Cowley 47521

I just wish I wasn’t so far away Duncan. I will get to see the railway and have a chat to you in person next year though one way or another! Nick

Very interesting, thanks for that.

@duncan and @bgman - thanks for that. I find myself in the strange position of having to improve on what I’ve done so far rather than starting things from scratch and it really is quite an odd feeling. I’m obviously not going to rip it all up and start again, so I guess it’s a case of improving things without going too far? As they say - Sometimes you can’t see the wood for the trees (and I’ve made an awful lot of trees…). When I pop into the room and look at all of it I can see a few things that I’d like to improve so I’ll probably crack on with doing that for now. Nick

I should have clicked on it. Sorry, thanks though.

What’s the interesting DMU arrangement coupled to the inspection saloon there then? Does anyone know?

Ah was that the one that could lift itself over a river if need be with the aid of skyhooks..?

That’s just superb.

Pennies on the track?

Things Things Things… Evening everyone who’s out there. Hope you’re all doing well? I’ve been doing a few erm, things… Firstly as mentioned a few posts ago, I’ve turned this unsatisfactory scene: Into this more satisfactory one: Via the judicious use of many balsa woods and plasticard… I really enjoyed making this pub. I went a bit heavy on the glue here and there but that part of the layout has a much more pleasing depth to it now I reckon. Also it gives Wayne and his battered Transit somewhere to go at lunchtime, although I have a feeling that he might be one of the only customers at this point… Another job while I wait in hope that Dapol will bring out suitable SR signals for Eggesford was to knock up a couple of cheapy Ratio kits as a temporary solution: I’ve set one ‘off’ and one ‘on’ and these can be swapped around if I want to take photos. They’re not entirely prototypical but they’ll do a job for the time being. Here they are in situ: Apart from those things I’ve also straightened out the stanchions on the old Ambrosia creamery. Mainly because I took some photos the other day and realised that they were wonky. No photos of that at the moment I’m afraid but I’ve been working through all the outstanding bits and bobs with the cunning use of an ‘list’. There really isn’t much left to do now so I guess I’ll have to go back to hanging around on the streets graffitiing things (I’m joking). One outstanding job was getting some station signs up and the very helpful Allan from Sankey Scenics sorted me out on that score, very easy to deal with, very well priced and I was really pleased with what he made up for me. Here’s a few teeny signs: (Spot the deliberate mistake with the way out sign) Next job? Don’t know… I was thinking about putting some lights in some of the stock for some proper night running options. So probably that. Thanks as always for reading! Nick

A quiet moment in Devon.

Thanks for that. It did come together quite quickly but then I’ve got a little corner in the front room where I can make things to add to the railway later, which speeds things along and means that I’m still being sociable with the family…

It looks like I double posted for some reason. Probably best to leave things alone at this point…

You’d have ended up doing St Thomas, Central and probably Topsham in a shed that size Bob (I know that I would have)! I’ll post a couple of photos on here in the next couple of days when I get a minute. I’m very much into what you’re doing here.

You’d have ended up doing St Thomas, Central and probably Topsham in a shed that size Bob (I know that I would have)! I’ll post a couple of photos on here in the next couple of days when I get a minute. I’m very much into what you’re doing here.

I’ve only just discovered this thread but I’ll be checking in on your progress from now on @bootneckbob! 1986 to 1992 was the time that I grew up spotting and then bashing around St David’s so this is right up my street… I’ve got a few interesting photos kicking around from 1987/88 that might be useful when you get around to doing the depot area. Really looking forward to seeing this progress and what you’ve done so far is looking great. I am feeling a certain level of shed envy at the moment though… I live at Cowley these days and model part of the Barnstaple line in N gauge. Everything that runs on my layout must have been under your bridge! Nick

That’s astonishingly good. It’s the sort of thing that inspires you to want to try harder.

It’s a very interesting photo though. Being from Exeter it’s not one that I’d seen before.

Great photos. I saw it down at Buckfastleigh a few weeks ago and it looked superb. Always had a bit of a soft spot for 33002 as it was one of the last 33/0s I had in BR service 30 years (ouch) ago.

If you put that combination together on a model railway you’d get some ‘interesting’ comments…

A bit like me but the opposite end of the country!

This is very good advice by the way. People that treat you like that need to be shown very very firm boundaries and actually if possible need to be edged out of day to day life and kept slightly at arms length for your own state of mind. They might be perfectly fine in a social setting now and again but some people have major limitations where it comes respecting other people’s space and interests.

I would say concentrate on buying what is available and is of good enough quality that you’d be happy with it now if you want to start stockpiling for a new project. I guess you don’t need a huge amount of stock for a layout like that so be a bit discerning and patient until the correct things are available even if it takes a couple of years maybe?

It looks amazing.

Thanks LBRJ. It’s a bit inspired by this photo really: https://www.railscot.co.uk/img/38/349/

“Yeah he’s on his way. Tell your passengers about an hour to get moving hopefully…”