So, as predicted in a previous post, this blog has been pretty quiet for a couple of weeks - unfortunately not entirely due to working on this layout in the background, as everyone in this family seems to have been struck down with some perpetually annoying virus over the past fortnight, in addition to which we've finally had some progress on us moving house, which sparked a panic about the amount of clearing out we need to do before that happens! So, with that in mind, now is not the ideal time to be building baseboards or casework, so some of the preliminary work on renewing this layout probably needs to wait for a little while (but hopefully not too long!) 

Neverthless, as a friend helpfully pointed out, there's nothing to stop me building something - anything - to be added to the layout later on. Good shout. So while stuck in woodwork limbo that's what I'll do. The research has been continuing, of course, and more books have arrived to help with that. One idea I'm quite keen on is to add a small industrial-style engine shed for the privately-owned shunter. I'm not 100% sure there's space yet, so anything that can fit will need to be based on a very, very compact prototype. Lots of examples to consider as I got all four volumes of 'Industrial Railway Locomotive Sheds' by Adrian Booth. 

My plan for the layout includes some additional buidlings, and I picked up BRM & Metcalfe's Small Cottage kit at Doncaster, and inspired by Phil's article 'How to transform a simple card kit cottage', I'm going to attempt something similar but appropriate to the location. 

I'm also considering whether to scratch-build a small chapel in a similar style, based loosely on Rug Chapel and Eglwys Llanbadrig. 

I'll also be needing more models of trees on the layout, so I've been out taking naked photos of their real-life counterparts.

Purely for reasons of anatomical correctness, you understand.