DavidMcKenzie

Thanks Duncan, that's a really useful tip for a beginner like me. It's the simple things like that which often go almost un-noticed, but add to the realistic effect without standing out. How have you faded roof? Is that painted with a slightly faded tone of the base colour or have you used thinners (or simmilar) to dull down the cab roof before giving it a light weathering?  Thanks again for the tip and all the best. Dave

And one of it out and about on the layout. All the best Dave

A mid 90s wcml layout needs a few class 86s . Because the base model is so good I've hardly done anything to them yet. But seeing as the sun is out I thought I'd take them out in the garden and have a go at improving them, starting with 86213 in intercity livery. All lined up ready to get started. A few close ups 'worts and all'. The livery has been slightly updated with black around the cab, the buffer beam detailing and the pantograph have been done and then a light weathering. I actually find the light weather hardest to do and it's by no means perfect, but it's been a very enjoyable little project. Stabled out on the layout. This siding wasn't intended to be a photo spot and was intended to just be a bit of background, but the lighting has made it a good little photo corner for now whilst the rest of the layout develops. At some point I should bring the camera down here. All photo's upto now are taken on my old mobile phone.

Looks like you've made some great progress there Pete, it's really coming on and looking good. All the best Dave

Woke up and noticed the same article. I found it a huge shame that as a railway community we have managed to get such an icon into the national press for such a terrible reason. I can only hope that it's a wake up call and everyone can stay safe and responsibile in the future. It would be a shame to have any kind of heritage railways banned just because spectators refuse to stay safe just at the chance of a slightly better photo. Dave

Great pictures Duncan. Thanks for posting the link. I like that you have gone for winter. Before you said I couldn't work out why the layout had a different feel to it than most. All the best Dave

The fences separating the fields went in. It was awkward trying to fit them to the existing fence in situ, but in the end it's all worked out. Now the fencing is in place I can work on detailing the foreground scenery further as well as adding a few small scenes like the one below. I will add a farmer at some point opening the gate and taking a moment to watch a train go by. All the best Dave

Cracking job on the wagons (and the 3peaks). It's not just me that thinks they are good. I showed my wife quickly and her first reaction was "that's not a model is it? Surely that's a real train". Keep up the good work. Your layouts always looking super realistic and s full of motivation for newbies like me. All the best Dave

The foreground fence went in. It's a little bit shinny in the lights, so I'll need to dull that down before it's completely finished. I also need to think about how to make the two fences that will join this at right angles. Might be a little fiddly to do it in situ. The intercity class 86 going by behind the fence still needs some work (photograph and buffer beam etc.) But I really like the directional lighting and the detail in the base model. It's a lovely model. Much more advanced than the older farish intercity 87s and 90s. All the best Dave

If my 'railway room' wasn't already completely full with my latest project (see pic below ) then I'd be more than interested. The viaducts an absolutely brilliant bit of modelling. Nice idea to finish it as a diorama, it would make a great photo board. All the best Dave

I wonder if that amazing viaduct could somehow be squeezed into a 15ft by 3ft layout . I wish you all the best for the ongoing recovery and good luck on the new indoor layout. All the best Dave

Managed to sneak a half hour weathering session in on the class 60. It's not a new loco, but I still don't have a rake for it to pull and I'm totally undecided on what would be most interesting. I know a MGR rake would probably suit it best, but I've seen some very interesting photo's of this livery hauling other thing's on the wcml and the 'sector's' didn't seem to be too rigidly stuck to looking at old photo's. Amoung other thing's steel and petroleum trains were headed by 'coal' class 60s. Still not sure how far to go with the weathering. Especially on the roof. So I've stopped for now and will take another look in a few day's. I don't want it to end up heavily weathered. All the best Dave

The layout looks cracking Simon. The freightliner rake really shows off the length well. Great to see real length trains. How do get on with such a long rake around the curves at the end? Have you had to do anything special like adding weights? All the best Dave

Looking great Les. From my experience those small thing's that don't make an obvious difference only stand out when they are not done. Once they are done they just blend into the rest, but they make the background look realistic and make the trains stand out. Great modelling as always. All the best, Dave.

I'd be interested to see how you get on with the Modelu tail lamps. It's the kind of detail that brings a model to life and I haven't done it yet on any of my freight rakes. I was a bit disappointed to miss out on revolutions IZAs with a fitted working tail light. But I just didn't have the budget for all the 321s I want, the 92, the KFAs as well as the IZA cargo wagons....the wishlist always seems to grow rather than shrink . Thanks for the kind comments about Maids Morton. I've been really enjoying my modelling and hopefully that's coming across between all the beginner mistakes and the step learning curve that I'm going through at the moment . Keep up the great modelling and all the best Dave

Agree with you there Nick. It's my first attempt at a layout and I got a bit far before I realized my mistake. I decided not to change it, partly because the baseboard wood the tracks run on is only narrow enough for the four track mainline without tunnel mouths. I would have to go right back to the baseboard to change it, I also don't think it'll be my last mistake on the first layout and I am keeping my expectations in check and just enjoying modelling and learning along the way. It was part of the reason for modelling somewhere fictional to allow a few mistakes like that rather than modelling a real location and being tied to doing something exact. On the 'other side' of the layout I realized in time and have changed it. You can see in the background of the picture below. The closest I could find isn't a tunnel, but a road bridge which will have to do for now and gave me a few modelling tips at least as in the link below. All the best Dave

Those BDAs look cracking simon. The tape looks just like a ratchet strap. I also like the little details like the tail light. Did you scratch build that? Or did it come in a kit form from someone? Great modelling like always. All the best Dave

That area was a basis of the noch grass. But then added ontop were different scatters from woodland scenics and longer grasses from WWS. I found it helped to look at both photos and the real thing. Even though it's a completely fictional location, getting hints on where the grass grows longer and which different colours are there in reality has been very helpful. All the best Dave

Hi branchie, There is a mix of all sorts. The background is closer to finished and that was this mainly a base of this stuff from noch. All the detailing and different shades/lengths are from WWS. In the forground there is still plent of work to do. I was thinking about doing on of the fields as a freshly cut hay field. But at least for now there is a base of this from woodland scenics It's also not only static grass with all sorts of mainly woodland scenics scatters used as well. Is there a specific area that you were especially interested in? I could then maybe give a more specific answer . All the best Dave

Nice to see the NSE livery under the wire's. Although there is always place for more stock , I am looking forward to revolutions class 321 and the farish 319. The thing missing at the moment for representing the WCML in the mid 90s are the NSE EMUs. Happy easter and all the best Dave

Hi Simon. Doing the other 3 lines I had a thought about how on earth you'd tackle putting the wires up over a baseboard join. I must admit I was lost for idea's. It would be a challenge. But if you find a way I'd recommend it. Dallams already one of my personal favourites and even without the wire's you've captured that wcml 'feel' superbly. All the best Dave

Hi, The pictures of constructing the wires on the 4th line didn't really show anything. It was very hard to see what was what (see below). So I've just added some photo's of a testing (playing) session once all four line's were completed. All the best Dave

Just stumbled accross this cracking layout Mark. Consider it followed.

Looks like a great start to the layout. Consider it followed

Thanks to all for the kind comments. Porkie It is a shame not more people give it a go in N gauge. I would not consider myself and expert modeller by any means, but the difference it makes to the feel of the layout is huge. I am sure there are people out there capable of doing better, just a shame most people seem put off by it. Benjamin it would be great to see you turning the clock back to the mid/late 90s All the best Dave