DanielB

I'm not sure I'll have the space. 🤣 Maybe on the backscene though. :)

A bit more progress made by adding some black florists wire to the outside of the building to form power cables. I'll put a little junction box on the end of it when I've knocked one together from scraps. I've also added the start of a ghost sign to the building, though it's likely not going to be seen at shows to begin with as that's the edge that go against the backscene. Still, it never hurts to future proof something.

Tonight I've been having a pop at building 2 on the plan, using a Walthers concrete structure which has been included in a load of their kits so I can't remember what it's called. 🤷 The back of the building will have some sort of painted on advertising but I'm not sure what yet. I'll have to raid my collection of printed adverts and do the old "sand the back and soak it in glue and water" trick. Failing that I'll likely just freehand something then fade it out with drybrushing over the top. Not sure exactly what business this will be but I intend on adding a bunch of details to it as it'll be right at the front of the layout. Next job might be building some basswood pallets to add around it, including the ubiquitous stars and stripes painted one.

What a brilliant little railroad.

I guess we shall see! 🤣

I spotted this whilst browsing Google Maps - this is in the Louisiana and North West Railroad yard at Homer, Louisiana. Seeing as I purchased a couple of 20' containers at Mansfield show, I thought I'd have a bash at making one to go on the layout somewhere. :) Model photos to follow, of course! :D

Morning all, After the wrap up of Mansfield Show 2024 I thought it was about time I started working on something else to take to shows. Seeing as my space is limited for now, I've brought out an old 3' Inglenook I was working on a long while ago and feel now is the time to make use of it and try and push it over the finish line. Though my main planned layout going forward is steam/transition era, I do have a lot of modern era stock that I really don't want to part with, so I am hoping to plan Way Down Yonder as being useable - with a few quick changes and swapping of details - for any time from 1970 onwards. I made the effort when laying the track to make it quite unstable to replicate the rocking of freight cars - time will tell if that is a mistake or not! :D I've made a quick mock up of what the plan is for the layout, fingers crossed it's a least partially legible. Along the back of the layout I plan on using the Walthers Grocery Distributor to kitbash a backscene building, with lighting and interior. The entrance from the fiddle yard will be the sides/backs of commercial properties for the view block, to try and give a "run-down backlot" appearance. Once the Walthers kit arrives I'll make a start on that, but in the mean time I'll be looking around the internet for interesting looking structures to scratch build for the view block.

Good lord, Dave. Every layout you build is a work of art. It's like my childhood come alive again.

What a stunning looking layout. Bravo.

Well, it's been ages since I've posted, but that bonus never materialised so the layout/gaming room is still in a state of flux. The lack of the promised bonus was the last straw for me from my frankly awful now-ex employer, so I quit and found myself a new job at a much better company. I've been there almost a year now, and as such had been focused on life more than hobbies. That said, the gaming side of my hobby room has been the focus, and I'm almost sorted in that regard. Just waiting for a custom gaming table to arrive sometime towards the end of the month, and once that's set up I'll know how much room I'll have to fit the Interstate into. The photos attached show the pile of stuff in the corner that will be where the layout will likely end up being homed. I also picked up a few freight cars at Mansfield to add to my collection, a couple more 55T hoppers included. The other stuff will be for a new US exhibition layout that I've got in the works.

Great progress, I'll enjoy watching this one develop. :)

Great to see you at Mansfield Steve, it's certainly been ages since we've had a catch up. Sorry if I was a bit quiet or zoned out, I wasn't feeling well at all. In fact, I had to pull out of day 2 because of it. Layout looked great, and those steam locos were awesome. :)

Yeah that's a good deal. To put it in perspective - I paid £10 at a show for a Bachmann branch line 16T mineral wagon - second hand. From the same stall I got a Proto 2000 56' mill gondola with Kadee couplers and metal wheels for... £6. Sometimes you get lucky and find US outline stuff being sold cheap due to a lack of interest from the general public. Sometimes you find awful quality US locos at the price of a new UK loco because the seller has no idea what they are selling so price it equivalent of UK stuff. You definitely got a bargain with that one.

Unfortunately I had to pull out of day 2 of the show due to illness, but please drop by if you were considering it, it's always a great show every year.

A bit of thread necromancy, however ODW is at Mansfield show this weekend. Here's a couple of photos taken today whilst operating on day one of the show. :)

Spotted you setting up at Mansfield show. Gotta say your layout is fantastic. Bravo!

Hi Jason, Not at the moment - I sold Piedmont Blues and all my O scale stuff to Sophie to fund renovations on my layout room. The Pandemic really stopped me in my tracks and made me re-evaluate my hobby world. I decided to settle on a home layout I can work on at my own leisure without the stress and commitments of the exhibition circuit. It's still in the planning stages at the moment but I'm hoping once I've settled on a trackplan for The Little Layout Company to do the boards, tracklaying and electrics. That way I can focus on what I enjoy the most - scenery, structures and locos/rolling stock. I still have Operation Dark Winter in HO, but understandably I'm not expecting it to get much of a draw at exhibitions due to the theme and the unfortunate timing of when it was build. :D I have been considering a small On30 layout though, so whether that sees the light of day I don't know.

Very interested to see how this layout turns out. The little boxcabs look fantastic. :)

Jordan, if you are after another Atlas Plymouth, I sold mine to Sophie late last year. She might still have it, as well as a bunch of my weathered freight cars.

Holy thread-o-mancy Batman! Just a quick update to let you all know that Piedmont Blues and all my O scale collection has been sold to Sophie and room renovations are underway to allow for both the IRR and a tabletop wargaming table to be set up permanently. Lighting and shelving will need fitting to the room to allow for storage to free up space around the room so that I can measure up the space I'll have to fit the layout. That will dictate the trackplan and then that will go to The Little Layout Company for them to build the layout. :) The general deadline for that will be April/May when I should hopefully get a bonus from work that will allow for me to pay for the build.

I need her to arrange a collection day for the O scale stuff she's arranged to buy from me. :(

Afternoon all, Has anyone else had issues reaching Sophie at Anoraks Anonymous? I've been trying to get in touch for months with only one or two replies. Doesn't matter if I use email, WhatsApp, Facebook or phonecall, I just can't seem to get through. Cheers, Dan

I don't have anywhere near the space to do any real location on the Interstate any justice. If I did I would model Dorchester Junction and Dorchester tipple itself. If only I still modelled in N scale! No, I'll be going for the feel of the railroad and taking inspiration from a bunch of places, but space restrictions dictate that the layout itself will be purely freelance.

Might I introduce you to Anorak's Anonymous - you can find their shop information on Facebook or online. Sophie has massive amounts of US outline stock for very reasonable prices.

I do indeed - a home layout not for exhibitions.