SonOfMike

I think that's the reason I am drawn to the idea .

@Keith Addenbrooke I have seen the arrangement you mentioned, plus one which is back-to-back inglenooks connected by a sector plate and I really like them both. Unfortunately, at the moment, the usable space I have available means that operating from both sides would be difficult. However, I'm thinking that if the second module / micro has a fiddleyard / fiddlestick entrance and either end like Apocrypha does then they could be arranged in different configurations depending on the space available. The new module / micro could go at either end of the existing one facing forwards or backwards or it could be placed back-to-back with the current one and connected via a sector plate, traverser or curved section of track. The last idea could then be expanded to both ends to provide continuous running. As I type this, I start to see other possibilities (so thank you very much for the inspiration). I don't have space for a large permanent layout but potentially, as long as I can find places to store them, I could build a selection of micros that could be connected together in varying configurations depending on my mood / space available. It's certainly food for thought... I think clear out of my cupboards may be on the horizon

There is a train here if you look hard enough...

Sorry, yes I realised that when I had made my post after accidentally highlighting the statement within your own quote of F-UnitMad's post instead of the original.

I was being slightly tongue in cheek really and certainly not criticising large layouts or the way they can be operated. I'm certain I could easily figure out 2 or 3 or 10 stations; the point I was trying to make (badly) isn't that I wouldn't be able to operate it, more that I probably wouldn't get a thrill from it. I would LOVE the space and funds to build a really large layout but the fun for me would be in the construction rather than the operation. I know that I would enjoy running a long train and just watching it go by but other than that I don't think that I would run an operating session that was any longer than I can manage with my inglenook. Everyone has a different reason for modelling. Mine is to build a scene and the fact that things can move on it give it an extra dimension. It's the different preferences, skills and viewpoints of people that make this a fascinating and diverse hobby.

Well, I’ve got to that stage now where the layout feels nearly complete (but it will never be finished of course). I need to add some figures and maybe a vehicle or two but I have been putting that off due to cost. Being “furloughed” from work (and therefore feeling slightly anxious about longer term job security) means that I am being cautious about certain purchases no matter how small but I think I can probably stretch to a few Preiser figures as a treat . In the meantime, I thought I would share some of my reflections / observations / lessons learned etc. from building the first layout (actually the first modelling of any sort) since I was about 15 (37 years ago) and some ideas for what to do next. So, in no particular order… What I have achieved is not as good as it looked in my head but it is far better than I really thought I could achieve. The likes and positive comments that people have made have been very much appreciated and if I have managed to portray some of the flavour of those photographs that inspired me to start on this journey then I will consider it a job well done. I am happy that it all works but I think next time I may actually wire up the turnouts so that they do not rely on the point blades for electrical continuity; one of them did need some fettling after all the scenic treatment was done. I wish I had spent a little more time planning the scene. What I did was build a few structures, decide on an inglenook track plan and buy a shelf. Then I tried to arrange things in a reasonably pleasing manner whilst making it up as I went along. I was very lucky in that the slightly haphazard arrangement probably helps give the layout some “charm” and I have ended up with about 4 separate scenes which, whilst actually very close together, make things look bigger than they really are in photographs. Next time though I think I will do a bit more planning and try some mock-ups first, although I will still make some of it up as I go – that’s in my nature. I wasn’t consistent in my use of materials or techniques. Each time I did something (for example, painting and weathering corrugated tin) I tried a different technique. I also used what materials I had to hand and varied them to see which I liked best. I don’t regret this approach - I think it maybe adds some realism and certainly adds to the visual interest – and I will do it again. The difference next time will be that there are some techniques I won’t bother with again but some new ones that I want to experiment with. I am pleased that I managed without any kits or bought items for the buildings and details other than door and window castings and a ratio chimney. Some of the details may be a bit crude but I am happy that I was able to create them with some lateral thinking and household junk. Examples include the switch stand made from rawlplugs, the antique gas pump made from bits of ballpoint pen, the utility poles made from sprue and the assortment of bits on the small 2-8-0 such as the cable tidy generator and the 13 amp fuse air tanks. Cardboard is a wonderful medium to work with. I used everything from cereal packets to Noch textured sheets although my favourite is probably mount board and thin card from The Works. Much of what looks like wood on the structures is painted card. The Noch sheets have a grid on the reverse which makes cutting easy but there isn’t enough variety there to use too much of them. They can be painted and leave some of the printed and embossed grain showing through however. I used balsa wood a fair bit because I had it lying around. It’s not as good as basswood but it is easy to work with, is easier to cut than coffee stirrers and takes a stain reasonably well. I will certainly use it again, at least until I have run out of it. Ballasting isn’t as painful as I thought it would be if one takes one's time. An advantage of a small layout is that one can take time and still get the whole thing done in a day. Static grass is ace! I’d never used it before but I bought some Peco (re-branded WWS) grass and a Hornby (re-branded Noch) puffer bottle. I had no problems using the bottle; the secret seems to be to fill the bottle up to about a third full and give it a really good shake before applying it onto neat PVA. It worked for me anyway. I ended up applying much more grass than I had thought I would need and then vacuumed up and reclaimed what seemed like even more than I had used, if that makes sense. An inglenook is far more operationally interesting than I thought it could be. So what’s next? I need to make the fiddlesticks for either end of the layout (although it can be used fine without them) but I have a cunning plan… I fancy building a waterfront scene and I am considering building a small diorama that could attach to one end of the layout as a separate scene and act as a “scenic fiddleyard” for Apocrypha whilst Apocrypha becomes a “scenic fiddleyard” for the waterfront – I know what I mean even if I’m not explaining it well. I’m currently looking online for some inspiration (so if anyone has any ideas they will be gratefully received) and will keep you posted if there is any progress. Watch this space…

OK, so I am definitely one of those that prefer building to operating but my "smaller than 4x1, 3-2-2 inglenook" can keep me amused for hours. I'd love to have the room to build an empire just so that I would have a seemingly never ending list of construction jobs to do but I don't think that I would ever be able to get my head around operating such a thing. Basically if I won the lottery I would end up building a diorama that filled an entire room, although I would like the ability to just sit back and watch a longish train tootle round and round every now and then.

I've just spent a good couple of hours playing trains! I used some bits of paper to represent each of the boxcars etc. and dealt them out at random to determine where everything needed to be and then shunted the cars about until I got there. Then I shuffled the papers and started again. It's amazing how much of a head-scratcher this can turn out to be at times (amazing to me that is, as I have never tried operating like this before). I may have to do this again .

As the sun sets on Apocrypha...

Industrial accidents are expected to decline in both number and severity now that Mr. Anneka has finally got around to having a loading dock built.

Thank you very much

Apocrypha, Louisiana; date unknown.

A few more snaps

Thank you very much

I really like this. I built my inglenook on a floating shelf too but I didn't think of using one for the backscene. I need to re-do my backscene at some point; the one I have was meant to be a proof of concept but I don't have access to a printer at the moment. When I do I may get another shelf and use that as the basis.

Really nice - thanks for sharing

Then later in the day, just as I'm about to pack the camera away, this rather care-worn small consolidation came past the other way with another freight...

The shay backs out to swap the full boxcars from the Anneka spur with the empties dropped off a little further down the line earlier...