David Holman

So, not only are you building a half sized Maeve [in time for Christmas], but the smokebox door is going to have a circular layout inside it! Clearly solves the problem of how to fit the Maeve model in the garden - presume it will be mounted vertically, so when the smokebox door is swung open, the layout is ready to operate? Still track and 'Magnadhesian' to stop the trains falling off when in store too?

Good luck with it all GG. This is a project that deserves to do really well.

Am amazed that anyone could do such a complex shape in card. They look to have made a decent job too - when ever I've tried such methods, they invariably end up in the bin! Needless to say, my 'B' will not be having a repaint. Looks like it is not articulated? Not surprised - it was enough work in 7mm scale. Can't imagine trying it in anything smaller. Now, how about a 2A...? Doing that in 4mm scale really would be a challenge!

As per my last post, a bit of reflection & reviewing showed a couple of things needed adjusting. Firstly, making the station building/office two storey filled in the large empty space on the right hand end. Secondly, realised that the buildings on the right back scene needed their roof lines to be level, not sloping. in addition, while sketching in the back scene, it soon became clear that the road going off into the middle back scene needed to be slightly oblique to enable the solid buildings to merge with the painted ones. So, from left to right, what we have is a linen/woollen mill covering the exit to the fiddle yard. The track to this leaves the station yard and exits, along the centre of the main street. The low relief buildings will include various shops and houses, based on photos of the Clogher Valley and ones I took myself of those preserved at Cultra. In the centre of the layout, the road turns sharp left 'into' the back scene, by what will be another Railway Bar [as per Arigna]. To the right of this is the station/tramshed, its overall roof will be similar in style to that at Wantage, because I want it to be as open as possible, so you can look through it to the street behind, with several low relief shops/businesses, as per the left hand end. Between the station and shops are the loco shed and water tank, with the railway separated from the road throughout the station area by a stone wall. A half relief building behind the turntable hides the road running obliquely behind the bar and suggesting the two roads link up. Hopefully, you can just about see where I've started sketching in the back scene too. This is one of those situations on a layout where things seem to be coming together - then you realise that with 15 structures to build, it will take a while, though as I repeatedly tell myself - it is not a race and meant to be enjoyed! Hopefully, you can pick out the 'before and after' in the photos.

After weekends in Cultra & Manchester, now have a chance to get back to the new project & having done the foundations of the groundwork, next I want to block in the buildings. These are very much part of the overall scene, so getting positions/orientations right is really important. The aim is, even with this small project, to provide several different view points & viewing angles, in an effort to make the scene look bigger than it really is. Therefore have spent a few hours making mockups of the buildings, using foam board. These will form the basis of the finished models. It has been interesting to work out where & how I want things to go. For example, I had not realised how much empty space there would be on the right hand end's back scene, above the tram shed. It has also been useful to minimise the fact that over 50% of buildings are 'low relief'. What I am aiming for is that they will blend [fairly] seamlessly into the painted, flat, back scene. Pictures show how far I've got, with just the left hand street scene to be completed. However, it is often a good idea to take a break and go back to the model a few hours/days later, as things came appear very different to what you first perceived. A bit like trying to proof read your own writing - you tend to see what you THINK you have done & not what is really there. A bit more faffing about and you should start to get an idea of what I am trying to create.

Kind words JB, but 1500 miles on the road for two shows tempers enthusiasm somewhat. If I could have it transported and fly there, now that might be an idea! Managed to dig out my 'preserved article on Castle Rackrent, not from Model Railways, but Railway Modeller. Only three pages, but have put in pictures of each, which hopefully are readable. If nothing else, the track plan bears scrutiny, not least for its elegant simplicity.

A thoroughly good time was had at Manchester, with the bonus of the fantastic Christmas Markets too. Saturday was VERY busy, with well over 1500 people through the doors. Would guess well under half that on the Sunday. Hence it was often four deep in front of the layout & I was busy talking to people when one gentleman casually asked if I was interested in running his 5'3 loco. I readily agreed, though slightly hesitant after Weshty's experience [turned out to be 32mm gauge] at Cultra. However, needn't have worried because another Lissadell appeared, this time in lined green with a polished brass dome. The visitor explained it was indeed a North Star kit, but adapted to early SLNCR livery & with new chimney & turned dome. Fortunately, I had my camera with me & was about to enquire of his name, for inclusion on the website, when he said 'by the way, I'm Richard Chown'. Now anyone who knows anything about modelling Irish railways will know that Richard began his magnificent Castle Rackrent project back in the early 1970s. It eventually grew to a vast empire, parts of which still get exhibited occasionally. He has also created several other model railways, including Norwegian 3'6 gauge and a big French layout with a 2 metre high viaduct - all in 7mm scale. However, Castle Rackrent was very much the initial inspiration for me to try Irish modelling one day and though it took over 30 years before I got round to Arigna, many of the design features I've included in previous layouts have their source in Castle Rackrent. In my humble opinion, Richard's influence is on the same level as the likes of Barry Norman, David Jenkinson, Martyn Welch and Gordon Gravett. And there we were talking at length and watching his Lissadell in charge of the SLNCR passenger train. During this time, Paul Green also appeared, so at that point 60% of the active Irish BROAD gauge exhibition modellers were present in one place. Only the Ballyconnell Road team and Andy Cundick [Valentia Harbour] were missing, though if I've missed anyone out, many apologies, but do let us know who you are! Needless to say, Lissadell ran beautifully for over two hours, while Richard visited the rest of the show, but [of course], eventually returned to reclaim it. For me, this was the highlight of the weekend and [alongside showing the layout at Cultra], was all I dared hope for as I was building it. Would very much like to meet Neil Sprinks one day too. At the reception on Saturday evening, discovered Arigna had just missed out, by one point, on the exhibition trophy [judged by the club committee]. Given the winner was the fantastic Melton Mowbray North [N gauge], this was still quite an accolade for what is such a niche layout, but my prize was meeting Richard - very much a dream come true. Now face a serious conundrum, as there is an invite to go to the Glasgow Show in February 2018. In reality, way too far to go & with it being a three day show, would mean 6 nights away. Then again, there might be a chance that some of Castle Rackrent's trains might appear on Arigna & just how cool would that be?

Absolutely! For its time, just amazing, given what was available. Even drawings were scarce and no internet, remember! Also, the track plan was a work of genius and has rarely been bettered in terms of fitting so much in a small space.

Hopton 1:14 is what I have always understood. The unlimited speed sign a bit tongue in cheek, methinks, given the locos available. North London 0-6-0T, Webb Radial 0-4-2T and, later, Austerity 0-6-0T. Doubt if any of these could get beyond 50mph...

Have often said it is the perfect branch terminus and, especially in 7mm scale is so doable because locos and coaches are all there in the Alphagraphix catalogue. Having visited last summer, am ever more convinced somebody needs to have a go and am sure it is right up your street Andy - whatever the scale.

Certainly did, Eoin, though will be Tuesday before I can get them on the laptop. Still have my 'Castle Rackrent' article from Model Railways in the late '70s, so will add a couple of photos from that too. Made my weekend.

Arigna Town graced by model railway royalty today, when Richard Chown of Castle Rackrent fame came to chat. Brought his small tank with him, in full early SLNCR lined green. Commandeered to run the passenger train and ran beautifully for three hours. Richard's model the initial inspiration for my Irish efforts. A lovely man, it was a pleasure and privilege to meet him.

Bonkers! But splendid!

Said it before, but 'in the flesh', that way on was quite something, especially for rtr. Crisp, sharp and with fantastic detail. Well worth having.

Thanks, folks. And you are right, John - market branch and a link to broad gauge exchange sidings. Off scene sidings, as per Arigna, vastly increase the operating potential of what is a small layout. Am planning to build the Atkinson Walker tractor to work it. Had the line existed, this small shunting task might (just), have been within its pathetic capabilities!

It is the Barnes Wallis Building, Altrincham Street, Wally. Two minutes from Piccadilly station

Arigna Town off on its travels again, back up the M6, but keeping going to Manchester. Third oldest model railway club in the world, allegedly and very much the Christmas Show, being close to the city centre and and a cough & a spit from Piccadilly station. Christmas Markets too. What more could you want? Apart from the setting of Cultra maybe? First time the layout has been to the North West, so do come and say hello.

Not a bad idea! The pouch could be especially useful for catching small items of modelling before they are lost on the floor. Maybe some fine mesh at the top, so all the 'liquids' can still be drained off by the handy little tap I've just noticed. Suspect a whole body suit might be best for for though - I have a habit of wearing much of what I work on, eat, drink etc...

Fine work, as usual! Use of square section tube for tables and seats is a neat idea. Even in 7mm scale, I wonder at how much to include sometimes - especially when even the great David Jenkinson often left the insides of his coaches empty. Well worth it in this case though.

When doing a painting, you generally start with the background. A model railway is in three dimensions, so it is more a case of start from the bottom. Being an entirely urban scene, it was important to start any scenics with foundations for the ground works. This has meant the station platforms and loading dock, plus the roads and pavements. Between them, they also effectively outline where the bases for all the buildings will be. First up though was some basic track colour. I could have painted all the sleepers and rail sides by brush, but decided it would be quicker to spray the whole areas, first with primer & then with dull brown acrylic. This has the added advantage of sealing the top surface of the baseboards, useful because ballasting uses a fair bit of water. Brush painting will be used on exposed rails and sleepers after ballasting. A fair bit of mounting board has been used for the platforms, with the vertical faces covered in Wills stone sheet. The latter gives rather obvious lines where pieces join, so these have been filled with DAS clay and mortar lines scribed in. Platform edging is done with 80 thou plastic edging stones, while the eventual surfaces will be a mixture of Chinchilla Dust and paving slabs made from adhesive address labels. Readers of Gordon Gravett will know that he outlines how to do all this in his scenics books & the same goes for road surfaces & pavements. A centreline of microstrip is used to create a camber [mounting board again], while 100 thou strip is used for curbstones. More DAS clay to fill in the gaps & thought it all looks a little messy at the moment, once covered with sand/grit/talc should hopefully look the part. The eagle eyed might spot a couple of areas waiting for some acrylic sheet for puddles. Will cut one or two other sections out too. This is Ireland, after all... The turntable has also had some work. Lead sheet under the ends of the deck means it now 'sits' better, while track either side has been raised by 1mm so everything lines up. The well edges has been tidied up with coping stones, so it now looks like it belongs in the scene. Am hoping that, over Christmas, I'll be able to draw out all the buildings on 5mm mounting board enabling a general mock up of everything to be done & thereby a clear impression of what the layout will eventually look like.

Oh dear. I seem to have started dribbling again. Fab-u-lous.

Interesting, Mike. Individually, each module looks great and that cannot be easy in this tiny scale, but to my eye, the different back scenes/styles clash. Equally, within the parameters you have set, it is hard to see what else could be done, unless you separate each scene with a 'blank' section to keep each bit physically separate from its neighbour. One of the great things about our hobby is that it offers pretty much whatever each person choses, so all power to your elbow. It is splendid to see some real individuality and anything that does not just come straight out of a box is certainly worthy in my book.

For once, not tempted to ask if it is proper 5'3 (!). Though do wonder what that might be in T? Impressed by what has been done, but a little disappointed that the back scenes do not match. A modular approach clearly works well, but a shame that each back scene is so different from the next one, because it spoils the scenic flow.

Very sensible approach thus far. 'Less is more' is often the best way in layout design where avoiding the temptation to add too much track is always a good thing. Saves money too!

Check out the latest edition of Railway Modeller for an interesting article on 3D printing of GER J15 and E4 locos