BlackRat

Yes it did, got some bits here re exactly this. Will try and find them. The roundhouse was used for stabling overnight to. As for the early years, I will have to find out what I might have been driving back then!

Another Welchy anecdote.......... I was admiring his Slaters brake van, so being a good salesman he sells me one. All built apart from some of the brake gear which I couldn't fathom out (simple copper see) so off I goes to the small shop with the even smaller shop keeper for some sound advice which was........... "Ohhhh you cant see all that so I left it out!" Top tip from a top man! I STILL miss Martyn and the shop, happy times indeed.

I am lucky enough to know Martyn well and his shop, the Blue Peter was on my patch. Great for dropping in, having the odd cuppa and talking trains. Hursley was built in Martyns garage (now his workshop as he is a professional modeller these days) and was designed to be moveable but not portable for exhibitions. I was again lucky enough to see it lots of times and even to play trains on it! Another local buddy Andy, built the inside motion on the Q1 and great fun was had watching all the bits move. It was never intended for sale, but Martyn was offered the chance to go full time, the shop like many others at the time was quiet so Hursley was put up for sale and Martyn got, well lets say an offer no one could refuse. Tales are legendary, including one where he had made a 7mm oak leaf punch out of a leather punch and was busy for dsays making 7mm oak leaves, even having gone as far as painting paper two different shades to replicate the top and bottom of the leaves. I points out how is he going to get them the right way on the tree with out glueing several thousand individual leaves in place. I saw a grown man (albeit a short one ) almost cry! I still miss the shop but still pop in and see him and reminiss and out the world to rights!

I did a slightly different version with a cab at each end like an early 58! See if I can find it as I never took a pic and it never got motorised etc. Still looked good tho, I reckon a bachy 20/25 chassis would now do it justice. I have a cplof spare bachhy 37 bodies here and have been toying with a baby 37 and a baby peak on bacchy bo bo chassis! Any one tried?

Whatever that leat is called, it was wet! Dont forget that traffic car lads!

Lovely, bags pf atmosphere and great attention to detail. Do you use a grassmaster?

Was having a cuppa there one night when a call came in re a break in progress. The rascal went out the back near to where we were and he decided the best course of action was to jump in the leat and go that way. Being the junior of the team I am'instructed' to go in after him and a wet foot chase ensues. We didnt go far as the concrete bottom suddenly got about 5' deep and under our rascal goes! We had to get a van for him as we couldnt risk getting our Traffic car seats wet could we! (and that was a Modeo ST200 2.5 v6). Luckily he saw the funny side and laughed all the way to St Austell nick!

I cant believe it! I forgot all aboput the Wadebridge show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1:(

New coal staithes built today, using drinks stirrers I liberated in the States. Lots of bits of the layout carry memories from somewhere or other, from my wanderings... sand from Iraq, well you know the sort of thing! The stirrers were cut to size and 'stained' using potassium permanganate, which although bright purple, the stain dries brown. The longer you leave the wood in the darker or more 'creosoted' it looks! New goods area taking shape, just a bit more tweaking to do and I will take a few pics. You can get a pot of the potassium (groan) from the chemist's for a couple of quid, a little goes a VERY long way!

A slightly different view, yes I know the 33 is wrong but its a good runner..............! Just reworking this bit too, the goods area, so please bring that chainsaw!!!!! Watch this space.

Thanks all for the comments! Sorry for not replying sooner, but been away in Florida (Yeeehaaaa!) for a few weeks then had internet probs! Will try and get some more piccies done this weekend, in and around re doing the goods shed area (why cant I leave well enough alone....aaarrrrggghhhh!!!!!).

16 tonners looking good there! have you tried gluing a little Woodland Scenics clump foliage or foliage clusters to the trees painted on the back scene? You only need a small amount but it gives the backscene added 'depth'. Works for me in 00 so may be even better/worse in 0! I'll have to make a start here now on my 0 layout!

Hi Stu, not exhibitable at all, was never designed to be as its more or less permenant in my 'layout room' and sits quite firmly on kitchen units. It could be moved, tbut the boards are 10' by 2' 1 inch mdf and weigh, well lets say I cant move them! They are units are great for storage etc. I am intrigued with the new N gauge 'see thru' or transparent coupling thats just come out. Great idea there. I wonder if anyone has tried to use N gauge couplings on 00..............?

Had a pretty good time at the Plymouth show yesterday. Managed to get a few bits and bobs to keep me busy. One thing is to work on the front ends of the loco's adding all the pipes etc. Still not sure about couplings tho, there has to be a better way than this... A local pannier drifts round the curve with steam off, taking a load of clay powder to Carrick Harbour a few miles away. Having said that, I have gone down the route of three links only to replace them all with the new Bachmann/Hornby small tension lock. I still think theres room to improve these, make them even more unobtrusive so perhaps its something for the next wish list!..........

Hi Peter, wouldn't worry to much. Most of the threads seem to get thousands of views with hardly any comments at all. Not everyone wants to comment (some cant be bothered which makes you wonder why the are here!). Have a look at Roath by Pixie, thousands and thousands of views (over 11,000!!!), only a handful of comments! (Just over 100!!). Such is the world wide web!

Excellent phots! Was thinking tho, to make the layout 'complete' you will need a jam sandwich about somewhere. Well really it should be a Range Rover or a Mondeo 2.5 sport with battenburg livery. The final detail will be a black rat (or two) having tea in the box or trundling around on an 08! Them were the days!!!!! Really looking forward to seeing the layout in the flesh!

Another gem coming up!

I remember taking this on my old box brownie which my Nan gave me............

Andrew, not a chance, I'd have nothing to wear!!

Well Nick, ....................................the first thing is to finish off the bits I havent as yet! Got the pavements to do properly, kerbstones, paint, weather then bed them in. Then sort that row of houses etc out. Need about 100 more trees, (Cornwall in the summer is quite green!). There's loads still to do. Then there's the O gauge clay hoods that are being built (scratch, well sort of ABS bits etc). There's 7 now and they take ages! Also got the valleys plank to get started and my mate (N gauger!) bought me a couple or three 16 tonners which I have weathered......... So much modelling to do and I wont get it all done if I live to be a 1000, (hopefully 1023! ).

One last one showing the new approach road, probably 'Station Road'! How original is that! Not 100% happy with this but its early days and I expect it will all change as it gets tweaked. The main thing to me is it looks ok (in my eyes anyway). I just enjoy it for what it is!

Yes I am afraid the shirt is still going strong! Wait till you see the really loud ones! Still, surfings part of life ere in Cornwall, just go with the flow! Not sure if Model Rail is interested, they have new owners and Editor etc. Mind you, quite fancy Hornby mag, enjoy its style and ethos and I get to meet Chris Nevard to! Attempted a few more shots tonite, remember this is still very much a work in progress! Most of the buildings are Skaledale with added 'bit's like canopies etc. Some need the chimneys re-working and a bit of weathering. The water cranes, lamps and staithes are scratch as are the signals (sort of). The staithes are made from wooden 'stirrers' from KFC! Stained brown with of all things pottasium permanganate and superglued together. Look ok to me. Still masses to do tho!