Nathaniel

An update of the work I have done on my layout over the past week. Track and ground coverage painted over and started cutting plasticard to size to, which you can see two sheets of already glued in to place. I will want to get something like modelling clay to fill gaps between it and the rails, on the outside sections. Used newspaper glued over the Styrofoam sheets, which I will need to paint over. I have also got a loose card board cut out for the small retaining wall, which would be wrapped in bricks. I may lower the end near the backscene, so that the the planned bush/foliage can be seen from the ground up.

A new update. glued to back scene after cutting it to size and to suit the layout, painted the visible wood parts of the baseboard and the back scene area under the bridge. The foam sheet is back in place and have added one more layer to the right end, to make it slightly higher. Have cut out a section of cork sheet, and have marked down where I want to cut it further, with marked out areas for manual levers. Going to leave it for now to allow the weight of the track to help flatten it. The low relief wills unit has been glued together, with some plasticard. Have also started painting the brick work, using revel Italian Red. Next will be to paint the top sections with a lighter grey.

The bridge and low relief warehouse sections spray with a basecoat of Tank Grey, ready to be painted and weathered. The shed is built and very happy with its planned home. Planned projects for the next couple weeks will be to glue the backscenes, paint the bridge, and kit built buildings and form the feet of the bridge and wrap it in brick.

A quick update, have all the points and tested the 56 over the tracks, except the kickback. Also, have layered some card for the girder bridge and glued them to the girder sides. Also see in my picture are two end pieces from the wills kit, which will be spare so will form a low relief unit. Between that and the bridge going to have a wall embankment that comes down with the idea of foliage being placed above it. Have checked for space at the throat to see if there is enough room for locomotives to pass the edge of the planned depot.

Thank you andyram. Have managed to find one, though used but classed as A will be checking it thoroughly. Otherwise would have purchased a new one, as cannot always be sure used ones will work from my knowledge. Received a parcel today for more long straights and a PECO Girder bridge sides, adding to my list of little jobs.

Hello all, A little update. Have cut some foam to shape to create the base and currently building a low relief industrial unit, which you can the main body of to the right. Will be placed there, which is on a raised surface. Have ordered a second Y point to have two sidings instead of one very long siding. Hoping for the entrance, that a girder bridge will go over the top which I have thought how it may affect the 3 siding, as putting foliage beside the bridges support might come out to far. Another concern I have, is the space the MPD may require.

Hello David51, Love the fencing at the front of the layout. Enjoying your pictures of the station look forward to seeing more.

Thank you sb67 and ThomasG. I do agree the roofing from the metcalfe kit does appear to be the same shade in the photos, in reality it is darker, however I may at some paint a thin coat over it to make it darker. The inside of the Brewery was inspired by one of SDJR7F88's WW1 layouts. Think it was his Ardennes layout that is based on the smallest micro layout board that SMS make.

Hello all, sorry that I have not been updating you all about Ember Brewery. Thank you paulbb for your message, had planned on using point motors underneath, however did not realise that I needed the extended pins to do so. Retailer I purchased them from was very happy to help me rectify my mistake. They were wired with Peco PL34 point wiring loom kit, so nicely installed, though one of the wires was so tightly packed against the metal plate that it got cut, this has been twisted to another wire and then wrapped with tap to prevent contacting anything and causing a short. Have tried my hand at weathering my rolling stock and purchased and placed a name plate on to the brewery building to. Do not have any photos of weathered rolling stock yet, but will get some soon to show you all. Also the small loco has been painted black, removing the LMS writing, to make it more freelance, but the GWR loco remains as is, and is often the loco running as the smaller tank likes to disconnect alot. Edit: just seen this photo does show some of the weathering I did.

Hello all, I have recently started on anew layout to create a micro MDP. Have always wanted to do one, so this will be this years project. Have chosen EWS to be my main fleet focus which I already have a class 56 to hand. Will be buying more over the next few months. Thinking of currently having it laid out like this, with the closest lane to the left being the road to the MPD, which I have a Wills industrial/retail kit that will be made in to part of the depot. It will allow locomotives also to go through to a hidden siding in what will be the fiddleyard. The track right at the back I am thinking of having unpowered for placing odd rollingstock. Trying to find a right hand setrack turn out to complete the main throat. Going to use a depot backscene from ID backscenes, and put a modern security fence across most of the back, will one or two low relief warehouses. Looking at the siding to the back right, I could get another y-point (in addition to the current one) to make to sidings, possible for fuelling. Or have a long siding, to allow 2 diesels in. Will be DC so have purchased a set of insulating connectors so I can isolate sections where needed, and will be a learning experience to wire this one up for me.

Thank you all for your support. Sorry I have not been on here a lot recently, been very busy with work. Nothing to update really, have retouched the background as there was a few bits of paint mistakes going on to the blue sky, which are now covered up back with blue. I may consider using some white water colour paint to paint some clouds to give it something going on. The tiny little loco, despite it always losing connection with the track at a certain point, I really enjoy it. It has since been painted black, which I may leave as for the private company. At some point I will try some weathering, starting with the wagons before going to the Pug. Runs really well over the points most of the time. Will look to get a crew member for it and someone who'd be on the ground to pull the levers for the points. Also have planned to paint the outside of the layout black, which I will order in a black tester pot to do this. And made a new schedule system recently, but not tested it enough yet. Look to get another update in the next few weeks. Thank you all again for your support.

Have a new Locomotive, which is currently taking some barrels of beer to nearby towns after dropping off some supplies and returning two race horses back to their home.

Amazing use of very limited space, wonder if the if I could use your track plan for a future modern image layout once I am happy with my current layout.

And the barrels, which sit in all of my wagons. For wagon loads, I haver left to create one more with the crates I have and also then one for some coal. Been having lots of fun running the layout and prefer using the 87xx I have. Will plan to look in to purchasing a couple more locos in the future. Not sure if I want to repaint it just yet.

Following on from Saturday, worked on my layout yesterday and painted the two projects I planned to work on. Here are the Labourers waiting for the next train to come in. I will photo the barrels later today.

That really looks amazing Luke. Looks very stunning.

Hi all, Been a long time since I've given an update due to other hobbies and waiting for certain products to become available. Purchased some garden sheds and allotments which out of the 4 allotments I received, have only used one which I sawed in half very carefully. Painted these and cut out holes in the thin chipboard so they would fit snuggly in. Placed another tree by on of the sheds, this is not glued in so can be removed if desired. Then glued in the scatter, static grass and hedge, after which is secured with hair spray. Have a few minor projects in progress. Recently purchased two workman for the Brewery and some barrels from a really cool ebay seller. The barrels are all cleaned and then glued together. All they need now is a lick of paint. Many future plans include purchasing a name plate for the brewery, painting more crates for wagon loads on the yard, a couple more figures and a Gypsy wagon for the layout too. Would love to find some gardening tools for the allotments. As been operating it differently from originally, I have gone to a random dice generated system for what would arrive or depart on the layout. Has gone through a couple editions, as the first systems often ended with 3 wagons or vans, despite allowances to make it 1-3 wagons. My newest one often means only two show up, while reducing the chances of multiply Vans appearing on a consist. Thus allowing more wagons to appear. For rolling stock, have now 2 box vans, horse box, 3 7 planks and 2 5 planks. Think a couple more wagons will not go amiss and debating on using a guards van/brake van. Hope you all enjoy my latest update and value any feedback or suggestions you have. Nathaniel

Have created a fenced of area with some wild overgrown grass and a small area that could be used by vehicles. Not sure what I might put there yet. Really happy with it. The remaining surface area, I have purchased some allotments and sheds. Once they arrive I will see how they fit in. Currently painting the horses and crates. Some of the crates are being connected so they can go in to wagons as loads. Talking about goods, awaiting delivery of a Horse box to add to the small amount of rolling stock I have. Thank you all for your continued support, likes and comments.

Really enjoying the development of your layout Stubby47, look forward to more updates.

Looking really cool, looking forward to more updates Luke. Nathaniel

Another update on Ember Brewery. A couple things to add to the second cottage, and plan to repaint the horses as they arrived not quite well painted. I also have the crates to paint and place on card to go inside wagons as wagons loads. Also, the locomotive is new, while great at slow running, is kind of jerk to get moving. simply tapping it or putting some coins in the cab helped it gain traction so know I need to find some way of weighing it for better traction. Looks more at home than my 87xx. I plan to repaint my locos to a freelance company of my own devising which will be enjoyable for me.

Really nice work Jerry, really like the gardening.

Had a new kit arrive today. Half of it turned in to a half relief cottage and placed Jarvis Foliage as a hedge up against the wall with lighting. A couple more little finishes need to be applied, but really happy with it.

Thank you for all the support everyone has shown, I really appreciate it. Worked a little on the layout before work, pulled out some of the lichen as it was turning white. Put new lichen in place of it and also put in a new tree, made from a dead branch I found walking to walk a couple days ago with lichen on top. Couple days ago I also covered the yard area with a fine grey ballast. Looks more like dust then ballast, looks great though. The rest of this morning was occupied with rewiring the layout and finding one of the wires to the point motors had cut itself. Is one of the green wires from a Peco set for wiring two points without solder. Repaired that and wired a bit more cleanly for the points. Next is for the LED's, and leave a connection area so I can wire more down to the entrance of the layout.

Looks fantastic, thanks for taking the time to share it with us all.