SWAG Member's Day - 24th April 2022

[Mallard60022]

12 minutes ago, SouthernRegionSteam said:

@Alister_GYou are most welcome! That is funny about the recalcitrant loco... I've never known my presence to have that sort of effect on a locomotive. Probably the first and last time!

 

Sadly, I didn't think to take photos of BGman's Bizaare and the Bring 'n' Buy sale, so we'll skip ahead to the far end of the hall and visit...

 

...Parkend Marsh Sidings - John Farmer

I was immediately struck by the size of @Re6/6's layout compared to what I imagined it would be like, but I am reliably informed that it is to scale - with only the angle of the far siding being slightly shallower to reduce the width of the layout. As others have commented, being next to the doors/windows, the sunlight blasted the far end with light, creating a fantastic effect amongst the trees. The vegetation, by the way, was fantasticly dense and varied - I need to up my game! Similarly, the colouring was spot-on throughout - I just wish I had more time to watch some shunting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspirational scenics here. Simplicity works.

Phil

[30368]

28 minutes ago, Mallard60022 said:

Inspirational scenics here. Simplicity works.

 

Agree Phil. Lovely buildings and scenics done so very well. Excuse my ignorance but I assume this layout is at a show and you have pictured it?

 

Kind regards,

 

Richard B

[Mallard60022]

48 minutes ago, 30368 said:

 

Agree Phil. Lovely buildings and scenics done so very well. Excuse my ignorance but I assume this layout is at a show and you have pictured it?

 

Kind regards,

 

Richard B

Bit further up on the thread Rich. SWAG members day.

[SouthernRegionSteam]

Having had a nice chat with @mozzer models from 247 Developments (who kindly showed his range of static grass in a bewildering array of colours!), we move to @mullie's Upbech Drove...

 

Upbech Drove - Martyn Mullender 

Unfortunately, I have to start this post with an apology... I took far less photos than I thought I did, and to make matters worse my attempts at focus stacking weren't very successful on this layout. Still, I've spent an hour or so editing, and managed to scrape together a few photos of this wonderful little layout. The colour pallette is fantastic, and the layout proves that you don't need a spare barn to create a layout full of atmosphere. Another layout I will have to keep an eye on from now on!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, another 'arty' shot (mostly because this photo stack went horribly wrong, so it somewhat hides my sins!)

 

 

 

 

Edited April 26, 2022 by SouthernRegionSteam
Added Martyn's surname

[woodenhead]

3 minutes ago, SouthernRegionSteam said:

Having had a nice chat with @mozzer models from 247 Developments (who kindly showed his range of static grass in a bewildering array of colours!),

 

Glad you qualified that sentence with the word 'static', otherwise it might have appeared there was another reason for the copious amount of cake eating on Sunday by nearly all that attended.  😁

[Donw]

1 hour ago, woodenhead said:

Glad you qualified that sentence with the word 'static', otherwise it might have appeared there was another reason for the copious amount of cake eating on Sunday by nearly all that attended.  😁

 

You have some obsession with the cake eating. Perhaps you have had a sheltered life.   Glosgog meetings, GardenRailway meets,  Local exhibitions  all feature cake eating in my experience. Away from this hobby garden visits usually have tea and cakes. We get the pleasure of indulgance and usually it raises funds either for a club or a charity whats not to like?

 

Don

[mullie]

2 hours ago, SouthernRegionSteam said:

Having had a nice chat with @mozzer models from 247 Developments (who kindly showed his range of static grass in a bewildering array of colours!), we move to @mullie's Upbech Drove...

 

Upbech Drove - Martyn (sorry Martyn, I don't know your surname!)

Unfortunately, I have to start this post with an apology... I took far less photos than I thought I did, and to make matters worse my attempts at focus stacking weren't very successful on this layout. Still, I've spent an hour or so editing, and managed to scrape together a few photos of this wonderful little layout. The colour pallette is fantastic, and the layout proves that you don't need a spare barn to create a layout full of atmosphere. Another layout I will have to keep an eye on from now on!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, another 'arty' shot (mostly because this photo stack went horribly wrong, so it somewhat hides my sins!)

 

 

 

 

Thank you for the photos Jamie, you have really flattered my efforts. My surname is Mullender, and we have all been known as Mullie in our time hence my RM web name.

 

I hadn't realised how small the layout is until it was in the hall, it normally lives on a shelf.

 

Martyn

Edited April 26, 2022 by mullie

[woodenhead]

24 minutes ago, Donw said:

 

You have some obsession with the cake eating. Perhaps you have had a sheltered life.   Glosgog meetings, GardenRailway meets,  Local exhibitions  all feature cake eating in my experience. Away from this hobby garden visits usually have tea and cakes. We get the pleasure of indulgance and usually it raises funds either for a club or a charity whats not to like?

 

Don

Simple jealousy - I can never have enough cake.

 

Sadly my constitutution has a different opinion 😁

[SouthernRegionSteam]

Thank you, Martyn! Post duly edited. I also need to apologise for not saying goodbye and thank you after I had finished taking photos - I was in a rush to get around all the layouts before I ran out of time/battery, and you were engaged in conversation at that moment.

Oh, and I know what you mean R.E small layouts looking even smaller at shows - I took my layout out on the Saturday and it looked tiny in the hall compared to when I have it set up at home!

 

So, onwards we go, and next to Martyn was Jerry with his layout Tucking Mill...

 

... Tucking Mill - Jerry Clifford

We saw it briefly earlier, but it really is worth studying much closer. Let me remind you that @queensquare's layout is 2mm Finescale, not 4mm or larger! I struggle to get something half as decent in 1:76 scale so god only knows how Jerry has created such a beautiful layout in a scale twice as small! I think 'exquisite' is the word I'd use to describe Tucking Mill, and it was also very nicely lit and immaculately presented which always earns bonus points from me. The backscene was also a work of art - despite my usual preference for photographic backscenes, I couldn't help but be impressed with it; it suited the layout perfectly.

 

Again, let it sink in that this is 2mm scale...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 26, 2022 by SouthernRegionSteam
To include surname, and tag Jerry into the post.

[SouthernRegionSteam]

Going back around the corner and now looking at the centre layouts, we start off with...

 

...Pig Lane - Clive Mortimore (operated by Richard @The Fatadder)

@Clive Mortimore's layout was deceptively complicated! In fact (and don't take this the wrong way), despite being far from my usual interests, I became utterly absorbed watching Richard operate Pig Lane. Aside from the sheer number of isolating sections and three way points, the challenge came from the way it was purposefully operated. It uses a deck of cards to denote what locomotives/trains would be either arriving or departing. Sounds easy so far, but bear in mind that you are limited by the number of stabling points, and that the deck of cards could deal you an unfortunate run of hands where every single card forces you to bring on more locomotives without being able to make one leave! This happened to Richard as I was there, and it looked like a hell of a challenge to figure out where on earth the next locomotive could be stabled!

 

All in all, a really fun little layout; especially if you took the time to understand the complexities involved. I ended up feeling sorry for Richard at some points (but I think he still enjoyed it?!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can tell from the blur in the next photo, Richard had his arms full operating this layout...

 

 

... is it just me or does he look exhausted after having been dealt a bad set of cards:

 

 

Sorry, Richard!
Anyway, here's a montage shot showing the method of operation:

 

 

Edited April 26, 2022 by SouthernRegionSteam

[Clive Mortimore]

46 minutes ago, SouthernRegionSteam said:

Going back around the corner and now looking at the centre layouts, we start off with...

 

...Pig Lane - Clive Mortimore (operated by Richard @The Fatadder)

@Clive Mortimore's layout was deceptively complicated! In fact (and don't take this the wrong way), despite being far from my usual interests, I became utterly absorbed watching Richard operate Pig Lane. Aside from the sheer number of isolating sections and three way points, the challenge came from the way it was purposefully operated. It uses a deck of cards to denote what locomotives/trains would be either arriving or departing. Sounds easy so far, but bear in mind that you are limited by the number of stabling points, and that the deck of cards could deal you an unfortunate run of hands where every single card forces you to bring on more locomotives without being able to make one leave! This happened to Richard as I was there, and it looked like a hell of a challenge to figure out where on earth the next locomotive could be stabled!

 

All in all, a really fun little layout; especially if you took the time to understand the complexities involved. I ended up feeling sorry for Richard at some points (but I think he still enjoyed it?!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can tell from the blur in the next photo, Richard had his arms full operating this layout...

 

 

... is it just me or does he look exhausted after having been dealt a bad set of cards:

 

 

Sorry, Richard!
Anyway, here's a montage shot showing the method of operation:

 

 

Wow is that really my train set? Thank you Jamie.

 

Love the face Rich is pulling.

[The Fatadder]

12 minutes ago, Clive Mortimore said:

Wow is that really my train set? Thank you Jamie.

 

Love the face Rich is pulling.

Very much a “which switch have I not pressed this time”  look….

[St. Simon]

Hi,

 

Just thought I'd add my thanks to all of those that helped to make the day such a lovely one, as always it was a great pleasure and so nice to see everyone after 3 years!

 

Also, thanks to Dave Taylor for inviting Dad and I to help (or hinder, we can't work out which!) operating Bridport Town, what a fantastic layout and great fun!

 

Simon 

[woodenhead]

1 hour ago, The Fatadder said:

Very much a “which switch have I not pressed this time”  look….

Did you also follow the card rules religiously, Clive doesn’t, he cheats 😀

[SouthernRegionSteam]

2 minutes ago, woodenhead said:

Did you also follow the card rules religiously, Clive doesn’t, he cheats 😀

 

Don't tell him that, poor sod! 😆

[2ManySpams]

8 hours ago, Stubby47 said:

As a small aside to the main event, it was quite touching to see so many Landrovers on the layouts. Mick would have been happy.

 

Yes, found the old Treneglos one and brought that along for Polsarrett. 

[2ManySpams]

Speaking of Polsarrett... I'm waiting with baited breath to see Jamie's photos of it. Will be interesting to see the angles and shots taken.

[SouthernRegionSteam]

You drew the short straw I'm afraid, @2ManySpams - due to the way I'm 'going around the room' yours will be the penultimate layout (it would be the last shown, but I can't not let Rob have the final glory)! I haven't looked at the photos yet, so hopefully I've managed to capture what I wanted of Polsarrett! 🤞

So, leaving the complexities (or should that be perplexities?) of Pig Lane behind, we move on to...

 

... Penmaenbach - Chris Hopper 

A lovely little essay by @Gilbert showing a slice of North Wales in the 80s. Another immaculately presented layout using a card system to shuffle wagons using a slight variation of the classic inglenook puzzle.  Like Upbech Drove, it proves that you don't need mountains of room to build a layout that is both atmospheric and fun to operate. I particularly liked the road bridges and the vegetation. It's another layout that, despite being 'modern image', I stood and admired for a long time (as can be seen by the amount of photos I took) - it goes to show that you should never pigeon-hole your viewing of a layout just because it is based on a prototype or period that doesn't interest you!

 

Cracking stuff; well done, Chris.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mallard60022]

1 hour ago, SouthernRegionSteam said:

You drew the short straw I'm afraid, @2ManySpams - due to the way I'm 'going around the room' yours will be the penultimate layout (it would be the last shown, but I can't not let Rob have the final glory)! I haven't looked at the photos yet, so hopefully I've managed to capture what I wanted of Polsarrett! 🤞

So, leaving the complexities (or should that be perplexities?) of Pig Lane behind, we move on to...

 

... Penmaenbach - Chris Hopper 

A lovely little essay by @Gilbert showing a slice of North Wales in the 80s. Another immaculately presented layout using a card system to shuffle wagons using a slight variation of the classic inglenook puzzle.  Like Upbech Drove, it proves that you don't need mountains of room to build a layout that is both atmospheric and fun to operate. I particularly liked the road bridges and the vegetation. It's another layout that, despite being 'modern image', I stood and admired for a long time (as can be seen by the amount of photos I took) - it goes to show that you should never pigeon-hole your viewing of a layout just because it is based on a prototype or period that doesn't interest you!

 

Cracking stuff; well done, Chris.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You take a damn fine photo SSS.

It makes me feel that I haven't missed the event at all. Some particularly good shots of things I might not have actually noticed had I been wandering about.

Thank you.

Phil

[SouthernRegionSteam]

Many thanks, @Mallard60022- that's very kind of you!

I saw a lot of details in my photos that I never noticed at the show, so I think you're right about that aspect - a camera certainly helps you to get closer than your head/eyes can!

 

The tour continues... and practically within touching distance of Penmaenbach (actually, I think they might've been!) is our next layout...

 

... Peasevern Yard - Rob Owst

It carries on the theme of extremely compact layouts, but this time, in 7mm scale! @37114's layout is a fine example of minimum-space design, but for me the stand-out feature was the scrap pile. This isn't just a lump of foam with painted 'scrap' pushed in, oh no... every single piece of scrap was added individually! I also believe that the pile grows as more scrap metal is found. The end result is a scrap pile that actually looks like a scrap pile. Similarly impressive is the detail on the various vehicles lying around in various states of disrepair - the kind of detail I can only dream of in 4mm scale. Oh, and the ground textures were incredibly well-observed; including some rather nasty looking oily puddles!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And lastly, another 'arty' shot; it wasn't a very sharp image, so I've destroyed it further(!):

 

 

That's your lot for today - 'only' three layouts left to go (then I can get back to actually working!). Thank you for all the likes/reactions thus far - I'm glad you are all enjoying the photos.

 

Edited May 8, 2022 by SouthernRegionSteam

[37114]

Thanks Jamie, a great job with the camera, I am very jealous of your skills!

[queensquare]

14 hours ago, SouthernRegionSteam said:

 

 

So, onwards we go, and next to Martyn was Jerry with his layout Tucking Mill...

 

... Tucking Mill - Jerry Clifford

We saw it briefly earlier, but it really is worth studying much closer. Let me remind you that @queensquare's layout is 2mm Finescale, not 4mm or larger! I struggle to get something half as decent in 1:76 scale so god only knows how Jerry has created such a beautiful layout in a scale twice as small! I think 'exquisite' is the word I'd use to describe Tucking Mill, and it was also very nicely lit and immaculately presented which always earns bonus points from me. The backscene was also a work of art - despite my usual preference for photographic backscenes, I couldn't help but be impressed with it; it suited the layout perfectly.

 

Again, let it sink in that this is 2mm scale...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morning Jamie, many thanks for your kind words and excellent pictures. As everyone else has said, a cracking day out,

 

jerry

Edited April 27, 2022 by queensquare

[Gilbert]

20 hours ago, Stubby47 said:

As a small aside to the main event, it was quite touching to see so many Landrovers on the layouts. Mick would have been happy.

There was one of Mick's Land Rovers crossing the bridge on Penmaenbach....Jamie seems to grabbed a few shots in his excellent set of photos.

Chris

 

[JustinDean]

The upper level passenger line on Peasevern Yard was a really nice touch. 
 

Jay

[Re6/6]

20 hours ago, SouthernRegionSteam said:

@Alister_GYou are most welcome! That is funny about the recalcitrant loco... I've never known my presence to have that sort of effect on a locomotive. Probably the first and last time!

 

Sadly, I didn't think to take photos of BGman's Bizaare and the Bring 'n' Buy sale, so we'll skip ahead to the far end of the hall and visit...

 

...Parkend Marsh Sidings - John Farmer

I was immediately struck by the size of @Re6/6's layout compared to what I imagined it would be like, but I am reliably informed that it is to scale - with only the angle of the far siding being slightly shallower to reduce the width of the layout. As others have commented, being next to the doors/windows, the sunlight blasted the far end with light, creating a fantastic effect amongst the trees. The vegetation, by the way, was fantasticly dense and varied - I need to up my game! Similarly, the colouring was spot-on throughout - I just wish I had more time to watch some shunting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good morning Jamie.

 

Many thanks for your very kind words. They're much appreciated.  Also thank you for the lovely pictures along with all the others.

 

John