Hi there!

Some of you may know me, some not - as you can see I'm Little Dan and I run Derails Models model railway shop. Despite this, I do still like to model now and then (although sometimes after a hard day its the last thing I want to do!). This blog is the show my...attempts? Exploits? Whatever you want to call it, its going to be here.

This post is an introduction of sorts - I'm writing it in the shop during my quiet moment see - just to show you what to expect..so without further ado, here's what I currently have:

Layout No.1 - Winterdan

Devised in 2008/9 when I was 9/10, the layout is an exhibition layout of a mainline station complete with shunting yard. The layout is set in the winter (although my surname is Winter too so it does confuse people...) and is basically two ovals and the aformentioned yard. It becomes an instant hit with the kids at pretty much every exhibition it goes too, despite trying to wire the layout on the morning of the exhibition being harder than trying to figure out how the universe is held together and actually transporting it anywhere is harder than moving a white elephant. I suppose it is white so there is something in common there...

The layout has been to about 10 exhibitions I think, and is book so far for one more. This is all to do with the kids thing - kids layouts are getting harder to come by and for dragging the kids into the hobby, its what we need.

Layout No.2 - Crooked Lane MPD

This one is a more recent exihibition layout, one planned as I grew out of the roundy roundy type layouts and wanted a 'boring' (according to my Dad, Big Dan) shunting layout. Built over the course of two years or so, it appeared in unfinished states for ages before going to last years Thornbury MRC show (the small one in November) in a state which I could call 'finished', but are they ever?

Its a diesel depot + single platform terminus station, based in the North West with a large station nearby, albeit not modelled, which means a large variety of traction appears. The years represented by the layout are 1978 - 1983ish. But as always some unprototypical things do happen, such has air braked stock running with vac braked stock - my response to a comment like this at an exhibiton was the train was running unfitted - and Scottish 26's 'holidaying' in England - shoot me someone!

The layout has been to about five exhibitions and is booked at one more. Being an easier layout to handle sometimes we offer a small trade stand along with it, and don't claim expenses. This always goes down well.

Layout (if you can call it that) No. 3 - Garden Railway

When I first joined the model railway club I am now a member and supply to, I got friendly with a chap who ran 16mm SM32 live steam in his garden. I would attend steam ups and drive locos, knowing one day I would take the plunge. In 2013 I finally did just that - when Derails became Roundhouse Engineering dealers I ordered on of their basic loco's, a Bertie, and ran it on boards in the garden up and down five metres of track. Since then, the railway has grown to 20 yards long with run-round loops on either end, and the fleet has grown to include a high powered battery electric and a Roundhouse Stanley steam tram.

The garden railway takes quite a bit of my time now - the loco's, being real working steam engines, require maintenance, as does the infastructre, which you can understand as it is left to the elements for most of the time. Another extension is on the cards, by the way.

So there we are. A roundup of whats going on modelling wise at the moment - all this whilst running a business and also volunteering at the local Dean Forest Railway.

Watch this space for updates (and hopefully pictures if my damn camera will work)!

Many thanks,

Little Dan