marc smith

Richard, This is looking fine! Some people tire of Diesel dopt layouts, but scratchbuilding your main depot building means that you give it a look of individuality. Nice building - like the concept of the low-relief buildings at the end too. Spot on with the locos looking nice & weathered & matt, rather than out-of-the-box-glossy-plastic! Also, you've got a fair bit of track there, without it looking cramped....but plenty of scope for movements too.. I can see this being a winner... Marc

Thanks for the kind words re my photo... I can't recall whether there was an article, but the Dave Rowe layout was (I think) called "Exbridge Quay" Dave & his wife Shirley both produced some really wonderful models. Shirley was famous for her superb trees, and Spanish layout, called something like "Catalyuna" or "Catalunya" - appologies if I'm not totally accurate with the spelling..... "Exbridge Quay" didn't have real birds of course... but a few models of seagulls, which "flew" around, by being suspended on very fine fishing line! A motorised pulley-wheel rotated - and was connected to another pulley (un-motorised) via fishing line. The seagulls were suspended from the line, on added "branches" of very fine line. On one pulley, the line went round it several times - thus the gulls appeared to circle one end of the scene!!!! If that's not enough to convince you of Daves excellence...... The scene was a harbour - which used actual water! And get this - the tide went in & out! (Using a system of water tanks underneath the model!) Ships "docked" in the harbour obviously had to move up & down with the tide! Buildings and scenery were sublime, railway operations were sparse, but that did not matter..... A swing-bridge in the foreground opened + closed, slowly.... ...but a man in an adjoining hut was to be seen operating the crank mechanism!!! I kid you not! Wish I had some pics of this wonderful layout, which did the circuit back in the 80's / early 90's.. If you do find an article - please let me know... Cheers Marc

Like JSW says - don't give up! Just keep modelling - and taking pics of those models..... This thread isn't a competition - it's there for ideas + inspiration! Marc

Just thought I'd include a photo of my old layout Hendre Lane in here. It's at a few exhibitions this year (DEMU + Rail ex South West) plus, it will shortly feature a new article in Model Rail magazine.... I feel that Black & White lends itself well to the photo-realism challenge.... Oh by the way, I did cheat a bit with superimposing the seagulls I once saw a Dave Rowe layout with actual flying birds......fab!

Sounds like a good idea to me! ...Now if you could motorize the conveyor too..... Marc

Oh dear! It's not really my fault, is it?..... I'm just glad "Mrs Pete" is hundreds of miles away.... Looks a good plan - I'd like to have a go at a Cornish China Clay setting myself someday. On "Clarbeston North" (the new name for my O gauge layout) I used a Peco point, that I'd bought a few years back. Of course, using shorter radius pointwork will save you a lot of space. Whether you build C&L or Marcway, or opt to buy a pre-built (I believe Marcway will make them to your spec) the Peco points are quite lengthy, so you'll save a lot of valuable area - which is important in a small scheme. As you're only using an 08 (+ maybe the 33?) again, their relative short overall lengths will help. Re the perspex at the far end, you could always make a removable backscene.... A bit of painted sky, with some tallish greenery in front of it? Wenford may not have had a convenient "view-blocker" but there are times when you can't avoid using your modellers licence! An old disused building, and tall chimney would fit the Cornish picture...suitably run-down + overgrown of course.. Also, if you were'nt strictly adhering to the prototype location, you could always do what I did with Hendre Lane.. A mirror at the opposite end of the board could make the area appear much more spacious. I made a half-relief footbridge, but you could just use some pipes and cables..... (see attached picture - the footbridge disguises the baseboard edge, and makes the layout appear larger - that isn't another class 25!) I'm sure the large clay-dries building will be fun to make..... Now you've got me thinking about doing one... Oh no, here we go again.... Good luck with building this one Pete, and keep us posted. Best Marc

Looking good - where did you get the buildings from? I can see a pikestuff shed building on the right side of the steelworks photo, are the buildings in the centre of the pic adapted from the Walthers Cement Works? Cheers Marc

A couple of views of my small O gauge layout, elsewhere on the forum.

Have only just seen this thread, after following the link in your kind comment re my O gauge micro - Actually, I'm sorry to say I've only just seen it! What a fab little layout..... ...superb atmosphere, and I really like the tales you have attached to some of the cameos... super stuff, and great choice of "container" Marc

I'm sure you don't regret heaping so much attention! It's a nice looking model! ....now for another 40 of them?

I like the modular concept! Nice model too - got a plan of your module, or an overall plan of all modules when put together?

Just followed the link, and it advises that the Kidderminster 2010 show is off Something about "the Glades" centre double-booking! Anyway, that's a shame, as I'd like to have gone along to see this fab layout! It's a show I pop along to, once in a while too - and usually enjoy.... Great layout, lovely painting & weathering! Nice atmosphere to it - when's the next show? Marc

Nice, neat work on those door variations! Lovely weathering - plenty of 08's + 09's had different coloured panels + doors - due to replacements / old panels removed from stored shunters etc.. Somehow, shunters in pristine condition look wrong! I remember seeing plenty of 08's in far worse condition - still operating! Nice modelling - any pics of them on a layout? Cheers Marc

Hi Stu, I like the pic above, where you've added a cigarette to one of the ashtrays! But don't you know smoking indoors is banned!! Now I will expect smoke to emanate from said fag!! Nice touch Stu! Marc

Fab Missy, just fab! Doesn't look like 2mm from the pics. Love the weathering too!! Marc

Hi Wayne, Any progress on the layout? I was wondering which gantry crane kit you have? I quite like the look of the old Lima kit (I believe Hornby are marketing it now?). From the piccies I've seen - It looks like it could be easily modified or re-configured, to give you a model with a difference. All the essential details seem to be there, so it could even be the basis for a completely different-looking crane. Keep us posted Marc

John, It looks absolutely fine! I don't think it's overdone at all. Some of these structures are absolutely huge! The most important thing is that it doesn't dominate the whole scene - which from your photos, it doesn't seem to do. Scalescnes kits really do look good - I'm sure it wasn't easy to build! Well done Marc

Hi Randall, Sorry to have taken so long to reply! ...I just don't seem to be able to find things (even my own posts!!) on the new system. ..And as you've rightly summised - I'm still smarting from that defeat (+ Saturday's loss too!!!!) Wow, thanks for saying that my stuff is inspirational! - I'm all embarassed now! I've been pleased with my modelling lately - but don't think its' as good as you're suggesting... ...I just know how to hide the crap bits! The O gauge you saw at Cardiff has moved on a little - but the really tiny O-micro hasn't been started. I'm not sure which plan to give priority to - the O gauge yard, the O micro, or my next 4mm plan. The latter is the one I'm thinking about most... ...must stop that - must focus. Several of us have talked about a WAG do, but there may even be a small show in the pipeline (a micro-modelling even which is separate from the WAG do, which we can join in with). I'll let you know, as I'm sure we could get "Maenol" in there, and it'd be great to see it in the flesh. Go on....finish it... Best Marc P.S. re your difficulty in getting paint.....Went to Warley on Saturday - None of the stuff I was hoping to buy was there...still spent to much though...

Nice looking pub (in real + model form)... ...Will you be giving onlookers a sample?.... ...you know, just to add to the atmosphere of the model?

I agree with James - the low angle view looks really good. The tree on the right-hand side looks good too... ....it takes the eye away from the edge of the background nicely. It's amazing how long a thread you've created from such a small layout, and how you continue to improve it - even though it has looked the finished article for some time! Nice work on the minerals too.... Marc

Very atmospheric! It's funny how sometimes a few small details, or a single figure can add to the composition and atmosphere - and they certainly do here. COming along nicely Mr Ten. The swans look at home, but the Bluebirds seem to be absent, since last weekend! Marc

Not sure how to do that - everything I do on this new set-up takes twice as long as it used to, and often just doesn't seem to work. I'll have another go when i have time - in the meantime, I've posted the pics into the gallery for Bracty Bridge, aka Roath Minor. Marc Edit.. ...hope this has worked (at 5 attempt!!!) It's certainly a long way of doing things, + not easy to figure out!

Have added some photos of the perspective effect + complete background. Also, there are some dodgy looking characters in the scene! ....None of them any relation to myself, and none based (intentionally at least) on anyone I know!

Ballasting seems to be everyones least fave task! You're right about the syringe though - it's something iv'e used myself. You have better control over where the glue lands. Something else Iv'e taken to doing, is glue the area first, then drop the ballast in place - sounds like it would take longer than the usual method - but it doesn't seem slower to me - plus, I think it's a bit neater, especially when using a syringe. Nice weathering on the track - it's amazing how much better the track looks once ballasted + weathered! Cheers

Hi Stu, Another good-looking plan, and a neat idea! I've thought of doing a layout that can be viewed end-on, as well as from the side before.... ...there's a cracking plan of a goods yard by Barry Norman in his old layout design book, and I've thought of a few schemes around this idea for a while. Your idea of fitting it into a crate is another winner though Stu. And to set it at a quayside would be a nice touch... ...I can just see the rails curving sharply, & buried in cobble stones... ..nice!! You simply must do this one Stu! Looking forward to it Marc P.S. I'm sure the crate would be strong enough with the end + side cut out - the one I used for Bracty/Roath Minor certainly is.. just don't cut the corner-strengtheners out.