2996 Victor

Lovely progress, Rob, the scenery is coming on really well. The winter trees look fab - such a rarely-modelled season as it's difficult to get the muted colours and foliage, or lack of, right. Excellent! Cheers, Mark

Excellent project with lots of potential! I'm looking forward to watching this develop. Cheers, Mark

Hi Alex, my sincerest apologies for not having replied sooner and many thanks for re-linking the photos. So sorry to hear about the layout's demise, such a shame as it was visually stunning. Still, I do understand why, and I must admit to doing the same on a number of occasions! This is looking very nice, indeed - love the loco! Have you started a thread for it yet? All the best, Mark

Hi @Alx, just wondering if this layout was still around, and whether you might be able to re-link the photos? Thanks in advance and all the best, Mark

Hi Rob, that's yet to be decided, although I feel that Yeoman's Wharf will be seeing it's demise before long. It started out okay and grew organically which actually seemed alright but, as time went on, the lack of proper planning began to take its toll. Of the other two, I suspect Newton Lane will be resurrected at some point, but I'm not sure about Great Bunbury - the idea may survive or the baseboard can be recycled (maybe even as an offshoot of the WSMR!). In the meantime, Tamiya P-47D Thunderbolts are occupying my workspace :D What a coincidence! :) Cornwall's mineral railways are fascinating, and the actual CMR particularly with it's back-to-back paired locos. Hmmm 🤔 All the best, Mark

Hope the old mojo is coming back now, Rob! Your layout design and building skills are huge talents but, as others have said, loss of enthusiasm is something that happens in any hobby. My own railway modelling mojo seems to have emigrated - I've got no enthusiasm for it at all and my part-built layouts have been consigned to the garage for many months. I'm busy building aircraft instead - short-term projects where I can see a completed model in a relatively short space of time. I'm sure you'll find a spark somewhere soon, and you'll soon be off on a new project. I see Lightmoor are re-issuing their history of the West Somerset Mineral Railway and Brendon Hill Iron Mines - how about the Osney Mineral Railway? 😉 Cheers, Mark

Love this layout, so beautifully built and just so full of atmosphere! Llanyblod is a delight to see. Cheers, Mark

Wonderful scene, the railcar looks perfect there. Not too many passengers - you don't want it looking like a closure special 😉 Cheers, Mark

Excellent choice, there, the stream is looking splendid and definitely "part of the countryside". Full marks to your Other Half! This is such a delightful scene, Rob, wonderfully evocative. All the best, Mark

Hi George, not sure how I've missed this, but thank's to Rob @rcf's mention, I've just spent an enjoyable hour catching up. There's really nothing more that I can add to what has already been said, but "simply superb!" I can't believe how convincing your moorland scene is, its amazing. I do hope the moving-in is imminent? What part of Minehead, roughly? I'm from just outside Taunton originally and I know Minehead and West Somerset like the back of my hand. You'll have been to Porlock Weir and Lynmouth, of course - their small harbours are just packed with inspiration. All the best, Mark

Superb, Rob! I agree totally with @Gedward and Adam @Calidore - you've captured a slice of countryside as it actually is (or was) with the railway passing through it. The stream is very effective (I'm taking notes for the planned reedy brook on one of my current micros!); the overhanging trees put me in mind of happy, hot summer's days in my childhood, wellies on, playing under the willows and hedges bordering the stream near my parents' home. Thank you for such a delightful, evocative scene! Cheers, Mark

Just catching up with your progress, Rob, and I have to say Osney Town is looking fabulous, especially now the forestry is in place! Looking forward to seeing some pics of the stream when it's all done! All the best, Mark

Also, FWIW, there were articles in Model Railway Journal issues 1 and 2 giving the Airfix 14xx a make-over (and also a new chassis) which is well worth a read. High Level also do a chassis kit for this loco, complete with dummy inside motion. All the best, Mark

Hope you're well on the way to full recovery? The ground work and grass is extremely convincing, and the tufts are a splendid touch of realism that I'm going to unashamedly emulate when the time comes! Cheers, Mark

Fantastic layout with beautiful scenery. Reminder, please - overall size? All the best, Mark

LCut Creative do some good-looking arches, although I found their stuff a bit flimsy. Not laser-cut, but there's this which looks quite good. Cheers, Mark

Thanks for posting this link, Tim, the OMM conversion looks very interesting and unusual, Stephenson valve gear was quite uncommon, I believe, in the US. Quite fancy one of those to go with my consolidation. Cheers, Mark

Nice - it'll look the bee's knees!

Nice selection of cars there, Tim - looking forward to seeing them running! Cheers, Mark

Stunning work, Rob, as always! Your trackwork is an absolute delight to behold. Cheers, Mark

Just heard back from Keith at KR Models. Expected delivery is next year although that's subject to change, of course. For anyone like me who couldn't work it out, cab options are: half-cab for delivery black and early preservation light brown; full cab for NCB and preservation dark brown. Cheers, Mark

Has there been any update on this project? The KR website says "In stock" but the descriptive info states delivery 2023. I'm undecided which option to go for, delivery black or one of the preservation browns - it may be me (probably is!) but I can't spot any details of cab or detail options which would inform my choice. I have emailed KR, so hopefully I'll get a response! Cheers, Mark

Brilliant, thanks - I'd forgotten about Meeth and the ball clay works. I read an excellent book on the subject more years ago than I care to remember. It was a library copy, can't remember the title, but I thought then it would make a great layout! Cheers, Mark

Thanks, that's great. I would never have found it tucked away at the end of the Brake Van chapter! It's a fascinating looking wagon. The containers look like they're pressed steel, and presumably the ends are hinged doors for unloading the clay. Thanks again, BeRTIe - that's brilliant. Cheers, Mark

Sorry to be a dunce, but I'm blowed if I can find it! 🤦‍♂️ Could you possibly point me toward a Plate number, please? Thanks, Mark