Unicorn1

Jeff, the backscene is produced by someone called I D Backscenes. They are available in several styles, and come in 16" and 9" heights and are supplied in two 5' lengths per tube. A quick search on ebay will find them. The ones for the quarry are the 9" 'hills and dales' set, purchased from the Hobby Shop, Faversham (usual disclaimer - for both - just a satisfied customer). Hope this helps Regards, Les edited for typos

It's been a while since I've posted an update, mainly because I've had some sort of 'modelers block' about the Quarry scenery for Bishopscombe, even though the track and wiring has been in place for a while! But I've made a start - and the 'removable hill' has been built; it covers the fiddle yard point work. So here are a couple of shots of 2810 in the release siding. There's still a lot of work to do around this area, but I'm reasonably pleased with it so far. Regards, Les

Highley Station, 7th July 2012 Both taken with Pentax k20, Sigma 10-20 and a monopod.

Some more superb phots, esp the black and white, and the lighting is excellent. Do you use any specialised lighting? The quarry working strikes a familar chord round chez Unicorn........ Regards, Les edited to aid clarity

Hi Nick A great layout, I certainly don't think it's chiced, but as a BR(WR) modeller I would say that! I like the way you have used the space - with some non railway related foreground interest, and the curved track at each end too. Looking forward to seeing some more. Regards, Les

Halloween 2011, and RHDR No 8 'Huricane' bursts out of the woods with the 'Ghostbuster'

In early 1984 a 4 CEP speeds through the snow at Chartham Sation with a fast down service from Charing Cross to Ramsgate. Now days this much snowfall would close this line........................

I haven't posted much on the Bioshopscombe thread lately, as I'm still deciding on the scenery for the quarry area. I think I've settled on an idea now - so watch this space. So in the meantime I thought I'd post a few more black and white shots of everyday activity on the branch. On a rainy day a short freight passes Bishopscombe Jnc Shed The branch panniers meet at the station, while the good yard sees a fairly typical amount of activity. A view down Station Road. Taken with a compact camera - so no manual focus. I must straighten that lamp! Regards, Les

Dungeness Station, 21st March 2009

Looks pretty creative to me! I love the way the light picks out Truro's rivets.

Hardly part of the national network, but this is a railway after all! Some of the remaining 15" lines laid to carry catches of fish from the increasingly distant shore up to the road at Dungeness. A few of these lines still just survive the raveges of time and the sea. I have no idea where the out of gauge wheels come from, maybe another 'home made' railway on th the baech.

Last Train On 30th December 2008 RHDR No 7 'Typhoon' leaves Dungeness with the 15.00 for Hythe. The last train of the day.

Jules Looking forward to some more photos, gald to hear the layout moved OK. Regards, Les

I love the night shot of the 37, makes me think "I wish I'd taken that!" Terrific. Les

Many thanks for your kind comments Gary. It just so happens that one of my other interests is photography, and consequently I spend too much time photographing the layout and not enough time modelling! Regards, Les

Thanks for the comment Jules. The barn is a Wills kit, I think it's still available. I got mine from the Hobby Shop in Faversham, he keeps loads of this kind of stuff, and at very reasonable prices They do mail order. (Usual disclaimer - no connection, just a satisfied customer) Regards, Les

This weekend I was able to get some work done on the Quarry extention. The 'movable' boards for the backscene have been test fitted, and the backscene attached (just with blue-tac for now). The tunnel portal which will form the entrance to the quarry is tested for clearance Looking the other way...... Bachmann junior - which will be detailed in due course........ Next it's making the quarry relief scenes, at the moment I'm still favouring the expanded polystyrene approach, now where's the vacuum cleaner............ Whilst looking for the pictures for this post I came across this shot of 5358 outside Bishopscombe Jnc Shed which I meant to post some time ago. Regards, Les Regards, Les

Superb. Your photographs look OK to me, and the whole thing has a naturally sunny feel to it. I like the use of the space - it feels 'uncluttered' - I have a tendancy to want to fill gaps on my layout! Above all it's the trackwork that really makes this stand out for me. Les

The backscenes look great - especially in the last two shots. Les

Thanks for the positive comments, the post - howver - seems to have dissaperered after being somehow posted twice! I will endevour to post the photos again here.................................................. Some rural scenes............ The down pick up goods ambles over the canal A little while later 9736 passes with a down passenger service And the quarry project is under way: The track has been laid and wired up,point motors in place. The drawing pins are a temporary measure! There is a release road for the train loco, and enough room to shunt seven 16t minerals and brake van. The boards for the backscene are ready to go in next. Should be more progress this week!

Hi Jules That corner of the layout looks great. I like the second view especially, much better! I must get round to making some better looking fencing one day! The other grassy areas also look good. Nice to see the yard so busy! Regards, Les

The lack of RMweb meant some determinded modelling - I got all the point motors fitted to Bishopscombe's Quarry Extention, as well as all the droppers - all in an afternnon! No junk emails here......so far........... Les

Some pictures taken over the weekend from 'hard to get at' angles. These were all taken using a small (roughly A4 size) mirror balanced on the layout. A newcommer to the branch heads the down empty minerals for Bishopscombe Quarry. 2259 arrives with a pick-up goods. (oops, looks like there's something on the lens!) After running round and putting away the brake van 2259 gets stuck into the shunting Regards, Les

Hi Jules These look great, looking forward to seeing them finished! I like the sack load - is it sratch built? Regards, Les

A couple more images from Bishopscombe, and some new developments! 5660 shunts the minerals Grange departs with siphon And a view of the baseboard extention for the quarry. I didn't need as much exta board as I first thought. It means losing the 'paint / kit bash' part of the board - but that can be got round somehow. The four road fiddle yard is to the right, this will be partially 'hidden', but still accessable by the Hand of God when needed! The quarry will have a release road for the loco, and the quarry will be worked by the private shunter. Cork sheet is next to do, and then track laying. Regards, Les