8 feet is so big!

Moved house in june. I now have a 8ft x 1ft shelf up. I started to build an HO American DCC thing but it just wasn't doing it for me. So, I paused and had a good think.
Anyway, to cut long and confused meanderings short.. It occurred to me that I often read of the classic GWR branch terminus being a bit of a cliche. However..I got into this hobby in Gn15 and have via 3mm and OO9 I have realised that I have never had a go at that myself.
So - basically I'm going to build a OO cliche GWR branch station! Not worrying too much about fidelity and accuracy, but hopefully come up with a plan that will give some intersting operations as well as fun to build. I've drawn heavily on the Culm Valley for inspiration, but made some changes. Notably, I've decided to start off with a 57XX tank or similar, as the current 14xx model is a bit long in the tooth and I would like a nice running loco to get off the ground with.
Pictures to follow.. basic plan for now..

micro site update

Still messing about with the shelf layout - I will post some progress pics soon..

In the meantime - Carl Arendt has added this months update to his site, and as ever, I've come away brimming over with inspiration and ideas..

'check it out' (as they say)..
http://carendt.com/scrapbook/page101/index.html

A unique dilemma

In the scale of things, not a life-changer.. but in my modelling world, I have come to a point where I need to make a decision. We've moved into new house.. slowly unpacking. I now have a 'playroom'. I reckon I can comfortably get a shelf layout in.. 110" long with a about 60" on the right angle. (Then there is the cavernous shed and garage to consider in time...)

Great! The biggest layout I have ever planned!! but.. what to do?

I've been dabbling in various scales and gauges over the last few years with the excuse that I was trying them out. Maybe the time has come to assess and make a choice. Which also means getting rid of some stuff :-)

HO American.. with DCC and sound where possible.. switching various cars around. N scale American with the Kato unitrack I invested in.. more railway in the same space..3mm scale. All handbuilt stuff..stick to 14.2mm (I haven't managed to complete a working chassis yet), or try the easier 12mm gauge route? And then do I go for Light Railway..classic branch terminus.. industrial exchange. Or... take the far easier route of OO? Or try EM? (I've discounted N UK outline, having tried a little inglenook) OR.. OO9.. a quaint railway in the landscape.. or try out 7mm NG ? ..Easier to handle. Gn15 feels like it needs the micro layout treatment. On30? Like the bashability but yet to be inspired with a setting.
Some list-writing, box-checking and head-scratching to follow no doubt.

It's a nice dilemma to have though.

the shame of not updating

If you're going to have a 'blog' you really ought to keep it up to date. Actually - have been doing a few bits here and there.. started on an American shortline HO layout and Ulthwaite has moved on to pastures new. But we are moving house soon - everything is packed away and modelling time is zero. Once we are in and I have unpacked, hopefully can get on with all the projects. And keep this up to date! In the meantime.. I came across May's Model Rail.. mentioned on Chris Nevard's site.. it features a host of micro layouts and a 3mm finescale! A bumper issue for me this month!

Elston Road coming along

Slowly but surely adding bits here and there to Elston Road... mostly tidying up. I thought it was perhaps time for a quick update though - a couple of pictures of all three feet of the layout (one from each side) to show the overall effect, and one of the shed built by Marshalls Agricultural Supplies.

Running is much improved after a deal of fettling.. but still a bit fiddly.

Elston Road, 3mm Micro in the sun

Grabbed a few minutes in the sun to take some pistures of progress on 'Elston Road', my 3 foot long, 3mm scale layout. (Should have built 'Trewyzes')
I am trying to capture a rather down and out 'end of the line' Light Railway halt. The passenger services ceased some time ago, only light goods and coal accompany regular vans to and from the private siding (shed under construction). the passenger halt is based on one at Ashover, the 'office' is based on a plan in the 3mm Society magazine - a building once at Lowdham. The shed is pure conjecture!
Despite many frustrations and doubts as to my wisdom in trying 3mm finescale over EM, overall I'm quite pleased so far. I've had to replace a couple of tie bars and this has caused some derailments.. much fettling to be done.
Finally, my first ever chassis under construction (3mm again). It will go under a whitemetal J72 one day. Thanks to Phil Parker for some top tips.

Overview of Elston Road, all three feet of it.

The Shed under construction

View of the 'yard' area.

The disused passenger halt.

The office, based on a building at Lowdham.

No signals or gates required on this quiet lane.

A view from the end of the layout.

The line used to continue beyond the camera until a few years ago.

Don't laugh! First attempt ever.

I have been doing things, honest!

I finally thought I should get around to doing some updates and my camera battery died!
I hope to get some pictures of the 3mm layout up soon, and maybe some other bits I've been working on. Meanwhile, I got a few pics of Ulthwaite anyway.. some scenic work has been done.

This is an A1 brass body kit - my first soldered construction. Obviously a bit of work to do yet..

Some scenics at the Left hand side of the layout, entrance to fiddle

At the other end. I found this coal lorry amongst some stuff passed to me by 'Versif' some time ago. Already labelled up for 'Cumberland' - perfect!

An overall view back over the layout. looking a lot greener now.

Finally, the new coach, a recent ebay purchase.. again, a lot of work to do but it 'fits' well I think.

Next up, some 3mm stuff I reckon.

I really must learn how to post properly on here - not keen on this layout at all.