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Time to get the tops of those rails cleaned. Looks like nothing's been down there for decades. Mike

Neil, You've just inspired my next project... a 3' x 8" P4 plank depicting that exact scene from Neville Hill. Thanks Mike

Jeremy Beautiful work as usual but your missing a couple of check-rails on the 3-way. Following this with great interest as I think my next project is going to be in 2mm. Mike

A blast from the past as a derailed Class 20 waits for the engineers to put it back on the track at Tartbhit. Mike

I was thinking the same thing myself! Mike

Thanks Dave, Right from the outset I've always known that the rolling stock and track were the things to focus on and after that everything else can grow around them. They set the standard that everything else has to be built to. I have to say that If you're starting out then there really is no reason to worry about building to P4 standards. The Exactoscale turnout kits are very easy to build save for the tie bars and converting a Bo-Bo locomotive is very straight forward. Anything steam is a bit more difficult. Mike

Thanks Jock. I'm not sure. Maybe a micro 7mm layout designed around the Minerva Peckett E Class or for a bit more of a challenge, a JLTRT Class 08 (I do love an 08). The other option is to convert some of my N gauge stock to 2mmFS and have a shot at that... ...or I could build something else in P4, maybe using some of the Colin Craig turnout kits. Mike

Thanks Vitalspark. I'm almost embarrassed by such high praise. Must get that 26 weathered... Mike

Thanks everyone. The next wee job is to add more 'stuff' to the loading platform and the finish off the scrub behind. Might manage a wee session tonight. Mike

Here's a new one from Thorburn's. Please excuse the cheesy filters I've been playing around with. Mike

Les, It's always nice to make folk take a second look at a photo. The dull winter's day was what I was aiming for right from the start so I'm glad that's how people are seeing it. Thanks, Mike

Thanks Alan, Those are probably my two favourites from the latest batch, and you're right about the head-on shot of the 26, it just looks right - even without weathering (which is now high on my list of things to do). Mike

Thanks guys. I'm pretty pleased with the way this project has turned out - I've learned loads and enjoyed most of the aspects of modelling in P4. There are a few wee jobs to get done but after that I think I'll get started on my next layout... Mike

Thanks Mike, Yeah, the light was much better today. The Ambis stretchers aren't to bad to bend - I think the instructions make it sound worse than it is. Mind you, looking at mine they do display a bit of 'wonk' and they are missing the bolt head overlay. Mike

Thanks very much gents. Today I moved the layout to another room to get the best of what little light there is at the moment. Here's the result... Mike

The light's been really poor and my desire to plan any more bushes has been non-existent today so here are a few experimental photos taken with my Go-Pro. Somehow the third photo has a sense of space way beyond what is really there. Mike

A lack of any real daylight means I've not managed to shoot a wee video. Sorry. I have managed a couple of sessions with the static grass 'tea strainer' and a large bunch of unknown twigs for creating the scrub areas either side of the overbridge. Took these on my phone in poor light so the quality isn't great: Mike

I'll see what I can do tomorrow. Mike Oh, and Happy New Year to everybody out there. Mike

Well, I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. Looking forward to bashing on with this over the next week before I have to go back to work. Might even get it 'finished' in that time. Mike

Bloomin' 08 is on the blink. It's started cutting out when running at slow speeds which is pretty annoying considerring that's what it needs to do all the time. Probably going to treat myself to a new one after Christmas and swap the body over. Pity there aren't many out there these days, even on the second hand market. Does anyone know if the new versions that are coming in march are updated or just a re-run/re-livery of the current model? Modelling wise the left-hand end of the layout is coming together nicely with only a few things to do. I've added the cutting either side of the bridge and should have those grassed up today. I think thios helps alot with the ballance of the layout. Also, the granary is nearing completion with just some gutterring, ridge strips and the air vent on the roof to do. Here are some other shots taken when the light wasn't too bad. Must try to get that 26 weathered. Mike

Not much happening down at Thorburn's on a damp Sunday morning... Mike

Thanks Jock. I quite like that last one too although it does remind me that I need to fit the ballance weights and weather the wheels on that 08... Even for a large shed like the one you're going to model I think the effort of scribing would be worth it and you'd probably be surpised at how little stonework there actually is. Mike

Thanks Mike, Ian Robinson's work convinced me to take a look at Foamex. Initially I had tried with the mounting board you get readily in art shops but found that to be ok for mocking up. Any scribing was a desaster. Foamex is a much denser product which is faced with a fairly tough layer on both sides. It's great for carving and scribing and takes paint very well. It's also availible in q number of thicknesses. The granary is 3mm throughout for the walls and a 1mm shell for the roof. DAS Clay is great stuff but it's harder to work with and has a tendancy to curve as it dries. I'm using AJ coupling wich are easy enough to make with the jig. Mounting them is fairly straight forward although I've not tried a bogied wagon yet. It's nice having that hands free operation and you don't have to stop the wagon at the magnet to uncouple meaning no 'dance' and being able to drop it anwhere. I'm always on the lookout for new P4 layouts on here. Do you have a thread? Mike

Thanks for the kind words guys. I'm pretty pleased with they way that things are working out now with my new found skills in Foamex. I've also managed to complete the fitting of the uncoupling magnets so everything works these days (mind you I only have one wagon with droppers!) Getting to the stage where I'm starting to think about my next project... Still plenty to do on this one mind. Mike

A quick update about lots of progress... Mark III of the granary building is nearing completion - built from foamex around the geometry of commercially availible windows, this version is less faithfull to the prototype but much better from a construction point of view. I put that down to a lesson learned. Sorry about the poor quality of the photos - the light was pretty poor today. Here's a closeup of the masonry and win,dows. A new addition which has made it's way down to Duns from Dunbar (thanks to a visit to the Falkirk show last weekend). Lastly, nothing quite like a gratuitous reflection shot... Mike