CourthsVeil

Really worth the revitalization, Stu! Best of luck and I look forward for the updates. Regards Armin

Hi Daniel, the next to last pic is really convincing! Very good this view into the street! Keep up the good work Armin

Jack: Just five days ? You lucky boy !! Last time the small loco I had bought needed seven WEEKS to find the way from Frankfurt/Airport to Mecklenburg (customs office) and back to Hessen, where I live… (You know where Mecklenburg is? Outmost north-east spot of Germany! And Frankfurt LIES in Hessen…) And I had to apologize to the seller in the US !! Armin No wonder that these days so many US-sellers refuse to post to Germany.

What a clever idea! Thanks! Armin

This is right up my street. Variation in "personality" applied to those nice "dwarf layouts" - that's it ! I'm following with vivid interest - don't hurry, though. Regards Armin

STUNNING ! Thanks for sharing. Armin

From me too A HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Andy, and the best wishes for many great years to come, YOUNG MAN ! (Mind, I'm only nine more than you…) You speak of "Greenery"? Really?? Fantastic !!! This means, you will sow grass and plant bushes and brambles, right? Don't hesitate - do it before next fall ! If so, you can make - and amend - track plans as you like, nothing can go wrong. Armin

Oooh! Wundervoll! What a gem… Armin

Brilliant ! Armin

Maybe (!) that you will have to get more practice re. details etc. (as you yourself say…). For sure is, however, that you have a remarkable feel for atmosphere and how structures fit together to make a convincing ensemble. An impressive start. Quite promising! I hope we will see further examples in the near future… Regards Armin

"Contours"… aha ! PS: do not press the button "informative/useful"…

That's coming along very, very well, Stu. Can't wait to follow your progress! Thanks for sharing, gives me some fodder for pondering… Regards Armin

Yes, I agree too, Doug, a lovely model. And you've done it very well, too. Thank you for sharing. Armin

Ian, that’s an interesting plan for such a small layout! I like it! Especially the upper level area – this solution is not like so many others we see… Really clever this. And the lining up of the sector track to the other three ones – nice and tidy work (looking much better than mine… ). I'll be following along to see the progress you make. Keep us posted, please. Armin

5000 posts and not a bit of GRASS … ? ? ? Mr. Peters… Coat, hat and door… Armin

Chaz, I put the teared paper into the blender together with a glass of water. After blending give the stuff into a sieve and add the wp-glue. BTW: to knead this dough is a very entertaining joy for grandson no.1 (3 yrs now) … Boyz !!! Regards Armin PS: I have no problem with "domestic harmony" – also because the blender was never intended for kitchen use – I bought it expressly for model purposes.

Hi all, I would really encourage everybody to give the paper maché method Chaz describes above a try. I've only positive results with this stuff and– in my opinion – it doesn't need undue time to cure. Also it is easily prepared with the help of a blender (Aldi sold it as an onion cutter). Only advice I would like to add is: I cover the underlying shell with neat PVA before I lay out the first layer of paper maché; this ensures that it adheres firmly to the shell. I like how easily it is treated after drying– no tearing or cracking, takes paint well, nice cutting (as can be seen above) etc. Much recommended Regards Armin

Coming along really very good, Stu. To be continued ! Thanks for sharing Armin

“What constitutes to a micro layout?” This issue has been thoroughly treated in a similar thread three years ago in this forum (and earlier and elsewhere etc. …). There have been called a lot of properties as well as several reasons why one makes such a thing (which is not the same, but often confused). I could say: the answer is very simple and contained in the word: MICRO is less than SMALL. This is not a neat definition – and that’s the salient point: we are led astray when we rely solely on its size. To quote Pacific231G: “Carl's own views changed over the years and while three or four square feet was a sort of rule of thumb (sic!), at least for H0 and 00, it was always more about the spirit of the thing than any strict definition.” Spirit of the thing – you may call it "character" too. So I think, we should not over analyze what a “micro” is. Just make them, enjoy and have fun – and call them what you want (e.g. small, mini, minimum space, compact or dwarf layout…). Life is too short to waste our time with definitions. Regards Armin

Wonderful, really wonderful, Doug! Thanks for sharing. Armin

Module: another modeller gave me the following advice: "Go to your Youtube video, click on the "Share" button below the video, copy the link that then appears, and insert it here using the link button." It worked! Hope this helps… Regards Armin edit: sorry! didn't see that Shaun was by 24hrs faster than me…

@Stu: Can only echo what Daniel wrote! Yet two other great little layouts full of atmosphere, well done! I have a soft spot for well presented layouts like this. I understand the “fiddle siding” is similar to what Shortliner of this parish uses – see there! @David: Yes, these small layouts require careful planning. If this is done, surprising results are possible! The following (quick & dirty) shot shows a loco plus five wagons (all six rather short, of course) in a loop – this all on a layout no longer than 38in! I admit that I did substitute the points by sector ‘plates’, which saves a lot of space. Still, on a four or five foot layout the respective points would have ample room. The complete track plan can be found in my thread Enigma Sidings (see my signature). As you can see, David, there’s a lot possible even in small space! Regards Armin

I suspect with PVA the stuff will be harder to cut. I like the workability of paper maché made up with wallpaper glue. Armin

Chaz, I for sure haven't done it better (mind, it's hard to beat what you show to us) and so am not in a position to critizise or advise. The method you choose certainly is promising. Go along that way and let us see further pictures, please! Regards Armin PS: not that I would make you envious, but a look at these pictures (et seq.) is worth a minute.

Mind, Stu, this topic is named "… diversion" ! So, what do you expect? Questions Armin