Jbjm4G8pQC0/s320/IMG_9660.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277913139351135746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Checking the reference for the interior layout<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>There's an interesting thread over on <a href="http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=34114&p=527256#p527256">RM Web</a> where Fred Flood is doing a BFK by cutting up and re-arranging bits of Bachmann Mark 1. This follows in the footsteps of other thread relating to what can be done with the Bachmann Mark 2 and Mark 2A models by Brian Kirby. This is quite inspirational and I'm struggling now to finish the BSO and the RB (see <a href="http://jimtinnion.fotopic.net/p47713781.html">photos here</a>) off because they won't be as good (or at least not as good a match for unmodified Bachmann coaches) as cut-and-shut Bachmann versions and (worse) have cost as much and will have taken longer!<br /><br />Never mind. Such is almost always the modellers lot.<br /><br />I'll probably end up doing my nut to do a pair of Mark 1 sleepers, only to finish them a day after Bachmann final get their act together and get some in the shops!!</div></div>Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-22589043651041534312008-10-20T00:14:00.005+01:002008-10-20T17:07:26.053+01:00WHL Engineers Wagons - HakeThe HAKE was one of the WHL's interesting and unusual engineers' wagons in the mid to late 80s. Gavin Judd has a few good pictures which can be found on the UK Rolling Stock album, including a photo of one at Fort William:<br /><br /><a href="http://ukrailrollingstock.fotopic.net/p36854749.html">http://ukrailrollingstock.fotopic.net/p36854749.html</a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/SPxStAVX00I/AAAAAAAAACU/7rJj_VxM63M/s1600-h/IMG_9462_web.jpg"></a><br />After a discussion on modelling another ballast wagon, the SEAL, on the RMWeb forum, Paul Bartlett has posted a set of Hake photos on his excellent BR Wagon Photos website here:<br /><br /><a href="http://gallery6801.fotopic.net/c1597684.html">http://gallery6801.fotopic.net/c1597684.html</a><br /><br />So my plan for this wagon is to use the more recent issue of the Parkside Grampus kit (the one with the option for the air-braked Rudd version). The ends and suspension of the Hake are quite different to any of the options in the kit, so I plan to use the FAT25 suspension (axleguards, springs etc) from a Cambrian OTA kit, and to modify the Rudd ends from the Parkside Grampus kit. I did think about using a Hornby Rudd chassis to save time, but it would have to be modified so much that it probably wouldn't be worth the effort.<br /><br />Here's the start of the process - Grampus sides and ends being prepared.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/SPxStAVX00I/AAAAAAAAACU/7rJj_VxM63M/s1600-h/IMG_9462_web.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259169397999129410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/SPxStAVX00I/AAAAAAAAACU/7rJj_VxM63M/s320/IMG_9462_web.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Last night I rough cut all the bracing off the Rudd end and (after the photo) sanded and filed it flush, repeating for the other end. On the right of the picture, you can see the original (left) and rudd style ends on the sprue and the rough cut end for the model below. </p><p>Next I'll use the end detail photo on Paul B's website to build a representation of the bracing on the ends, and then I can assemble the wagon body. More on this as things progress...</p>Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-72597817299066111672008-10-16T23:25:00.003+01:002008-10-16T23:41:06.474+01:00Another (belated) update - and wagonsHello all.<br /><br />Been quite busy, holidays and what-not, including a ride on the splendid Stockholm to Narvik sleeper train (and some walking in Lappland). Here's the return train at Boden, where portions to and from Lulea are shunted.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/SPfA3WPWBiI/AAAAAAAAACM/5tuTU_vj5G8/s1600-h/2008-043-3718.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/SPfA3WPWBiI/AAAAAAAAACM/5tuTU_vj5G8/s320/2008-043-3718.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257883147073619490" border="0" /></a>I've not done much modelling since the last update, but in the last few weeks, I've gone a little further with planning a small layout (mentioned before), which I think I've settled on a track plan for - more of this later...<br /><br />I did a day demonstrating for <a href="http://www.demu.co.uk">DEMU</a> at the Manchester show. I took the Mark 1s I was working on at Christmas, but also some Parkside Vanwide kits I want to get finished for a 1980s vacuum braked train which is taking shape. I spent a nice few hours cleaning up the main parts for the four Vanwides, and chatting away to folks.<br /><br />Tonight I had the Vanwides out again and removed the moulded door handles on the first one and replaced them with wire ones. I've also made a start cleaning up the parts for a Cambrian Turbot.<br /><br />On the research front I've found some info on the ZBA "Hake" grampus conversions which were at Fort William in the mid and late 80s. These will make a nice model, and I've started collecting parts for a couple.<br /><br />More later, hopefully with less of a delay than last time!Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-85264301243376942812008-01-22T20:01:00.000+00:002008-01-22T20:38:31.465+00:00Update - and Mark One CoachesWell, it's been a while, I'm afraid, since I managed an update. The latter part of 2007 passed pretty much in a blur of work, but I made some good progress with a few things over Christmas. The main projects were assembling four IKEA "Snack" boxes which are to form the basis for a small portable terminus scheme, which will hopefully have some of the ambience of Neil Rushby's Abergwynant and Shell Island layouts, albeit slightly larger to accommodate trains of up to two coaches (hopefully a strategically positioned "view block" will give the impression of these being full length). For details of Abergwynant, see the fourth item down on <a href="http://carendt.us/scrapbook/page53a/index.html">this page</a> from Carl Arendt's excellent Small Layout Scrapbook, which is updated at least once a month.<div><br /><div>I've also been working on some wagons, finishing three vans and four opens for the c.1979 era, together with starting on various steel minerals (a 21.5T open, two standard 16T minerals from Bachmann, and one 10' wheelbase 17'6" long mineral with a modified Mainline body and a chassis from an unwanted Bachmann cattle wagon).<div><br />The main project, though, is a pair of Mark One coaches, as I start to try and assemble a collection of representative West Highland coaches from the 70s and 80s. The difficulty is that Bachmann's range, whilst quite wide, is missing some of the classic types used on the West Highland, particularly the BSO and its catering conversion the BSOT, the RB (for the earlier period), BFK (surprisingly common on the WHR) and FO.<div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/R5ZRfkqvTlI/AAAAAAAAABE/sqILXDmqxlg/s320/2007-057-8407.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158400026060213842" /><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The start of the first BSO</span></div><div><br />These are all going to be from Comet or Southern Pride sides on Mainline donor vehicles. I have a BSO and an RB underway now, and there are some notes on construction on my Fotopic site starting <a href="http://jimtinnion.fotopic.net/p47340153.html">here</a>, and continuing <a href="http://jimtinnion.fotopic.net/p47713766.html">here</a>.<div><br />I've also been busy organising my scrapbooks a bit more - these are ready to index now - and attending a couple of shows with the <a href="http://www.demu.co.uk/">DEMU</a> Roadshow - Manchester in October and Warley in December.</div><div><br /><div>Hopefully, I'll update progress soon and post a few more pictures of progress.<div><br /><div>Jim</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-63588923657362693862007-08-30T23:31:00.000+01:002007-08-31T00:08:30.290+01:0037401 from ViTrains - Part 1Now to a new project, this one is for the 1986 era. At DEMU's DEMFEST event at Swanwick a couple of weeks ago, I picked up ViTrains recent Large Logo 37401 ("Mary Queen of Scots"). There are a couple of really good pictures of her in the Train Crazy book, Scottish Class 37s: Part 2 (Nick Meskell) and a Fotopic search will bring more. The object of my project is to detail and weather her as running in summer 1986, about eight or nine months after the 37/4 revolution on the WHL, but during the period when 37/0s were still running too (albeit only on freight trains).<br /><br />A quick review of photos shows the main defects of this version of the notoriously difficult 37 are the cab windscreens (too high by perhaps a scale 2", and with too little of the 50p shape on plan) and the absence of the large roof panel which includes the engine room access covers and exhaust ports and lies between the circular radiator grille and the no.2 end panel (above the cantrail grilles).<br /><br />It's a pity about the windows, particularly as large logo livery means that there is a colour boundary between the black cab window surround and the yellow strip surrounding them. This tends to make the error more obvious. On the forthcoming 37/0 in BR blue this won't look so noticable. The roof panel is also a little hard to understand, and trick to fully correct. The options are either to leave well alone, add a microstrip outline to indicate where the edge of the panel should be (but this would then have a recess on the inside which is wrong too), or to cut the roof section out and rebuild. This might be the way to go - more when I get into it...<br /><br />Anyway, progress to date has been limited to adding lamp irons and snow ploughs to one end, installing a Bachmann 2-function decoder (possibly temporary if I decide to make all the lights independant), and sorting out a Kaydee coupling (actually a Bachmann E-Z Mate because it has a plastic shaft). This was done by cutting the shaft short and then notching it to fit into the ViTrains mount. A glob of epoxy (not shown on the photo below) secures the coupling, and I'm sure that the pulling capacity of the coupling is now related to the strength of ViTrains' mount and not to my bodge. I can't claim credit for the idea - I'm sure I saw this method somewhere else on the web.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/RtdNrTcUpwI/AAAAAAAAAA8/Bk1ZYhtj6Kg/s1600-h/IMG_8013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/RtdNrTcUpwI/AAAAAAAAAA8/Bk1ZYhtj6Kg/s320/IMG_8013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104634108996527874" /></a><br /><br />More on this project as it progresses...Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-49175389503831482092007-07-24T22:45:00.000+01:002007-07-24T23:18:16.785+01:00Layout Idea - Mallaig Junction Yard<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/RqZ0B8t_FoI/AAAAAAAAAAs/CuABTeo8eTs/s1600-h/IMG_4503.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/RqZ0B8t_FoI/AAAAAAAAAAs/CuABTeo8eTs/s320/IMG_4503.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090884005616621186" /></a><br /><br />37427 returning to Mallaig Junction Yard from Corpach Paper Mill with a trip freight on the 7 October 2005.<br /><br />I've been doing a lot more work on the index of WH photos mentioned in previous posts - I'll update the file posted on the Scottish Modellers eGroup files section (see link) shortly. I've been indexing the photos from Tom Noble's Mallaig Extension book (see the <a href="http://eastofarisaig.blogspot.com/2007/07/book-review-tom-nobles-west-highland.html">review</a> from an earlier post). I also watched Train Crazy's "British Rail Remembered 4 - Class 37s in Scotland Part 1" DVD yesterday, which has good footage of the yard at Mallaig Junction.<br /><br />The yard would make an excellent layout - it's fairly compact, and has interesting operations. Every freight arriving at Fort William has to run around and/or shunt here, and all the Extension passenger trains pass though the yard. The junction is at the west end, so the yard runs parallel to the Extension. Most pictures taken at this location show all sorts of interesting wagons in the yard, including a wide array of engineer's stock.<br /><br />It's another idea for the layout, although the rate of change here has been a little faster than in some other parts of the WHL system and so one would have to either be pretty time-frame specific or accept a few compromises. Here, the best period would be 1980-87 (prior to the introduction of RETB), when there were fairly few changes in infrastructure, but the stock changed from Class 27s on everything at the start of the period, through the 37/0 introduction, the large logo 37/0s, the start of the steam service, and the arrival of the 37/4s. The transitions between 27s and 37/0s and 37/0s and 37/4s were quite sudden, so there are limited excuses for having both on the layout at once, although a class 20 was present through most of the period as the trip loco, and this would offer a little variety.<br /><br />More on this idea soon...Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-80773580255905969472007-07-17T22:50:00.000+01:002007-07-17T23:01:08.864+01:00Scottish Modellers E-Group and The Photo List<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/Rp059OseJ1I/AAAAAAAAAAk/EwTelJJ5deM/s1600-h/502e_1.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/Rp059OseJ1I/AAAAAAAAAAk/EwTelJJ5deM/s320/502e_1.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088286878077953874" /></a><br />Just a quick entry tonight to point you to the extremely useful "Scottish Modellers" eGroup which is hosted on Yahoo! There's a link on the right.<br /><br />By joining this moderated email forum I've had the opportunity to converse and collaborate with some of the leading modellers of the Scottish Railway scene. The Timber P project mentioned a few days ago has sprung out of this collaboration and the comment on the Blog come from members of that group.<br /><br />In addition, you can access my Excel file indexing published photos of the West Highland line, which I've been working on recently, and which now includes over 950 photos from 40+ sources, ranging from 1896 to 2007. If you leave a message with your email address in the comments section, I'll email you the latest version, but I keep the one on the eGroup up to date.<br /><br />Popped in to see Paul at AP Models and collect my latest purchases - the Heljan 27 in its 5380 BR Blue guise, and a red BRT hopper as used on the Alumina trains in the mid eighties.<br /><br />Finally, the 31 on trial, mentioned in the first post, was at Fort William in July 1958 and is pictured there in BR Fleet Survey Volume 1.<br /><br />All the best<br />JimJim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-45831234973682020182007-07-12T21:49:00.000+01:002007-07-12T22:24:28.299+01:00Book Review - Tom Noble's "West Highland Mallaig Extension in BR Days"<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/RpaULeseJ0I/AAAAAAAAAAc/SoxIGm7gSqs/s1600-h/WH-Mallaig-Ext---Noble.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/RpaULeseJ0I/AAAAAAAAAAc/SoxIGm7gSqs/s320/WH-Mallaig-Ext---Noble.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086415754100614978" /></a><br />This is my latest second hand book purchase, from <a href="http:/www.alibris.co.uk">Alibris</a>, an excellent internet network of second hand booksellers. You can search over 100 book shops online, although sometimes stock listings don't get updated as often as they might. Great for research, as searches like "West Highland" work really well. I never even knew this book existed!<br /><br />Tom Noble was probably the source in the 1970s and 1980s (is he still around today?) and this collection of photos, mostly his own from the 1980s and also featuring the work of J l Stevenson, Douglas Hume, John Goss, L A Nixon and, of course Derek Cross and W J V Anderson) gives a good cross-section of photos of the Extension from 1948 until 1988.<br /><br />An introduction outlines the history of the lines and is followed by a pictorial journey from Fort William (Mallaig Junction, latterly Fort William Junction) to Mallaig, which features not only the more photographed locations such as Glenfinnan and Loch nan Uamh, but also some less well covered sites including Corpach and Annat. This section, although mostly in black and white, also includes eight sides of colour photos. The section includes some unusual workings, notably a class 25 on the extension on an SRPS tour in 1978, steel being conveyed to Mallaig in 1985 behind a service passenger train, and 26034's very rare visit to Mallaig on 26th May 1976, but the emphasis in on the day-to-day.<br /><br />The next few sections pick out specific items of interest: the sadly short lived use of InterFrigo vans for a trainload fish traffic trial in 1987, a day in the life of 37425 (25th May 1987), and three pictures of the observation cars DE902260, SC1999, 1998 and TODM999501.<br /><br />A longer section documents the return of steam to the line in 1984 and the development of the steam excursions from then until the publication of the book (1989). Details of the two rakes of stock used are given, and there is extensive coverage of the trains and locos including another eight pages of colour. This section could possibly have been edited a little more harshly, but then I suppose it was the news of the time and the quality of the photography is good. I particularly like Brian Dobb's end on shot of 2005 on a down train storming through Mallaig Junction Yard, sadly a rather under photographed view.<br /><br />To round off the book, a dozen photos show the Royal Scotsman workings from 1985 to 1988, again with steam haulage.<br /><br />Highly recommended, particularly for the details around the edges of some of the 1980s era shots, and if you're interested in the early history of what has become "The Jacobite" steam service. Less good for 1950s steam, albeit with some good shots, and there are not many 1960s diesel era photos at all, sadly, although there are a few pictures of the rebuilt NBL Bo-Bos (Class 29s).<br /><br /><i>"The West Highland Mallaig Extension in BR Days", Tom Noble, Publ. OPC 1989, ISBN 0-86093-429-2</i><br /><br />More to come next week...Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-66638977014251983772007-07-11T20:58:00.000+01:002007-07-11T21:18:31.896+01:00Timber P Wagons<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/RpU5i2d4XqI/AAAAAAAAAAU/cg_Nmt216og/s1600-h/IMG_3195.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/RpU5i2d4XqI/AAAAAAAAAAU/cg_Nmt216og/s320/IMG_3195.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086034625084022434" /></a><br />Apologies for the picture of the more modern, air-braked, OTA timber wagon at Crianlarich on 25 February 2005, but one of the many problems with this project is a lack of good pictures, particularly non-copyright images, of the Timber P wagons.<br /><br />This project involves modelling the timber wagons used for the flow of timber from Crianlarich Lower (on the Callender and Oban line) to the pulp mill at Corpach, between 1965 and 1980. The wagons were converted from Plate wagons or from Conflat P’s (themselves converted from Plates). Hence the ‘P’ in the Timber P designation. As far as I am aware, no-one has ever produced a kit for these wagons.<br /><br />I’ve started off by trying to assemble as much info as possible on the wagons. I already had a copy of a drawing and two official photos from the 1983 Model Railway Constructor Annual. After posting on the DEMU Forum, and on the Scottish Modellers Yahoo group, I’ve been referred to some useful photos in “Power of the Class 26s and 27s” by Tom Noble [OPC], and an article in Model Rail from August 1999 with a couple more pictures. Thanks to Simon Newitt and Phil Holman.<br /><br />If you have any further info, or are interested in this project, I’d love to hear from you - leave a comment and I'll get back to you.Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4022064184270482498.post-82584588218937905182007-07-11T20:05:00.000+01:002007-07-11T20:55:48.660+01:00First Post - Diesels GaloreHi, and welcome to my West Highland Railway blog, "East of Arisaig". East of Arisaig because Arisaig is the westernmost point on the line (and, indeed, on the mainland railway network). Hopefully I can share some of the research and modelling experiences I've had here.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/RpUruGd4XpI/AAAAAAAAAAM/3aYQpkZ56v0/s1600-h/AC26.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gTmdoIGUKCw/RpUruGd4XpI/AAAAAAAAAAM/3aYQpkZ56v0/s320/AC26.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086019425194761874" /></a><br />The loco above is 37026, an Eastfield loco and regular WHL performer at the time, seen at Oban on 3rd April 1985. The 37/0s had less than a year left in fron line WHL service at the time, with electric heat 37/4s being delivered from the summer of 1985.<br /><br />It's been an exciting time in terms of diesel locos for the West Highland modeller in the last few months, with new Class 27s from Heljan and 37/4s from both ViTrains and Bachmann. Hopefully I'll shortly have my Bachmann Large Logo 37410 to compare with the ViTrains 37428 (a Welsh loco soon to be given a new identity as one of the early Eastfield arrivals). Together with the earlier Bachmann 37/0 and 20, and heavily rebuilt Hornby Class 29s for 1966-1971 (or 22s for the early 1960s), that about covers first-generation diesel power. Sure the odd 24 and 25 came up the WHL, but not usually for long, and on a pretty irregular basis. A 31 was trialled early in the pilot scheme (1958? I'll check the reference) and a 55 appeared on a couple of specials in 1980, but otherwise that's pretty much it until privatisation.<br /><br />So all of that, plus an interest in the steam operations of the late 1950s gives a lot of options for the modeller in terms of period. My key points would be c.1970 with 27s and 29s in blue and in green, c.1981 with classes 20, 27 and 37/0, and the 1985-6 period with 37/0, 37/4 and the beginnings of the Jacobite steam service.<br /><br />This month's "Railway Modeller" has the latest article in Ian Futers' "West Highland Wanderings" series, this time concentrating on Garelochhead.<br /><br />Anyway, watch this space for more soon - cheerio!Jim Tinnionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09114544290502136378noreply@blogger.com0