Now that I've taken the plunge and decided to unveil what I optimistically (perhaps laughingly) call my layouts, it's time to begin a description of progress on the collection of boxfiles that will be Loose Ends. Experience of RMweb suggests that whenever anyone starts a layout thread or blog without a track plan, someone will request one, so here it is:

Whilst it's a bit rough, it is the only plan I have No Templot for this one as it is just a straight section of two track main line. It was sketched on a scrap of paper in a hospital waiting room and, hopefully, will give some idea of what I intend to build. Starting from the left, the boxfile modules are a cutting (perhaps with tunnel entrance), an embankment, a girder bridge over a river, a station yard and a station. The yard and station will probably expand to include one or two more modules depending on how adventurous the track plan becomes. Not shown on the sketch are possible fiddle yards or traversers at each end (the Loose Ends of the name, I suppose, whereas the Station, I think, will be called Loose End).

Work on the embankment, bridge and first part of the yard has progressed slowly over the last couple of months, mostly as something to do while paint was drying or waiting for components for one of my workbench projects. I'll describe the embankment module below, but first it's probably worth showing how I am using the boxfiles.

This will probably get me thrown out of the boxfile fraternity before I've even joined. Not only is the Loose Ends trackbed on, rather than in, the boxfiles, but I am also opening out the front part and folding the lid underneath to give a slightly larger footprint.

So, to module 2, the Embankment. This is loosely based on a specific prototype location and includes a small underbridge built for farm access in a style that matches other bridges and tunnel entrances on this part of the line. I wonder if anyone recognises it?

The basic form of the embankment was constructed from 5mm foam board. A 3mm cork track base was added on the top, cut from scraps left over from Camerton. Eventually, I hope, the gaps will disappear beneath the ballast. I had to do it this way as all the local DIY outlets seem to have given up on the cork tiles I used before. Since then, though, I've found that C&L supply rolls of 3mm sheet and now have a supply ready for further modules.

The sides of the embankment have been covered in hanging basket liner, and the base of a farm track under the line and between two fields has been built up using foam board and air-drying clay. I've started trimming the 'grass' and tweezing out all the bits of plastic material and string ready for my first serious attempt at vegetation. I have supplies of various materials, crumbly green foam, static grass, tufts etc. Now all I need to do is to go back and re-read all those accounts of how to do it, both here and on the old RMweb, then to summon up the courage to make a start...