Galteemore

Could do, but points eat space. With your skills, you could easily build a traverser, or a turntable/sector plate. My next plan involves cassettes- this kind of idea …

In woodwork and electrics

Just bare black painted board…..should add that the layout is lit by a lighting rig from above so that also draws the eye in away from the edges. This may give an idea of what it consists of…

Here you go. Note how the holes are only as big as they need to be, and how the skyline is higher than the holes. This is an old Richard Chown dodge / a ‘hole’ in landscape strikes the eyes as less odd than a hole in the sky! The layout is built to be viewed side on so this area is designed to be within peripheral vision and not viewed full on like this!

Use a view block like a building at front of the layout - that will help disguise the transition. Here’s an old N gauge layout I built. You can see how the factory essentially distracts from the line exiting stage left The same principle was used on my 7mm layout - seen here under construction. The white building essentially disguises the brake van about to leave ….even a siding with a wagon strategically parked can work.

‘Beef this up a bit’….saw what you did there ! Great work and a nice classic Irish wagon added to the roster

If you check out George’s other posts today, Robert, he’s scoping out Antonov movements at Shannon - obviously planning an escape to Almaty if required !

The quarry Hunslet roots are very clear! Looking good.

Yes Tim Cramer, the guru of west Cork modelling, has a good friendship with Roger of Alphagraphix. I suspect his influence looms large in the catalogue!

The extended tank was very distinctive. IIRC the Cavan men loved the ‘wee Northerners’ and essentially worked the guts out of them. An intriguing ‘might have been’ had they lasted until GSR/CIE days. Would also be interesting to see how the NCC 2-4-2Ts would have acquitted themselves amongst the drumlins.

Brilliant stuff David. Really look forward to seeing this develop, not least because the way you record your work and thinking process helps instruct many others …..self included! Nice to see Arigna’s crossing cottage making an appearance too…

Fascinating stuff. The tram must have made one of the fastest transitions to safe preservation in history! I came across some fascinating photos of the SLNC - which closed essentially at the same time as Fintona - a year after closure in 58. Think the vandals were better behaved back then!

This image from @Irishswissernieis about as comprehensive as possible! You can see the ash ballast covering the sleepers so ‘Dick’ had an easier walk.

Really interesting photos Ernie. Note how 84 is in ex shops blue, which still has that rich depth to it, unlike the more faded tender! This was just before the VS class arrived that summer. It’s also sat beside an old U still in black awaiting its blue. The UG (- photo on your Flickr today) must be brand new .

That’s a very nice looking little loco. Ideal for a Belfast docks inspired micro layout.

Now that’s true class, having an 08 for daily transport…in all seriousness, I totally get the throwaway thing. How much of our economy is predicated on buying more stuff….I always find trips to the local waste/recycling centre sobering as you realise how quickly consumer goods end up becoming yet more garbage….

It’s up to you really. At shows it’s often hidden to aid ‘the willing suspension of disbelief’. The idea being that you’re effectively putting on a stage show so the backstage area is off limits to the punters! Some modellers have now, however, incorporated the FY into the layout proper for a mix of aesthetic/artistic/practical reasons. Giles Favell, a stellar modeller who works in theatre in real life, has his FYs on full show, simply painted black so the audience can immediately tell what’s stage and what’s offstage….looking at your set up there I think you’ll need to be able to access it from the front so personally I wouldn’t put a cover on it……

Great work Brack. Vote from me for Sol/Set, have used myself.

Agreed, Angus. Just to avoid derailing your thread, have you seen J J Smith’s photos of Dromahair? Searchable through the Bluebell museum photo archive. There are some gems…..

Thanks Angus - that’s really helpful. Sadly I haven’t space for a 7mm Abohill really never mind Dromahair! I have, however, been doing a lot of hard thinking of late, and trying to come up with a modelling proposal that is both sustainable and interesting for me to pursue long term….something will hopefully break cover soon…..it will be SLNC though, that I promise you!

Angus - just a quick question- what length did you identify the Dromahair platform as, please? Just scoping out an idea….

That’s more in the line of Manorhamilton works!

Looks like a successful overnight possession!

Interesting to see 27 at work - most shots of her in later years are on shed. Illustrates huge size of brown vans. Think that may be the day of the Dalriada railtour or similar / note all the gricers! WT 10 was notorious in later years for having a huge hole in the cab floor which made the fireman’s life a bit sporty

Welcome R and L! This is a great forum with lots of knowledgeable and helpful people.