CoombeTown

I'm jealous, I've only just managed to extend enough for 2 coaches! A very elegant build though, nice and simplistic.

I will vote for 6, the F.24 as I have a picture of one at Watchet on its way to Minehead. I presume this was a one-off, but it would make a nice difference, definitely a temptation.

@BMacdermott thanks again for an interesting and thought provoking poll. My votes are for 2,3,4 & 6. My ideal 8-wheel would be 2. Ideal 12-wheel would be 6. Others have commented on 4 costing a lot of length in a short formation. I am hoping for 8-car layout trains in future, but would much rather have a dining pair than an extra SK every once in a while. For my Torbay Express rake I have cut down to 2 BSKs, 2 SKs, 1 FK, 1 RU & 1 SO which I still think gives a reasonable balance and a nice variety.

3 sets of 3D printed crew now completely painted. Despite my Airfix experience, I've never managed this much detail before! B2 Peckett Driver - Hardys Hobbies B2 Peckett Fireman - Hardys Hobbies And in natural light. Western Region Fireman - Modelu Western Region Driver - Modelu Outdoors again And a 16XX crew from Hardys Hobbies

Cork is probably a lighter option, however as the backscene forms part of the travel case for Coombe Town I have massively over-engineered it... so much for an Aerospace Engineer making everything as light as possible! The ID backscenes really do look a treat, and add a great deal to the layout. Which reminds me, I should really get on with some landscaping so the rest of the layout matches!

A bit of a change this weekend, with 3 loco crews on the workbench. Having built a respectable number of Airfix kits these aren't the first figures I've painted. However, they are the most detailed, and the first time I have attempted dry-brushing to get the various shades. Currently at various stages of completion they'll all get a black wash once fully painted, then a coat of matt varnish ready for adding to locos.

Thanks @gismorail, I'm glad you enjoyed the read. Backscenes are 3mm ply, the corner pieces were made from bendy ply I found on Amazon, typically it's used for furniture building. Painted with wood primer to seal it all and then a self-adhesive ID Backscene added on top.

The now complete crane installed in the Goods Shed. Added some light rust around the bolts as well. The above picture also shows the whitewashed roof trusses, this means I can now at least weather the inside of the roof. And with the roof off.

A very thought provoking suggestion there Chris. Could I add my support for this in addition to my earlier vote Brian? Thanks.

After some consideration I am going to vote for 9 & 11. As mentioned by others, please do the whole set, BCKs & Restaurant Cars included where appropriate. And a reasonable number of 3rds! These are by far the most common coaches, but trying to get hold a maroon Hawksworth 3rd is quite literally impossible at the moment.

Has to be 1. Many thanks Brian and the team, it's a very well thought out pitch and I think any manufacturer would be mad to overlook it. I want to model Blue Anchor as my next layout, so Camping Coaches are a must, with 2 being present throughout the 50s, so that's two TKs for me. I can also picture a 45xx with a single D.56 pulling into Coombe Town, so another sale down that route.

The crane now ready for primer. I definitely went the long way round making far too many modifications once the main structure had been assembled. It now much more closely resembles the prototype image of the one found at Washford. And more importantly, fits inside the Goods Shed! Does anyone know what colour the BR Western Region would paint them? Brown like most of the wood work, or maybe plain black?

Hi Graham, Impressive work so far. I am another very much avoiding the dreaded point rodding! I think with drains cover in the 6' you're better off with grills. Although not all stations seemed to have drains, the GWSR drainage blog shows some good images, albeit rarely with the lids on. There are some pictures of the blog linked, the cover is in seen to one side in the pictures of them working at Toddington. https://draingang.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-drains-work-road-signs-dont.html?m=1

For me it would have to be 1-3 inclusive. I think that Blue Anchor will be my next pick and I've just found a picture of a 43xx on a Ballast Train in the platform with a couple of Starfish/Ling in tow, along with some existing RTR models.

5, Thanks for running these Brian, please do continue. I think they will be a great opportunity for discussion and hopefully highlight some market gaps.

Thanks John, as Brian pointed out I'd actually got my bodies and underframe confused for a moment. But if both are wrong it obviously furthers the cause for an all GWR van range!

Thanks for yet another thought-provoking poll Brian. My votes would be 1, 6, 7, 11 & 12. Although a Crocodile would be an interesting variety I couldn't commit to a definite purchase. On the otherhand a Hydra or Loriot with a load for the local farm or maintenance works, definitely a possibility. It would be nice to have a Damo to add some variety to the normal van train, but for a Mogo would be a good opportunity for a new underframe.

Goods shed is nearly there, feels like a long slog at this point but the end is in sight. Roof is now on and tiled, just needs the trusses on the roof to be white-washed. The brass framework for the crane has been assembled, now to assemble the crane onto the tube.

Well that's bad news for the wallet... Has anyone seen any images of the BR Lined Green model? They didn't appear with the other livery samples.

Once again, thanks for putting these together Brian. I would vote for: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 AA21 is definitely the missing link in brake vans, although Bachmann do a vacuum braked livery AA23 I don't believe it matches the standard of the Hornby AA15. 4 would give some needed Western flavour to those currently on the market, again an open goal. 7,8,9 these got everywhere, and are a big feature of mixed goods. I would love Rapido to follow on with them after, what are currently looking like superb SECR opens.

For those considering alternatives to LokSound/LokPilot. The YouChoos install guide for the 0-gauge version does some explaining towards the type of decoder required to access all the lighting functions. https://www.youchoos.co.uk/Index-Resource.php?L1=Guides&Item=OHeljanRailcar

Thanks for the praise @slow8dirty, welcome to the thread. This evening has seen the first two aluminium strips mounted in the fiddle yard to allow me to run trains properly again. Which led to this nice shot of 1470 appearing past the Goods Shed. I feel like this may become one of my favourite angles when the scenics progress further...

Goods shed progress, stonework painted, roof constructed and painted. I still need to whitewash the trusses so that will happen tomorrow evening, tiling later in the week if I get a chance...

Speak of the devil and he shall appear... the railcar arrived today and I am most impressed, lovely paintwork, smooth on the rolling road. The detailing is just superb. A couple of posed shots on the layout below, she'll now be out of service until I can afford the sound decoder... Pictures of Copenhagen Fields to follow over the weekend as well

Mine arrived from Kernow today. On first impressions it's a stunning model, good weight, impressive detail and a good livery application. Currently running in on DC on a rolling road it seems pretty smooth, top headlight seems a bit dim but arguably that is more prototypical! Pictures posed on the layout and with lights on the rolling road below.