south_tyne

Hi Mark, Still enjoying following your progress on JH... I'm sure you'll find a solution to the backscene issue. I'm looking forward to hearing more of the next project too...... Don't keep us in suspense for too long.... David

Hi Colin, I love it! This hobby is supposed to be fun and this layout and your stock definitely is! What it shows is that it can be light hearted, imaginative but still be modelled to a high standard. Thanks for sharing and let's see some more pics of those creations of your mind! David

Hi Chris, I just want to say this is a wonderful little layout, the compostion and balance of the scene is superb. Like Marc I am particularly taken with the sidings in front of the fiddle yard, it is a simple but so effective cameo. In fact it has inspired me to give something similar a go as a stand alone entity. Thanks for posting and I look forward to seeing more pictures! David

Mark, I'll be interested to see how you get on with the curved backscene... I may just follow suit if it is successful! (i.e. Steal your idea!) David

Hi Mark, thanks very much for that, it is really useful! It is still difficult to believe that the layout is so small, a testement to your modelling skills and your excellent photography! I am really enjoying soaking up the atmosphere in the photographs. I have started a topic in the 'micro layout' section of the forum, more my ponderings really than anythimg.concrete at the moment. Re the Market Harborough exhibition - I will hopefully get along to that, it is straight up the A14 from where I am temporarily working so it could be possible. I'd love to see JH in the flesh! Thanks once again for your advice, David

I know the feeling Marc... I'm all set to start something... The fiddle yard in the middle of two modules is an interesting concept. Wearing my other modelling hat (009 scale) there is a great modeller called John Thorne who has done something similar with his 'Ditton' layouts. They are a series of modules (standard size of 4' iirc) which are connected by a series of 'black boxes' containing a fiddle yard. It does seem a neat way of doing a few separate scenes and the break helps with presentation and maintaining reality. Interesting thoughts though...... David

Thanks Mark! Keep the photos coming and apologies for hijacking your thread!

Thanks a picture would be appreciated, although no rush and I don't want to spoil that illusion to be honest simple sounds perfect and just what I need to do! I was reading something on another thread about 'one point layouts' and how most people only 'play' with a layout in small bit-sized chunks of time, I find i very true. 20 minutes or so shuffling 4 wagons around sounds like heaven after a hard day at work... and the beauty of a layout such as this is, as you say, it can be easily stored, takes no set up time and is quickly out of the way again when you're done! That is an interesting concept and will help keep the variety up. My plan is for a NE based layout so the aforementioned Sentinel and a J72 will probably be on the cards. Both of these classes were used to shunt Bishop Auckland goods yard (the intended theme/location) which is handy. A Class 14 would look the business as long as it doesn't overpower the scene. Yes, the next stage is to play around with some 1:1 style planning. Initial thoughts are 1 or 2 points, a couple of sidings really, trying to take on board the 'less is more principle'...... or even a 'pointless' layout. Food for thought at least. I'll start a thread with my ideas. Thanks again for your help and keep the inspiring photos coming!! David

PS that is a stunning photo!!

An illusion maybe... but what an illusion! It is difficult to believe it is such a small size. I am going to have a look for a similar shelf at the weekend, I feel inspired!! I have fallen down in the past by having a separate fiddle yard board and then never getting round to building it... then it renders the whole thing pretty useless, so I understand the wish to have an integral fiddle yard... no baseboard joints, no complications. I guess framing could be added at a later date if felt necessary however your experience probably tells us we often over complicate things. Can I ask what goes on in the fiddle yard? Is it simply plain track or is there some kind of traverser/sector plate? I am formulating some ideas in my mind but I think the fiddle yard will be so important on such a tiny layout. I have some Peco points and some SMP (or maybe it is C&L) plain track somewhere at home so I would be able to recycle other bits and pieces. I'll have a think about it... I imagine they are small radius points for space-saving reasons? Thanks so much for your insights and supplies. As I said I have had a difficult time over the last year but I really want to get on with a small project to restart my modelling, and a similar kind of thing will give me chance of completion. As I am currently working away from home I need something small which I can carry up and down the country! I will start a layout topic once I have formulated my ideas. But the goal is just to have somewhere to shuffle a handful of wagons. Thanks for sharing your inspiring project! David

Thanks Mark! Can I just check a couple of things..... I presume the scenic section is 3' long with the fiddle yard as an add on? Do you find the shelf is fine without any additional bracing? How have you helped to visually blend the Peco points with the finescale track? Did you modify the points at all? Apologies for all of the questions and thanks again! I'm working away from home at the moment but I might look at aquiring a similar shelf over the weekend... David

Hi Mark, I just want to say that I think your layout is superb! The atmosphere you manage to convey in such a small space is incredible. Top class modelling. It really has inspired me, I have not done any modelling for a while after a difficult time of it lately but this little snapshot has almost single-handledly convinced me to try again. Thank you for sharing!

I must have read and re-read this thread about 4 or 5 times now, it is really inspiring stuff. I think it captures everything that a model railway should, painting such an evocative picture in a very small space. Thank you for sharing your work with us Mark and I look forward to seeing one of your layouts in the flesh one day!