ian

Is there perhaps a local club that have premises that could house a portable layout?

I love a good backstory.👍

I have o say that the coat of paint has elevated the model;s appearance.

Well done that man.

Plans have to adapt to changes as the layout progresses, life thows things at you , new ideas come along and,and,and... My current scheme has gone through more changes and iterations than are good for it and many long lived layouts are similarly afflicted.

Keith,

Half the problem with any layout scheme is getting started. The other half is keeping going! Life does have a habit of derailing plans which can really put the kybosh on long-term or grand schemes.

Perhaps a modular (or sectional) approach might help? For example a selection of fiddle yard, terminus, through station, industry scene on different (small) boards that can be mixed and matched in some way - either to ring the changes or all together on the patio on high days and holidays.

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As a lad, I remember pouring over catalogues for months on end, delighting in the bright, colour photos of pristine (always) locomotives and rolling stock, dreaming of which one(s) I most wanted. 

And that, your lordship, is the case for the defence,

The great thing is that now, depending on which catalogues you possessed, the goodies can be had (albeit not necessarily pristine) for far less of a share of your available funds thanks to the likes of eBay.

Come on in, the water's lovely!

Thanks for the mention. The Ercallbahn has been evolving over the last six years and whilst it is nowhere near complete, or even 'presentable' it has finally reached the stage where it is operable which means more time playing and less building. At last!

Perhaps you could build a Bavarian branch line bit-by-bit. Start with the terminus and a simple fiddle yard, then add another station... I had an overall plan (albeit one that was in a constant state of flux) when I started but it isn't necessary - just go with the flow.

I like the "what story" idea. An excellent question.

My ambitions have always been far ahead of what I can afford, build and have room for. For a long time I was hoarding, plotting and experimenting for a large N gauge layout that would be built "when we moved", something that was a long-time aim. I rediscovered my childhood trains and thought "what the hell" and filled the garage with them. We still haven't moved but I've had a lot of fun so far.

Like most people I have a collection of projects awaiting the right time and others that have stalled for one reason or another. Sometimes I clear one or more of them out and shortly afterwards regret it. It is just so hard to resist new distractions. N6.5 anyone?

7 minutes ago, RedgateModels said:

12 years on and it’s still not been fitted 🤣

Only 12 years?

Does this mean that it has just appeared from the safe place that you put it so that it wouldn't get lost?

The longer walk from the station to the Jolly Poacher must seriously impact on the 'BeerEx' excursions!

Beautifully executed as always and a lovely backstory.

Excellent stuff - transported back in time.

How about trying some stop-motion animation and doing a bus spot?

Great work by a talented team of locals. 👍

An abseiling signalman - that would certainly be an unusual cameo scene.

Especially if you made it work!

Pardon my impudence sir, but from this angle it does look like someone has just jetwashed the undergubbins.

Glass fibre reinforced foamcore - you sir, are a genius.

The loco looks steadier than the camera or the track so I'd persevere with it.

What sort of attitude to deadlines is that may I ask?

Shouldn't you be sticking the last bit of texture down as the punters storm the entrance desk?

Well done mate.

Use the extra point for a siding!

Mick,

I was always told that if you have difficulty remembering you should tie a knot in something. I'll leave it to you to decide what.

Exacty. You'll be drummed out you know!

Looks like great fun though.

"The tandem turnout can now go into the drawer with the other completed pointwork."

Ah, ingenious - building the new layout in a drawer. Is that the sort of low down cunning they teach in Horrocksford?

 

My plan might be to mount it in a wall-hung cabinet, a bit like a micro-layout setup with a fascia etc, so I can display it against a dark background.

 

With a flat screen TV behind showing the stars whizzing by...

(and Dad has a test track at last lol)

Sneaky, very sneaky.

F2 on a Prodigy system is set up as a momentary contact for operating a horn - it doesn't stay on.

An N gauge Fourgig would leave you loads of space in the car...