Leaderboard

Haven't bought the model yet. I lucked out, there's a kit that really only needs a scratchbuilt grill to be correct. They do, and contribute somewhat to my distaste for the kit. Looking at pictures, there is similar detail on the real thing, but this kit is greatly exaggerated.

Very nice, I have always liked the balcony style. A shame that it was not more common on the railways of Britain. The chain across the safety rails could also be seen on the Lambourn Valley coaches.

Hobbies website furniture section is at https://www.hobbies.co.uk/dolls-houses

I don't know what dolls house furniture retailers you have there. There are two that have been around in the UK for decades with similar names - Hobbies and Hobby's. While I am no suggesting that they have anything you could use in 4mm scale their catalogues might give you ideas. Our dining table was a circular mahogany one about 4'6" across with a central pedestal. The chairs were an assortment of dark wood types with upholstered seats. My mum had recovered them all in the same green fabric, so they looked OK together. We had a large mahogany sideboard - two cupboard pedestals with a three drawer top, with a small upstand at the back. Our cookers were first a Rayburn and then an Aga - both solid fuel. Kitchen furniture was freestanding and again an assortment of secondhand tables and cupboards. The big white stoneware 'butlers' sinks, with wooden draining boards, would have been common between the wars, although I think we had progressed to a double sink unit base with steel sink etc. I have photos of some of the furniture which I took at my parents' last, much smaller home, as we were sorting things out after they had both passed on. I don't want to put them on public view but would be happy to email them to you. My email address is philsutters@googlemail.com One rather odd suggestion is to look out for a cheap pocket chess set. The rounded pieces provide material for things like table lamps, vases, candle sticks, coffee table bases etc. all depending on the size of the pieces. Best wishes Phil

Superb. Alastair M