Boghopper

After watching a most interesting documentary about Abu Simbel I started thinking about Caravanserai and where it could be set. I wanted an area that would provide believable initial letters for the company logo, and I decided on LOWER NILE RAILWAY. I started looking at the possibility of adapting LNER but failed to find suitable transfers. So, using 'paint' I've mocked up a logo for the balcony coach. Perhaps the letters are a tad too large, but it will be easy enough to reduce the size.

I decided that I would extend Caravanserai so I could have a loop of track, returning behind the palms to the fiddle yard. In this way, longer trains could enter the station from both directions. But, this would leave a new area to be landscaped. Then I had a thought, perhaps I could model a ruin. After a long search on the internet I found someone on eBay offering Egyptian ruins for war games. So I bid and won some very nice plaster castings. Now I can build my own version of Karnak. the piece are just randomly placed for now, but I think the idea is going to work.

Thank you, Keith. They're great photos. I take your point about my buildings being too neat. I will have to see about distressing them!

I am currently building a 009 layout called Caravanserai, set in Northern Egypt on the bank of the Nile. There is a simple station, typicla adobe houses and a market. Initially it was intended to be terminus to fiddle yard, but I'm currently extending it so the track continues through the station, round a 180 degree curve and goes back to the fiddle yard. Thus, trains can enter the station from two directions. Bogie wagons will be used and traffic includes sugar beet, animal feed and bales of cotton. Steam and IC locos will provide motive power.

Thanks, Phil, for linking my website. In case you don't get that far, this is the garden I created at the Chelsea flower show in 2007. The carriage facade is stilled stored in my friend's workshop. The plan is to use it to create a studio at the top of our 1 in 4 garden this year! If successful, photos will follow. capabilitychris2HR by capabilitychris, on Flickr

I have just launched my new DI Sonny Russell detective novel, BLOOD ON THE SHRINE, set in the 1950s. Much of the action revolves around a train robbery, near Uckfield, so it has a definite railway connection. I will be attending the Wealden Group's exhibition in Lancing on Saturday and will have copies of the book, as well my other novel, BLOOD ON THE TIDE, with me. Otherwise you can buy it on Amazon or direct from me.

a gourmet banquet