Mark Townend

I'd kind of forgotten what the garage looks like but I remembered it had a detailed interior. Can you actually see any of that when in the layout room without removing any buildings? I like the wood chopping scene. I happened to drop in to Pendon yesterday as I was almost passing and wasn't in a rush. Much as I think the detail in the modelling there truly astounding and I've previously said yours is right up there with it, I found I was looking at some things there and thinking 'hmm, this isn't as good as Little Muddle'. Sacrilege, I know, and I'm aware that some of Pendon is 80 odd years old.

I'm only 51, does that mean I need some fake ID to be allowed to follow LM?! Loving the photos of the seldom seen parts of LM, that pic with the bins has more detail in it than most would even think of, the lintels and flashings are excellent. I know we were treated to being shown similar close ups when the Wing Commander first noticed them but I've been thinking for about 6 months of asking to see the interior of the garage again. Please Kevin? And I absolutely love this morning's photo. If only you weren't interested in these blooming train things you'd have more space for LM scenery!

Been working away last 8 days so only now catching up (fitting in with LM pace!). That ED wagon looks superb, the blue is wonderfully toned down by the weathering so I'm no longer at all concerned about it being too colourful for LM. Details like the number ID transfers don't bother me at all and I wouldn't have had a clue it possibly should have had more wheels. Looking forward to seeing the completed milk train trundling through the trees, I've finally found a reason to get excited about Christmas, so you can get some more kits!

Aesthetically I'd prefer the ED as it doesn't remind me of the ubiquitous Triang UD wagons and I wonder if the white could be a little clinical for LM but the ED blue may be too brazenly colourful for LM. And judging from previous knowledgeable replies as you could have either you know you're going to end up with 3 of 1 and 1 of the other...

I actually quite like him delivering, there's already plenty of standing around chatting in LM! But I'd prefer if he could be on the other side of the road so we can see his crate of gold tops better. Thank you.

Superb Kevin, the burrs on the tree are so realistic and as I was moving the picture around while zoomed in there were areas where it is impossible to tell it's not a photograph of a real scene. Again.

I've said before how much I like the trees, bushes and brambles on LM but got to say I'd never previously noticed how blooming good those conifers are! Zooming in they literally look like you've pasted a photograph in. Superb.

Many thanks Kevin, they're just superb, especially the second one. I think I've said before that the greenery on LM is wonderful and easily up at Pendon standards - I actually went there for the first time in about 35 years a few weeks ago so can confirm that I was right! When you look around almost any part of the British countryside there's a surprising amount of dead trees so it's great to see some modelled so well. And it really shows how big the loco is, then I realise that's only a few cm tall. I'll have a think about any requests for photos. And I'm loving the new angles you're exploring, they're showing some familiar parts of LM in unfamiliar ways. Which makes me think - can you safely fit an iphone just in front of the cottages you've just removed to fix the gate, to give the idea of the view they'd have looking out across their gardens? Or how about this for a challenge - maybe you could try to get a series of photos from somewhere near the viewpoint some of the LM characters would have? I'd like to see what the tramp sees, or what you can see whilst leant on that fence... But please don't damage anything or bust a gut doing it!

First time in ages I've commented on here, but got to say the standing dead tree on the left side of that photo looks superb and I've never noticed it before, I love how there are still little details all over LM that Kevin has spent time and effort modelling to be discovered. Any chance of another view of it Kevin?

Not sure if I've mentioned this before Kevin but the undergrowth just in front of the fence is sublime modelling, especially the left side in front of the station sign, I genuinely think those brambles are literally my absolute favourite spot of your layout. So realistic.

Kevin, those are superb, thank you! I'm now starting to doubt myself as to why I used to think Little Muddle might be a model, now I'm fairly sure it isn't! The first one especially shows how much work you've put into getting so many realistic trees and bushes into the scene. And the way you've thought about the shape of the main tree in both views allowing it to hang lower over the river is just top class.

Thanks for those Kevin. Out of interest, just supposing we were looking at a model of Little Muddle rather than the actual place, would the Squadron Leader have been taking those photos from roughly the eye level a human observer would have? And I know you're keen to avoid showing us anything beyond the limits of the model, but I'm intrigued as to what the view from the front door of the old cottage would be - is there any chance of getting one of your assorted cameras squeezed in to maybe show us the view towards the shepherd's hut and towards the traction engine? Oh, and then how about a view from near the traction engine back down the river away from the viaduct? Only if convenient, don't spend ages doing it and definitely don't risk damaging anything in the Little Muddle world!

I really enjoy looking at some of the photos on this thread on my 8" tablet screen, tapping on them to bring them up full size so there's no text to distract me, then zooming in and moving around. It's a wonderful feeling when I can see a detail that gives it away as a model and realise I might be looking at something that's only 30mm or whatever and it emphasises how superb the modelling is that even at such a close up view almost everything still looks exceedingly realistic. Kevin, I really don't care if the door ever gets fixed or what's in the box, just please keep showing us photos of some of the best modelling there is!

The truth is only back on page 243...

Kevin, I've just registered on the site as a 47 year old child who's had very little to do with model railways for over 30 years. I gradually skim read through the whole thread during lockdown and only registered to be able to tell you how astonishingly good your scenery is, my absolute favourite part of your layout is the brambles up the fences. I see people have compared it to Pendon, well I was taken there a couple of times as a kid and it blew me away, but looking at modern pictures I'd say you've actually blown Pendon out the water with your realism. I don't know much about the actual toy trains, so although I appreciate your efforts in making them as accurate and realistic as possible it's a bit wasted on me, but I'm in awe of your skills to create every aspect of your little world. Oh, and you can take a good pic too!