George Hudson

I would also appreciate that also! Struggling with my own method at the moment and will post the results for comments hopefully soon. In the meantime I am still returning to your photos for inspiration even though my own results are considerably "hairyer". Andrew

Even though I am not involved or might never get to see this at an exhibiton, it's still a pleasure just to watch it develop from a distance. Keep up the postings for this flagship layout for the hobby. Even my wife was impressed, an honour indeed! Andrew

I would echo Mucky Duck and the superlatives of the previous commentators. This is a project demonstrating the hobby at it's highest technical level. I think there's a lot of us in this community who are more or less bonkers or as one might put it, maintaining the enduring spirit of great British eccentricity. Whatever the cause, the outcomes shown in this thread and many others are wonderful. Andrew PS When I saw that shot of the row of shops I could only murmur "I'll get my coat": just kidding I actually returned to my own efforts within 30 mins.

Excellent "feel good" layout with plenty to see and some really original touches. You have created something with an individual stamp on it. Loved the video too! Keep posting the updates. Andrew

The windows are particularly good. How did you do them? Andrew

Oops sorry forgot to say Brian, it's a great model. Not just because of the tut (pronounced like "soot") but it's flair, imagination and originality coupled with the best of British practical engineering. Andrew

My old Mum too: cockney I always thought! Andrew

Always good to see a new project started. Good luck and I am sure you will get quite a following and many helpful suggestions here. Andrew

They are excellent, really good work in this medium, Andrew

End of year hello (or Hallo if you are in Germany). I have done little on the layout in the last weeks but I did get around to changing the from drive axel on my Bachmann B1. This seems to have improved running through correcting the tendency of the drive wheels to become "unquartered". Following this I decided to enjoy myself running monstrously long trains around the layout like this 12 coach effort double headed by said B1 and my L1 Here they are emerging from the girder bridge and passing the newest member of the stud, a second hand N2 from ebay. It's a little noisy but runs well: arguably better than both the B1 and the L1! Since the now defunct Britannia has never re emerged from the repairs firm to which it was sent in September, it's about time I had a bit of luck with the motive power! Happy New Year (Guten Rutsch) Andrew

If it's not too pretentious, I think you have created an iconic layout. I feel that I have waited on those platforms in the past when I was a boy in Stepney several decades ago. Andrew

I might have to move it back to the UK within the next year and it could be rather challenging to find a long site for it!

Thanks for the reference, Tower Pier is a great layout.

A road to connect the bridge leading to the parcels depot with the platform area has appeared. The road surface is a disgrace!

Thanks for the encouragement guys, much appreciated. I'll keep chugging on and post new developments as and when.

Morning all, A short addition to what has become an „occasional series“ regarding the progress of Aldersgate. Despite the recent intrusion of the 1:1 scale world in my modeling activities, I have made some progress on the sister station to Aldersgate: the North London Railway’s terminus “Broadgate”. This owes nothing to the real Broad Street other than its location, tight on the shoulder of its GER rival. It has been more inspired by Alexander Palace and continues the theme of the grandeur of London termini. As ever the whole thing is work in progress but I think it gives a good impression of what <I am trying to do with the project. Andrew

Another pictorial update from me. I have made another over bridge, quite simple this time, representing the parcels bridge at Liverpool Street before its rebuild. This is a very simple card and foam board construction with a road surface made from a sticky rubberised mat from Noch or one of the continental manufacturers. The road surface will need more distressing and a drain or two but it is coming along (I never seem to finish one building before I start another!). The sides of the girder bridge inside are made from a strip of paper in which rivets were press by hand with a pencil and the strip then cut into pieces and stuck back on the bridge sides to give it a neglected look. The whole thing is painted with enamel paint which was not thoroughly mixed so that it gave a natural variation as it went on. I just noticed after the photo that the pavement needs to be done again. This is scalescenes pavement but scribed and painted. The last picture is a bit of a teaser since it shows the emerging side of Broadgate Station, the neighbouring station to Aldersgate which I am now working on. It is more inspired by Alexander Palace High level that Broad Street. I have been recording its production and when finished I will post its development on the card building sub forum. If you have been, thanks for watching. Andrew

I am a big fan of the Bilteze. Look at my other layout Stratham in galleries where I have used them extensively. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=user_activity&search_app=gallery&mid=6781&userMode=all&sid=b6727bb3dcc79b2ee7263912d95a07b6 Andrew

Just to share a quick idea: I don't know how I came to have three superquick market house kits but rather than waste them I thought I would use them to create a low relief warehouse. The idea was also to get something quick to start filling in the back of the layout. The windows are scalescenes on an overhead slide. Andrew

Roger, you are quite right, it's on the wish list. Until then I will have to muddle through with some Bachmann surburban stock. I have made a little more progress. I have been looking for a convincing way to produce some road bridges to pass over the station throat. I came across a Noch bridge designed to carry a single track railway. Chopped and stretched I think it gives a reasonable imitation of the Norton Folgate bridge at Liverpool street. The plated girder cross section forming the lower part is made in the the "old school" method using thick card salvaged from business presentations. The plates at the bottom have paper strips punctured with an old ball point pen to represent rivetts: the sort of thing my modelling hero Peter Denny would have done! It just needs some high wooden fences to stop pedestrians falling off the sides and, of course, lots of soot. Andrew

The L1 has arrived and I couldn't resist posting a couple of shots. Runs very well straight form the box and is an excellent quality model in my view. Gently running in as I type this. Andrew

As ever I am hugely impressed with the depth of knowledge available. Thanks guys!

Excellent, thanks very much

Thanks, these kind comments are always a helpful prod to get me back in the swing of things when I haven't done much for a while. I have been experimenting with test strips for when the time comes to discolour the whole station to get it to somewhere near Liverpool Street in the mid 50s. Essentially this is going to be with soft pencil or charcoal so I can built up the grim slowly and hopefully not cock it up! The next serious job will be finishing off the track balasting and painting the trackbed. I appear to have only one half loco working at the moment so will be posting things off for repairs. Andrew General PS I know nothing about diesels so I will end with a question to any thread readers: which diesels would have been around in 1955 (+/- 3 years) at Liverpool Street? I will do my own research but a leg up would be appreciated

Could look at this for hours- and most probably will. Thanks for more superb photos. Andrew