It's been a number of years since I discovered RMWeb and joined. At the time I had great intentions of getting back into modelling and create a blog as I went.

However, as can be seen from the date of my last (only!!!) entry this did not happen, instead the demands of life with three small children took precedence and I became an armchair modeller, regularly browsing RMWeb and enjoying my monthly dose of "modelling" from BRM and Model Rail.

This year however, I've decided to try and move from the armchair and start doing some practical modelling.

Taking inspiration from articles on photo planks and small size layouts, I cleared some space where I can store a model and decided to try my hand at some of the techniques that I have spent so long reading about.

My first foray is going to be more of a diorama that happens to have a length of track running through it, than anything with a meaningful track plan.

What I hope to achieve by this is practice with different techniques to see how I can apply this to the ideas I have for the future.

So what will the "diorama" contain? Well I have a few things I'd like to try to have (fuelled by childhood memories of visiting my grand parents farm):

• Country cottage, with garden and hens (for reasons to be explained later).
  
• Corn field
  
• Hedge rows and trees
  
• Country road
  
• Portion of scenery on an incline
  
• Simple length of track
  

With a little practice and patience I hope to produce a scene which sparks my imagination and leads to finally getting back to having a small layout that I can share with the kids.

But where to start??? Well while finalising what the diorama is going to contain, why not have a go at making some trees.