LBSC123

n Looking at this coach at the IWSR, I would say the answer was 'yes'!

Am I right in thinking these were the coaches which were also sold to the FYN?

Hard to believe that this is OO9!

Hmmm… I’m going to need to extend the time period of this layout…..

Looking good, what exactly is planned for the area of water at the front?

Looking good, what material is the ground cover applied so far?

Looks splendid!

Hi Ray, I’m afraid the only progress on Shalfleet has been the acquisition of a couple of Kernow Road Vans for the layout. Otherwise I’ve been a bit tied up with work, volunteering at Swanage railway and a holiday. I expect I’ll get time to progress on Shalfleet come the autumn. I must get it out for a play soon. best, will

Thanks for the kind words @Mick Bonwick. I can do some kit building and as you mention did a lot of work above and beyond what the kit contained on the Barge. However, as it stands, cutting holes for windows, doors and other things associated with buildings are a bit out of my comfort zone. I intend to partially rectify this on this coming layout, but by not relying on the techniques for the station building I reduce the urgency of tackling such a task. It's always good to acknowledge what you do/don't like doing and try and do more of the former and less of the latter! PS expect a lot of trees on this layout....

I’ve been mulling this over more over the last few days. A few wagons and a station building have arrived which will help start to set the scene nicely. my current line of thinking is ‘less is more’ and so I am considering an imaginary station which had similar rationalisation of its facilities as Brattain Fleming in 1932, where the passing loop was removed leaving just a siding. There are a number of lovely Village names along the line ‘Loxhore’ has a nice ring to it. Regarding baseboards, following in the footsteps of @NHY 581, I see IKEA sell a Lack table with dimensions of 118x78, which could prove suitable. First, I need to see what curves the Manning Wardle will tackle… More soon.

Following a moment of indiscretion I find myself in the possession of a Heljan Southern Era ‘Taw’ and a couple of Peco coaches to suit. What follows is a collection of ramblings which will hopefully at some point turn into an 009 layout. Since returning to the hobby just over a year ago, I have built two layouts, and learnt a lot doing so. I am not entirely happy with either of these, largely due to compromises I made during the course of construction which I later came to regret. Unfortunately these are ‘baked in’ to both layouts, and one can’t easily solve these without starting again. Largely, I think this is because I built both layouts in a bit of a fit of excitement during the first and second lockdowns. Ahead of this layout I thought it would be useful (for myself and possibly others) to establish a key set of criteria from which I could design a layout from. Key principles: -I enjoy watching a train proceed through a settling/landscape, so continuous run is a must -It needs to fit onto my table top, so dimensions are 5ft x2.5ft, maximum -Needs a degree of operational interest, not just a continuous loop, such as the ability to shunt (a) siding(s) or pass trains in a loop, without looking too cluttered. -Hands free operation is a must, so that means automatic couplings to enable shunt movements -Curved back scenes, no corners in the sky -Viewing angle needs to be managed, and so lighting gantry needs to be thought about during construction -Not relying on point blades for frog polarity/continuity -Passive provision for DCC -Scenery is my favourite bit of construction, so something that enables me to try out and hone a variety of techniques -Scratch building is not (yet?) my forte and so any areas of this need to be achievable to avoid demoralisation and the project stalling -I am not a sucker for modelling the prototype (I’m not sure I’ve got the space either!) but the layout needs to take clear reference points from the actual practice on the L&B, such as: signalling, station track plans ( and SR era rationalisation of these) buidings and scenery. This would enable the less knowledgeable to reasonably conclude that it might *actually* be a station on the L&B. That’s it for now. I’ve got a wealth of material to be getting through in the books below. I’m not too sure how quickly things might progress but comments and thoughts appreciated all the same!

I'm afraid I've still had little inclination to do much modelling of late, but did recently take delivery of these 'Southern' locomotives and coaches. I'm not sure they ever made it to the Isle of Wight (or Wales, my other modelling area, for that matter). So I suppose I had better find something to do with them... I'

Does anyone know what the principle differences between the pre and post 1932 SR liveries are, please?

Hi Rob, I am afraid to report that I haven't touched the layout in a number of weeks, life and other hobbies have been getting in the way, such as firing this mighty stead: I have just returned from the IOWSR 50th Anniversary Gala, if that helps to wet the appetite.... I must find some time, and inclination, to do some modelling....

Looking forward to seeing this progress. Keep up the good work, Rob.

The scene is developing nicely! What are the plans for a backscene?

Looking good, I look forward to seeing further progress.

The baseboard looks like an interesting idea, I'll be interested to see how it lasts. Thanks for the comments regarding the WHR Layout, it was my first foray into modelling for about 10 years and was built under the (self inflicted) time pressures of lockdown and so has a few areas I know I could do better next time! I'm trying hard to resist starting another OO9 Layout/Diorama and this isn't helping! Looking forward to seeing the layout progress, keep up the good work.

Looking good Tom Looking good. How have you constructed the baseboards? Will

Looking good Nile. I see you mentioned frog polarity switching and your wire in tube point control. I’ve not seen anyone do frog polarity switching (does it work on the blades too?) on OO9 points. How exactly did you wire this?

Looking good Nile. What's the plan for a backscene?

Looks like an interesting project, keep up the good work. What do you think you will be able to get into the loop/headshunt? It's hard to tell what it will take once allowing for clearances.

Splendid progress @Schooner

I’m not so sure it’s Salmon Pink and Chocolate Brown, they started painting LSWR vehicles into holly green from 1920, I think, and it seems to say ‘Southern Railway’ in between windows below the roof. I wonder if it’s just a reflection on account of the body side curvature which is making the colours seem different?

Hi Schooner, I like the look of the shed, I think it’ll be a lovely feature. With regard to some of the questions, I think it’ll work nicely but I often find with these things it’s just a case of seeing how it looks on the layout and making it look prototypical etc. Keep up the good work, the sea air must be doing something...!