Multigauge

I never used the railway when it was there, but use the tram often; the John Huntley film was a real eye opener to see how much the area has changed.

Looking great. I particularly like the open door. I may see if i can do the same to mine. I have also noticed on yours the hinges on the doors. I wondered what those bits were for in the kit..... ;-)

Some testing tonight using unusual motive power. I mainly trying to ensure the kadees worked as hoped and in the main they did. The 08 is a Hornby one. I have to say it has amazing slow speed control. The 07 isn't quite as good, but to be fair it needs a good run in.

I've used a couple of these with Metcalfe card and I think they look rather good, but I'm tempted to use an embossed plasticard if I do another. I've also built a low relief rear terrace but use scalescenes papers. The kits get a big thumbs up from me.

Looking at the map more widely it is truly astonishing how many goods depots there were in the area. I had no idea that the line to Fenchurch St had so many branches off of it.

Loving the warehousing. Have you put the lintels on to the embossed plastic, or have you cut out and recessed?

Great photo of the track work and nice to see examples of inset track without check rails; I hadn't bothered to add any to Sarf London sidings (I like the idea of building my own track, but I'm not convinced I have the ability/time/patience) but have often wondered if I really should've to be a bit more prototypical. Looking forward to seeing the rest of the build and in particular the buildings. I think the kits you have are a really good base and have you some on mine, although I am already thinking of rebuilding/bashing mine in to something more parochial.

@phil_sutters thank you. That information is really helpful. I could only find one or two decent shots of crates and they all seemed to be new wood which I thought odd, but your explanation has helped. It is funny how in some ways we recycle/reuse/repurpose (whatever your choice of term) more now than we did back then, but in other ways we don't; milk bottles v cartons as an example. I suppose that most import trade that came in one sort of packaging, and exporting needed other types. Tea from India and China is a good example. I can't think of a similar commodity that we would send back, but then I'm of a generation where our exports seem to be less tangible anyway. I remember we had a couple of old tea chest at home when I was very young that must have been used when we moved from Kennington to Camberwell.

I packed everything away on Christmas eve to allow for the dinning room to be put to its proper use - and also because we had a house full - with the intention of getting it all out again in the quiet bit between Xmas and New Year, but WFH and other domestic faff got in the way until circa New Year's Day. Anyway, Santa bought me some white metal bits and bobs from Dart castings which I have been preparing, and I also had a go at scratch building a makeshift stables out of card and paper. I also bought some mooring posts from model railway scenes along with some crates and other yard paraphernalia. I need to improve my painting skills that's for sure. One quick question, were shipping crates lighter or darker in colour - or were they many colours? Finding colour pics from the 50's seems difficult for search engines.

What a great flavour of inner city grot you've managed to conjured! Some of the street scenes transported me back to trainspotting in the eighties in North london walking between stations and depots trying to bunk in.

Looking good; well done! I got the scalescenes canal wharf kit for a planned idea, but have only made the boat yet. Thanks for the close up in the sprat and winkle couplings.

I'd love a rolling road but they sure do seem to be expensive in my opinion.

Space may be your problem here for signals. I think you could feasibly get away with a series of shunt signals and a very small signalbox to control it all.

Stunning! At times only the back scene gives it away that it isn't a real. I love the meandering track; it gives a wonderful feeling of the vastness of the area.

Running in a loco - I find particularly small locos that you may want to use at a crawl - is a must. However, like you I do struggle to do that at times due to space constraints. I think it looks great btw; the detailing brings it to life.

I've had blooming from humbrol aerosol on a couple of occasions - from the same can - but fine on other occasions; conditions each time have been dry.

@TechnicArrow, thanks for the input; your comment about cranes is similar in view point to mine; must do some more research. Era wise, I'm sort of thinking 50s, but I may also run stuff from the late 70s too, but have it more run down; I'm not going to be anal about it though. Keep forgetting about mock ups - must give them a try. Here's another view looking from inside the rail served warehouse

Hi jack, thanks for the offer Can you PM me a pic and dimensions please?

Hi Ray, infested with lurgy at present, but it seems to be a cold/flu type thing as opposed to the dreaded Rona. Anyway, thanks for advice; order placed with Dart castings for some horses and carts. I'm also wondering about a Thames sailing barge to go at the front; anyone have any experience of the building one from Sarik Hobbies? The built up version looks lovely, and will fit, but I'm also wondering if it will dominate the area too much. I've placed a scalescenes barge I made up (basic un-detailed as it yet) in a photo (I think it looks rather good) to give an idea but this is somewhat smaller- and yes, the area is far from finished and needs much tidying. Now cranes! A mobile yard type crane or a fixed jobbie? Answers on a postcard please, or failing that, a reply here would be just as good.

Modelling time has been a rare commodity over the past few months, so I haven't got anything worth showing at the moment. However, I've made a start on the canal basin at the front which was waiting for me to pull my finger out and lay what will be the base. On another note, anyone have any tips on a supplier of good 00 horses suitable for drays and the like?

Looking good.

Really lovely layout and great modeling; the detail is wonderful.

Hi Ray, Yes, read this thread before and found it very inspiring: it is good to be reminded of it though. Not much done for a while now. Time has been tight with other commitments, but I live in hope that this Sunday may see some modeling time.

Love the GBRF 50 btw. The livery really suits it; keeping hoping to admire one in the flesh.

Sorry you've lost your mojo. If it's any consolation mine ebbs and flows all the time; my work is glacial at times. Regarding the weathering. I find weathering a bit of a dark art. Sometimes I do something that i really like, but then I try and emulate it and it looks like a dog's dinner. The building looks fine to me, but maybe the ground work could do with some variation/toning down a little.