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Hi Tony, I really like this layout. Again it shows the benefits of 2mm Scale i.e the railway becomes part of the landscape. The trees look good too. I need to get on with tree making for my N gauge experimental layout St. Keyne Wishing Well Halt after I've finished off a few 4mm jobs. Look forward to further progress. Cheers, Mark

Hi Missy, Excellent work. Capturing the profile just right. Oh, go on then! On with the Elvis links: ELIVIS as entered the building!!!!!! That must be the '68' Come Back Tour with cape and scarf. Look forward to the next installment. Cheers. Mark

Evening Pete, Really enjoying this account of building these Clayhoods. Your first wagon is coming along nicely. The chassis looks neat and you've done a grand job of mounting the body on to it. As a matter of interest, how are you planning to do the hoods? As you say-'Only another 17 to go!'. Cheers. Mark

Morning James, Excellent sketching. I really like them, they really capture the atmosphere of the F of D. March End Sidings certainly has a lot of potential for modelling and as you have noted Class 14's/25's were used after the end of steam. A few years ago I kept toying with the idea of building a layout based around Berry Wiggins depot situated at the old Whimsey Station outside of Cinderford. I've still got the numberplates for 3737 and 8745! Although I sold all of my Bachmann Berry Wiggins tanks. Literature wise, I guess the definitive works would be the four books published on the F of D/ S & W branches by Karau et al published by Wild Swan. I've also a soft back A4 book called Steam in Dean by Ashworth, published by Lightmore Press. This book is excellent as Ben Ashworth's photographs are excellent. Also, Ashworth wrote two books published by Sutton titled Last Days of Steam in Gloucestershire. These books have some good photos of the Forest as well. All certainly inspiring and so much potential. Hope to see something oneday! Cheers. Mark

Hi Jon, Can't think of a better location. Can't remember the name of the place now. Somewhere in Cornwall I think? I was there last week. 66093 with 32 CDA's hard at work. Of course with the delightful weather, there was only one place for waiting for fots. Now what's the name of that pub? I'll be watching this with interest. After I've finished my first foray into N, my next layout will be built using Easitrack, having just joined the 2mm Scale Association like you. I think with this layout, you're going to be able to show the benefits of N in landscape modelling. Cheers. Mark. Now where's that EWS Management Train?

Hi Andy, Like the others have said, I'm looking forwards to seeing this layout progress. Be good to see some fots of the track being built as well having just joined the 2mm SA. All the best with this project. Cheers. Mark

Evening Jo, Fantastic work on 074 and a really impressive finish. You've captured her just right. Cheers. Mark

Hi Missy, The layout looks superb-I'm really impressed. There's a lot I can learn from your approach to scenery as it looks natural and the railway blends into the landscape as it should. I love the detailing as well and goes to show what can be achieved in N gauge. I too have got to build some wire lineside fencing and was going to use light gauge fishing line. Can you tell me what you used please. I've just joined the 2mm FS Soc and was wondering also what track you have used. Keep up the excellent work and look forwards to the next installment. Cheers. Mark

Evening James, Really liking this. Bit of a fan of the 142's and you've done a grand job of this unit. John at Precision does a cracking job with the decals and I should think you're well chuffed with the finished result? My only one comment is it should be in First Great Western Livery! Be good to see the finished article. Cheers. Mark

Hi Tom, Only just picked up on this blog and I'm really impressed. Might have something to do with my recent conversion to N gauge. (See my blog-St.Keyne Wishing Well Halt) As others have said it could be mistaken for a larger scale but I think thats the beauty of N gauge in that it allows you to portry the railway in the landscape quite easily owing to the space available. The level of detail on your layout and other N gauge layouts I've recently seen is superb. Keep the excellent posts coming and I'll be keeping track of this one. Cheers. Mark

Cheers Pete, SKWWH has always enchanted me and thought it would be an ideal taster into the world of N gauge and simple to boot. As you say no points and using Set-track has speeded up the progress. I agree though Code 80 is a bit chunky but didn't want to go too mad. My next layout will have points though so best get a hang of the wiring. In some ways it's an experiment but I'm hooked and will be selling all of my 00 modern image stuff and keeping just the steam locos and stock for my Kettering-Cambridge Line based layout. Infact I've already aquired two Dapol EWS Class 66's some CDA's and other bits. Look's funny rolling through SKWW though! As for the speedy progress I've had some annual leave so I've progressed quite quickly but things may slow down a bit because I've got a course at uni to finish off and an exam in July so academia could be coming first what with writing and revising. Just also picked up on 'Waton' on here as well and yet again this layout shows how N gauge becomes part of the landscape which is an effect I personally like. Thanks. Mark

Hi Dave, I'm really impressed with Waton and wish I'd seen this before. I'd been looking at modern N gauge for a while and layouts such as yours certainly highlight the benefits of N gauge being able to present the railway in the landscape. Like you I decided to make a foray into N gauge with my representation of St. Keyne Wishing Well Halt (SKWWH) set on the Looe Valley Line. As you've found out as I have too modelling a rural setting involves copious amounts of trees. I like the effect you've achieved with yours-I used a similiat method but used hanging basket liner to bulk out the trees prior to adding foilage. Your soldered fencing is a brilliant idea. I need some for SKWWH and stupidly brought some Peco fencing. Looking at it, it's way over scale so I'm going down your route. If I succeed with this layout my next Cornish themed layout is being planned. All the best and be good to see some more progress. Cheers. Mark

Morning Pete, I too will be keenly watching the progress of this layout. I think you have some good ideas and I will also learn from your approach to building this layout. As you're probably aware I've an interest in the Looe Valley Line too, with my rendition of St Keyne Wishing Well Halt. I've never modelled in N before and so far I'm totally impressed. If successful I'll be planning a further Cornish based layout set around Treviscoe Clay Dryers, but with a branch as well to the north coast. Looking forwards to more updates and all the best with the project. Cheers. Mark

Morning Alex, So the plan is revealed! Sounds really good but when I first read the text I thought for a minute you had gone all Midland end of the line!! An 8f on an ore train would have been interesting. Some nice ideas and will be good see the development of this plan. Anyway work beckons. Cheers. Mark

Hi JZ, Thanks for the info. As fence posts go I thought they looked really good and to scale appearence. Shame you've not got shedloads left-I'd have some off you!! Be good to see more of the layout as well. Cheers. Mark

Hi JZ, In my aircraft modelling days aerial wires made from fishing wire could be coloured with a permanent marker or a fine wash of paint. Fencing looks good though-most impressed and certainly not a waste of time! What or whose posts are they by the way? Mark

Nice photo of 071. Saw her in Wellingborough last week on the Lindsey tanks. Popped up to Toton yesterday pm. Couldn't believe my eyes. I'll let the fots do the talking: 60051 on shed hopefully to be repaired following it's failure on Friday (See my previous fot). One consolation in this sea of faded 90's freight glory was DBS 37419.

Evening again, Been out with my new toy this afternoon. Hanging around Wellingborough/Harrowden Junction for the Lindsey tank train and hoping a 60 would be on the front again. Well there was but it had failed so a Shed was in charge! Not a good day for the Tug then?

Evening, Saw 60071 'Ribblehead Viaduct' Wellingborough tonight on the Lindsey tanks. Nameplates intact as well and a really good sight and sound. Cheers. Mark

I always listen to Cara Dillon-Ireland's finest singer-see signatures below and Devon's Seth Lakeman. Both totally brilliant and well worth a listen

Hi Gareth, Perhaps along the lines of the GWR Mogul, but how about a Bachmann splitt chassis GWR Manor. Thanks, Mark

Hi David, Looking good! The J15 looks excellent. I'm building the Nu-Cast version at present. The kit and your handy work have brought out the best in the little J15. Keep up the blog. All the best, Mark

It's a funny one this. Like the others I've built many kits in my time-mainly Parkside but have always found Ratio kits easier to build. I like the way the solebars join to the floor of these kits. Everything seems to sit square quite easily. Recently I built an LMS goods van with no problems at all. It runs superb, though I agree about the Gibson wheels being possibly too fine for standard Code 100 trackwork. I've always found Parkside kits good to build, but sometimes depending on the kit there can be splaying on the W irons, having fixed the solebar as per instructions, which requires some adjustment. Thanks, Mark