marc smith

Really like the run-down, unkempt look of this fab micro layout. The graffiti being "The Skids" helps place it.... and get a fave band of mine in there! Nice :)

Looking great Rob :)

I hadn't looked at this thread until just this morning - and I'm so glad I did. The layout is looking great. You've got such a lot going on, in a small area, and your use of buildings, blended with backscene and other details really sets the layout off nicely. Looking better all the time :)

Haven't popped in to see "bert" in a while now - so glad I did today. Looking great Stu. Keep up the good work.

As others have said - this lovely little layout is just stunning. Excellent work. Such atmosphere, I have forgotten it's raining outside lol

What an amazing project! How on earth have I missed this? Superb work sir. Really like the whole concept of this. BTW I am known (by some) for using mirrors on small layouts, and I think in this instance, perhaps it did look a bit "contrived" - however, it is possible to use them in a more subtle way too.... which could work on a micro / diorama like this. Anyhow, I'm looking forward to seeing this one progress.

Hi again @JimRead, "Barry's Light Industrial Premises Yard" - that's the name definitely sorted! I'd really like to see a model of that shunter, built out of card Jim... I'm sure if anyone can do it, you can sir :) As ever, your work is inspirational, especially in the world of micro and small layouts. Really hope to see this layout in the flesh some day.

Another micro classic coming up here, I think @JimRead I think the name "Barry's Lip" is rather clever - the suggestion "Barry's Lip Yard" is quite good. Looking forward to seeing this one progress.

Hi @Dunalastair Please don't feel "guilty" of drifting other people's threads. RMweb is all about sharing ideas, and thoughts about your own work, plus the work and ideas of others. As ever good sir - your work seems to gather pace really well. I like this one, I like it a lot. There's plenty of features and space for detail. Nice work again :)

Looking forward to seeing another nice layout from you Chris. Plenty of inspiration to be had, walking along by the S.S. Great Britain, and the museum on the waterfront nearby - some nice trackwork & buildings etc. Hope to catch up soon mate - it's been a while

Really nice minimum-space layout. Some excellent modelling, and a whole lot of atmosphere in a small space. Nice :)

Hi @SteveyDee68 Firstly, sorry to hear about your Dad. Dimentia can be an awful condition for the family of the sufferer. Secondly though, I think an O Gauge layout, built to use some of your Dad's buildings, and to make use of some of his stock is an excellent project. He would have bought and built them to make use of them one day, and I'm sure he would have been pleased to know you are doing just that. I was a 4mm modeller, and once I'd built an O gauge wagon kit - I was bitten by the bug. It was many years before I'd actually built a layout though, and that's another story, of more than one part..... I'd bought myself an Ixion 0-6-0, even thought I was modelling BR blue diesel era - because it's a cracking model. Moreoever, it's ideal for a small shunting layout, and it's lovely to watch, just shuffling a few wagons about. We all seem to buy models from eras we don't "usually" model - but so what? If it brings you a little bit of pleasure, or makes you change approach a little... then why not? Best of luck with this. Just go for it and make use of some of your Dad's models. Happy new year BTW :)

I haven't checked in to Lydbrook Dean for a while.... and I'm so glad I did today. This layout just keeps getting better and better. You really have captured a sense of the place. Looking fab :)

Looking good. I didn't see this layout first time around. Having built several micro shunting layouts, there were times at exhibitions, when I longed for something I could set up and just leave running. Looking forward to seeing this one progress :)

This is coming along nicely. As you say, when you start adding greenery, a plank starts looking more like a layout, and I like what you've done here. Watching with interest :)

Great to see this photo plank again - I'd forgotten just how good it was. Perfect grot, grime, rust, dust and weeds :)

Really glad the first show went well. The layout is looking great, I must say. Shame I couldn't be there to witness the inaugural exhibition. Hopefully, I'll get to see it in future. Excellent modeling sir 😀

I hadn't come across your blog either Ian - so I'm glad you shared this video here. Excellent modelling, and a lovely little layout, with such a nice minimalist atmosphere. I really like the old, rusty wagon parked at the end of the siding, and the upturned old wagon on the low level of the scene. That landrover and mud just look spot on. Lovely subject, and great to see the loading working well. But I do really need to know..... what's under that tarpaulin? lol

Nope, me neither :)

Stunning little cameo scene James. :)

As @Ramblin Rich says though James - always good to see your work on here too. Paxton Road is still looking lovely good sir :)

Here's a short video, showing S&W's in action. You can see the delay feature working quite clearly too. Remember, once painted (or preferably chemically blackened) they are less obtrusive.

Indeed @mudmagnet - I meant to add to my last post, that best practice would be to make up a jig - so that you get consistency between couplings. The simplest of jigs would be a block, which sits on the rails, to give you the correct height for that loop. Making something for the coupling "bars" is a tad more tricky, but that height is the most crucial factor - especially as buffers can be different heights on different wagons. Of course, it's always best to look at all other options / coupling systems too. We all have our favourites, and for different reasons. Cheers again Rob, Best Marc

Hi Rob. With S&W couplings, the delay action means that you actually uncouple over a magnet, back the loco off a little, and then propel the wagon. The delay feature is achieved because of a small raised "bar" which prevents the wagon from recoupling while being propelled. The loco then stops, leaving the wagon wherever you want - so you can pick it up again later. The only place S&W's won't allow you to immediately pick up a wagon, is when the coupling is directly over a magnet - here, you simply need to push the wagon beyond the magnet, back off a few mm, then you can re-couple. With S&W's, especially in 7mm - even my ageing eyes can see what's going on, because if you're looking for it - you can see the chain drop. Hope my explanation helps... if not, someone far more coherent will be along any minute now ;)

Just echoing what others have said. The use of the barrel is a great, novel approach - and that backscene is pure genius. Nice modelling too. A perfect micro :)