Max Legroom

That low-nosed jeep is just crying out to be modelled too. That weathering on the hood actually looks like chalk powder!

Here is an overhead shot of the town. I've never been really happy with the two Wills huts behind the depot. I felt it needed something more substantial to take attention away from the foam 'forest' behind so I set to work building a fishing/hunting supplier. It was constructed from Balsa and a few bits and pieces from the spares box. I painted the structure with Tamiya Flat Earth and stained with Games Workshop Sepia. A bit of dry brushing brought out the grain and I'm really pleased with the result. That natty Nash Metropolitan looks a bit out of place but, then again, Deliverance does seem to attract some strange folk! Here is a shot of the loco spur and I'm toying with the idea of making some kind of loco shed. Perhaps just a corrugated iron roof on a wood frame. All the best Max

Brilliant! What are the chances of finding an HO version or similar?

Hi Nick I'm going to dig out a dvd of the film to see if I can pick out anything else to incorporate (with the obvious exception!). The odd 1960s/70s car would be good at setting the scene. Cheers Max

A while back I mentioned that I had a Bachmann N Plymouth ready for a conversion. I'd been scratching around for inspiration when I spotted the little yellow diesel in the June Small Layout Scrapbook http://www.carendt.com/small-layout-scrapbook/page-119-june-2016/. It had just the right sort of backwoods look so I set about producing no. 4. Originally I built a full-length roof as I imagined it would provide useful protection under the coal loader but it didn't quite look right to me so I shortened the roof. Livery is very weathered Cornell Red. I'm quite pleased with the result and the Bachmann mechanism seems to cope with dirty track better than the Kato chassis. Max

Your Beep looks surprisingly believable. I have to say that this sort of thing is great fun and, as you say, is perfect for a micro layout. It's amazing how quickly the brain overlooks/normalizes the more fanciful elements of shortened stock and microlayouts. A bit like 2D scenery and basic props at the theatre I suppose.

I did follow the instructions and it was quite an interesting kit to put together and I thought the design was quite clever. However, I'm no expert so I struggled to get a few bits to fit and had to go back to the instructions constantly. If I'm honest, the battered bodywork hides my shabby modelling! I'm sure it would be a lot easier second time around. The combination of tiny motor, 2 axles and light weight mean it will never be the best performer but I did manage to squeeze a couple of brass blocks behind each pilot. The cab is completely free of motor which is a bonus. I have to admit that I wouldn't know where to start with outside rods. It might be possible to squeeze in something like a Bull Ant motor/chassis to improve running though I don't know if it would fit. As I said, performance isn't the best but it is better than I expected so it will run up and down plain track quite nicely. So it would be OK pulling one or two hoppers under a loader for example. The forthcoming Walthers Plymouth is probably a better bet if you want a small loco that runs reliably through switches. You could always make the 25 tonner as a non-runner and run it in multiple with the Plymouth. Hope this helps

Here are a couple of photos of the old Bailey place out on the road from Milan to Milan Junction. It was abandoned a few years back and is on the point of falling down. It really is quite scary at night and just look at that pumpkin patch! Someone must be making preparations for Halloween.

Hi all I've been adding a few details to the loco servicing area and maintenance sheds, mainly using Woodlands Scenics white metal castings. The water tower was shortened and lowered and the tank is unintentionally wonky. Now I just need to get to work on that Minitrains steam engine. Meanwhile the diesels have a refueling tank and here it is being replenished by truck. The battery-electric is moving a flatcar around the yard. One of the Woodland Scenics packs contained the workbench that sits in front of the handcar shed. I'm debating whether or not to add a lean-to roof but the casting is quite nice so I may leave it out in the open. I've been working on my dry brushing technique and think it has really made a difference in bringing out the details in the castings. Finally, here is another shot across the yard. Max

Locomotive 2016 by Kalmbach has a two-page feature on the TP56 switchers. They start by chopping a SD40-2 in half! The magazine is a decent read for £3.50.

This is rather cool!

Hi Dr John The turnouts are no. 5 because of lack of space. The background buildings are mainly Radical Flats by KingMill Enterprises. The originals were too big so I reduced them in a scanner. I've just checked the KingMill website and they are no longer producing Radical Flats which is a shame as they were rather good. Best wishes Max

Hi Dr John Thank you for your kind comments. The track is Peco code 83. All the best Max

I really like the atmosphere you have created. Nice and grungy! Max

I've been adding a few details to the layout. Nothing too exciting, just bits of clutter here and there and more grass tufts. I've also lettered a few of the locos for the MCRR as shown on no. 49 below. The lettering is Letraset rub-down transfers that are easy to use and don't have the carrier film associated with water-slide transfers. Cheers Max

Oh no! I've just found an old blue box GP35 (with the overscale width body) - just need to find an old passenger car. This madness is catching!

What a splendid little layout. I like the way you have avoided the temptation to cram in too much on the scenic section which makes it look very believable. Clever construction too. Max

The barbers now has a nice sign. I photographed the original at Mini Hollywood near Almeria in Spain.

I've only just spotted this thread. What a fabulous layout! You have really nailed the West Highland atmosphere. Best wishes Max

As well as the RDC, I dug out a few old favourites for a spin at the weekend. First up is an Atlas Alco that has been in storage for many years and yet it ran flawlessly on dirty track. Next a couple of EL switchers that are waiting for that NY harbour layout to appear (one day!). Finally some shots of an ancient ER-models Sharknose. It sounds a bit rough these days but runs nicely (Roco mechanism I believe) and is a favourite of mine. I know it looks quite crude and adding all the handrails took quite a bit of time but I still think it cuts the mustard growling along.

Shortliner's half-pint Budd RDC inspired me to dig out my full-length Proto 1000 model for a run up and down the line. It looks good at the depot and runs well. However, it was a bit of a squeeze around the curve!

This is the best I can come up with so far and its probably going to be at least a five foot by five foot L-shape. I could probably reduce this by losing the train-ferry. The idea is to use a couple of passenger cars (Bachmann Brill or AHM 4-wheeler) on two services. Both terminate at the left-hand end but one is imagined to continue to a further destination. The line swings over a bridge into the city where it clings on to a narrow shelf of land. The city is advancing up to the line so everything is nice and compact. I have indicated a line heading north and this could be a siding or another passenger line. Freight is simply the boxcab pulling a car of the ferry/float and running up the line to the industry. I'm thinking of a 1950s setting where the line is clinging on but under threat from a new road bridge being constructed.

Following this thread has been so inspirational and was one of the reasons I submitted my own efforts. Great to see the blue box Athearn switcher still earning its keep!

I'm thinking of something along the lines of the Two Rivers plan that appeared in MTI a few years ago. I quite like the idea of a river bridge linking a city with a more rural area. On the freight side I like the idea of a single-car car barge and loading ramp. Fitting this all into 6'6'' x 8'' could be a challenge but I liked Andrew Knights Garfield Terminal that packed a lot into even less space (but on two levels) so it should be possible.

Quite right! I'm thinking narrow shelf interurban with just two or three turnouts.