cklammer

Howard, Simon, as Brückenheim (IIRC) is based in the Mittelgebirge, specifically Eifel, there would not have been any netting. At least I can not recall seeing any in the seventies and eighties. Most of the area's rock is hard rock (no punning: I mean the hard rock that bangs one's head and not the hard rock one's head bangs to...). Best Regards, Christian

Dave, The huts from in the first and the second pictures are keepers IMO: put in both of them. You have the space, I think. The hut in the third picture does not fit in with the other huts and the structures already on the layout IMO: I think it is comparatively to modern. Just my 2 cents. Best Regards, Christian

Do get yourself down; modeling is supposed to be fun and recreation: relax as you are modeling and are not on the run. Best Regards, Christian

Take your time rest and recover and get well. All the best for you, Christian

Also any other plastic items and parts may have brittled due to chemical decay; this goes especially for parts and items which stored in locations in the sun (even through a window) and/or large temperature differences (i.e. lofts or similar).

Very nice!

I am liking the third plan, too. Lokking forward to some milk runs Best Regards, Christian

This is just amazing; especially in such a small scale!

Wow, what a difference with some basic, preparatory paintwork! Very nice. Maybe you can keep the second tree by "hiding" the cottage with both trees; that will also give the opportunity to weather the cottage strongly as trees close to a cottage result in quickly aging and dirtying the paintwork. Best Regards, Christian

Huts! if you have them, use them!

T-Y frog - 25 pounds! That must have been a prince in disguise!

Good luck with the house move! I am looking forward to watch your layout build once you are ready to start again. Best Regards, Christian

It has a feeling of "flow" to it.

I just got the name, finally ..

I like the track plan. You have left very little space for (relief) buildings and scenery: if you could add 10- 15 cm of depth ...

The picture is from wikipedia; their license makes it free to use for personal, non-commercial purposes IMO. I did not have some of my own pictures to hand but if I can get downtown this weekend I'll take the SLR along and by way of exercising my the daughters I'll can get you current images. Just we have lousy weather but I'll do my best. Forgot to mention that the plinth is sandstone, which is common with historic buildings here. The hoof thingy I really can not say anything about: first time I ever even heard about this - that is an anglo-saxon thing, maybe? If this hoof issue is diverting you from the old Prussian field marshals then I have a brick elephant for you as an alternative but you'd have to scratchbuilt it. Best Regards, Christian

Fatty, smoky Ruhr anthrazite smoke for at least half a century or more - one can still see smoke stains today in some places. Don't worry about overdoing it.

Once one starts freelancing with the prototype one may as well do it thoroughly: Make the Heathgate tunnel double line : artistic/modeler's license resp. rule #1: I suggest to wait for Chris' reply.

You could run the extra siding directly from the fiddle yard instead off a turnout: that would give you three long sidings instead of a two short ones and a long one. IMO two turnouts make the layout look cramped. But as having been said before: Rule #1 applies. Just get started, already. That is more important IMO compared to overanalyzing track plans.. Best Regards, Christian

Re: your Monument: see the Bismarck monument in front of Bremen cathredral It is green like Werder Bremen and the plinth is oh so graceful Maybe bit to monumental, IMO. Best Regards, Christian Aunt Edith says: the plinth is six metres high and no WWII damage as the momunent was walled up from 1942 to 1952.

Howard, may I suggest adding some steam/diesel soot at the top (around the capstone). Even if you run only diesel the tunnel would very likely have been built during Era I (Imperial times) and steam soot sticks forever! It may even look real grungy Best Regards, Christian

Just enough to be excellent, not too much detail to be cluttered! Best Regards, Christian

drainage (collection) basin?

Maybe call the pond a basin?

I only pressed "like" because there is no "outstanding" button ... Merry Christmas, Christian