SouthernBlue80s

Really well thought through. Nice layout Steve

Steve - How did you do your puddles?

Agree.. Looks just right

I like the latest pictures - A few south wales coal clips of you tube you might all enjoy really good close ups of the 37 at slow speed on this one

My personal opinion. I like the first LNER style hut better, I think it is more in keeping with this model. I like the bank with one proviso, how much does it obscure things on this small layout? If it does I would bin it. If not then keep it, as it adds something. The same goes for the positioning of the hut. If you do not put it underneath the bridge, I think that area crys out for a few sleepers and old oil barrel and few weeds. It just the kind of place stuff would be dumped. Cheers Steve

I like that, it sets the scene. I like a good back story. It helps build a picture in the minds eye of what you are modeling. I actually wrote one for my previous layout along similar lines. So there you go folks the official history of Shillston Road (Just need to get my hands on some 20s now. They would look good on it. I have a 40 I am weathering and I think that might look the part too. I think work worn 47324 looks right on it as well)

Agree Marc, makes a big difference doesn't it. Cheers Steve

Thanks mate. A good little test in a way for you guys. Proof that they work and they are only 22/23cm high and so are far more suitable for us space deprived modelers. Also they can be taken up and down and stick behind any small layout. I have slid these two small backscene boards under the sofa. My wife will never know! I have all sorts of railways stuff squirreled away in small spaces!

As suspected an N gauge backscene works perfectly well with a 00guage layout. Here is the proof Cheers Steve

Hello fellow micro modelers Well there were a few tweaks to be done. A set of tracks end at a mound of sand, some oil on a track from stabled locos and the odd weed. I had a bit of a mishap with some watered down PVA...so more weeds appeared than I would have wanted, to cover up the deed. But happy with result. A N gauge backscene arrived whilst I have been recovering and I stuck that down and that has worked well. I will also use it for my next micro layout which I have just started. Some pictures to show how the N gauge backscene looks As you can see it looks better in one direction than the other. Cheers Steve

Arm is just about working ish again. I am liking building these micro layouts. I have very little room and you can put a lot of detail into them. It is a challenge to get something to work in a small space. So here goes with a weed ridden well used but partially run down yard in the 1980s. It will be mainly an exercise with ground cover, with a small brick and corrugated hut and a low raised bank at the back, the track on that will probably be disussed. I hope it will look good with a decent backscene at the back..we shall see Inspiration I painted the board built the bank. Got the bullhead down and mucked about with a rusty bufferstop. Not sure about this one. Will it look right? Time will tell

Looking at the class 40 flickr site link posted above. They list 15 of them without headcode discs 1,9,12,13,33,35,58,70,73,84,85,92,99,101,121

Going rate for a flush front peak is about 250pounds at the moment. A few have come up at that price. The latest... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bachmann-32-676Z-Class-45-048-Peak-Modelzone-Limited-Edition-No-341-Sealed-Beam/232635069340?hash=item362a21739c:g:zdkAAOSwmphaPPez I guess Bachmann must have a good reason for not producing one I will now do my own conversions

Nicely done. Enjoyed the pictures, especialy liked the river. Steve

OK 97407 will have all numbers and the name removed and will be turned into 40068 with two white disc head codes as pictured here. https://www.flickr.com/photos/86055018@N03/28238676854/in/photolist-gWu3VW-bmywGJ-b81shP-doypiY-7Cn3jT-TM6TN6-csFPyw-a5YRYW-dVyMcH-bYEfyY-jdcKcC-7GsTJA-9sHCA4-RXYsD9-h5Sa43-9BPRTB-dVyLCt-7vpMcQ-dMYf95-7G7hSa-dVyMJk-pzGnJF-JZ9pws-7oZEfC-ntfcQh-E8vKtN-K2mANS-rWyLZi-9QC7sj-iMh7m3-rYqyEK-znLheP-H4Mrn6-k9sbgy-iMW75g-V1irXo-NAZn7g Do any class 40 rivet counters have any objections? if so please shout Thanks

I remember my trips to Woodhams and to see grubby blue 37s in places such as Swansea south dock and so on. I was young so never gave it a thought that it might not always be there and one day it all might be cookie cutter housing of dubious quality. I wish I had taken pics of the places themselves not just the locos but film was expensive and I didn't realise I was witnessing the end of industrial Britain.

Thank you that is very helpful. Cheers Steve

A question for the 40 experts I have just bought Bachmann 97407. Now I am probably going to turn this into 40012. I am not a 40 expert and there seem to be so many variations in their detail. If I removed the Aureol name as well as the 97407 numbering. what alternative numbers could I apply? What other 40s were identical in their detail to 40012? Thanks

They released me early..... I am full of drugs and can just about operate a mouse enough to hit like and agree icons

My order... for what is worth. 1.Lay track, position buildings 2.Paint sleepers 3.Paint track 4.Ballast track 5.Glue down buildings and any other features. I weather buildings before I glue them to the base board 5b.Make cup of tea 6.Get ground cover down, ballast and sand and so on. Sod the colour. I want the texture to look right. 7.Paint ground cover with thin washes to approximate colours. 8.Hit the ground cover with weathering powders 8b.Make cup of tea 9.Glue down incidentals barrels, old planks whatever 10.Static grass, weeds 11.Admire,take pics post on RM web and wince at all the blemishes. 12.Final cup of tea 13.Revisit to touch up and fill in all those gaps Hopes this helps. Cheers Steve

Loads of atmosphere. A real nice level of detail for N gauge Very nice Cheers Steve

Thanks, that shows that an N gauge back scene can look right. Not very tall is what I am after. So all good

Thanks for posting those Just had a look at the area today on Google maps

For a bit of inspiration - A grounded van on one of mine. Built it from a kit and then weathered. Perhaps a small box van on yours?

Thanks all for the good luck wishes. It will be a relief when it is all over and it works again. Already thinking about my next micro diorama Ground cover wise I find this picture inspirational Anyway will re-post when I am fixed and have that back scene up. All the best Steve