nickwood

Colin, thanks for bumping this video. it has been a while since I last watched it and I’ve just spent an enjoyable half hour reacquainting myself. Other than a professional video that was done for a Friends of Pendon talk that I did a while back it is the best video that I have seen of MM showing many of the typical trains and movements at an exhibition. It is a shame though that the Cider House yard doesn’t really feature except for one very short shunting movement. Dave, I don’t know where you are based but at present MM is booked for the Newbury show in late October, Andover in early November and all being well Warley in late November 2023.

Thanks Ric and given the number of reactions to the photos it’s nice to see that there is still interest in MM. I have plenty more photos that haven’t been seen yet.

I hope you all have recovered from Christmas festivities and are giving your livers a rest before the next onslaught. I have some more of Mick's photos to show that the Much Murkle populous are back out and about although there seems to be a distinct lack of trains. Perhaps the engine crews overdid it or maybe Mick Lynch has them out on strike.

I too have pondered over this plan many times as the scenic vision appeals to me. I agree with the comment on the engine shed, I feel it adds little to the the scene or operational interest. I do like both of Woodenhead's ideas for improving operations. I seem to recall that IR suggested that there should be a high wall suggesting that the access to the headshunt / sidings is off a mainline behind where the fiddle yard is proposed. My idea was to remove some of the buildings to the rear left of the entrance scene to allow a line with a DMU or Autocoach depending on the period modelled to shuttle back and forth to reinforce this idea. I might just get the pen and paper out again.

To everyone who is reading this I wish you a merry Christmas and happy New Year. I am grateful for the reaction to restoring the photos on the thread. Whilst I was searching for the photos to put back in the posts I came across a file with some detail shots that my good friend and exhibition operator the late Mick Bonwick had taken. A selection are shown below.

Merry Christmas John

Sounds a good game Rob. A merry Christmas to you both.

Now done (thanks Andy) and can be found here.

Photos restored

Thanks Andy. I see you have releases the Clifton Downs Kitbash which was one topic I was after. Not sure what else you may have released but this was the other one I would like to bring back to life. All the best to you and your family for Christmas and the New Year.

Been there, got the T Shirt. Put all seven strands on and then covered up the bottom 3 or 4 with vegetation 😆 Good luck with the Clifton Downs conversion. I'm justy trying to persuade AY to unarchive my Clifton Downs thread so I can put the pictures back.

Andy, it wasn't the Much Murkle thread that I was meaning, it was some of my other topics where I detailed stock, kit builds etc. Can I give you a list, it wouldn't be a long one.

Seems a familiar story Rob. Retirement has helped release some time. I painted a watercolour for the first time in a couple of years yesterday. The result was awful but I enjoyed the distraction. I have managed to keep playing golf and riding my motorcycle but not as often as I would have liked.

Thanks Scott. House moves not only drain your resources and enthusiasm, they empty your pockets as well. Both exhibitions are at the back end of 2023 and I will post details up nearer the time. I am hoping that Warley will happen for me in 2023 as well. MM was booked for 2020 (didn't happen) 2021 (didn't happen) & 2022 but I had to cancel due to the workload on the house and the loss of most of my team which I mentioned earlier. I'm hoping the Warley team will be understanding and extend the invitation again.

I've just gone through my Much Murkle layout thread and restored all my photos and thought I would do the same with some of my other Topic threads, only to find them archived with no apparent access for me to edit or others to view. Interestingly it took some ingenuity to find them by searching through my profile / account. There doesn't seem to be any access through the normal search facilty or the forums. I can to some extent understand the need to archive dormant, and particularly closed topics but if the topics exist then it doesn't seem to make much sense for them not to be accessible nor to to allow the originators access to edit their posts. Or am I missing something? Can a topic be unarchived by request?

The thread now has all of my photos restored. It turned out to be quite a simple task in the end, mainly because I have a good file structure for my modelling work. MM was erected recently to check that all was ok after our house move but is now back in storage in the garage surrounded by boxes and stuff cleared from the house in readiness for some decorating after the festivities are over. I'm pleased to say MM has survived the house move and two years of storage without any problems. Having said that, after 30+ exhibitions and more to come there are some areas starting to look a bit tired, so before it's next outing I will be looking to refresh some of the scenics. In the meantime here are some photos not seen before.

Thanks Ian, it's been a while, how are you keeping?

I've never been away, just been lurking in the shadows. Modelling mojo has been a serious problem exacerbated by the issues I mentioned but also through losing my dear friend Mick Bonwick in 2020 and two of my team stalwarts also unable to help anymore because of health and family issues. It's been a hard couple of years for everyone. Anyway I'm back now with a couple of ideas for a new project(s) in mind. Colin, it was your mention of Much Murkle on your own thread recently that gave me the kick up the proverbial to get on and do something positive, so my thanks are due. I've been looking in on your thread recently and you are making some seriously good progress. 😉 Thanks Neal

As can be seen from the last post which was in June 2020 nothing has happened for almost 2 years in the Much Murkle world. Covid put a stop to exhibiting and MM has been crated up ever since whilst we went through a number of family (elderly parents) problems and a long protracted house move. Now things have settled down and we have got much of the new house as we want it, I now have a bit of spare time on my hands to restore the photos onto the thread as far as I can. I am sure that I have all of my own photos still, but unfortunately I can't do anything about restoring those from others who have contributed. I have managed to reinstate pages 9-27 today and hope to complete the rest soon. MM has received two invitations recently for exhibitions next year and it is time for me to get back on the modelling bus (or should that be carriage?). I just hope some of you are interested in reaquainting yourselves with Much Murkle.

I’m very sad to hear the news. Chris always stopped by for an entertaining chat whenever he was visiting an exhibition where I was exhibiting Much Murkle. RIP Chris you will be missed by many.

Good to see you posting again Jules. Mayshill is looking good and the changes to the dairy are a definite improvement. Some nice photos of your Prairies and Panniers, the middle one of the Pannier is very atmospheric. Looking forward to more.

I’m really saddened to hear this news. I first came across Frank when we were both members of Your Model Railway forum and he was a font of knowledge for me when building my layout Much Murkle. We occasionally corresponded on modelling matters but he probably never realised how much I owed him. It was Frank who inspired me through his layouts Pen y Bont and Steam on the Cambrian It was Frank who pestered me to write to all the editors and get an article on the layout in one of the magazines. It was Frank as manager of the Crawley Heath show who gave me my first exhibition invite for Much Murkle. it was Frank who gave me the confidence to solder more than just wires and switches. A real character and I’m sure that there will be many others who will also miss Frank’s advice and help Rest in peace matey and my thoughts are with your family and friends.

Interesting insight into the problems at my club “What on earth is going on at Scunthorpe United” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lsBXorCH8g

Prepare some basic details of yourself and your layout including your expenses requirements and an insurance value for your layout. You could well be asked by members of other clubs for your layout details so that they can extend an invite to one of their future shows. If you need to see an example send me a PM with your email address and I’ll forward you a copy of mine for Much Murkle.

Just happened to find your thread when looking through recent posts. It’s a lovely piece of modelling, everything blends in nicely and the dungy bits look very realistic. The only bit that jars with me is your positioning of the standpipe. Whilst I have no evidence to say it is in the wrong place I would doubt it would be positioned where cattle could easily damage it. It would seem more logical to have it discharging over the troughs or be positioned outside the pens. Just a thought.