Barry Ten

6 hours ago, Captain Kernow said:

 

 

Sorry, just realised you're doing this in 'N'! Such is the quality of the work, you had me fooled!

 

I'll take that as a win!

2 hours ago, Neil said:

I don't think that NLDO, cameo or trainset in a box works for all layouts. While a constrained view can work well for urban layouts I take the view that the claustrophobic air it gives fights against a sense of open space which rural and in this case a valley setting needs. Even boxing in might work with the layout I'd be in favour of plenty of sky rather than the tank drivers view usually given in a cased presentation.

My thinking is heavily influenced by a really good layout I saw once ... Shell something? 😄

Hi Neil, yes I think that would be possible - probably a bit too much butchery to inflict on the box as built, but definitely something to think about in the future.

It does run well now, but I'd imagine it would be even better with a High Level kit. However, I got it out for a trundle the other day, and was still pleased with the improvement, so for me it was a "win" given the difference before and after and the relatively low investment of time and money!

29 minutes ago, Ian Smith said:

Mikkel,

It is indeed an early view of Modbury!  A couple of years ago a friend who had bought the book alerted me to the fact that Modbury was shown on the cover (at the time I wasn’t aware of the book even existed!)

Ian

I think I'd be more than a little bamboozled to find a picture of a layout of mine on the cover of the book I didn't even know about.🙄

Very impressive footage, showing off the modelling to full effect.

2 hours ago, Mikkel said:

Thanks. Now I know what to look for next time we move 🙂

 

 

It's funny as when we moved, I had in mind a much larger room! My old one had been 14 x 6, so long and narrow. When we made list of desirable things to have in our new house, I "demanded" a room of at least 12 x 20!!! When we visited the house that we eventually chose, it had almost none of the features we wanted, and definitely not a big train room! However we were so charmed by the house that all the other things (like a garage for my wife's motorbike) became secondary. In the end I co-opted the third smallest bedroom.

Many thanks, Mikkel. The layout is squeezed into a 12 x 11 foot room, with the two longest fiddle yard roads being able to take 7 or 8 coach trains.

Excellent work there, Dave. Given how in-period everything else is on the layout, it would have been a shame to spoil things even if 15 years doesn't seem that much at this remove.

Ready and painted by Thornbury, what are the chances?

Worth mentioning that Peco now do a William Clarke building in their TT:120 range. Very nice!

2 hours ago, Mikkel said:

What a lovely sequence, I enjoyed that. Looks like a good runner. I don't know how you manage to build such quality so fast, Al. 

Sheer bloody-mindedness, Mikkel, as well as being a pragmatist more than a perfectionist!

For instance, the kit includes multi-layer etches for the brake gear, but also a set of single-thickness etches. I used the latter which saved considerable time, even though they're less realistic.

Just now, Compound2632 said:

A magnificent pair of vehicles. I shall look forward, though, to seeing the painted and lined 6-wheelers at the Fareham exhibition! (If I'm fit to go...)

I love an optimist! 😂

Fab! Having two different passenger rakes will add a lot of variety to the operating.

Yes, Dave's one is fantastic, especially now that he's sorted out the chassis (it wasn't compensated/sprung originally if I remember rightly so was more prone to stalling than the other Sherton locos, but now runs a treat). I'll get to play with it next weekend if I'm a good boy!

What a remarkable piece of modelling scholarship - outstanding!

4 hours ago, Mikkel said:

Glad to hear there were no other snags in your NC version.

 

Hi Mikkel, one thing I forgot to mention is that by the time I came to do the cab and bunker, there wasn't enough of a gap between the two. I don't know where the error crept in, whether it was my assembly or just the parts being slightly out, but I resolved it by filing back the cab side sheets. Another issue was that the handrail hole on the cab was too low relative to the ones in the panniers, so I had to relocate and drill a new one.

I would like to have a go at the saddle tank version.

We need that guy with the deep voice who does film trailers:

THIS AUTUMN...

SHERTON ABBAS.... 

WITH EXTRA COLD FRAMES

9 hours ago, BWsTrains said:

Hi Al,

 

Any chance you could post a detailed photo of the King's Hintock main station building? I've often admired it but the shots I have either are wider view or have traffic running through.

 

Regards,

 

Colin

Thanks Colin. I'll be sure to - just have to dig out either an older photo, or take a new one of the building.

I'm afraid not only have the pictures gone, but that part of the layout no longer exists. However the pub still has a home.

That's a remarkably good job. I like what you've done with the roof, as this always strikes me as the weakest area on the Metcalfe kits and well worth a little attention.

23 minutes ago, queensquare said:

I love these posts they just exude fun and atmosphere. A man who obviously enjoys his hobby, 

 

looking forward to seeing you at the weekend Al

 

Jerry

Same here, Jerry!

43 minutes ago, Neil said:

That's shaping up very nicely Al. In the past I've always been wary of modifying completed work, which has often meant scrapping rather than tweaking. Seeing what you've done here makes me more aware of the possibilities of adjustment and reshaping finished scenes.

Thanks Neil!

I must admit part of my thinking behind the truncated backscene piece was the way you handled Shell Island, so there is some payback there!

47 minutes ago, Captain Kernow said:

This is just fabulous, Al.

 

Also, is there a thread on the 'N' gauge stuff you 'casually mention' above?! 😀

 

Thanks, Tim!

The N stuff has been well documented in this thread but unfortunately most of the images are gone now.

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/17776-gulf-atlanta-eastern-into-the-second-decade/page/25/

It's a 12 x 11 layout set in Georgia and South Carolina, sharing the same footprint as the 00 one.

1 hour ago, Re6/6 said:

Excellent scenics Al. 😀

Thanks John, high praise coming from one of the best scenic modellers out there!

1 hour ago, deepfat said:

Loving the look and the subtle scenery. Also do you make your own buildings and so on

Thanks! The buildings are a mix of scratchbuilt, kits (including some Superquick) and ready-to-plonk. Basically

whatever works in a given spot.