Irishrailwayman

Fiddle-yard to fiddle-yard is definitely an option and is a change from the ubiquitous roundy-roundies. In DC the movement of trains can be automated including station stops/station passing loops etc (in DCC no doubt the computer buffs could set up automation). This is the approach I have taken with my N gauge DC Cynwyd (automated station stops) and most recent Llanuwchllyn (automated station passing loop). The beauty of F2F is that you don't have to bend the track at each end to get the trains back around meaning the flow into/out of the layout is more prototypical.

Will you have to do some drastic surgery to get the chassis to fit?

George, looking forward to this layout making it's exhibition debut at the Wexford Show Easter 2019! I really like the Art-Deco signal box so be sure to incorporate a few more of those era buildings. Best of luck with the build. Will you be going DCC sound?

While my trees are drying, here are a few photos of Llanuwchllyn with some detail added. I also am working on the signals at present.

They must have been hanging around too long in some sidings unsupervised alright. These are a set of rub-on transfers I got a few years ago.

Great stuff Noel. Would you consider adding grafitti to the heavily weathered bubbles?

Trees for Llanuwchllyn have been developed using the Gaugemaster Sea Foam kit - the same technique used for my Llangollen and Cynwyd layouts. The dried sea foam natural plant product comes packed in a box and pieces are selected and teased out into "tree-like" shapes. Any natural leaves present may be removed. The stems and main branches are painted in brown or grey to simulate different "tree" species. Dilute PVA glue is daubed on the stem (e.g. to simulate ivy) or on the "branches" and a variety of scatter materials can be used sprinkling them on (material that does not stick can be caught on a folded piece of paper and re-used). Noch produce "leaf-like" scatters in a variety of colours but any fine scatter material can be used. In fact, the more variety, the more a natural variation is created - just like in nature. Similarly, the sea foam being a natural product means that no two trees are alike. The fineness of the model "trees" make them particularly suited to N gauge but they should also be at home in OO. A couple of pictures to illustrate the above:

Super building - just need an Irish loco now to complete the scene! Great project.

You could always use a clear varnish to give any of the above finishes if you wish.

I used Glue and Glaze to provide a lens if I recall correctly but a slice of a clear plastic bar would do either. I tried fibre optic cables previously but the type I had were a bit inflexible - perhaps there are better types available now.

Hi Noel, The directional lighting was done DIY on all of these Silver Fox locos. The LED lighting shines through two apertures drilled in the bodywork and was wired in to the DCC soundchips fitted in each case. The Mr Soundguy sound project from A39 was used. Gerry

This is the model from Irish Freight Models to which I added a red lamp and guard. The wooden planks are vertical but I have seen photos where the wood is planked horizontally so it may have varied across the fleet. The model features NEM pockets, spoked wheels and has wire grilles on the internal doors/window apertures. A couple of pics:

A couple of shots of Ballybeg in Steam, Black n' Tan and Supertrain era liveries:

Multi-era layout perhaps?

Any O Gauge versions on the horizon?

Generally good reaction from RMWebbers: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/130571-accurascale-announce-4mm-scale-huo-and-buffer-detailing-kits/page-1

and the advanced engineer's models with livery variations?

Kit bashing is a useful way of turning out a bespoke version of real structures with the satisfaction of knowing the result is unique to you!

Mr Soundguy supplies a wide range of UK outline sound projects while also specialising in Irish prototypes. A recent soundchip acquired from him for the new Dapol streamlined GWR Railcar produces some impressive results. See attached video kindly prepared by Enniscorthyman:

It's all for fun!

Moving swiftly along, the buildings are now glued in place. The fencing is in development along with name-boards and many other details to be fitted later.

Could be used to mimic/outline old West Clare Railway?

An additional layer of patchy brown Earth undercoat and two tones of static grass applied on PVA using the Noch puffer bottle further adds to the scene. A little sand sprinkled on PVA gives a rough stony texture to the slopes also.

Advance notice that the 10th annual Model Railway Easter Exhibition is being held at St Joseph's Community Centre in Wexford on Easter Sunday 1st April and Bank Holiday Monday 2nd April 2018. Already 25 layouts have been booked - many new to show - as well as 11 traders and counting. The exhibition will run from noon to 6 pm on the Sunday and 11 am to 5 pm on the Monday. Looking forward to meeting you all there! More details closer to the event...

Thanks Noel. I start with a base of green then experiment with patches of the brown to give a variety of bases for scatter, weeds and static grass. This is the approach I adopted with Ballybeg, Llangollen and now Llanuwchllyn.