ls91

Yeah why not, I'd love to see what you come up with. 

Hi Ian, I'm relatively new to this all too, but what I would say regarding the streamlined and set track points is that if you find you need a point or two you can always mix and match with whatever set track you already have. My current micro does just that with streamline 3 way on one end, and set track the other end for the loop around. You just have to cut a straight length to fit between the streamline points to keep the center lines running parallel to the set track. The streamlined give less kickout and overhang which is always a bonus, but I too am keen to make use of the set track I have rather than spend money unnecessarily on points I dont really need.

Hi Ian, I'm relatively new to this all too, but what I would say regarding the streamlined and set track points is that if you find you need a point or two you can always mix and match with whatever set track you already have. My current micro does just that with streamline 3 way on one end, and set track the other end for the loop around. You just have to cut a straight length to fit between the streamline points to keep the center lines running parallel to the set track. The streamlined give less kickout and overhang which is always a bonus, but I too am keen to make use of the set track I have rather than spend money unnecessarily on points I dont really need.

Thank you all for your responses, it's given some food for thought. I'm leaning towards a tarmac forecourt, but will have to blend in towards something resembling gravel as I travel across the board towards a signal box and eventually some greenery. I'll also have to check out some fencing to separate the forecourt and trackwork. 

Hi all, I've got a micro in progress focusing on the GWR area, around the 50s/60s.

The board will have the metclafe wayside station and ratio cattle Dock, what I'm struggling with is how this area would transition from a scenic perspective. I'd imagine the station forecourt would be tarmac? Would the area around the cattle Dock be tarmac too? Would the cattle Dock be separated with a gate? And would there be fencing alongside the track? 

A lot of questions I know, and the picture isn't great, I'll try get another closer up with the buildings in situ once some glue has dried. 

Any thoughts welcome, and if you know of any suitable photographs please share the links as I'm needing some inspiration. 

Just a thought, but if your "water" was based on a removable section, you could make a snug fit card base, paint it the usual mucky murky brown. Then use a few coats of gloss varnish to give your surface water sheen.

If you do this as a removable section you could do 2 versions, with and without a canal boat, and being removable you can do them away from the brick paper as Keith has suggested to avoid. 

Thank you all for the kind comments. As an early Christmas treat here's a few pics with a loco. 

Merry Christmas all and have a happy new year. 

I've taken the plunge and attempted to apply the snow. 

Not a great deal of progress but I've added my yard crane now. I need to have a little think on what else I want to add, or if I keep it simple. 

And yes, I'll have to search for a santa and/or some deer to add in the treeline. 

Minor progress, have added a hedge and found a truck to add near to the hut. Am waiting for my local model shop to open late to pick up a crane before I start considering adding the dusting of snow to make it a bit more Christmassy.

Small amount of progress as have now finished the ground cover and have placed the hut and some fir trees, very important for the Christmas theme. 

Cheers @Bo-Bo. A little progress, track is down and I've put some ballast down, first time ballasting so be kind. Not yet glued it, need to find something to spray a water/pva mix. 

A little bit more progress has been made with some ground cover. Need to finalise the exact track arrangement and get it stuck down. 

Not a lot of progress as my paper mache took far longer to dry out than I was expecting. Nevertheless I've done a quick coat of green as a base to hide any of the white that might show through if I miss a miniscule spot when doing the scenics. Next job will probably be to do the scenics under the bridge so I can get my track down. 

At a garden centre visiting santa, my other half saw some real plant table top planters that had those fake pine trees, it made me think of a diorama and I've persuaded her toet me make something for the table at Christmas. It may well be a bit big but I've purchased a storage box, some insulation for a bit of height and have already started some paper mache for some texture. The base is a bit of MDF from a loft ladder I brought whilst the track is some odds I've got.

Plan is to have a couple of sidings where I'll just place a few wagons with loads, it'll hopefully be a snow scene too, will need a bit of practice before i attempt that though.