NorthWallDocker

Try the "Small Layout Scrapbook" by Carl Arendt: https://www.carendt.com/category/small-layout-scrapbook/ Iain Rice was a master of small layouts: https://www.trains.com/mrr/news-reviews/news/in-memoriam-iain-rice/. Three of his four U.S. books appear relevant: Small, Smart & Practical Track Plans (2000), Shelf Layouts for Model Railroads (2009), and Compact Layout Design (2015). A full list of his books appears here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iain_Rice. You might also like some of the Wild Swan Publications books about layout design and scenery: https://wildswanbooks.co.uk/Layouts-Scenery-Landscape.htm Finally, you might want to consider basing your compact layout on a real place, such as the shunting operations in Dublin at East Wall and North Wall. A Shell Oil "Hibberd Planet" locomotive that operated at East Wall is buildable from a kit by Nonneminstre Models: http://www.nonneminstre.co.uk/4mm-standard-gauge.php. You might use the Ordinance Survey Ireland maps of the docks and railway lines to get some inspiration. There was plenty to do around the Spencer Dock and eastward to the GS&WR goods depot, known in the 1980s as the concert venue The Point Depot. (Some of the dates might be a little fudgy for your 1970s-1980s focus.) Good lads here taught me all this.

What type of older coach would you want? And is the model a Murphy Models issue, or a respray? I have an extra Bachmann green, gray, black CIE coach based on the LMS design -- the coaches that accompanied the ex-Midland Great Western Railway "Woolwich" loco. I also have extras of the green Wollwich loco.

Just to reinforce: Yes, all the prices are at the purchase prices, so they're being sold at cost. The OO Works locomotive made in 2018 is no longer available; a modernized version with a Belpaire boiler is GBP 315 plus P & P. The JM Railway Designs kit is one of only maybe six or ten made and the price equates with the New Zealand dollar amount at the time the kits were sold. Richard has designed some wonderful 3-D printed railway models of Irish, Polish, Chinese (the Polish PX48 loco), and other European locomotives and carriages. I just bought several of his Irish narrow gauge carriage kits and bogies last week: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/glr3dmodeldesign.

What specifically are you seeking? A specific railway, or a specific model? And what scale and gauge?

John, am enjoying your photos and travelogue, which I just found now. Very familiar scenes; my mother-in-law is from South Dakota. Greetings from the Illinois prairie. Martin

John, grateful for all your work, and glad I was able to buy your locomotive kits. That only happened because you invested so much knowledge and talent in making them. Martin

John, thank you. More learning for me, so appreciate. The electrical aspects of railway modeling are definitely my weakness, so having examples helps me learn.

John @Mayner, just found your writings here about Keadue, after re-reading your RMWeb blog from 2013-2018 (which I saved to 64 pages in two PDFs). Grateful for all your teaching through your writing and photographing. Inspiring me to plan for building my own C&L / MGWR modular layout in 2024, starting perhaps with Dromod. I'm wondering if you could guide me about four questions that remain unanswered (or that I missed): 1. Stewart Hine's 1970s MR article about DPDT switches for layout sections -- might you have a more specific citation that I could pursue? 2. Did you ever decide upon an optimal wider dimension of depth than the 12 inches of the shelf layout? 3. What minimum radius of track curve would you recommend for a Worsley Works ex-CB&P 2-4-2T locomotive model or your Branchlines C&L Stephenson 4-4-0T? 4. If you were to re-design Keadue for enjoyable operation, based on what you've learned, what specific new features would you include, or change? (I note the problem with the carriage shed area's MDF warping the track plane, for example, because it became over-soaked. But I'm also reading a lot of complaints about insulation foam as a base, even with a plywood substructure.)

Thank you. I just finished two delightful hours tracing the Cavan & Leitrim from Dromod to Mohill on the historic OSI map on GeoHive, then comparing with Google Maps and Google streetview.

Dapol list price for DCC ready is GBP 324... or 270 when you click on the choice. https://www.dapol.co.uk/products/7s-026-008s-gauge-jinty-3f-0-6-0-ncc-19-dcc-sound-fitted?variant=44276892106975 Hattons was GBP 125 (no VAT to U.S.) + 21 shipping by DHL. It'll be fun without any regret or worry.

I bought the UTA 19 DC model. Something I've long thought about, but yesterday was fortunate to be to afford (at the 60% discount).

Well, fair play to the person who outbid me. There are wants and needs, and I'm glad someone wanted the kits more than I did.

That's why I ended my years of "thinking" by doing an order to Alphagraphix - Tyrconnel Models a few months ago.

Well, the good news for everyone is Roger Crombleholme, proprietor of Tyrconnel Models, still makes and sells both kits. I received my future learning projects from Roger just recently. https://www.alphagraphixkits.co.uk/ and https://www.alphagraphixkits.co.uk/449045255.html. Martin

Sssshhhh. Don't tell anyone, Colin. I placed a bid last night (Chicago time). -- Martin