marc smith

The best Mirrored Plastic-card I bought was some time ago. I got it from a theatre supplies company. It was just a tad "brighter" than other materials available at the time. Although since then, I've seen several suppliers offering it. The plastic mirror I used was also just a shade thicker than others. Funnily enough, I recall searching for the material and not being able to see it in any modelling shops or shows I'd visited.... then as soon as I bought some online.... it was at every show I visited for some time! ha ha

I can't quite see from the pics above, but are you using surface-silvered mirrors? Most mirror materials are silvered on the back, so you get a "gap" between the layout and any reflections. There are several brands of surface-silvered plasticard out there - it's nice & easy to cut (unlike glass mirrors) and the surface silvering really helps hide the join. It's not quite as reflective (in terms of brightness & sharpness) but it's good - just don't stick it onto a surface with lumps & bumps on..... or you get distorted reflections

I'll echo other comments on how good this is looking Rob But mirrors on a layout? Now who would do such a thing? ha ha ha ;) In my experience, it's all about careful placement, and disguising the ends / edges of a mirror. I used a cur-down tree on my 7mm "Poynton Sneer" O gauge micro, with a Pipe gantry running across it. On my OO "Hendre Lane" a chimney in the far corner helped disguise the join... with a tree placed in front of it. But the factor that disguised it most, was the half-relief footbridge I placed across it. Mirrors placed under bridge arches can work really well IMO - but it's carefully disguising the join that's the secret IMHO.

Indeed. I seem to recall stumbling across this fine thread sometime ago.... and then losing touch with it. However, I'm glad I saw it again today. This layout is looking great @phil.c

I thought you were likely not going to stick anything down permanently yet (apart from the track, obviously lol) Re your last point about the buildings - that's something I like too. If you can get your buildings looking like they all "belong" there, but have differing heights, levels and roof profiles - it makes a scene more interesting.

Looking good @Nick C- it's amazing just how much difference a background or a sky background can make, I'm sure you won't be glueing any buildings down just yet - but I always wait to do this, as I think it's good practice just to leave them loose on the baseboard for a while, and then move them around occasionally, until you find their optimum position. Sometimes, even moving a building or structure just a few cm either way can make a difference or have an impact. Keep this one up good sir - I'm looking forward to seeing it progress :) EDIT: I like that large factory / warehouse a lot. I can picture several utility outbuildings or sheds around it. I always like to hide a backscene corner with a tree or chimney too, as you have done here.

Hi Nick, I find myself in agreement with my fellow Welshman and old chum here. I think the plan with the slip just "flows" more nicely. Plus, the plan looks slightly less "congested". I also think I'd be tempted to bring that crossover on the left of the plan just a tad further along to the right (maybe just 2 or 3 inches) - I think that will help that left hand siding in the foreground look a tad longer. Up to you of course, but I think it would be quite nice to see a wagon or two parked there, with a little bit of space around it. Looking good sir. I think this one will be a winner.

It's the distant, quiet end of what remains of the yard at Poynton Sneer. At one time, there were further sidings East of this point. These are now rusted and overgrown with grass and weeds, but most tracks have been removed. Some "tinkering" has been required and a bit of topping up of ballast here & there. John "the tap" stops for a chat with old Eric - who can recall when the sidings were all full, and we used to get three or four "proper" engines working here. Neither of these gents know where "Mister Chivers" the ginger cat lives. He's a regular visitor and always seems well fed, groomed and looked after - though the lads often give him a piece of ham from their sandwiches. A single Grampus sits near the tool shed, and John's Moggie Minor rests until he's ready to head home. Silly old John really shouldn't have bought the soft-top version of that car. It's a bit chilly and damp around here... though not today - today it's warm enough to take your jacket off and roll your sleeves up.

I was going to ask the very same question :) But on the other hand.... it may be best not to know! ha ha :)

In Paul Lunn's excellent "Micro Layouts" book, there's a lovely photo of a "Pizza type" layout built to EM gauge, by the very talented Neil Rushby. That layout has even tighter radius curves still. Sadly, I have forgotten the exact radius - Neil did tell me sometime back. Anyhow, it is indeed possible to run very tight curves, but you have to watch out for things like buffer lock, especially when propelling wagons. You can obviously only run short wheelbase stock. And I'm sure Neil told me he had to use 4 link couplings, as 3 link couplings weren't long enough. All things to try out when you're at an early stage. I like the look of this, I must say. I recall being at a few shows where the layout next to me was roundy-roundy.... and I sometimes envied the operators - as they could wander off and leave trains running around, while I was amid some complex shunting manoeuvre.

The summer has come to a close. Though in truth, it was typically not quite as warm & dry (again) this year, as the locals would have liked. "Those bloomin' reservoirs up the Beacons should 'ave been full to the brim months ago!" is an oft heard phrase in the area. Too many sun-bathing days on Barry Island beach were interrupted by a necessary, urgent dash for the penny arcades and the chip shops.... in vain attempts to dodge the storms. So many ice-creams were dropped for the seagulls to pilfer, in the mad rush to find shelter. Too many sandcastles were left, mid-construction, and now we expect more rain! A single, unloaded SPA wagon sits in front of the faded, rusty, grubby local steelworks. It might be grimy, it might be weed-strewn, with bits & pieces of rusty detritus here, there & everywhere - but it has an atmosphere of its' own, even on a cold, damp night.

The area is indeed a nice site for a fictitious railway. In fact, it's just a lovely site anyway. In my search (many years back) for a location for my model, I set it in Ogmore-by-sea, as the TVR had indeed planned a route there - I think from Cowbridge? Which I may have read in Colin Chapman's excellent book on the Cowbridge Railway - hence my use of Cowbridge 2nd Station building, and the goods shed, which featured at 2 locations on the line. One being at Aberthaw Low Level Station. More of which..... The only surviving photo of the small corrugated goods shed at Ogmore-By-Sea. Here we see Thomas "The Tally" checking the contents of the shed matches the paperwork. Thomas is such a stickler for these things - he sometimes complains that he has been short changed in the village shop, or that "Berwyn The Barman" hasn't quite topped up his pint. Berwyn sometimes tops Thomas's glass up with something non alcoholic! Thomas is wondering where that useless (in his opinion) young lad Efan 'Elpus has got to. Efan has just finished mucking out the cattle dock though.... just as Dai Station had told him. He's a bit of a dreamer though - his thoughts now turn to Gladys from the shop, and sometimes Megan from the farm - she's half tidy.... when she's scrubbed up from working in the cowshed.

Ah yes, "The Pelican In Her Piety" is a great name for a pub too. Though in my imagined-rose tinted, GWR flavoured, rural idylic past, it was once called "The Sheep Dip Inn" (until I can think of a more amusing name, of course)

The branch passenger train is almost crowded, there are 4 passengers today! However, on departing Ogmore Road station for Ewenny Platform, the train has had to stop unexpectedly. Although in truth, this is a fairly regular occurrence, as there are sheep on the line all too often. Driver Ivor has complained to the station manager (Dai Station) about the lack of fencing along some parts of the line - but farmer Jones (don't trust him with your sheep, your wife or the milk deliveries) reckons he shouldn't be liable for fence repair costs. It's all the fault of the G.W.R. - there were never ANY problems when the line was run by the Taff Vale Railway (but of course there were.... as farmer Jones never wanted the railway to cut right through his farmland in the first place!). The unexpected pause is a fortunate occurrence for the photographer - he intended to take a photo of the train at the platform, but was "delayed" in the local pub - the Sheep Dip Inn.

Ogmore Road (undated). A pannier tank sits in the run round loop, the driver is waiting patiently for the official photographer (Dai Chroic) to take his photograph - there was no 400 ISO film available back then, obviously. Sneakily, someone else is taking a picture of Dai at work. Driver (Ivor) just wants to get the wagon into the tiny coal yard, and get off down to the local pub, which overlooks Ogmore Castle and the river estuary.

As ever Matt, some stirling work here. I really like that faded blue 08 - top job there sir :)

Nice weathering again sir :) I do like to see well weathered,beaten & rusty wagons - especially in a grimy setting, with plenty of weeds, detritus, muck and bits & pieces of rusty scrap metal strewn around the place....... and apparently, my Doctor says there's no cure! ;)

Looks very interesting, and something a bit different - as has been said. Looking forward to seeing this one develop.

I was truly saddened to hear of Iain's passing. He was an inspiration to so many of us on here, I'm sure. But for me, his book on Finescale modelling in small spaces was THE book that changed my whole approach to Model Railways, along with Barry Norman's Landscape Modelling, and Gordon Gravett's 7mm modelling books - these are all volumes I still turn to. I suspect I will still be re-reading Iain's book, and others written by him for many years to come. Commiserations to his family and friends. RIP Iain.

Ah, tempted by other scales - we've all been there! Or is it just you & I Matt? I suspect not ;) That building is looking superb good sir. Great modelling, as ever

Looks great. I'd like to see some close-up photos of the layout please :)

Nice one Dave! What are the dimensions of this marvelous micro? Keep up the good work sir - hope all is well? :)

Looking great :)

I thought that may have been the intention. IMO, this can add lots of interest, and something different to the rest of the operations. Best of luck with it - I'm looking forward to seeing it progress

Looking forward to seeing this one develop. As @Ray Hsays, brake vans tend to be considerably larger than 4 wheel open wagons - but if you plan for that, then you should be OK. On my 7mm minimum space (ha ha) "Poynton Sneer" - a rarely ran a brakevan. I occasionally just parked it in one of the sidings and left it there.... perhaps when manually swapping wagons over in the fiddle / sector plate area. Will the high level line be operational? (maybe a shuttle?)