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Ah, I see Swiss railways have claimed another victim.....!

I thought American HO modellers worked to an approximation of 1oz per inch of model (28gms - though 25gms makes it easier to calculate for some of us). In the practices I've had this works out a bit heavy for long coaches and a bit light for short vehicles sometimes. However, I have taken to buying lead shot. If you put this in cling film or small plastic bags, you can squeeze it into odd shaped places depending on what's available in the model.

Brilliant modelling even showing my mother the model she recognised it! Well done it looks great

Lots of bins to make too! The short grass might be best replicated with a carefully manipulated grass mat, with the grey gravel 'painted' over it, to avoid the appearance of a frayed, chopped edge?

Apart from the ex-IKB part, Mainly Trains also have a 6' spring, MT119. My photos of the Didcot G20 are mostly of the underside but one definitely shows a parition. Indeed the external appearance of G20 would suggest that it is a double saloon. They were third class saloons, and Harris says on p44 "Fifty-four three-centre roof, six-wheel third saloons were built to two diagrams from 1892-98. They had two open saloons divided centrally by a lavatory and WC, and all seem to have been withdrawn by the 1920s" The other diagram was G19. Nick

Impressive as ever! Do you have any photos of the awkward bits on top of the embankment, the short grass or the fence?

Looking very nice Tom, The platform looks fantastic as does the whole layout, It's going to be hard to tell the difference between model and the real thing soon. Graham.

Superb work with the brick paper. I have used it myself on a large retaining wall for the same reason. You get the added benefit of it looking exactly like the real thing.

I have been following this from the start Tom and all I can say is wow. I look forward to your next update and keep up the great work Stuart

Nice work, Tom. I like the idea of using photos of the actual platform for the brick paper. I bet you are really glad that the line features some of those nice LSWR barley-twist lamp posts aren't you? David

That sounds better - Bachmann Mk1 almost spot on. (I know the feeling - sagging!) Ray

Hi Silver Sidelines, afraid my memory was playing tricks. The HO (NMRA?) rule of thumb is 1oz per car, plus 1/2oz per inch which should make your stock easier to pull! (I have no inclines except where the track sags....)

Greetings Mikel, Just had a thought. The full brakes (and the GUV) are made without plastic seating units - so this would account for say c20 gm? Regards Ray

Interesting to see how light the Hornby coaches are. I wonder why? Is there a secret cost benefit to making light coaches, because transport costs per unit are lower? But the bulk would be the same. Anyway, they do look good in their right livery (not GWR I mean). The difference in the roof profile is amazing, and says a lot about the benefits of a well-moulded modern RTR coach, I think.