LAYOUT CLUB

This is another of those structures that, despite not being for a layout, just called out to be modelled. It's actually always been fairly local to me, and I'd driven past countless times without paying much attention. A recent change of living arrangements meant I started walking past it in the evenings when the summer weather was nice, and I instantly wondered why I'd not noticed it before! My model is not an exact replica in terms of dimensions or construction. My building is a standalone structure, the real thing has an adjoining building. This meant that I had to guess at one of the ends and the back - as there's no public access to the rear. Built using good, old-fashioned, card and embossed plastic sheet, As an aside, working with card is so pleasant and nostalgic. The real thing also has a breeze-blocked up window, a feature I was keen to copy. Everything, including the windows, is scratchbuilt and made using various off-cuts and bits and pieces. There's sti...

James commented on my last post that he'd like to see a locomotive. Well, surprisingly enough, locos are not my forte... model ones that is, as strange as it sounds for a railway modeller! I've always enjoyed building the wagons and structures rather than the things that pull the trains. A couple of years ago I had designs on building a micro clay works layout...needless to say it never really got off the ground. As part of those plans, I was detailing my old Bachmann Class 08. As is usual for me, I decided to make life difficult and replace all of the handrails - just because I thought they looked too heavy out of the box. I also decided to apply a heavily faded, rusted and weathered loco - based on some prototype photos online. Once the transfers were applied, I decided to go one step further and replace the coupling rods. The visual difference this makes is stark - I have no idea why Bachmann represented the rods like they did. And this is how this loco still looks, several ...

James very kindly suggested I might write something for Layout Club. I was, of course, thrown into doubt (not to say a blind panic) because I've spent the last few months not getting on with things. While reading about things that haven't been attended to might sound rather counter-productive, it will at least shame me into action. So here goes.  The first thing I've not done, and it really is fundamental, is sort out the alignment between the scenic 'board' and the fiddleyard 'board' of my cameo layout, Brookfield. I put 'board' in quotes, because the whole thing was constructed with foam board, which is hardly board at all. I had my reasons, chiefly that when I started my partner, Lisa, and I were living in a flat and had no access to outdoor spaces. Woodwork in the front room - in any room, tbh - was frowned upon, but cutting foam board on the dining table (carefully, with a too small cutting board) was just about acceptable.  Only when we had got...

In recent weeks I've often found myself drawn to my burgeoning collection of old MRJs. I rarely actually read them cover to cover, but I enjoy the tone and sense of vigorous enthusiasm. The words within have a real buzz, and excitement for a growing, and increasingly "cool", professional approach to modelling (even if it was all-to-often tied up with an almost cult-like obsession with P4)  It feels like a stark contrast to the more downbeat mood (perhaps linked to the growing volume of obituaries!) and impersonal content that we've grown used to from the modelling press. I suppose a longing for a fresh approach was what I was so keen for James to launch Layout Club, but that's enough pontificating for one post. It was whilst flicking through one such tome that I came across a picture which stirred the modelling spirits in a perhaps surprising way. An image from the lesser spotted "Real Atmosphere" feature - the specimen in question, a humble coal merchan...

Railway modelling seems to be more railway collecting these days. Why build a wagon or coach when you can just wait for one of the RTR manufacturers to make it for you?  I accept that a lot of these new, super detailed models are fantastic, and light years ahead of the Lima and Hornby models of old, but they're also very expensive. As I've touched on before, most of my modelling revolves around scratchbuilding, kitbuilding and modifying. There's nothing I like more than taking an old model, and giving it a new lease of life - a bit like the Queen Mary brakevan . I've always had an interest in parcel vans and, luckily for me, my future layout will allow me to run some parcels stock - both the BR Mk1 and plywood sided varieties. Now, Bachmann produce the Mk1 version, and I'm sure it's very nice [although the handrails are rather overscale] but there's actually nothing wrong with the far older Lima version - especially if you're prepared to do some work to ...

Some modellers are focussed and directional. I could be better described as meandering and listless! Imagine a bumper car, attempting to circumnavigate its corral of chaos, but spending more time heading in the wrong direction than the right one (presumably to the chagrin of the screaming attendant - in this analogy, they could represent my wallet!) The first entry on this blog concerned the village store for Butley Creek, what was supposed to be my first (and likely only) venture into EM gauge. However, as discussed in that piece, “The Creek” remains a pretty vaguely defined, ethereal concept. With a growing roster of EM-converted wagons (predominantly kit-built), a few Rustons, and my prized RT Models Sentinel, I felt I really ought to build something to test them on. Enter that baseboard I had dumped in the corner, originally intended for an N gauge micro, and I began to form some dangerous ideas. I felt an irrational yearning to model some really bland, unremarkable, and downright ...

Although the vast majority of my modelling is for myself, very occasionally I get the opportunity to build things for someone else. Not to the same extent as Mr Hilton - there's no layout construction here - but once in a while I get asked to build things [usually small] for other people's layouts. This little weighbridge is one such project. I was sent some rudimentary drawings and one photo to work from - you can actually view both of these by visiting this website: Oswestry Borderland Heritage - Tanat Valley Light Railway Construction was simple - plastic sheet walls clad in embossed brick sheet. I probably could have included an interior, but it didn't seem worth it. Paint scheme was an unknown, however brown seemed appropriate. I simulated an open window to bring a bit of life to the model - but that was a purely artistic touch. A nice, fun little project to break up my own aimless modelling! 

Reading Matt’s post provoked mixed feelings. Exceptional modelling as ever, with his trademark dedication to craft and detail. However, it also made me painfully aware that I have little to show for recent efforts. Obviously it’s only a few weeks since my last post, but that feels like an eternity in the modelling cycle of someone with an attention span as short as mine.  Juggling two conflicting inspirations - the masterful Tollesbury Quay by Martin Stringer, and Rye Town by Stephen Hannington I find myself stuck between two rocks, and my enthusiasm is in a hard place. On one side is Coursehorn, on the other Butley Creek. Both are layouts derived from prototypes to which I am immensely fond, and which I am very keen to see complete. However, I find myself paralysed by two opposing dilemmas.  Coursehorn is far advanced and looks from a glance to be coming together. However, I find myself dissatisfied with the basic composition and form of the layout. The Kent and East Sussex p...

In my last post about Grain Crossing Box, I mentioned that from time to time inspiration strikes when least expected. I try hard not to go down these modelling rabbit holes, but sometimes they're very hard to resist! I do like a brake van, but those with 4 wheels meet all of my current and future layout needs. Several years ago I picked up a rather battered Bachmann Queen Mary with no real intention of doing anything with it. The model was in poor shape with missing buffers and questionable "weathering". It sat, entirely forgotten about, in a box in the attic for many, many months and it was only by chance that I came across it - while looking for something else. I'm one of those modellers who much prefers the process and I'd much rather build something - and expend ridiculous effort in the process - even when it's something I don't technically need. Once that inspiration strikes, I get carried away. The Bachmann model was released in 1996 [I think] and is...

Have you ever come across a photo of a structure and thought “that’d make a nice model” or “I’d like to make that”? Well, if you’re anything like me, this happens frequently. Inspiration often strikes when I’m browsing online, and generally when I’m looking for something else entirely. Generally, common sense prevails after asking myself  “do I actually need a model of that” or “why, when this has no relevance to anything else I’m doing ”. In this case, however, I really was taken by the photo I came across of the diminutive box at Grain Crossing and I decided to build a model, just to please myself. In its original format, the real box had three side windows, but these appear to have been replaced by two modern style UPVC windows in recent times. As I wasn’t really keen on the modern replacements, I decided to make a model inspired by the original, but not a direct copy. My model therefore has two side windows – albeit in the original style with three panes of glass – but more...

Well I managed one whole post about Butley Creek before my attention moved to another layout, but in fairness this is one I have been working on for some time.  Coursehorn is the manifestation of a long-held desire to model a Colonel Stephens light railway. It is also in part an homage to one of my favourite layouts, Old Parrock, but with the chocolate box dialled down and muddy puddles taking the fore. It's intended as the successor to my current exhibition layout, Rye Sands, but is really more of a passion project than the result of any pragmatic choice. The genesis of Coursehorn had parallels with that of Butley Creek - a few inspirational photos, a site visit to Rolvenden, and hey presto, a winning layout idea. I had been toying with schemes for a light railway terminus for months, if not years, but these were always too big and too generic - halcyon summer scenes that lacked that certain je ne sais quoi.  Come November 2025, and I stumbled back upon a wonderful image from...

A while ago I was asked to build a couple of Coke hopper wagons. These aren't a wagon type that have ever been on my radar to be honest and there aren't too many photos available either. As ever, the most useful starting point is Paul Bartlett's website: Paul Bartlett's Photographs | BR & PO Coke Hopper wagons HCO HCP In model form, there's an absolutely ancient kit available from Three Aitch and the more recent RTR offering from Hornby. To complicate matters, I was asked to build the solid sided wagons - these aren't offered by either of the aforementioned manufacturers. The RTR model, as available from Hornby First up, I have to say that I find the prototype wagons to be absolutely uninspiring and really hideous looking things! I was sent two Hornby models to use, and the bodies were duly sacrificed in order to make use of the rather nice underframes. They needed to be EM gauge, so the original wheelsets were utilised, albeit with re-gauged wheels. This is...