Mikkel

I bet it was the loo - he built it larger than planned, didn't he?!

It's really fascinating to follow how this layout is coming together - and how you're overcoming the distance problem. Exciting stuff.

You can start with that odd box on legs in the middle. Just throw it out. Doesn't look like it serves any sensible purpose ;-)

Some locos just look good in pairs - this couple really does :-) "Strong" liquid poly in the background. Didn't know it came in grades.

Nice project. Looks like you can get Manor nameplates here: http://www.modelmasterdecals.com/GW_Manor_N.php

Truly unique. What is the interesting clerestory coach in grey primer please (top photo)?

Hi Ray, what an excellent and useful post. The result is very convincing. Thanks for the time spent in uploading this!

Odd that. But good to hear you got it sorted.

I'm no expert either, but the general principle was polished steel pre 1906, and as per Mark's description after 1906. See http://www.gwr.org.uk/liveriesloco1900.html and http://www.gwr.org.uk/liveriesloco1906.html

Hi Dave. Well William Clarke would have hired you on the spot! As Buckjumper says, some of the best I've seen in this parish. I like how you solved the poster board lettering. I see you've got the New Fishguard Route poster too :-) I actually prefer the colour photos. Looking at them I can just imagine how it was to stand underneath the canopy of a William Clarke (!) building, while an 850 comes into sight with my train. World class stuff.

Thanks Jon. It occurs to me that there is some potential for "model railway voodoo". There are a couple of people at work I've always wanted to tie to the tracks

Lovely lady! :-) I'm curious about your problems with the images. I haven't noticed any issues myself, except that the first image in every post does not show up on the main page of the blog (but is fine when you view the blog entry itself). What was the problem exactly, maybe we can help?

That church looks really good. It fits the scene very well I think. But the highlight for me is the station master and the station buildings. The brickwork in particular is very convincing. Have I missed other photos of Cheslyn? I'm going to have a look in the archives. Edit: Yes I had. Brilliant!

That silver sheen through the frosted window is actually a bit unsettling. What have I done?! :-)

Hi Don. What a beautiful mock-up. A whole work of art in itself, very "bcnpete" style :-) It really shows what a treat we're in for with this project, I think. What's particularly fascinating is that the whole thing doesn't have a very large footprint. I do agree about elephants - would you pass the salt please? :-)

"Oh now I get it: Wheels!"

Agree, they are very nice prints - thanks for that link. They seem to have a very similar look and feel to them, so maybe commissioned by the railway? I had another look through Michael Harris' "Great Western Coaches from 1890". He has some views of coach interiors (which are not always easy to come by), including various saloons. I took a few notes for possible future reference. I think the photos illustrate (i) the diversity and (ii) that at least some stock series had the frames/prints specially designed to fit the interior (at least for the more prestigious/first class stock). * Saloon Dia G3, built 1894: Elaborate curving frames around prints to fit below clerestory roof, p43 * Family Saloon Dia G33, built 1900: No prints evident (but may be behind photographer), p44 * New Milford Boat Train open Dia C18, built 1900-01: 3 prints on partitions, 2 different frame sizes, prints look similar to Buckjumpers link, p55 * Dreadnought restaurant car, Dia H8, built 1904. Prints and frames same as the one illustrated in my blog entry above (two prints per frame), P30. * Brake saloon dia G58, built 1929: Small squareish frame, looks similar to Buckjumpers's link, p30 * Brake first saloon dia G59, built 1930: frames as above, but large, p32 * Super Saloon, introd. 1931 Large vertical (sic) frames, p86 * Corridor First Dia E163, built 1948: Prints embedded in compartment panelling. Very suave, p108

Don, many thanks for that info on the carriage prints. Looks like there should probably have been a couple more prints. I also expected there would be just a single print in each frame, but the ones I found on the web look like some that appear in pregrouping photos of first class saloons. Other photos from that period do have just a single print in each frame, so I suppose there were different types. In general it seems the GWR preference was for frames that were not so oblong as those of some of the other companies - at least in the early days.

Oh it's true allright, and you can laugh all you want :-) I wouldn't say it's kept me awake ever since, but seeing that figure in a certain light and it all came back to me! At least he never got directly physically violent (like "Doc Death" seemed to do), but in some ways psychological terror can be much worse.

That deserves a tonne more attention than most other "quick videos"! Very convincing Mike. The vegetation in the foreground is superbly observed and modelled, I think. Not sure why but the colour scheme on Cheslyn seems to have a family likeness to Geoff's Penhydd and the landscaping that Barry Ten and Dukedog do. Not sure what it is, could it be a Barry Norman influence?

Missy, I never cease to admire your persistence and how you strive for perfection. You are building a Mk II of the City which looks amazing to most of us, and yet you have already planned a Mk III. That's tenacity! The lining on that tender is pretty amazing too for 2mm! I hope you can keep the mojo going, the world deserves it :-)