37Oban

Hi, when I've built Metcalfe, or any card kit, I've made my own weathering powders from pastels, used them then fixed with an ultraviolet resistant artists fixative. Much better than varnish as it prevents the building fading over time in sunlight. Worth the extra cost! Roja

Hi, there's a Silver Cod pub in Newington, Hull. Roja

Hi, there could be more truth than poetry in that! It could a farrowing pen where a pregnant sow would be confined behind bars so the piglets could get away from her to prevent being crushed when she moved. Roja

Hi, take a look at Peterhead! No loco release roads for both passenger and freight trains! Roja

Hi, I'm looking fowards to seeing this develop. I have long thought that the docks of Hull would make a great choice for a model. I have several books on the railways, and docks, of Hull, which, unfortunately, are in storage pending an eventual move! Maybe, one day, I'll get chance to build one but at the moment I'm busy doing work on three, yes, three, layouts: St Mungos, an EM terminus based in Glasgow; Poppy Hill, an EM layout using 2 Scalescenes box file kits and Whitfield, an OO roundy roundy and all while house-hunting! Phew! Roja

Hi, this is one of those dilemmas that everyone will have their own ideas on but you are the one to make the decision! For my two penn'orth, unless it can be easily seen for most viewing angles, I'd go with only one pit, and that being the outside one. However, as I've said, it's up to you to go through the pro's and con's of each idea and then decide. Roja

Hi, operators not taking the time to complete the coupling and brake test operations is one of my bugbears when watching a layout at an exhibition. Once maybe operator error but two? That's when I walk away no matter how high the standard the rest of the layout. Bit like spoiling the shop for a hap'worth of tar! Roja

Hi, I agree. Also needs some subtle weathering and I would also paint the footpath kerb, the ones I've seen are always a different colour to the path and road being made from a type of concrete. Roja

Perfect! Roja

For us of a certain age I think it should be Sage! Roja

I agree. The top of the clump will be fairly well covered in leaves but the underneath just an open mess of stems. I'd add a wee bit more foliage, and some changes in the tones of green. Bramble foliage turns slightly paler, or darker, depending on the species, then gets patches of different shades of brown and beige the later in the year towards autumn. Depending on how late in spring your model is set maybe a few white flowers would help too. Roja

And brambles! Lots of brambles! And nettles! Did I mention brambles? Roja

Experts! Best definition I know of an expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing at all! Roja

You've got to have Tunnock's and Irn Bru delivery vans somewhere on the layout! Roja

Bigger Muddle?