Montague

Intesting - would it be possible to provide numbers for the paints you are referring to? I find the 'German camouflage black brown' from the Vallejo Panzer aces range to be an excellent colour for general grime and also old rust.

May I resurrect this thread? Any more takers?

I would wait if I were you. I got cloudy (Woodland Scenics) water, but it became clear after one or two months! Edit: Didn't read that the water had ran off the board...

Hi David - I have attached a rough sketch of the layout room - I believe the room is about 12 x 14 feet. Photo positions for the pictures above are marked on the sketch (but with mixed up numbers - photo position 1 is the second picture, and vice versa) .

Again, I very much appreciate your feedback. I am glad I held back and asked for guidance before starting to lay track even though my fingers were itching. I have not been able to scan a new track plan, but I have attached two pictures of a possible arrangement (where the the red box is the station building, the card mockup in white the goods shed, black foam platform/loading bank and wagons/coaches placed where they could load and unload), according to my thoughts below: - I do not want to 'commit' to NER territory yet - I could as well put the station in GN territory, for example - so no coal drops - I would prefer not to have a switch back spur - I have added a trap point by the entrance to the goods yard, but the run around loop, now disconnected from the yard, will be unprotected (looking at Masham, for example, the loop does not seem to have a trap - and by the way, the coal drops are smack in the middle of the station, just behind the platform! masham(alan_brown_collection5.1949)old4.jpg) (picture hosted at Disused Stations, I hope they don't mind me linking to it) - I am undecided if I will make the spur with the coal wagons in the picture a dedicated coal siding with bins, or if I should follow Nicks advice, maybe making this spur another 'milage siding' - I will put a crane by the milage siding - end loading will be done from the siding running parallel with the platform, where the tractor is in the picture - I am undecided regarding cattle pens/animal loading bank - I guess I could make some arrangement on the dock - I will either skip the provender store, or put a small one by one of the sidings Looking on the three tracks between the platform and the loading bank - should I do a cross over instead? - can't see any use for such spur, though?

Excellent input, thank you very much.

One station that could be relevant inspiration would be Masham, maybe - http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/m/masham/ .

Thank you Jon - that was my thinking. The siding with the animal ramp will act as kind of a mileage siding but it is long enough to under normal circumstances be clear for 3-4 coal wagons, as long as the ramp is not in use. I will make a new plan which will give correct measurements.

Excellent, thanks. So the catch (trap?) point would be 'inside' the loop, between point 1 and 2 - not by the entrance to the goods yard, between 2 and 5? I think I'll do away with the switchback then. Sorry, I don't understand "in reality, this would have been done with 'oss-power,"? Great idea about the signal hut - I will definitely incorporate that one. Thank you very much. I will study those maps. Unfortunately, I think I was a bit careless with my wording on the track plan above. Actually, the 'coal drops' should be 'coal siding' - I was thinking of having proper coal drops though in the larger through station. And cattle - I blame on being non-native speaker - what I saw before me was an animal loading bank, with sheep as main passengers. Was sheep taken to a market like cattle? Or would it be plausible with sheep being sent for slaughter? I will produce a new track plan where measurements are clearer.

I have base boards ready for a double track oval depicting a through station with a branch line to a terminus. My initial focus will be on the terminus to get a modelled area as soon as possible. I will aim for something reasonable correct for ca 1950 in the north eastern part of England. It will be freelanced, but I will use NER/LNER as a guide for station colours etc. The terminus will be a small, rural market town/village with sparse passenger traffic (probably to be abolished within the coming decade), coal, animal feed, on market days cattle, parcels, and a few loads per week of agricultural machinery or other special loads. Outgoing traffic will be mostly agricultural products. I have yet to decide if I will signal the branch line or not. I am leaning towards One engine in steam. This is a draft of the track plan. I would appreciate any input before I start to lay track, especially regarding. 1) Is the track plan reasonable? I do not like having a switch back, but I want to use more of the base board as the branch line will make a curve down/right to the junction town, behind the operator at the terminus (if you look down on the track as you do on the track plan). 2) I guess the question about signalling/one engine is steam mainly depends on if more than one train will ever have to work the branch on the same time? 3) if I choose One engine in steam, would it still be prototypical to have signal cabin (for an operator of points etc)? 4) The points are numbered for reference in the track plan. Which points would typically be controlled by point rodding from the signal cabin (or ground frame?), and which would be controlled by hand levers by the point? 5) Do I need any catch points, for example between point #1 and #2?

Thank you for directing me in this direction. Do you put on the clay before assembling the walls? Do you make the pattern as the clay still is soft or do you wait until it is dry?

And regarding mechanical/running qualities?

Thanks Rob! Unfortunately, after having installed an ESU Sound decoder and having witnessed a puff of black smoke which would have made Seuthe proud my 4F pictured above doesn't run anymore. I'm not an electrics guru, but for some reason the loco won't run even if I revert to the former Lenz decoder or put in the blanking plug and try it on DC. Howe's will send me a new decoder but I don't know if I dare put in the same loco. Therefore, I am considering buying either a new 4F (in LMS livery) or the 3F. As I understand it, the 'generic' 4F sound from Howe's is equally suitable for the 3F, and both have 21 pin decoders. To my question: For those of you who own both the 3F and 4F - is there any differences between the locos regarding detailing or mechanicals? Is there any reason I would be disappointed in the 3F when comparing it to the 4F?

Thanks! Yes, it is airbrushed with the 'Schackleton' Humbrol colours Matt black, Leather and Gunmetal, and then MIG Old rust and Black soot powders (the latter only in the tender).

I think it is a beautiful loco. I agree it is a bit loud though and slip quite easily, especially hauling a rake through the tight (about 21 inches radii) curves on my layout.