Rufus Harbud

@Kier Hardy You are more than welcome for the kind comments Kier, and well deserved. I have researched, watched and thoroughly absorbed all layout creations, to plant in my head what I want to achieve and emulate with my own creation. With a fictional layout it wants to recreate real life, with the compromises and reality of the space provided. But what you have created has pushed the boundaries of what a layout should be, not only on visual scenic areas, but functionality.... The first thing I agree on is the compromise and lack of imagination to railway builders. I have never understood how a 3rd, 4th, or any ridiculous looking radius curve should be even thought of as a scenic part of a layout, and that is why my modelling philosophy echos real life. Very much like a layout being modelled as like a piece of land was chosen in real life and dropped into your railway room. As my attention to detail is so ridiculous and I am never happy till it looks right, your layout just chimed at me as a level of excellence that should be aimed at. Thank you for your advice on your development of the retaining walls, and I must admit didn't think of Hornby as being such a well recreation of a retaining wall as i first thought. Great idea to make moulds from existing walls. I will explore the process. Again I agree on the excitement and planning that goes into the surrounding architecture of a layout... That is what brings everything to life, and I can't remember who said it, but " A layout should be created by a railway built through a landscape, not a landscape built around a railway" Many thanks for you reply and encouragement, and I will make sure to showing you further developments on the layout. All the best Rufus

@Kier Hardy Hi Kier, Your EM Gauge layout of Hornsey Broadway is so much of a detailed and well planned and researched layout, that has inspired me to create an North London based urban layout of my own. My Grandfather and Father lived in Hornsey on Eade Rd, and the tales my Dad tells me of his younger days as a school kid in the 50's and 60's looking over the wall to the sidings, has spurred me on further. You have captured the essence and feeling of the area so well, and If I can create a layout anywhere near with the detail of yours, I would be very proud. I am a scratch builder and diorama modelmaker, who up until now didn't have the room for a layout, which would warrant such detail. But now have a shed big enough. Hooray! Can I ask where you sourced the retaining walls for Hornsey Broadway, or are they scratch built? Many thanks again for your inspiring layout builds, and wish I had had the chance to see them when on exhibition. All the best Rufus Harbud