Hot on the heels of my people mover scooting around Kinlet Wharf, I have been working on some vehicles for the roads beneath the bridges.

Naturally, I have to remind you that I am not responsible for the excellent scenics that these cars sit in, but I am enjoying adding some little, subtle, embellishments to it.

The question of modern N gauge cars, in a 'local' 1:148 scale sense, is a tricky one. Until recently, I would have followed the usual habit of importing a pocket full of German made 1:160 scale Golfs, Beetles, Porsches and the ever present Capri...

...but under the microscope, the old faithful German Golf does look a bit undersized sat in our 1:148 cul de sac! This is an old one from the bits box, it might still be useful, but there are better alternatives.

Over the last couple of years, imported Tomytec cars built to Japanese N (1:150) have appeared and saved the day for modern British scenes. They are superb models out of the box, the only criticism is that they are a little sparkly and tend to stick out like a metallic, mirror finish sore thumb in a layout setting.

I have been experimenting with a light (and not so light, ooops) dusting of matt varnish to make them blend in a little. The odd thing is that you end up with something duller in finish than the real thing ought to be, but overall, to my eye, they sit more convincingly in the scene after this treatment.

The pub car park also features a Taxi from OXFORD and a little red Fiat from an unknown manufacturer!

(the regulars oddly oblivious to the excitement of the steam special speeding overhead!!)

A heavy spray also has the unintentional (though now I intend to use it!) effect of frost on the body and windows of the car. I got a little carried away and masked off the path of the windscreen wipers... (I can only suggest that there was nothing good on the telly!)

So, any layout I make with any number of cars in it will now be set in the winter's morning, an idea which appeals to me anyway.

A few more motoring additions:

The lock keeper's well used people carrier.

Remarkable printing survived the matt spray.

Heated rear screen? Not on this Moggie!

Kinlet Canal Workshop recently found this on EBay... (Citroen DS model of unknown origin, harshly weathered by me)