Southernboy

Thankyou Talisman, So all but 2P-012-054 are new/different carriage numbers. Wow, what a dilemma. To invest now for possible future outcomes (the bigger / better layout / with room for loads of stock / we all dream of in the future). Or to dispell in advance idle dreams that have costly implications? I guess there's a third option: In the knowledge that these are limited runs, buy them anyway, and in the event the dream layout never happens, sell them at a reasonable price as they'll be an in-demand item on the second-hand market? ... that's a stream of consciousness by the way

Hello Talisman, I'd broadly clocked the news elsewhere and assumed this was a re-release of the previous run of Maunsell lined-green carriages, so didn't take much notice as I already have them. But now, from what I can see from your post, these are different Dapol references and coach numbers to the original production run, suggesting they're additional to what I already have. So my question: Have I read this right and these are all-new coaches/numbers? (Just don't want to buy more stock and then kick myself later for mis-reading a post! )

Collected when I was a child: Somewhere in my Mother's attic are copies of some railway modelling magazines from 1926. I really must dig them out some day. On the subject of old magazines: It set me thinking about the days before the internet, when we used to have to wait a month between injections of inspiration and instruction from monthly periodicals. If one had a query you wrote a letter, posted it, waited for it to be published in the next edition, and then waited another month to see if anyone had responded. On the one hand I love the internet and how (in the context of railway modelling) we can now receive a variety of expert responses within minutes or hours. On the other hand I do feel instantaneity brings inherent pressures to everyday life. But I guess we can't have the best of both worlds

Tom: Your modelling has to be the most immaculate I have seen. And that applies across the board. Some are good at scenics, some with trackwork, others at modelling buildings (etc), but it's rare to see such consistently high standards applied to all areas of a layout where a lone modeller is concerned (ie. not a club set up). I take my hat off to you.

Thank you very much Tim, and you're quite right of course. Here's a brief interlude to keep guests entertained whilst awaiting the main feature which I hope is now only a few weeks away

Quite delightful. I say well done that man! In particular I note the degree of detail, it really makes for a most convincing model. Not wishing to detract from the excellent modelling - I have just two minor questions if I may: Where does the postman deliver the letters, and how does a guest knock on the door? My concern you see is for the inhabitant: If they can never receive callers, and letters cannot be delivered, through no fault of their own, they may feel they have been somehow ostracised by the outside world. And that would never do. So may I suggest a letterbox and door knocker (or even a new-fangled electric bell) would make this picture-perfect Yours faithfully (etc & etc)

I'm afraid I don't know much about aviation, only what I've seen in the newsreels about the R101. They were gasping for a cigarette at the end of the flight: I don't know about that! Maybe ocean liners are still the more civilised way to travel? Please take note of the commentator's received English enunciation and adjust your settings accordingly

An interesting subject matter. I must confess to not having having read all 16 pages of this thread, so hope i am not repeating anything. I grew up near the former Brookwood Cemetery Necropolis Railway (1854 - 1941) and as a child / early teen enjoyed frequently cycling the former trackbed. Here's an overview. Here's one of the stations. Both of the stations had catering facilities and were fully licenced. I believe (but stand to be corrected) that they were the only licenced premises on hallowed ground. North Bar was demolished before I knew it. South Bar however survived into the 1960s and the restaurant / bar continued to serve the odd passer by until the proprietors, Mr & Mrs Ladd died. I distinctly recall visits: It was like something from an old Disney animation - the deer, squirrels and birds would tentatively creep up to the table and take tit-bits from your hand, before gently retiring back to the undergrowth. A quite magical experience. Here's part of the route of the former trackbed. looking toward South Bar from the line from Brookwood Station. In the '60s it looked like this ... But by 2011 it was much overgrown. The platform is all still there - but you have to make an effort to peer through the fence (why fence it?) to see the platform. Further down the line was North Bar. The platform here is still evident. The original buildings were burnt by an arsonist in the '70s. A religious order now occupies the space and have built on the platform ---------------------------. I would heartily recommend the place for a day trip with a difference. Brookwood Cemetery is crammed full of impressive Victorian memorials as well as being home to immaculately maintained War Graves from 14–18 and 39–45. And a couple of decent pubs are ten or so minutes walk away

Thank you very much Dave, a most thoroughly helfpul answer! Particularly interesting is photographying different parts of the layout at different times of year, according to light. Very interesting. Many thanks again, Mark

I think Grahame Hedges has done a great job with the N Gauge Journal, particularly considering that he's working from the purse of a relatively small subscription organisation. I just want to see this model of London Bridge Station he's been hinting at for some years now (anything to share Grahame?)

I have to say this is a great layout on many levels, one of my favourites here on RMWeb: I always jump on updates when they come along - but most of all for me I find your photography quite incredible. You always seem to catch a certain angle / degree of light that shows your work off in the best way. For the rest of us, do you have any hints and tips on how to best portray our layouts?

Apologies if this has been mentioned before ... On page 85 of the N gauge Journal, did anyone clock 2S-002-004 Schools Merchant Taylors SR Maunsell Olive Lined Green 910? I thought originally Dapol didn't plan a Maunsell Green version, which was why (I thought) Osbornes Models offered to run a special order of 'Cheltenham' in Maunsell green (to which I subscribed on the understanding at the time that Dapel intended to only run later liveries). Non of the box-shifters have the Dapol Maunsell Green version available as pre-order as far as I can see (but they do have all the others available for pre-order), and following an email to eHattons, they seem completely in the dark about the Maunsell Green 'Merchant Taylors'. At the end of the day, if both Dapol's Merchant Taylors and Osbornes 'Cheltenham' come through I'll be more than happy. But just thought I'd raise the question as it seems both myself and some retailers have been taken by surprise by the Dapol advertisment for a Maunsell liveried version.

Absolutely wonderful stuff. I marvel at this sort of work.

"How easy is it to learn to use Photoshop or something similar?" I think Photoshop is relatively intuitive. Key features in this context are 'Levels' and 'Curves' which are great for balancing the light in a picture (particularly in bringing out details otherwise lost in shadow). In terms of cutting out "background clutter" - there are a few techniques you can use, but they all require some degree of patience (there's no magic wand as such). I'm not sure though whether you can buy Photoshop as a stand-alone product these days, I think it is part of the Adobe Creative Suite which bundles in Illustrator and InDesign (which makes it £££). Either way, I'm enjoying your layout / updates

I have to say that both the above recent posts from CF MRC and Caley Jim leave me totally astonished at how anyone can model to such fine standards. I like to think I do quite well at things in N gauge (where you can get away with quite a lot / be selective with camera angles etc) - but I am always left breathless by the degree of skill / intergrity required for 2mm - and the absolutely exquisite results. You set a benchmark which fuels my aspirations in the lesser scale

Great to see an update - thank you. The first picture caught my eye in particular: I love the focal-depth (the nearer bridge being out of focus) - it works really well as a picture. Which leads me to ask: Did you make the two bridges in that photo, or buy them? And either way I'd be interested in source material for the lattice used. Thanks, Mark

Hello Pete, I rarely comment through total awe at your modelling. On this occassion though I'll venture a couple of remarks if I may. Firstly to say I think the 'gunmetal' works really well, and tempered with a very light peppering of your preferred Humbrol 29 could look even better. My subjective opinion of course (and also bearing in mind photos posted on the internet aren't the best representation of what you are actually looking at in real daylight colour-wise). Secondly the barrow crossing. I wonder if you are missing a trick here. Rather than fit the barrow crossing and cut according to baseboard join - could you make one without the cut, with little pegs underneath (that fit into appropriate holes in the baseboard) - so that you have a solid crossing which disguises the baseboard join? At the moment it seems to accentuate the join. That may add a little extra time to setting up the layout - but on the other hand lends much more to the illusion.

Many thanks Tim for the detail: Instructive and above all, inspirational.

I'd love to know how that bus was made and finished (I think there's a couple of other buses, plus the LCC tram of course). Likewise the tube train. Where they etches? Or fashioned from Plasticard or card perhaps? Either way they are each absolutely exquisite

Maybe if the sky doesn't work out you can paint over with a pale blue? I think back scenes are a bit 'all-or-nothing' in that either they work really well, seemlessly integrating with the foreground modelling - or they just look obvious (like bad back-projection in old films) - which distracts from what you want the viewer to focus on. The alternative is just a plain background (like pale blue), which doesn't distract, and allows the minds-eye to fill in the rest. I think any compromise between either a well integrated (purchased) background, or a painted background, spoils any illusion. Of course a painted background could be quite elaborate if you're a dab hand Anyway, sorry to ramble! Hope the sky gets sorted one way or another

Good to see Gresby in the (virtual) flesh again. I can't believe it's three years since you last ran it. Your new buildings will be a considerable enhancement, looking forward to some pictures of them in their new home in due course

Hello Tim, Thanks for popping in, and thanks for the link, very much appreciated. I have thought about an airship (or period plane) for Frankland, although way down the list I'm afraid. Currently I'm still working on my 3-Subs (link in signature below). The project does seem to have attracted some weird form of magnetic repulsion though: The nearer I get to thinking I'm almost finished, the further away a realistic completion date actually becomes! I do need to update that thread, and will do so in the next couple of weeks. Anyway, once the Subs are concluded I'm sure there'll be a news broadcast here, and rumour has it a newsreel too! All the best, Mark

Loving all the details. Two things stand out for me: The back doors (last photo), and the cooker in the back of the van (first two photos). That cooker in the back of the van has a top-mounted grill. They've not been available for years (I know, my Mum keeps moaning she needs a new one, but want's one like she used to have and they just don't make them anymore) ... and that's the delight about such well-observed modelling like yours Simon, it's evocative on so many levels, drawing the viewer in personally / quite subliminally. And before I forget to say - an N gauge cooker (and so well modelled) has to be a first! - well done that man

Just to say I'm pleased to see Ropley now available in thread format. It is a layout I much admire and can never get enough of updates, no matter how (relatively) insignificant.

Pipe Screens / Vent Mesh = resourceful. Well done Andy, coming along a treat.