Unfortunately there has been very little in the way of progress since the last blog, however most of this is down to me being ill for the past 4 weeks. I have some sort of lung problem that the doctors are scratching their heads over and some of the next few stages of what I would like to model include the use of liquid cement and I really do not wish to endure the wrath of my lungs again.

I find that I have moods that last a few months where I want to do some modelling and one of these moods coincided with the start of the illness so I have been held back. However in an attempt to try and keep me going and push myself on for when I am feeling better I thought that another list was in order to sort out the layout.

- add more scatter material to the layout to give it better colour (this was on the previous list, I have never been satisifed with the deepness of the green I layed down).

- start the roof section of the scratchbuilt building (this has been going on for way too long now!).

- start scratchbuilding a second building using a different technique (suggestions would be gratefully received).

- smarten up the road (especially around the town).

- add the 3 new SAI buildings that I received for Christmas (this will require an extension to the road and some digging out of the modrock...).

- thorough clean of the railheads.

- glue the platforms down.

- add final layers of ballast.

- add scatter to the goods yard area.

- paint any areas that are left exposed.

- add more trees (I have the materials but have just not done it yet).

- consider what I want to do with decorating the extension section.

So thats my list at the moment. I am looking for a web site that is not too difficult to navigate that sells the Mabar Railcar (not that I can afford one right now...).

I am pleased that Model Rail International is back on the scene, I hope it is developed further.

If anyone has read all the way down to here then thanks, one thing I would really like to hear about is scratchbuilding structures on layours (especially in N). I have a book and a few articles on the subject but the way I am doing it seems as though it takes forever (using 2 layers of 40 thou plasticard as the basis for the walls with a patterned layer of plasticard as the external wall just seems far too time consuming). I am keen to know if there are shortcuts for using plasticard or if trying modelling card is an easier "first step" for a novice like me.

Many thanks and, health permitting, some pictures for you soon.