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What do you think it could be reworked as....? I have a vague memory of seeing an Ingersoll-Rand type diesel Boxcab in Cuba but nothing similar on the Hershey in this era. As for pantographs, I have a few Sommerfeldt diamond frames but am looking at producing an etch for the correct crossarm type.

I know what you mean, Jack- I'll have to redraw the plan to suit. I did think about using a couple of APA boxes, but like the idea of a proper layout with a full width frontage (finding suitable scenic breaks on the Hershey is a pain. Stock-wise, I'm planning to build a couple of GE Steeplecabs as per my usual methods, and a variety of Interurban cars from Labelle kits- Freight Motor 400, powered & unpowered brill cars, and I reckon I can bash one of the converted cars from a Bachmann coach. Diesels will be GE 44, 45, & 70 tonners, and Mogul, Consolidation and 4-6-0 steam locos.

I thought I'd better post a quick update to show what has happened to date, just in case anyone was thinking the idea has gone cold. Firstly on the stock front, I have been snapping up more Roundhouse and Accurail Wooden 40' Boxcars and P2K Type 21 8K & 10K Tank cars, whilst on the motive power front I have found a cheap Bachmann Consolidation that seems to run ok through on no.4 turnouts and am on the lookout for a Mogul. Planning is a different matter- I had a fair idea of what I wanted to build in a reasonable amount of space, basically big enough to run double headed Steeplecabs on a string of tank cars and long rakes of sugar cane cars. The plan is roughly based on Jibacoa and splits on the right with an unelectrified branch to a cane loading point and Hershey operated branch that gives an excuse to switch and run the weekly mixed train to Central San Antonio with a Mogul or GE diesel on the front. There is a token industry at the back on the left for more switching. Dimensions are 8'x1'. But as the weather changed and funny things happening to Wiley when it was in the garage last month, I decided to take the advice on here and build the layout you have space for today. This uses bits from the previous design in a more urban setting, and might be considered as a larger version of a mooted idea for a Mill/Cigar Factory/Rum Distillery in an Ikea APA box. There is still opportunity for building a mixed non-electric hauled train, and the industries at the back also allow switching. But the space is quite confined, the scenic section is just over 4' and it is slightly deeper, and allows for a ~3' traverser fiddle yard on the right which fits within my current layout space in the study (just less than 8' long). There is also the possibility of adding a yard on the left at shows to allow run-through traffic and for tracks to disappear into a goods shed or industry as per Matanzas. I did try to include a run-round but it'd be too short to really be useable in this space and wouldn't really be needed as a switching loco would be used for freight and the passenger cars can take care of themselves.

Hattons (for example) are listing some: http://www.ehattons.com/stocklist/1000488/1000591/1000765/0/Oxford_Diecast_HO_Gauge_1_87_Scale_Cars/prodlist.aspx

Uneven wear between each set of drivers...?

It is a usual driving practice with double Fairlie's on the Ffestiniog to give the rear unit a bit more throttle, it also looks like big Mallets also have independent regulators, and a similar driving technique might be used.

Perhaps they're using the same sound stage that NASA used for the moon landings....

I predict the the most requested wish list item for 2014 will be..... The moon on a stick.

That's the problem that D&E modellers are trying to convey, the term only refers to a finite era and really only then when there is an apparent comparison (such as a rebuilt WCML station just after electrification and with an electric blue roster but a steam loco too). Instead it is misused to refer to anything more "modern" than the users own interest.

Or just generally tell people how they ought to do things, even if ( a )- they've already told you they tried your method but it didn't work, or ( b )- you haven't noticed that you've described exactly what they did anyway...!

Tonight's research has involved watching "Blue Thunder" as I like the era and have been on the miniature train in it (watch out for the orange SPFE Reefers with white lettering at the end too...). As confirmed by imcdb.org , most cars are American, but there are a few European interlopers including VW Beetles and an Audi 100.

They're nice, but has anyone actually built an exhibition layout featuring Shildon electrification...?

Typical Yorkshire...

....which proves that despite the locos "only being blue", there were plenty of variations to warrant quite a few variations- possibly more than the class 67's by comparison. There is also the option of painting your own SYP on or using a decal, which Bachmann should have factored with their Blue Pullman models instead of seemingly oversupplying models with yellow ends.

Out of a skip, especially if your neighbour is having a new kitchen (it is used to protect the edges of worktops). I'm glad to have been reminded of this, my Foam block is looking past it's best and I'm sure I have some of this stashed away in the car-hole.

I'll be watching this with interest- after the December MR thread and the comment from Martyn about building a layout to fit the space you have available today, instead of a large sectional layout that could only be used at shows or a US style "Plywood Central" that never reaches completion, my thoughts turned to my often dreamt about but never committed to paper Cuban layout. I did think about using the Car-hole as a layout room, which was fine in summer but not particuarly inviting at this time of year, so the future project will have to fit the space currently occupied by Wiley City, which has a 6' scenic section and a short fiddle yard, which is swapped for a longer one at shows. But reading Chris' comments, I realised I'm in danger of doing a "North Haston", and having the switch loco disappearing off the layout at frequent intervals. I did plan to have a ~4'6" scenic section with a yard long traverser, and also an extra yard of the other side of the layout for shows when more space is available. I'd also struggle to fit in suitable scenic breaks as overbridges and large buildings wouldn't be suitable and would distract from the big sky that seems so prevalent in photos. I'm not sure how the open staging would work as I'd still want a fully working layout instead of one that would be compromised at home and would only reach it's potential at the shows that I don't have the time or enough operators to help with...

There are also local economies to consider- much older cars can be seen in less affluent areas, and the lack of a MOT test (we were told they only have to be considered roadworthy and pass an emissions test every other year) means some battered wrecks can often be seen.

I'd agree that it's more of an issue of availability rather than what has or hasn't been made, as there are plenty of the ordinary out there. It's just a case of not falling to the usual cliche's and modelling the ordinary. And don't forget foreign cars such as VW Beetles and Vans were quite popular, especially in California amongst ex-pats (just watch a contemporary movie for ideas). Here are three I found in the car-box (although I can't tell you now what they are). They aren't layout ready, as I like to add appropriate licence plates, details, and weathering. My favourite is a Trident Chevrolet Suburban, modelled on the car a good friend was driving at the time.

There are subtle differences on the bogies, and you'd have to modify the tooling for the spring supports and motor block, which would mean no more 85's and isn't really the way manufacturing in China works anyway.

I'm not going to "dislike" the above post, but what the market really needs is an accurate and well accepted 86. Such compromises are like doing a generic GWR 4-6-0 and calling it everything from a Manor to a King.

And somehow it's worth 3 quid more than the same wagon with a fairly useable J72 body on. It's not that I don't like the modelling standard, it's the thought (or lack of) behind it.

IIRC the BCK used was 21269.

That was built by Stuart Haworth, and is not the same as the exhibition layout built by the Riverside Railway Society/Nottingham Model Railway Society as mentioned by Gordon H. It was in RM, March 2007, Rail Express March 2001(?) And BRM before that.

Let's start a rumour that it was going to be named...

Real 90's have only ever had B/W pans, Hornby's have only ever had some collapsed scaffolding. I'd have had a cheeky bid on it a few years ago, the motor bogie would have gone under a 76, the body would have been detailed and renumbered, and the diamond pan would have gone on a HO US Boxcab.