Natural Window Light

nevard_110123_combwich-53809_DSC_211127b_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

At Combwich, a nicely buffed up 82005 prepares to take on coal next to the foreman's Morris Traveller.

For most layout photographic commissions we have to use portable studio lighting to get the best out of layouts because most model railways are nowhere near a good source of natural light or are lit by domestic spotlights. This type of artificial lighting, whilst popular is totally unsuitable for photography because of multiple shadows and uneven pools of light it generates. Tip: do what Pendon do and use fluorescent tubes if you want to use your layout for photography, modern digital cameras cope very well with this type of lighting.

Sometimes though the layout can be placed next to a window, the soft lighting especially if on an overcast day can produce a very nice luminous quality.

For the shot here, the layout was placed at about a 70 degree angle to the window, the angle being important to add a bit of modelling which highlights texture and detail. In the digital darkroom, apart from some basic level control (which is no different to the old days when we used to send negs away for printing or do our own at home), the only computer addition is the little whiff of smoke. Oh yes, and the use of Helicon Focus to extend the depth of field, that however will not have added anything that isn't actually there.

You can see a bigger version here:
http://www.nevardmedia5.fotopic.net/p68805715.html

Barking Bill

Watched by Tiddles the huge station cat bruiser, SDJR 7F No. 53809 arrives at Combwich with the afternoon goods from Evercreech Junction during the August of 1961. 

This is of course the rather super new Bachmann SDJR 7F 2-8-0 which has appeared a few times over the last few week on this blog. The big difference now is that I have at last almost finished the weathering process.  I never weather in one go, but tend to do it in stages over a few days or even weeks, for it is very easy to overdo weathering and end up with something crude if rushed. I also like to see how the loco looks in different light and how it compares to other items of stock that it will be running with - that and of course using as many colour photos as one can find for reference. And that aspect now has been taken care of due to this wonderful resource in the form of Barking Bill's Photostream which is the real reason for this blog post!


The obligatory WIDESCREEN wallpaper version is here!

Fake Himalayas, Photoshop and Marmite

60026 arrives at Cement Quay Old Wharf with a and empty short rake of MFA high sided box wagons. The loco will uncouple and run around the train before propelling it under the screen for loading. Click to enlarge.

 When photographing a model railway for publication it is generally desirable to replace the garage or office wall with some kind of wishy-washy pale blue, grey or white background in the event of the layout having no or a very low backscene. This I’m sure most will agree quite acceptable practice, for even 100 years ago such photographs would be tidied in such a manner by painting out part of the negative. The only way to avoid this would be to make sure that the camera always points downwards, which to be honest is likely to be a very dull experience for the reader.

In the olden pre-digital days, for those layouts without backdrops, large rolls of pale blue coloured paper or cloth would be suspended behind the layout during the shoot; this could prove quite a slow process due to space and the ability to light the cloth or paper evenly. These days we can use photo editing software to achieve the same if not better result allowing the photographer more time to concentrate on new, creative angles and good lighting.

This is all good news all round, but I’ve noticed increasingly on the printed page a tendency for all sorts of non-layout things starting to appear behind or even in front of layouts, frequently this is in the form of actual landscapes pasted in, making it possibly quite tricky for the reader to work out what’s really there - or more likely not. Personally I won’t take this route because is not about me and how clever I may of may not be at photo editing, but about showcasing the layout and all the hard work that’s gone into creating it. And then, what is the exhibition goer going the think when they finally see that their favourite layout in print doesn’t have Chatsworth House or the Yorkshire Dales really lurking in the background in full focus?

However, recently and possibly controversially I add a little ‘clag’ to steam shots, though I hasten to add that I always make available a set of photos ‘without’ and leave the editorial team and layout owners to decide which set of shots they want to use (which surprisingly has been a ‘yes’ to clag most of the time). It’s a bit like Marmite I guess, you either love it or hate it? And I’m sure most readers will know that the miniature locomotives don’t really spout out smoke, not unless 240 volts has accidently been zapped through them. Maybe I’m just adding what the brain imagines when looking at our miniature world, bar and the hiss, chuff and clanking noises? Comment!

What’s the shot at the top of the page got to do with it all? OK I admit it’s taken on my layout – but shot-wise it’s what I like to aim for with other people’s layouts if at all possible, especially if there’s a nice high backscene to allow a low angle like here. I can safely say that if you ever see the layout for real, pop your eyeball out and rest it on the edge of the layout (I’ll even give you a blob of Blu Tac if that helps) this is exactly what the naked eye will see. But, if your layout doesn’t have a nice high backdrop, I promise never to add the Himalayas or the Massif Central if ever I’m lucky enough to photograph your pride and joy!

Model Rail 152 / Concrete

I'm freqently being asked about how to produce the super super speedy old fashioned style concrete effect as seen on the culvert here on Catcott (click to enlarge). 

After much pressure from emails via my website and people at exhibitions I finally caved in to produce a 'here's how' featurette for the January 2011 issue of Model Rail Magazine. And I must say that the Fabulous Bauer Boys have done a wonderful job putting my random jottings and snaps into a super looking and coherent article that hopefully can be of use to modellers who want to venture beyond a slap of grey paint.

Ok, enough about me (almost), here's what else is also in the this cracking issue:

• Select your Sentinel (beautifully posed and photographed) 
• Hornby 2011 Preview (more fab photography) 
• News 
• Reviews (including the SDJR 7F)
• Layout: Checkhuddersfax 
• Can you Build it? Part2 
• Quick Getting Concrete (that's by me!) 
• The Ultimate Guide to BR Coach Liveries
• Masterplan: Gullant 
• Action Stations 
• Layout: Stodmarsh 
• Model Rail DVD Offer 
• Model Rail Shop 
• Britain's Model Trains 
• Subs offer 
• Q&A 
• Hornby 2011 Handbook 
• Next Issue

Model Rail is available from all good news agents or can be ordered online here!

Time for Pint

The Astolat Model Railway Circle Annual Exhibition on Saturday 15 Jan went very well indeed after a quick set up of only 17 mins from getting out of the car to running a loco. Much to my surprise the layout performed admirably as it did at its last outing at Railex in May 09, with the only 2 derailments of the whole day being caused by not placing stock properly onto the fiddle yard tracks in the first place - duh!


The newly installed working level crossing gates went down a treat with the audience, that and the sunflowers growing in the crossing keeper's garden (why bother with the trains?). A special thank you must go to Dave Renshaw who kindly gave up his day to assist running trains  - I hope it wasn't too stressful!


The tweeded gent to the left isn't an escapee from a society finescale railway modelling gathering,  but the charming Bob Symes who may be familiar to those who remember 1960's & 70's TV - Model World and Tomorrow's World. Amongst other things he also hosted 'Bob's Your Uncle' (Childrens Channel) in the late 1980's.

Enough from me, even though Dave R did all the work running the trains, it's now time for a pint. Next? Full steam ahead with Brewhouse Quay! Toot toot!

A Leggy Italian!

Ah - gotya! I expect you were hoping for some prime totty! Sorry, nothing so exciting, but what would you expect on a toy train BLOG? But I can tell you that my huge heavyweight vintage pro spec Manfrotto Art 075 tripod is suffering with 4 broken leg extending clips after 25 years of use - not bad, it having been made in a country better known for cars that rust when new and dishwashing machines. Getting hold of spares has been impossible, so for the last few shoots I've been resorting of using a pair of pliers for any leg length adjustments - which is rather tardy to say the least.

So, whilst I await some other kind  of mechanical fix for 'the beast' probably involving a keen chap with a  foundry and skills normally used maintaining the Eiffel Tower, I've  taken delivery of a Manfrotto 055XPROB. Why this model? Well, it  has an arm which allows me to suspend a camera actually above a layout  which is something I've never been able to do until now. Benbo is a well  known make that's been doing this 'arm thing' for years, but with Manfrotto now taking this useful route, it allows me to use my various tripod heads (a ball and  socket being seen in the shot).

So, here we have a snap  of a camera taking a shot of another camera taking a photo of Catcott  Burtle, the view as you would briefly see shortly before hitting the ground at 120 MPH - if  having fallen from an Tiger Moth!

Catcott Burtle - Now with Working Gates

In preparation for the weekend show in Guildford at the Astolat Model Railway Circle Exhibition, I've finally managed to bodge up some working crossing gates and a working signal.
I won't go into too much detail for the mechanical brigade will probably shudder at my Heath Robinson approach using brass rod and code 75 bullhead rail; you'll just have to imagine - but if you come along to the show at the weekend I'll let you look under my drape and the mechanical contraption - ooh err Mrs!

Summer Saturday Over Mendip!

nevard_110109_pines_DSC_20926_BW_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

Acclaimed West Country snapper Ivan Locksmith with his Rollieflex and a roll Kodak Tri-X captured this photo of the Cleethorpes to Exeter pounding up the Mendip slopes near Masbury ably hauled by 40564 and 53809 in August 1959. On summer Saturdays Bath shed was frequently short of motive power, so a SDJR 7F heavy freight locomotive was often rostered on to assist over the Mendips and was always marshalled on the inside.

The reason for no crew being seen, is because there was a group of naked ladies running through the field on the other side of the embankment being shot of a Carry On film!

The miniature representation here consists of a renumbered and painted Hornby LMS 2P 4-4-0 and the new Bachmann SDJR 7F 2-8-0. The coach is a 25 year old Mainline LMS panelled carriage repainted into maroon and lined out. The foreground is my stock photo-thingy and a summer sky added to replace the magnolia wall this little cameo was shot against.

• Want to see this shot in widescreen and colour?

Countdown to the Weekend

nevard_110103_catcott_IMG_8887_01_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

Catcott’s first outing in well over a year is now just a few days’ ways. The railway has been set up with a view to giving it and up and under to hopefully ensure a hassle free experience for the public and for me.


Jobs so far have been to tidy up the reeds along the front and to relay one of the fiddle yard sidings that had gone out of gauge due to me being too tight with the amount of copper clad used. Later this week, I hope to give the layout a good run with any new items of stock that have appeared since the layout’s last outing which was Railex in May 2009.

The snap here is just a ‘serving suggestion’ and not part of the display, the Neolithic background being a quicker option that tidying up the room that layout it set up in!

• Astolat Model Railway Circle Exhibition 15 Jan 2011

Hornby 2011 - The Official Handbook

Hornby 2011 - The Official Handbook is on sale from 5 January in all good newsagents and model shops, price £4.99.
Order now online: www.greatmagazines.co.uk/hornby/
Order now by phone 01733 840111

---

Official press release, posted with permision of the Model Rail editorial team. Be sure to click on the images to enlarge:

'Model Rail has teamed up with model railway giants Hornby to bring you an exciting new publication. Hornby 2011 - The Official Handbook is a high-quality 132-page publication and is the only magazine officially endorced by Hornby.

It contains full details of the company's 2011 range of models. including background information on the latest all-new locomotives and rolling stock, and news of some very exciting developments in the next year's programme.

 To compliment all this news, the handbook will help you to choose the right trainset, find a home for your next layout, lay your track, experiment with detailing and improving locomotives and rolling stock, and help to get you started with Hornby Digital.

Expert advice comes from some of the best known authors in the model railway business; DCC expert Nigel Burkin, layout builders Peter Marriott and Chris Nevard and Model Rail's professional model maker George Dent.'

• Showcase

• Hornby Family History

• Reader Offer

• Hornby 2011 Review

• FAQs

• Family Favourites by Simon Kohler

• Building a Simple Baseboard

• By Royal Appointment

• Britain’s Best Layouts

• Hornby Track System

• Win Hornby Models Worth £100s!

• Hornby Railroad: Unlock the Potential

• What’s That Bit Called?

• Scenery: Bring Your Layout to Life

• Commuter Classic

• Wagons Roll
• What Exactly is DCC?
• Digital Revolution
• Best of 2010
• Things to See and Do in 2011
• Railmaster: The Real Way to Run a Railway
• Hornby Official Stockists

Order now online: www.greatmagazines.co.uk/hornby/ 

Order now by phone 01733 840111

Ivan Locksmith's Jowett Javelin

nevard_110107_catcott_IMG_8924_BW_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

Influenced by Ivo Peters' fabulous photo of of his famous Bentley posed next to a down goods train at Binegar (or was it Chilcompton?); Ivan Locksmith didn't delay in creating a similar shot to Ivo on the day he part exchanged his elderly Austin Seven for a shiny Jowett Javelin. Here is the photo that was taken at Catcott Burtle with a goods from Highbridge Wharf. Just a bit of fun!

Wnat to see it in colour?
http://nevardmedia5.fotopic.net/p68631542.html

Shunting at 'Burtle

SDJR 7F 2-8-0 No. 53809 is captured on a stinking hot day in the summer of 1961 shunting at Catcott Burtle.

The loco is of course the new Bachmann SDJR 7F and is seen here after stage one of a little weathering. In due course I'll add some more colour washes, lamps and a crew. Chuff chuff buffs from Tunbridge Wells will notice that the tablet catcher is now in the retracted position too.

You'll be able to see this locomotive and layout on Saturday 15 January 2011 at the Astolat Model Railway Circle Exhibition in Guildford, Surrey.

 W I D E S C R E E N wallpaper here!

Bachmann S&DJR 7F Running Test

The new Bachmann S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 performing some test runs on Catcott Burtle. Any jerkyness seen will be the YouTube processing and compression. In real life I'm very impressed by the smooth running qualities - sadly not seen here on YouTube.

For my original review and some nice stills, follow this LINK.

Hemp!

nevard_110103_catcott-reeds_IMG_8878_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

When somebody mentions hemp, especially if they look a tad thin, speak rather slowly in a warbling manner, have their hair platted, wear colourful home knits as well as knitting their own wall paper, we tend to associated it with something smoked that will generate a mind altering experience. Yeah-man!

For most people who are not so much into ‘vegetable rights and peace’ as coined by Neil off the early 1980’s BBC comedy ‘The Young Ones’, they will know it is the key ingredient of another kind of joint and one which is serviced by a plumber to stop leaks.

Us modelrailway nutters have a third use for it, and one that is mainly artistic. The fibrous nature of the stuff which looks oddly like the hair of a hippy is perfect for replicating anything from miniature thatch through to fields of barley at Pendon, and in my case reeds when coloured.

The above is part the canal side reburbishment of Catcott Burtle currently taking place for the Astotolat Model Railway Show in Guildford on Saturday 15 January 2011.

Brewhouse Quay: Track Laying

Just before the Xmas holiday I started to lay the track on Brewhouse Quay. The delay in getting the snaps here being due to that increasingly shocking excercise of actually interacting with people face to face (cue the H&S Executive for another new directive no doubt) rather than keyboard, eating all the wrong foods, drinking too much beer in foreign climes and probably in due course getting a dose of lurgy due to all public places being heated to suit the staff rather than the heavilly dressed public.

Initially the plan was to use ready made track, but after messing about with Xtrkcad it came apparent that I would not be able to shoe-horn in the track plan that I wanted in to the small area. And anyway, with nearly all the buildings being ready to plant I needed to have some challenge having not built my own track since Catcott Burtle in 2008.

The track as you'll see is traditional copper clad construction, but rather than using the more usual code 75 bullhead rail I'm aiming for that light railway/industrial look using code 55 flat-bottomed rail marketed by C+L Finescale for OO/HO. Code 55 is about as light a code as one can go in OO realistically to avoid earlier ready to run wheel flanges bouncing along the sleeper tops.

Seen here are the first few inches with rail laid, and those with keen eyes might just notice the destressed copper clad scratched to represent timber. Sleeper gapping to avoid a short circuit is just to the rear of the nearest rail so to avoid an unsightly groove when seen from the front of the layout.

When soldering the rail to copper clad sleepers, to avoid that tell-tail look often seen with blobs of solder on the side of the rail spoiling that flat-bottomed look, I'm pre coating the sleepers with a thin coat of solder and then sweating pre-fluxed rail onto the sleeper surface. Whether I add cosmetic rail spikes remains to be seen, for much of it only the rail tops will be seen protruding out of fine ballast or cobbles and some of the less recent ready to run offerings may just brush the spikes. Such can always be added at a later stage when the layout is nearly complete.

To the right and looking back to 2008, here we have Catcott Burtle after the C+L track was painted with various Halfords primers in preparation for ballasting.

The baseboard top is plywood, but seen above is what looks like a foamboard base - correct! To make track laying easier due to the fixed high backscene that that surrounds 3 of the 4 sides, I'm using a removeable sub baseboard which will then be fixed permanently into place once the more tricky aspects of tracklaying have taken place. In due course, ballasting with diluted PVA could cause the foamboard to delaminate, so to avoid the possiblity of that happening as long as the whole lot is painted prior to ballasting this will not be an issue. As with other projects I generally use a blend of Halfords red primer, grey primer and matt black misted on in varyoing amounts. One could of course use Railmatch 'Sleeper Grime', but Halfords bonds to the metal better, dries faster and can be bought from around the corner.

Thursday Pic - that 7F again....

Here's a spare shot of the new Bachmann SDJR 7F 2-8-0 left over from the other day, and whilst it wasn't taken specifically for the cab detail, it does demonstrate how nice the detail is from a normal viewing angle. I make no apologies for the car which is from a Sprinsgide white metal kit, it's simply there because I like it. The only enhancement is the puff of smoke, again because I like it. The crew are stood on the platfom behind the loco

Click image to enlarge.

Version without the inset HERE!

Trams and Beer

nevard_101226_munich-tram_IMG_8832_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

For a change we decided to escape the Christmas mayhem and head to Munich for a few days, not really for any cultural experience but unashamedly to sup a few beers in the various beer halls all over this beautiful city. And anyway, most things are shut over the Christmas period and let's face it, it's way too cold to do much else so I don't feel the slightest bit guilty in this respect!

Of course one needs to get around, and I was most impressed with the 47 mile tram network and how the Germans don't let a dusting of that cold white stuff cripple everything. Every city should have a tram network, they're quiet, they get you from A to B very quickly and they don't leave everything under a cloud smelly smog every time they move.

I won't drone on any more, there are lots sites that will cover green issues and more of what I've touched above, and anyway whilst Munich is a fabulous place, I haven't had a proper cuppa for days so I'm off to have one now....

• Here are the rest of my snaps
• Munich Trams

Bachmann's Super SDJR 7F 2-8-0

Click on the images to enlarge!

Bachmann's much anticipated SDJR 7F 2-8-0 has finally arrived at Nevard Towers from Hattons in Liverpool, and what a beauty she is too. I'll refrain from commenting in detail too much, because there are many merry souls who get out even less than me who'll no doubt keep the forums bulging over the next couple of months with stuff about the loco that you cannot see.

To me Bachmann have captured the look of this iconic heavy freight loco supremely well having gazed at photographs of the real thing for 30 plus years. In that period I've often thought about building a kit of one of these, but like many there is now little need.

As a nice surprise, Bachmann have added the familiar Whitaker token exchange apparatus to either side of the tender – this was missing from the pre-production model seen back in the summer at their press and trade open day. Thoughtfully they have included what looks like a couple of spares of this in with the detail pack; these might make their way on to another one of my engines in due course.

So the loco can negotiate set track bends, the tender to loco gap is rather too wide for my requirements, but unlike Hornby this can be easily remedied by drilling an extra hole through the metal 'drawbar'. Toy train buffs from Tonbridge Wells will note that I have added the steam heating pipe below the front buffer beam - that is actually not required having examined photos after hurriedly adding the detail pack!

I have yet to run the loco due to lack of time, though I imagine it will be a little notchy as is frequently the norm with Bachmann steam outline locomotives; hopefully though a good running-in session will reduce this to a minimum with choice of controller as usual having an equally significant effect.

Whilst the loco undeniably looks stunning in its shiny black, in due course this little gem will go under the airbrush and dry-brush to add a little well needed ‘work-a-day’ patina. This hopefully will make it more in keeping with a freight locomotive as seen in the last decade of steam.

A couple of years ago, if somebody had posted this release on April Fools’ Day we’d have dismissed them as barking mad! But the last 18 months have seen everything change in this respect with all sorts of weird and wonderful unexpected prototypes appearing ready to run. So, roll on that Johnson 1P 0-4-4 with condensing apparatus next I guess?   

On the Road Again: Catcott Burtle

nevard_101126_catcott_DSC_0545_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.
W I D E C R E E N version HERE! 

Catcott Burtle is on the road again on Saturday 15 January 2011 at the Astolat Model  Railway Circle Expo in Guildford. It's been well over a year since this layout last had an airing in public with it's last scheduled outing sadly being cancelled at the 11th hour due to a house move the day before.

Astolat Model Railway Circle Annual Exhibition
Guildford Methodist Church
Woodbridge Road
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 4RG

9.30 a.m. until 5.00 p.m. Prices not known

Other layout will include:

• Garden Railway (G)
• Camas Orainin (Gn15)
• Boreham MPD (0)
• Lynton Road (0)
• Gravel Bottom (016.5)
• Fisherton Sarun (OO)
• Lyn Castle (OO)
• New Bridge Street (OO)
• Port Skeera (EM)
• Kite Houses (P4)
• Bryn-y-Felin (OO9)
• Lower Peak Wharf (OO9)
• Prospect Valley (H0)
• Modbury Tor (3mm TT)
• Chacombe Junction (N)
• Champion Falls (N)
• Hedges Hill Cutting (N)
• Shackleford Road Wharf (N)

I'm Not the Only Mad One

I often wonder who really looks at the toy train chuff chuff blogs, frequently imagining that it's just old duffers like me with not enough else for filling to do with their lives. So over the last few days it was a great surprise to get not just one, but two emails from blog owners that do not for one moment appear to be model railway nuts. These merry souls have compiled list of their favourite railway related blogs and rather foolishly chose recommend my misguided jottings and pontifications on this silly hobby. Thank you!

Model train blogs we love
http://www.clifford-james.co.uk/blog/model-train-blogs-we-love/

50 Best Blogs for Train Enthusiasts

http://onlineengineeringdegrees.org/50-best-blogs-for-train-enthusiasts/ 

Brewhouse Quay: Wiring fun

K_point_wiring_01, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

Brewhouse Quay update.....

The materials have arrived, so I'm looking at the most complex bit of track well in advance to plan the wiring and where isolating breaks will need to be cut into the rails and how power will be fed to various sections. Slitting the sections will probably be easier after laying due to the fine nature of code 55.

Point operation will be via manual miniature yard levers as in Nigel Burkin's feature in the April 2010 edition of Model Rail. Polarity switching will be under the baseboard, again as per Nigel's feature.

Whilst I'm not new to building my own track, I've never been bold enough to try something like this. Construction doesn't bother me, but the wiring does as little, so any thoughts from people that find this aspect interesting feel free to feed back.

I've uploaded the  multi-layered Photoshop PSD file here to allow the blue isolating  section bits to be added or hidden should anyone want to illustrate any  ideas - credit due course the final write up goes without saying! I need to consider check rails too not shown here.

• http://www.nevard.com/zzz/K_point_wiring_01.psd 
• A wider view of the full trackplan can be seen here. 
• Brewhouse Quay

Merry Christmas and a Happy 2011!

xmascard_2010_WEB, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

Merry Christmas and a Fabulous 2011!

58086 on a cold but sunny snowy morning in 1957 awaits with the 11am service from Combwich to Evercreech Junction.

Midnight Oil/Brewhouse Quay Plan

nevard_101215_brewhouse_quay_01_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

I suffered from a little insomnia last night, so between midnight around and 2 am I worked on my rough brewery trackplan pencil sketch to produce the below using a little Photoshop to tidy up some of the rougher bits. I've tried to avoid that computer look - preferring that 'back of an envelope/organic' style as seen in magazines like the excellent French model railway magazine Voie Libre and the wonderful illustrations of Paul Lunn.

I'm in a lucky position to have  been asked to come up with a model railway idea for a well  known  book  publisher, but to date have been unsure which direction to  go in - if at all with so many other commitments. Maybe a selection  smallish plans mixed  in with a section on how to photograph  what  you've built? Just a silly  idea maybe - any thoughts on this already over saturated market?

Back  to the brewery; 'Brewhouse Quay' is likely to be the name of the  current project, graphically the title works, and it's easy to remember.

Next, I hope to turn off the computer an start to lay some track .....

Brewery Project: Back of an Envelope Sketch

Just now I grabbed a couple of snaps to illustrate the Brewery Project's likely track plan all in an area of 4ft x 2ft 3inches, kicking off with an early rough sketch which will be used as a bases for a proper layout plan. Note the sector plate to allow access to hidden sidings behind the backscene. The headshunt seen on the above sketch will allow a small loco with just 2 SWB wagons - a shunting puzzle should be fun!

The track plan has started to be marked out roughly full size onto some sheets of A3. The trackwork in the foreground is one of the reasons why ready made track would not work here. I'm looking forward to hand laying the track, not having done any since Catcott Burtle 3 years ago which used C&L components. For this I have ordered code 55 flat bottomed rail from C&L for that light industrial look

Earlier in the year I had the privilege of photographing Brian Harrap's excellent Quai:87 which features lots of clever trackwork. See Brian's layout in print soon in the popular model railway press.