Schooner

I know, I know...but http://www.gwr.org.uk/dr3d-models.html ! I love all the same-same-but-different...and with the new-fangle go-faster square ends! But si, 4-planks should be in the majority. Stock aside, do we see any howlers with the trackplan? All hypothetical for the foreseeable, mind. Thanks all for the input re bufferstops. Largely through familiarity, I had in mind something along the lines of the wooden NLR stops. There will be better pics out there, but eg When I'm back in the real world I'll have a close looks at the Fremington photos and see if I can find something a little more local.

I was just thinking along this lines @MikeOxon, and think that my position is that scale would unusable to most, whereas these (I suggest, on the evidence only of that one pic) both look at the part and are the part. It's always a compromise, and we'll all have our spot on the spectrum, but I've a soft spot for 'real, only smaller' rather than 'beautiful scale recreation', which will be at work here. A potential challenge to @Compound2632's reasonable view that the wagon and load are one, perhaps!

In 4mm, from 2' away?! Your eyes are better than mine young man! @drduncan, I think updating the prints would be worthwhile: those that don't care won't care; those who go in for that level of detailing anyway will appreciate the aid; and muckers like me on the slippery slope will be persuaded to at least have a go. Fitting an off-the-shelf eye, with the source detailed in the instructions, into a pre-marked hole is no harder than fitting buffers or a coupling hook (so I tell myself!). Easier in some ways, as there is a degree of assumed knowledge around such things among kit manufacturers. Attaining this knowledge for those of us not members of a club etc is currently the highest hurdle to clear on the journey from RTR-only to kit building, I've found. So from that PoV both eye and hook mounting sockets (even if just a divot to drill out) would be welcome in this quarter. Apart from all that - the wagon looks ace! Looking forward to seeing it service :)

Quick nautical joke: Them's not oars, lad... ...them's bridesmaids!

Beavers and otters can be simply told apart by the particularly distinctive noise of the former...

Not that I'm all that fussy, but... ...just in case anyone wondered :) I do, but with no real intent. The recently announced 517 has got me back to thinking of a 4mm BLT, but that would still be tabletop*. I just like the idea of a few of my little layouts linked around one system. I tend towards c. 6' scenes (a natural 120 degree viewing angle from a comfy central seated operating position) anyway, regardless of how big a layout may be overall, so all that changes is convenience/coherence of 'offscene' moves! Thank ewe. You make a very valid point, but I don't think I can afford to loose that space - visually as much as in terms of siding capacity, so whilst I shan't be doing exactly this in 7mm - it was plenty tricky to do on Code 75 - I think it shows where I stand on subject proper rail-built bufferstops. And wot she sed. Agreed! See @JimC's typically informative write-up and some useful pics here. From which a great demo of why I keep banging on about the importance of setting for small layouts. It doesn't matter how clever your trackwork is if the stock swamps it - you get so much more out of a space by going small (and so, often, going early!), I wish more was made of it as a layout design factor. This is now a thing, and shall be played. Rules to be codified here in the near future! Right, where're we to...ah, yes, today: I fear I misunderstood the position, purpose and...well...size of East Budleigh's goods shed. Pics and plans here http://disused-stations.org.uk/e/east_budleigh/ However, something in that orientation may work rather well. The current plan is for there to be a warehouse/transit shed to hide the edge of the board, aligned with the tracks, with a lean-to style loading bay extension, thus: bolted to the side. The inspiration comes from Bideford, Fremington having nothing suitable: with the lean-to taking the place of the canopy at the far end. Speaking of ends, other one looks like this: Which is rather fine. Or was, as it's all be knocked down for flats now. Clearances are tight on the LSWR van...but an inch is as good as a mile sometimes. Sadly the van took an absolute clattering in the course of being delivered, one end of the box being totally crushed. The vehicle escaped remarkably lightly, with only one buffer ripped out (replaced, visuals are fine) and this damage to the roof: I suspect I'll just glue it, but had be toying with the idea of covering the roof with tissue soaked in dilute PVA to add a little texture and better represent canvas. Happily, I've utterly destroyed the Siphon roof Which has snapped and been 'fixed' (YMMV) upwards of ten times. It needs all the help it can get, and so I was in the fortunate position of having a test subject to hand. Mid process... ...and end process not shown cos I didn't get a pic, but in general I think it's a success. Certainly doesn't look any worse! I'll probably still end up making a new roof for the Siphon, but that's future-me's problem :) Thanks for popping by! *With nobs on. Still very rough, and feedback would be most welcome, but it currently looks like that. Removeable cassette connection lower left, as per, RHS masked to the operator somehow but open for views through/between the sheds. Pretty gentle turnout geometry, loop curve between settrack R3 and R4. 1900s GWR BLT - 4 wheel coaches, 3 plank wagons - with nominal arrival and departure platforms. Suspect in 'reality' it'd be one platform only (upper) in regular use, the other being used for parcels, coaching storage etc most of the day/year. Anyhoo...!

All the best Mike, fingers x'd for you and your respective offers.

Found myself lying alongside at Victoria Quay this evening, taking in the latest sights (/postie deliveries) and able to do a little bit of handshunting and measuring out. Plenty space for the standard 5+3+3: That a whole train fits on the quay road, nominal capacity 3 x wagons, is interesting. Coupled with the little headshunt... ...oh, which it turns out I didn't photograph, so have a clearance check instead. Anyway, it has room for a loco and wagon (shunted 'up') or two wagons ('down') on the baseboard alone, no headsticks; and we know from Ingleford that running round by chain shunt is a possibility. Altogether this makes the layout-as-built even more practical (read playable) than planned/hoped. Woop! So, 5 + 5 + 3 (+3): Comfortably ... (+3)... Cosy! But from a puzzle PoV perfectly viable. ...(+1 +1), if we remember that there's also room for a wagon to stand beyond each turntable: Erm, so my little Inglenook has a puzzle capacity of 5 + 5 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 1 + 1, some shunts for which will result in snookerings, others requiring chain working or maybe even a second loco (!). The intention isn't really to run the layout as an Inglenook, but to run the puzzle as a randomiser for the wagon rakes.These will be sorted and spotted for 'real', vans to the shed (LH TT spur above), outbound clay to the jetty (RH TT spur), coal to the quay road, others wherever the waybill/story says. Does that work? If so, I think it's going to be reasonably diverting, with justifiable (enough) work for a trip loco and a dock shunter if 'need' be. General vibes: ...only less motley! The 5th wagon* is LSWR, Kyle of TRS Trains is putting some serious graft into making the B4 as full of personality as possible, and a proper order for @MarkD's LSWR kits will be in before too long. *All that is needed for an inglenook, right? Right? Yeah, right...! The 1528 deserves her own stock in time though; neither the track formation nor coaster size is unreasonable for Gloucester (he says, eyeing up @Tricky's glorious models once again)... The little Siphon is safely rogue, unless Dapol's next surprise is 795 In which case all bets are off. 24hr stopover only, but should be able to grab a little time tomorrow for a layout. Maybe even a little modelling. The first structure, perhaps? More ground cover? Finish the kit wagons? Hook up the controller and have a play... :) Edit #FFS: Just announced. Footprint: 156mm x 102mm. I'm not convinced, but I'll measure the LH TT spur, which mich look well running through.

Think of the slow speed performance on DC with plenty volume for weight, all-wheel pickup and those tiny drivers! *swoon*

Dear me Sir, are you lost? To be sure, to be going there I wouldn't be starting from here.

(Slightly) More seriously, one of my main takeaways over the past 24hrs is the volume of support for the early 517s. Might I be correct in thinking these are also likely to sell particularly well off the shelf, on aesthetics alone? The Peckett Effect. Assuming their usual mechanism standards are maintained, Dapol have done well.

Tease.

Oh! Be still my beating heart!

Sorry, and thank you!

Interesting from a luddite's PoV - what makes them so? YMMV! What I forgot to say in my previous post is how great a move I think this is my Dapol - bravo! May they sell like delicious warm sweet comestibles :)

...which would be an instant order from me. TBH, if the factory could deal with the livery, I'd be up for having a crack at the buffers. First ever 4mm RTR Wolverhampton-fit loco? As it is, a red-framed 517 might well be on the cards...I'll just need to design and build a new layout for it. Oh well :) PS. Jus' sayin', @coeurdelyon *innocent whistling*

For maximum coverage for Ed Huzzah! https://railsofsheffield.com/blogs/news/Dapol-announce-all-new-gwr-517-class-0-4-2 Good news. It's not as versatile, long-lasting, cute etc etc etc (ad nauseam) as an 850, but this is a very welcome announcement. Wary as I am of pre-orders in general, with the retailer'a discount this is close to what currently passes for reasonably priced...uh oh! No mention of the shortwr WB early 516s, mind...or saddletank bodykits... :)

To a hammer, everything looks like... 😇

Applying the 4mm modeller's thumb-rule (knock 20% off 'scale' lengths) would give a 6' train (plenty long enough to look the part); but can you realise these gains through the station approach if that's already to scale? At the very least it gives a little scenic breathing space at either end, which might be handy. What would that cost in terms of lost stock from a rake? Side note, but I remain in absolute awe of the quality in build and finish of all your coaching stock. Sublime and terrifying in equal measure :)

Damned fine it is too! Sadly the railway is near the bottom of a growing list, but I shall be pestering you again for a repeat order!

It's not too late to see the light and make it glorious in its heyday of 1855-65! :)

Well that was a thoroughly enjoyable 40 mins (obvs went round twice, with a second cup of tea). Thanks for sharing! Dangerous...

*Interesting/thought-provoking*!

Are we all still running these as Terriers? Nobody's been tempted by a pugbash approach* yet...? *Terrorers? Moditerrifictions? Terristeins?!

Define your 'better'! Slaters 2mm sounds worth investigating...I'd also have a go at scribing plasticard and see how long it takes to achieve what effect. It was the only way I found to do the do: As for ground cover, I can recommend two products (after a non-negligable amount of largely unintentional experimentation and exploration): Chinchilla dust for 'smooth' ground and Treemendus 'Earth Powder' for rough ground Both take washes and powders well, and texture can be modulated by re-wetting with very dilute PVA or alcohol and tamping as smooth as desired, or sprinkling a little extra material on to add a little more texture: DAS is alright for scribing, but harder than plasticard, and for taking setts, but not as good as 2-3mm foam: (DAS in the 4', foam between tracks) HTH