A change is as good as a rest.....

[Colin]

Yes, I'd go along with that. Apart from the odd human error, the last few shows with SP worked very smoothly and I'd look to do another sequence for the new line.

Over to you Iain!

[Pete the Elaner]

We need to have a chat about a sequence...what stock you want to run & what fiddle yard space is available.

I'm not assuming that all 8 lines in your current fiddle yards will be accessible from the layout.

[Captain Kernow]

Very much looking forward to seeing this layout at Taunton, Colin, it's looking really good.

[Colin]

Third and last board is coming along nicely Tim. I hope to have a couple of pics of the whole layout in one piece in a week or so.

[rob D2]

looking good ! well done !

[Colin]

Thanks Rob - are you coming to Taunton in April?

[Colin]

I made quite good progress on the third board over the last couple of weeks, so here are some pics of what will be on show at Taunton: the first selection shows the layout as "Sturminster Marshall" (thanks to the good Captain for the name), ex-S&DJR.

 

 

The station slumbers in the evening sun (actually poor late afternoon light in my lounge!)

Just to show that I can do rural twee as well as urban grot!

Standard 5 pulls away, goods yard in the background. The coal staithes are actually on a small removable sub base, as they straddle the baseboard join - not an ideal arrangement. 

4F 44417 (an S&D regular but unrealistically clean!) shunts the yard.

4MT tank enters the station on a short train of Bulleid stock. 

A dog walker pauses to watch "Evening Star" pass - just for the record, the dog has been made to look like my cocker spaniel Monty - has anyone else modelled their pets on a layout I wonder?

 

Now a change - the station is now "Doddiscombe" ex-GWR (named after the village of Doddiscombsleigh in Devon)

4575 arrives with a B set.

8750 shunts the yard. This loco and my 22xx 0-6-0s will also appear on the S&D version of the layout.

Another view of the goods yard.

Hymek passes with the daily through train.

The return working has a 53xx Mogul in charge, presumably the Hymek failed!

Desperately in need of weathering, a NBL type 2 idles near the cattle dock.

That dog walker gets about - he's walked his dog from Dorset to Devon and is now taking a look at a 3MT tank on the pick-up freight.

A pic I took to provide a contrast to the Standard 4 tank entering the S&D station - another Standard on a local train.

Last pic - a look down the line as the train waits to depart.

 

Anyway, that's it - hope you like the pics; any observations and/or criticisms will of course be welcome!

Edited March 16, 2013 by Colin

[emt_911]

Just had a quick look at the photo's. It realy captures the atmosphere of the time and place

 

Duncan

[Baby Deltic]

Doddiscombe? I would have thought you'd call it South Pimlicombe, Colin.   

[Geoffrey]

No criticisms at all. Are you going to have a back scene?

[Colin]

Just had a quick look at the photo's. It realy captures the atmosphere of the time and place

 

Duncan

Thanks Duncan - I'm interested to know if both versions are equally convincing. I have plans to produce a set of Midland Railway buildings, a 70s/80s set (bus shelter for passengers and possibly some sort of specialised traffic to the goods yard to justify its retention) and something Eastern as well one day.

[leavesontheline]

Looking very nice indeed. I particularly like the colour of your foliage. Maybe you could add some more piles of leaves here and there? (I'm assuming its Autumn?!) Leaves can accumulate in quite large quantities along railway lines and cuttings.

 

To echo Geoffrey's post above, will you be doing anything further with the backscene?

 

Edited because I just realised the irony between my comment above on piles of leaves and my profile-name!! That was completely unintentional - Note that I don't post a comment on all layouts just to suggest they add more leaves!!

Edited March 15, 2013 by leavesontheline

[Colin]

There is a bit of low backscene (painted by me, just visible in one or two pics and largely hidden behind the tall hedge at the back of the goods yard). I intend to fill in with more trees rather than add a printed or painted background, which on a fairly narrow layout, doesn't really work for me.

As regards fallen leaves, any recommendations? I'm guessing old-style scenic scatters might work. The other things I need to do is improve a couple of trees, particularly the trunks which are far too smooth, and maybe add some different colours and textures to the roads - all-over basic mid-grey just doesn't look right.

Edited March 16, 2013 by Colin

[leavesontheline]

I would have said so yes, but I'm no expert - I've just seen it done to great effect on other layouts on here. Some of the coarser types of scatter material should do the job. Now if only I could find that example I was thinking of ........

[Colin]

I would have said so yes, but I'm no expert - I've just seen it done to great effect on other layouts on here. Some of the coarser types of scatter material should do the job. Now if only I could find that example I was thinking of ........

Trouble is, a lot of scatters come in colours that are much too vivid. I think a bit of blending might be in order!

[westerner]

Just discovered this. Loving it. Keep posting the pictures.

[Pete the Elaner]

I see what mean about the road grey. That's a difficult one to get right.

Only 1 signal. Maybe I can motorise it at Taunton?

[Colin]

I see what mean about the road grey. That's a difficult one to get right.

Only 1 signal. Maybe I can motorise it at Taunton?

Go for it and good luck!

[Colin]

Set up the 3 scenic boards yesterday so Iain and I could make sure everything was in working order; we took the opportunity to take a few more photos, so see what you think - no further changes are likely before the Taunton SWAG meetup & the Watford show in May.

45xx on B set; I've added a few small details on and around the cattle dock.

8750 shunts the yard.

53xx on through freight (the yard can't be easily shunted by a train travelling in this direction, it's quite prototypical!

Layout has now changed to S&D mode and a Jinty has replaced the 8750.

S&D regular 44417 passes the dog walker (his dog seems more interested than he is!)

Standard 5MT waits for the right away.

Conversation is interrupted by the passage of a 9F. Must get rid of the ex-works finish!

Same again but looking down the line.

[Baby Deltic]

Edited April 8, 2013 by Baby Deltic

[Colin]

chad.jpg

My 22 is now weathered and ready for service - sadly it didn't make it to the photo shoot!

[Baby Deltic]

Looking very nice Colin. I look forward to having a play with the layout when we take it down to Taunton.

[Deltic]

Colin, first time in ages that I have caught up with the developments. I cannot wait to see it in the flesh in September at the Mid Essex MRC exhibition - yes I know shameful plug. Looking really good, just needs a double engined loco on a railtour - off Finsbury Park MPD.

[Colin]

Colin, first time in ages that I have caught up with the developments. I cannot wait to see it in the flesh in September at the Mid Essex MRC exhibition - yes I know shameful plug. Looking really good, just needs a double engined loco on a railtour - off Finsbury Park MPD.

Glad you like it Ken! Does "double engined loco" mean the U1 Garratt 69999 by any chance?

[Colin]

Just a quick bump for this thread, in the hope that there's an exhibition manager or two out there looking for a layout!

Right now, apart from one tentative booking for 2015, the diary is empty; I built the layout as a means of getting back onto the exhibition circuit - which so far, hasn't really happened (RMWEB Taunton & 2 shows last year, then nothing!) I can only put the layout up at exhibitions, so currently its future looks less than certain.

 

If anyone is interested (or knows someone else who might be) please drop me a PM - the complete layout fits into my car, so travel expenses aren't too high (fuel for two cars as I can't accommodate the other operators as well!)