alan long

Back scene and coaling stage.

So I thought this blog could be a pictorial one showing the progress of the latest Shirebrook Yard. As you can see the upper level coaling stage I think has gone pretty well. So there you are, really pleased with this one. Next up will be a goods yard microlayout.

Scratch build coaling stage and tunnel mouth. Does it fit?

Although this is a scratch built project I want to try and keep it in the same style as the Metcalfe kits I normally use. I used foam board to build the structure and left over brick card from previously built kits. As you can see it’s a pretty simple design that will probably makeContinue reading “Scratch build coaling stage and tunnel mouth. Does it fit?”

Shirebrook Station nearing completion, Shirebrook Yard sold!

A few weeks ago I started this blog to help grow my business and encourage others to come be part of the great hobby that is model railways. Must admit wasn’t sure if anybody would be interested in either the blog or the layouts. Well nearly 700 views on the blog and this week SHIREBROOKContinue reading “Shirebrook Station nearing completion, Shirebrook Yard sold!”

SHIREBROOKE Station update, first look at COALING Station and ideas for an N gauge shelf layout.

Having completed SHIREBROOKE YARD work is now well underway on the next instalment SHIREBROOK STATION. Because these layouts are a range that will ultimately be available to purchase the baseboard is the same size and the design is a simple country station with an engine shed and small goods dock as part of the stationContinue reading “SHIREBROOKE Station update, first look at COALING Station and ideas for an N gauge shelf layout.”

A LOOK AT MY FINISHED (WELL MAYBE) LAYOUT HORBY.

Is a model railway ever really finished? Probably not, you will always look at it whilst running trains and see something you could tweak here and there but I have to say my layout in the workshop is for all intence and purpose finished! As you know space is an issue so it’s a countryContinue reading “A LOOK AT MY FINISHED (WELL MAYBE) LAYOUT HORBY.”

On to project number two, Shirebrook Station, dioramas and Horby Station completed.

So having completed SHIREBROOKE YARD like all good modellers it’s streight on to the next project. I guess it’s a fairly short leap from a engine yard to a station, after all every train needs somewhere to stop! Offcourse being a micro layout space is the issue so with that in mind it only tookContinue reading “On to project number two, Shirebrook Station, dioramas and Horby Station completed.”

NOBODYS PERFECT, OR AS I CALL IT TEETHING PROBLEMS.

So what have I learnt from SHIREBROOKE YARD? Like most things hindsight is a wonderful thing so if I could turn the clock back what would I do different? Firstly leave a larger gap between the layout and fiddle yard so that trains don’t de rail by catching the back board. Talking of the fiddleContinue reading “NOBODYS PERFECT, OR AS I CALL IT TEETHING PROBLEMS.”

FINISHING UP, BAKED BEANS AND THE MOMENT OF TRUTH, WILL TRAINS RUN?

So we’re steaming (get it!) towards the completion of SHIREBROOKE YARD. Now we’re adding the final details and in many ways this is the most important part of the construction of your layout. In the end you are trying to recreate the real thing weather its based on a real place or not. So manyContinue reading “FINISHING UP, BAKED BEANS AND THE MOMENT OF TRUTH, WILL TRAINS RUN?”

Grass, static or not? The devil is in the detail.

So just to remind you where we left SHIREBROOKE YARD, track down, retaining walls up, cuttings built, painted and ready for flocking. To the uninitiated Flock is coloured ground cover that you can buy from most model shops. To apply it you just put down a layer of PVA glue and sprinkle it on usingContinue reading “Grass, static or not? The devil is in the detail.”

METCALFE CARD KITS, THE BIG BUILD.

When planning my micro layout Shirebrook Yard quite early on I decided to go with Mectalfe card kits for my buildings, why I hear you ask? Well to be honest I was going down the scratch built route and although cheaper, scratch built is more time consuming and indeed my micro layouts are designed inContinue reading “METCALFE CARD KITS, THE BIG BUILD.”