hymek2

Shame the breakdown photos weren't in the form of a video - I could imagine it as a Benny Hill type sketch if watched speeded up. Nice to see how the layout is presented, quality finish to the whole layout, not just the "layout". Who manufactures the figures you use?. It makes such a difference seeing people that look like people, not something from Dr Who episode!

Hi Missy. Yes there is a VW club in Oxfordshire. They meet at the Bystander Pub in Wootton. Haven't been a member for many years now so don't know what current interests the members have. I recognise a couple of names on the membership list so they have been around the club for a long time (good sign hopefully). www.oxfordshirevwoc.co.uk should give you all the information. 2 magazines available as well, Camper and Commercial and Volkswagen Camper and Bus. Both full of ideas, traders, suppliers of conversions etc. Have a flick through them to see if they can give you an ideas. Hoping to get back to Abingdon soon to drop of the buildings I have been working on for the Abingdon layout. Managed to get some good progress recently.

Green with envy (notice avatar pic). Mines playing up at the moment and is out of favour.... a nice T5 diesel would mean better fuel economy/performance and not so many hours with spanners in hand.

Must be time to fit lighting to the rolling stock now then! Looking very good, but its a shame to hide so much detail under cover of darkenss.

Not too sure about Marks party hat(!) Maybe the coke bottle contained something from the Wychwood Brewery. Good to see some progress again.

The Nevard strikes again! Full of useful ideas and always happy to share them. I'm going to watch this project. Nice to see the safety specs in one of the pictures as well.

Put it to one side for a while and concentrate on something else. When you are not thinking about a problem too deeply an obvious solution usually comes to mind!

Not just keen, been living here for 6 months and having trouble finding a club, or a "reasonable" model shop let alone an exhibition so getting withdrawal symptoms. Made it back to Abingdon in March for my old clubs exhibition. RMWeb keeping up my inspiration. Don't get me wrong - the scenery and living here is great after a job re-location, just missing out on part of our hobby and being able to stock up on goodies.

I thought it (the roof) had been "doctored" - you just can't resist making the good better can you? Hoping to make the journey from Pembroke to Railex to see Combwich, it will be a long day and a lot of miles but the other layouts on the list also make it look worthwhile.

Interesting texture on the roof. Is that how the kit came to represent a canvas covering or have you modified it? Will look nice in grey and weathered.

The beetle appears to be progressing well despite you having to make so many modifications to get things to fit. Looking at the tyres they give the impression they are for something more military than street driven. The kit box picture doesn't show that much side tread. The "wings" also look to be slightly flared - possibly for more tyre clearance of a military vehicle. I'm continuing to watch the progress so don't give up!

that will be over to somebody with some Swedish history/background I'm afraid! I been involved with a lot of oldish vws over the years but never a Swede (though I'm sure they are very nice).

In the Uk they were (are) known as the Type 1- The Type 11 (2) being the split screen and bay window transporters. The picture of the model shows what appears to be an early model with sloping front headlights and slightly smaller front windscreen. Can't see the rear but the very early ones had a split rear window, followed by small one piece windows, which then progressively got larger over the years. Also the rear tail lights were very small and gradually got bigger and the bumpers changed shape. A wikipedia search of "volkswagen beetle" shows some of the history but a good site is "www.historicvws.org.uk" hopefully you should find some inspiriation, colour pictures and maybe (haven't read all the info myself) a colour chart. Not been "into" the vw scene for quite some years now but still own a T25 bus (the flat window one in my avatar - rare beast being 4 wheel drive). Hope this helps.

Beautiful layout. Just found this "hiding" in amongst all the other things on RMWeb - I think it will take a lifetime to check out everything on the site. Watching this one for the future. How did you manage to curve the Wills stone walling? Its really effective.

Nice to see you are managing to give us so much information about your work, always informative. But DID the mug contain something more exciting? Keep the info coming!

Maurice, Osborns, sounds awfully familiar. I lived in Oxfordshire until a few months ago and knew his Abingdon shop well. I havent managed to visit him in his new shop yet.

Its not waffle. Its what others consider detail as to how you achieved the "picture" you have created. It inspires others, gives experienced modellers ideas of different ways of doing things, and inexperienced ones information on how to get started.

Hymek 2 approves. Very nice. Still like to see more though!

Time for a few more pictures and some details of the build please. Lovely atmosphere. I for one would like to know more please.

Stunning (as usual). The natural light certainly makes a difference over artificial light. Seems to make the colours even more natural.

Excellent. That's one off the unfinished list. On to the next or start a new one!

Could you tell us how you did the stonework and windows please. They don't look "pre-moulded".

Nice to see Mr Symes is still with us. I wonder if he still has the layout of Horsted Keynes that was built for the tv series. I think I've still got a copy of the "magazine" that accompanied the series. Still packed in a box somewhere after my recent move.

Yes it is worth it. Firstly you will probably regret it if you don't, and secondly if you operate the layout from the non-viewing side at any time you will be looking at it and thinking of the first comment!