Andrew Cockburn

I've had a bit of a re-think re the track/layout plan, and have decided to alter the shape of the canal section so that it is purely rectagonal, also the track plan to incorporate a kickback siding which will run parallel to the canal, as I feel this will add more interest/shunting & operational potential. Due to one or two other commitments, I don't envisage starting work on this project until maybe the spring time, but I'll post regular progress updates once work gets underway ....

The bridge looks good. Chinchilla dust? I'll keep that in mind for my own future modelling projects!

Re the two sidings, heres a suggestion - how about a loco stabling and/or refuelling point on one, while on the other, maybe a goods/parcels facility?

Looks rather interesting. What are you going to use the two sidings for?

Very nice job. The buildings are really good, while theres a real industrial atmosphere/"flavour" to the whole model. I'm very impressed ....

Inspired by some of my fellow railway modellers (including one or two on RMweb), I’ve come up with a possible idea/plan for a canal-based shunting layout of my own, as yet un-named. It is rather compact, measuring just 3 feet x 1 foot (though provision will be made for an add-on/removable fiddleyard cartridge), and features a rather simple, Inglenook-ish track plan, which incorporates just two turnouts. The main track plan features three sidings, one of these is a “reception siding”, which holds incoming wagons, before they’re distributed to their various destinations. The actual destinations will be a goods siding serving both a warehouse and loading dock, and another siding serving a hard-standing area/canal. And just to add a bit of additional interest, theres a short loco stabling/re-fuelling siding at the top of the layout. It’s rather a simple set-up overall, and I don’t envisage it being too expensive to construct, therefore I dare say it may start to bear fruition before too long. As you will see from the photo, I've drawn out a full-size plan, roughly to scale, utilizing spare track pieces, also Peco track templates, on an old piece of wallpaper. Any ideas, suggestions etc. more than welcome.

Looks like an interesting concept, a bit "Inglenook-ish" in fact! So is the idea purely just to display rolling stock, or also to incorporate some shunting operations?

Very nicely done, the scenery, weathering etc. is most convincing. Nice job!

Re the kick-back siding. Whenever I’ve included one of these on some of my own shunting layouts, I’ve employed what I consider to be a rather clever feature, in order to make shunting a little easier. At the end of the incoming (or what I term “reception siding), I’ve set aside a small section of track at the very end, just enough to accommodate a small shunting loco (or what I term the “yard loco”), which is isolated (see attached picture). Another shunting loco will then propel it’s wagons (due to confines of space, I’ve usually used only two wagons), onto the front of the isolated “yard” loco, before being detached/returning to the fiddleyard or wherever. The “yard” loco then propels the wagons into the kickback siding/the factory, warehouse, or goods yard. Hope this little suggestion helps!

I like the look of this, the track plan looks interesting, with plenty of scope for shunting operations, while the section of canal also adds to the effect. What sort of structures are you going to add? Warehouses? Look forward to seeing it develop further.

That's a really good job, some really fine modelling, I'm most impressed, well done! And yes, the sepia photo does add a sense of "time" to it all ....

Very nicely done! Simple but effective I'd say, and the scenic work, ground cover, grass etc. looks very realistic. Well done!

Looking good so far ....

Doesn't really matter about the colour of the undercoat. As I said before, I've tended to use Matt Grey, but any Matt colour will suffice I guess, as long as it gives you a suitable base on which to lay subsequent colours ....

Looking like a nice job so far, will be interesting to see how it progresses further ....

Nice job, well done!

Nice bit of scratchbuilding so far, will be interesting to see how it progresses ....

Mortar? In the past, I've usually used a "creamy" mixture of yellow/white, toned down a bit with a touch of black and/or brown, maybe also a touch of grey ....

And re the painting of the bridge, can I suggest the following method. Whenever I've previously made structures such as this, I've "primed" the surfaces/given them an undercoat, for this I've tended to use Matt Grey, either from a tin or spray can. I then add a "base colour", for stonework, usually a matt brown or a different shade of matt grey, then when this is dry, I pick out individual stones with different shades of matt brown/grey, before adding weathering in the form of moss, weeds, water "runs" etc., this particularly applies to coping stones, which appear to be more exposed to "the elements". Hope this helps ....

The bridge is looking good/effective, nice to see you solved your little problem with the capping stones. Me, whenever I've constructed bridges such as this for my layouts, I've also used the same method you employed, while another alternative I've found effective, is to use a suitable length/thickness of balsa strip, divided up appropriately, then painted using suitable colours. But either way, I've found both make for a realistic appearance ....

Looks a rather interesting concept, look forward to seeing it develop further ....

Re Dock Street Sidings - a simple concept, but very nicely modelled, well done! (it reminds in fact of one of my own micro-layouts, Short Street Sidings, which you may/may not have seen previously on the BRM forum). The new project also looks interesting, look forward to seeing it develop further ....

A nice, simple concept, but still very nicely modelled. Well done!

I like the look of this, interesting concept, while the structures look really good! Will be interesting to see it progress further ....

Like the idea, look forward to seeing the layout develop further.