DavidMcKenzie

That looks like a good way to add some length to a rake without breaking the bank. If you give it a go I will be following progress with interest. Cost aside that feeling of "I built that" rather than "I brought that" is a nice one sometimes. Regards Dave

Hi Simon, Good news that Dallam is going to be set up again soon. Thanks for sharing the video. Every time I see something like that all I can think is that I need a bigger fiddle yard and a bigger modelling budget . So many interesting combinations there. Regards Dave

Hi Tim, You've done a great job on the seacows. how did you managed to make the peeled paint effect? It looks brilliant. Regards Dave

Great set of pictures there Ryan. A little early, but still a huge help. They will also be good later for weathering inspiration. Thanks for posting them. All the best Dave

http://www.revolutiontrains.com/tiphook-pfakfa-container-flat/ Is there anyone out there knowledgeable enough to tell me which of the 6 liveries would have run on the wcml 1995-1999? I was looking at ordering a rake for Maid's Morton. Any help would be much appreciated Regards Dave

Thanks for the tip Tim. I seem to spend every spare modelling moment twisting wires for tree's right now, but when I get back to giving the yard some attention I think I will give that a go. At the moment the plastic sheet I've used still looks too 'plastic' if that makes any sense. Thanks again for the tip and I look forward to the next set of pictures from your superb layout sometime in the future. All the best Dave

Agree with you there njee20

Thanks for taking the time to keep us posted Ben, good to know it's still progressing behind the Scenes. All the best Dave

Some great shots there Tim. The tanker train snaking through the yard looks superb and I had to take a second look at the stabled 66s. At a first glance I thought it was a photo of real life. I especially like the effect you've managed on the hardstanding. I'm finding it hard to make it look as realistic as that with my efforts so far. Thanks for sharing the photos. All the best Dave

Hi Stephen, Great realistic photos. Brilliant modelling. Thanks for sharing. All the best Dave

I've just stumbled across this layout and thought it was another good example of how much interest can be achieved without making an overly complex track plan. It might be of interest to you. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/79381-speke-east-sidings-minimum-space-modern-n-gauge/page-1 All the best Dave

Hi Tim, I've just stumbled across this layout. Consider it followed. I really like how much interest you have fitted into a relatively small space and the last set of photos are spectacular. All the best Dave

Hi I am also 'new' to modelling. One thing I would recommend from my experiences of the layout I am underway with (also my first) is to keep it as simple as possible whilst adding interest. I think there are plenty of guys here with more experience than me for detailed advice, but some examples of simple track plans that have given really interesting and realistic n gauge layout yards are linked below (not all TMD, but hopefully they give you an idea of how an overly complex track plan is not needed for a realistic and interesting layout): http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/30801-horseley-fields-n-gauge-layout-was-dibben-junction/ http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/13279-milton-grove-n-gauge-1985-2000/page-10 http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/108424-sarum-town-formally-n-gauge-home-layout/page-10 http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/51389-smithdown-road-junction/?hl=%2Bsmithdown+%2Broad+%2Bjunction Good luck with you project and keep us posted on progress. All the best Dave

I just stumbled across this super layout Terry. The station building is especially good. All the best Dave

Great to see some progress again Simon, the block of flats is already taking shape nicely. All the best, Dave

Hi Andy, I just stumbled across your layout and I couldn’t help but look through your thread from start to finish. With every picture all I could think was WOW. The level of realism in your layout is outstanding and the scenery is full of interest. you've given me plenty of ideas and motivation. Thanks for sharing. Kind regards Dave

Hi Porkie, It's been slow progress over the summer. Holidays and good weather have slowed thing's down. At the moment I've been doing a bit of greenery. Trying to break up the uniform look of the base layer of grass with a few self made shrubs and some earth scatter. Not yet finished, but it's slowly starting to add some realism. The layers of newspaper have had a layer or plaster bandge added and now look stiff enough to start working some scenery in. And the self made tree experiment from previous posts has slowly come to something. The tree's are starting to look ok, the hedges aren't thick enough yet. Regards Dave

I've been enjoying modelling so much that I've not run any trains for a while, so I had a running session this afternoon.

A small update on progress. With the OVHL down it's lost a bit if the wcml feel, but hopefully that'll be back before long . The yard got jiggled around a bit and I am much happier with the new layout of the buildings: And the layout itself is getting greener by the day. Nothing's finished yet, but it's slowly starting to look a little more life like. Regards Dave

Sounds good Mark, I am looking forward to seeing bridgetown develop. From what you've done so far it looks like it's going to be a really interesting layout. Regards Dave

There was a little bit more progress this evening. A bit more base green went down and the different stages of track weathering can be seen in the picture bellow. The closest track is half finished, the 2nd track is pretty close to finished and the furthest two lines still need a lot of work and will probably get a much heavier weathering being yard lines. Regards Dave

Hi Mark, Will you be adding the platform starter to bridgetown? I actually like the look of the cut up gantry far more than the original full span. I wasn't sure if I should cut the gantry on the angle or at 90degrees. Originally it was on the angle, but I wasn't happy so I cut it flush at 90degrees. There is no going back now, but I think it looks better anyway. If you compare this picture to the posts above hopefully you can see the difference. Regards Dave

That class 321 looks superb, which layout is it on? Regards Dave

Hi Jeremy It was from traintronics. http://www.traintronics.co.uk/products/brass-etch-gantry-kits/n-gauge-4-track-modern-gantry-kit/9-52 Advertised as a 4 track gantry, although it hasn’t worked as planned the kit lends itself to relatively easy modifications. Regards Dave

The signal gantry got cut up and will become two signal gantrys . The kit just wasn't wide enough to look sensible over a 4track maineline. It was too close to the outside tracks and there wasn't enough space to hang a signal. It still needs signal heads adding, but it's starting to take shape. How it started out before being modified.