The Layout started about 18 years ago, before I was born. My father wanted a small 00 shunting layout to be situated above the radiator in our computer room, so he cut a piece of chipboard to size. Soon after my sister arrived, making proceedings impossible to continue. 2 years later I arrived, and two years ago I found the same piece of chipboard and immediately converted in to narrow gauge usage. I didn’t plan what I wanted to model so unfortunately it all veered towards the Ffestiniog, which I think is too common but I have to live with it, so I might as well enjoy it.
| Ballast is from the Woodland scenics range and is a mixture of red, dark maroon and black stones which blend together well. Flock is from the Anita Decor range and dark, medium and light shades are used. The main trees are pinched off another layout, and are falling to pieces so remedies are needed, and the others are sea moss covered in flock. The hedge is a strip of kitchen cleaning pads flocked and cut to size. All main features were scratchbuilt on this layout, although some kits influenced the overall image. The Station was built out of card, with Metcalfe slabs lining it and a peco building that was hanging around at the time of building was used. The ramp used 182 matchsticks that had to be individually painted – one of the most tedious things ever!!! The retaining wall also used matchsticks, but didn’t have to be painted on all six faces! The main building was scratchbuilt out of Plasticard and Wills plastic brick and tile sheets, but is similar to a Mainstreet models kit. There are inserted lights and the doors actually open and close! |  |
The bulk of the figures were from Langley, as were most of the small details, like letterboxes, chimneys etc. Some Peco figures were used as well. The fencing is SE&CR hooped fencing etched by Cove Models, and was just sprayed black. Ratio N gauge fencing was painted brown for the frontal fence and the point levers are from Detail Matters N gauge range. I find that a lot of N gauge fencing and small detail are just about the right scale for 4mm modelling, and a lot of 00 stuff is suitable for 7mm modelling.
Main Locos are: Dundas Blanche 0-4-0 on an Ibertren; Langley Prince 0-4-0 on an Ibertren; Langley Double Fairlie on a Bachmann GP40; Two Peco GVT tram "0-4-2T" locos on Grafar 0-6-0!; Paul Windle Drewery Railcar on a Bachmann GP40; Converted Dundas Eisteddfod coach – "Buccabury" Railcar on Bachmann GP40; Roxey Famagusta 2-6-2T on Grafar 2-6-2T; and "Thorne Class" 0-4-0T loco John Thorne Fleischmann 0-4-0T conversion
Back-up locomotives are: Scratchbuilt 4-6-2 based on Darjeeling and Himalayan 4-6-2 Pacific on motorless bachmann 0-6-0 and Kato Shorty; Chivers Beddgelert 0-6-4T loco; Chivers Quarry Hunslet 0-4-0 on Scratchbuilt chassis; Dundas Scorcher 0-4-2 loco on Bachmann 0-4-0; Ffestiniog based converted GEM railcar on a GP40; Peco James 0-6-0T on Grafar 0-6-0T; Peco Jeanette 0-6-0T on Grafar 0-6-0T; and Plymouth Diesel 0-4-0 playcraft chassis. NB – The only diesel on Hilvermouth and it hardly ever gets used!
This may not seem a very difficult project, but it is my first layout and I’m proud of it! Overall it has taken about 2 years in total, but there was a gap in the middle where the track was laid and operating took over! I realise that it is certainly not the best model out there but I am pleased with it as a first attempt. There are still a few details to add but they will certainly be ready in time for the 009 society AGM at Sparsholt this year, so I’ll see some of you there!