Graham T

Looks really good to me. I'm going to use something of a similar size I think, but perhaps wooden built throughout.

So, the fiddle yard has been built, courtesy of the Fred Flintstone school of carpentry! Thought I would start on the simplest bit of woodwork first; although none of the rest will be massively complicated anyway. I do need to think about how to incorporate a dropped section though, as I'd like to have a small stream running through the landscape. It will need to cross some of the cross bracing, so I will have to ponder on that for a while.

Well it's always nice to have some to hand, I find...

boom boom tish!

I really liked Much Fettling, but decided to go down the Wodehouse route instead. Seems to fit the kind of feel I'd like to create with the layout, if at all possible...

I considered naming my layout Much Fettling, but on second thoughts will probably go with Chuffnell Regis

I'll look forward to seeing that progress, really like the buildings you've done so far.

Thanks Paul - lots more to read!

In other developments, I've been giving some thought to what buildings I might eventually put on the layout (yes, getting ahead of myself I'm sure, but I like the planning). So I made a quick mock-up of the Ratio goods shed, measured by eye from online photos, but with a footprint of about 155 x 170 mm. And it looks huge once it's in place, much too big for the scene I think. The station building is probably about right, and I don't want it to be overwhelmed, as it is in this set-up. Time to look for something more in keeping - any suggestions would be welcome!

Yes, that's the thing really. An out of the box model can look very good, and then be lifted even further with better couplings and so on. So spending a lot of extra time and money on then converting to EM - not so sure I want to do that!

I haven't completely made my mind up yet to be honest. I do like the look of EM, but am put off by the time and expense of modifying all the rolling stock as much as anything. It's the overall look of the whole scene that I'm trying to achieve, so I want to take a look at the Marcway OO track; if it seems right to my eye then I will probably opt to use it...

At least, I'd have thought!

Looking very good. Don't know why it takes you so long to finish things though; surely a lick of paint and it's finished?

Just got them on the phone. A 36" radius point is about 9.25 inches long, so about an inch shorter than a Peco point. The Marcway points are a bit cheaper too, so this looks like it might be my solution. They also make a wide range of points, including curves and so on (although those are expensive!), so I've just ordered a set of their templates - you can't have too many plans!

I was just looking at Marcway points. I don't suppose you know how long one of their 36" Radius points is? I've tried calling them but no answer at the moment...

Thanks very much Les. I would use bullhead rail if I decide to with OO (which I suspect is what I am going to do...) Can it be combined with other code 75 rail though, I guess it can? Although that might look a bit odd I suppose. I ask because I think I will need at least one curved point. Ah, so Bishopscombe Mk II is on the cards! That will be interesting to see.

As usual I hit send too early. I meant to ask a couple of questions about Peco code 75 track. I know that the actual rail profile is much more lifelike, and of course it's 16.5 gauge rather than 18.2. But how about the sleepers; are they at the correct spacing, and are they the correct length?

After much pondering a flash of inspiration came to me, and I've come up with a couple of potential names for the layout - either Chuffnell Regis or Market Snodsbury. And I'm still doing a lot of head scratching about the plan... Having drawn it out life size I ended up with this: There isn't really a ski ramp at the far end, if you were wondering. I don't have any EM templates for the points, so used large radius Peco code 83 (I know that's US track but it seemed to work for this purpose). Everything looks to flow reasonably well, but when you go to a life size plan you realise just how much length these points take up! That has forced some changes to the plan; for example, I had to shift the turntable to a different position. You'll see I've also popped on a mock-up station building. Thought for today is to have the engine shed on the fourth line from the left, and then the goods shed on the track furthest to the right. Then I can have an access road sweeping around at the end of the tracks into a curve to reach the goods shed, mit cattle dock as well, of course. So now I'm back to wondering whether to go to EM or just stick with OO. As I've said, what I'm aiming for is a layout that looks right - it isn't trying to be a historically accurate portrayal of anywhere (or when) in particular. I'm now considering going with Peco code 75 track, keeping the flowing curves that I've got, and using large radius points - that would save me a lot of length. And of course then I wouldn't need to re-wheel everything as well. Still, no need to make a decision yet! Have to buy some wood first

What a wonderful layout! I've now caught up with the story of Little Muddle (although I confess I didn't read every single word...) and feel as if I know some of the characters involved. Superb modelling skills, and pretty good story telling as well. Greatly entertaining, thank you Kevin. I'm looking forward to seeing how the new development - well, develops! And I am sure this thread will be a great resource of ideas as I make a start on my first layout, having just got back into railway modelling after a very long gap. Thanks again!

I've been slowly working my way through this thread, and am (almost) lost for words. These few photos are wonderful though!

You'll know it's there even if nobody else does

Ah, happy (?) memories of there too. If it wasn't raining, it just had. Or was just about to...

Having grown up in the Marches, that sky looks familiar!

Thanks, I'll give it a rejig. My first thought is to attach the cattle dock to the right hand end of the shed, and then shorten the siding that is shown between the shed and the cattle dock a little. That would give a distance of about 50 ft between the goods and engine sheds. Do you think that would work?

Well I've done quite a bit of research into GWR branch lines (or scratched the surface, at least) and have come up with something that is a hybrid of a few different stations. In particular I've been looking at Fairford and Lambourn. I drew a few other plans, and firstly considered adding an extra platform, but then thought that two platforms and a bay would be too much for a branch line terminus. I also considered making it into a through station, like the (superb) Little Muddle, as if the tracks continued on beyond the left hand end of the scenic section. Then it would have been a double track line. But I couldn't figure out how to make the scenic break look convincing without blatantly stealing from Encombe, and anyway I didn't really like the idea so much in terms of operation. So now I think I'm getting closer to what I might actually start to build, whilst recognising that it will no doubt continue to evolve! I'm wondering about having a gentle gradient leading up to hidden area / branch line? At present the plan allows for 3-coach trains, although I imagine most traffic would be two-coach sets and the autocoach. And the sidings could handle up to about 10-wagon freight traffic, although again I think the maximum I would use might be 6 or 7 wagons; I think it will look better to have them standing on a siding with some empty space around them. I am thinking about using ID backscenes, and perhaps having a few low relief houses behind the bay platform. The scenic break to the fiddle yard is loosely based on Speen cutting, and the ground behind that will continue to rise, and also be topped by (lots of!) trees, in order to hide the branch line. I've added a pair of cottages in the space near the front of the layout, for some visual interest and also to give me an excuse for an occupation crossing near to the signal box. There will also be a small stream running through, which helps give a break from the station area into the scenic section, and then curves around to form the boundary of the station property. Overall I'm trying to make it look like an area of countryside that a railway has been built through, rather than the other way around. One other thing I'm pondering though, is how to add in a few more variations in the ground level, apart from the rising ground up to and beyond the cutting. I also need to think about dotting little huts here and there, PW, lamp storage, and so on. And about a million other things I'm sure!