Hi guys - can I make a big suggestion? Try mocking this all up full size on some paper - and then push some trains around on it to check the dimensions work well in real life. When I was building Paxton Road I had to lengthen and widen my original plan to get the right balance between compact size yet spacious feeling I was after, and still maintain some operating interest. Well worth it and good fun too! If you look at my Paxton Road blog and head back over to the old RM Web (via the link in the first post) you can find photos of my mockups on the first 3 or 4 pages I think

Hi James,

I printed it out 1:1 full size again and now that the baseboard has been built (48" x 9" - coming in another blog post soon...) has been tacked in place for testing. I always find it amazing how different it all feels when the plan is taken from the screen into the real world. I think the shed being near the front is going to work well because the entrance is angled towards the front of the layout it will be possible to see inside. A few windows and/or a side door will help with an internal view (I want to kit out the workshop and install inspection pits). Also, there's plenty of space in the front-middle area for workshop detritus (maybe a derelict loco ready to meet its maker) and some permanent way stuff, such as those diggers with the extra wheels so they can drive on the line as well as the road. I've also got to come up with a micro-diorama to make use a beautiful little white-metal kit of a Mercedes Benz Unimog from [url="http://www.pg-models.com/viewdetail.aspx?id=105?