Mausstadt scenery

I've made a start on the "green" area of the Mausstadt layout. It will be mainly to add a bit of depth (or the illusion there of anyway). Already its starting to look ok though i need to add some more layers to the scenery. I'm also looking again at the station, i think the building is just a little bit too large so i need to think about something else.

Mausstadt progress

The new HOe layout is coming along well, a "stone" wall is now being erected over the foamboard backing. I'm trying to layer it with scenery to add to the illusion the layout is bigger than it really is. A platform for the station has also been built, also out of foamboard. Its been wrapped in newspaper and will be painted of course! As can be seen the back scene is now pretty well hidden though some more work needs to be done on the tunnel mouth.

Before the newspaper was added

Coach and bread

Some new arrivals at Knell Lane, a new coach so the loco hauled service can now be 3 carriages long and also a bread van. We've also got a little tractor. Not much is happening on the layout apart from some running.

New loco!

Right time for Knell Lane to return to the spotlight! A new loco has arrived and its another Class 22. The one i bought earlier in the year is the best runner on the layout so hopefully this one (which is in BR blue this time) will turn out just as good. There will probably be another new piece of powered rolling stock at Christmas, maybe a Class 121 DMU or another loco... not sure yet.

Introducing Mausstadt

The new HOe layout is to be called Mausstadt which literally means "Mouse City" in German. I thought it was apt as the layout is so tiny. There was some good progress yesterday with the ballast mat going down and the electrics were completed including the back scene line. I'm still tinkering with the track arrangement but i think i'm pretty much there.

New layout is go!

As yet unnamed but the new HOe layout is starting to take shape after today's delivery of a new controller and a pile of track. Here you can see one of the early tests with Falcon (of course!) The track hasn't been stuck down yet as the arrangement is still being worked on. So Knell Lane doesn't feel left out a new N gauge loco is also on the way...

Project #072

Project #072 the Skyhawk is nearly complete now, just the varnish to go. As an experiment in using acrylic instead of enamel paints its been interesting. I think enamel is still better though white paint enamel is about as weedy as white acrylic.