marc smith

Hi Peter, So sorry to hear of your health issues. And sorrier still that you have to sell this wonderful layout. I sincerely hope you can continue to partake in railway modelling - it can be a really therapeutic hobby. I'm sure someone will buy Two Sisters - it really is a lovely layout All the best from South Wales

I think this is absolutely brilliant. Some might say it's not "proper modelling" - but not me. They key here, is that you had lots of fun building it, and moreover, many of us on here will have smiled as soon as we saw that photo of it completed. Ivor The Engine was on TV right at that point for me to enjoy it, and like everything else Oliver Postgate touched - it was a hit and an integral part of so many lives. I too would really like to see this at a show. It would draw a crowd and stoke an awful lot of nostalgia, I'm absolutely sure of that. Being a Welshman (though from the bottom right bit of Wales) I'm already talking in my best Dai Station and Jones The Steam voices, and thinking about re-watching my DVD of the show :) Well done sir - hats off to you for doing something bold & different...... isn't it now boyo ;)

Hi @Jerry1975 This little layout is definitely looking better, especially now the greenery has been added. The Jolly Farmer looks very natural, and makes for part of a great backscene. Sorry to hear you can't build anything else for a while - but I hope you're pleased with what you've learned and skills you've picked up, building what you've done so far. Fingers crossed that your situation improves, so you can build again in future. In the meantime - don't forget, you can always run the small layouts you already have, and importantly - you can always continue to make kits, scenic items, or buildings for use on a future project. Or perhaps a really small diorama or scene you can "plant" into a future layout. I've enjoyed this thread, and your last depot layout too mate. Cheers, and all the best from South Wales (PS. It has now been sunny here for days.....that's unheard of! lol ;) )

Yes, this is what I usually do. A bit of PVA, some water, and a tiny drop of washing up liquid (no idea why I add the latter - but it works.... so I'll keep doing it) Having used DAS "neat" and found it always cracked, I think I read somewhere that PVA helps stop, or at least reduce cracking I used this technique on 6 or 7 layouts, and it definitely worked each time. On one occasion, the DAS had dried out pretty badly, and was very lumpy when applying - however, the result was still pretty good when dry.

And it looks right at home on this tiny micro layout too. I'm glad I glanced back at this superb little scene. I'd forgotten just how good it is :)

Hi there Rob. Good to see you've made some progress - and it's looking good I must say. I took a trip along the Looe branch last year. I had intended to do so for many years, but never seemed to get around to it. It's such an atmospheric, modellogenic line (I'm sure I either Iain Rice or Gordon Gravett used that term!). Yes, the stream does run alongside the track for some distance. Of course, the estuary runs alongside the track too - and the line is sandwiched between both.... and it's really quite delightful. I think it looks great on your layout, and will add some nice foreground interest. Looking forward to seeing this one progress. Hope you are well good sir? :)

Good to see some photos of Llanyblod again. Looking great. I do like those stormy skies, and that rusty goods shed :)

Well this is a rather "different" idea and approach @Jerry1975nice! :) I'm looking forward to seeing some progress on it - so no loafing around...... groan.... I'll get my coat

Good suggestion - alternatively, you could replace ST-225 with a point. Even if you only have a short spur / siding here, you'd have additional operational interest. Hmmm, maybe a cattle-dock? Perhaps and end-loading bay?

As suggested above, a Dairy or creamery would make a nice variation on the plan. However, you could also place a large goods building there, which would mean you could use any goods wagons you want. It's a nice simple plan, and a good place to start if you've never built a complete layout before. And yes, I've said it many (too many?) times that a micro layout is something that is more "achievable" to many folk who perhaps don't have the time to create something larger - they can even be a way of experimenting with techniques and materials if you're looking to create a new, larger layout. Plus, they're lots of fun anyway. Note that the plan above suggests two electrical "feeds" (the little red arrows on the right) but if you're using a Peco Streamline point, you will need to isolate the crossing Vee, and use a switch to change its' polarity - forgive me if you know this already. If you don't - don't feel daunted by this, it will teach you how to wire your first electrofrog point..... As an aside, I would definitely do this, and not use an insulfrog set track point... they look much better, and work better too (once correctly wired) Best of luck with it, and happy modeling :)

Another really nice issue :) Looking forward to the next one already

Really enjoyed seeing this layout, and chatting with you on Sunday Martyn. The SWAG day was great - as it always seems to be. The layouts and dioramas on display were of the highest standard. I've said of previous SWAG days - I enjoyed it more than many exhibitions I've paid to attend. Better get on with building at least something or that @NHY 581chap will be after me!

Hi folks. Just wanted to say, I had a great day at Sunday's SWAG do. Big thanks to everyone involved in setting it up. As ever, it was of the highest standard. It was so nice to bump into so many old pals, and like-minded model rail fans. I had some great chats with friends old & new. Thanks to @Barry Tenfor the invitation to come along & help with his superb French layout. Once again, it was something "a bit different" to the other layouts - each of which were also fantastic to see. Thanks also to @wenlockwho was a member of the "L'heur Bleue" team. We were also on the train that was held up by sheep - but we had our own theory as to the cause of the hold-up.... this included another member of the SWAG team, who shall remain nameless Nice photos of the layout too btw @SouthernRegionSteam- here's to next years event

That looks superb sir. It will be a nice addition to Tyteford Halt - another fine detail

More great modelling, painting & weathering Matt. Really like the bricked-up window and the distressed, faded, peeling paint too.

Some superb modelling here. Great design, great concept, and good operating potential for such a small layout. Love those buildings, and the weathering.... of pretty much everything. Thanks for sharing

Some nice weathering going on there matey. That crane rebuild is an inspired idea, and an innovative bit of recycling EDIT: As you say, it's sometimes a good idea to put the layout building aside for a wee while, gather your thoughts and search for inspiration..... One of the great things about railway modelling is that you can do this easily, by building & weathering stock, figure painting or making a building for instance.

All looking really good Mike. Mr Nevard's B&W photo certainly captures the atmosphere of this lovely layout. That railbus is looking superb

Looking absolutely superb sir. I'll be following progress on this layout closely. It's right up my street.

Looking good Stu. I'm looking forward to seeing this in the flesh

Looking good Richard. It may well be "not much modelling" - but it's still a heck of a lot more than yours truly has done! lol. Those trolleys and steps look really good to me. Such details are what really make a layout IMO, whether that layout is a large affair, or a small diorama. If we get chance to catch up at a show again (fingers crossed) - I'd like to buy some from you anyway, if you have any spares. Keep up the modelling mate, and Happy New Year

Looking good @bcnPete Those buildings look great. I agree fully with Mikkel's comments above. I'm sure many China clay lines suffered creaking sleepers when 37's visited. That 37 looks great, sat in the siding at the front. I can almost hear it ticking over.......

Ah, that first outing for a new layout. Actually, it is usually an invaluable trip. It's good that it was a low-key sort of event too - you wouldn't want its' premier exhibition to be a huge exhibition, with hoards of onlookers. This way, you can learn those invaluable lessons as to what needs "tweaking" or modifying. So you probably made a wise decision to take Garnswllt to your club event first. I know many people feel that a simple Inglenook could get boring to operate for a whole show - but I find that time usually goes far more quickly than you'd anticipate. Chatting to exhibition goers can be enjoyable and rewarding. As you say, some swapping of stock can also help add interest and make things more interesting for operators too. This layout is superb, and despite being a simple design, it oozes atmosphere, and demands attention and observance of details. As you say, a backscene might lend it even more a sense of "place". If it were my layout, I think I'd be tempted to place a screen in front of the fiddle - just to add a sense that the train is going "somewhere", and to hide those stock swapping moments. Perhaps I'd even be tempted not to use the ubiquitous over-bridge to conceal the exit - maybe just a couple of trees, or the end of a building? Anyhow, that's no criticism by the way - just a thought (I do have a few, now & then! lol). Superb sir, just superb