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(30 October 2025) This week’s project to add details to building interiors certainly taxed my eyesight. Brass etched parts from Severn Models

(26 October 2025) Some signs to make the layout look nearly finished. An excellent nameboard from JAF Graphics, an information panel (in a nice big font; it’s impossible to read the panels on many exhibition layouts as they try to say too much in a small space), and a postcard of the real Tamerton Foliot donated by my sister.

(19 October 2025) My layout sits on trestles, but for smaller one-day shows I will use tables instead to fit everything into one car. Many tables have lips, so I’ve spent the morning fitting small adjustable feet under each board. The small details matter!

(2 October 2025) Some rolling stock additions, awaiting Greenwich couplings. L to R: Peco box van. Saw this in L&SWR livery on the 009 Society sales stand at Rainhill and had to have it. I’ve picked out a few details and lightly weathered it, and replaced the wheels. Cattle van, 009 Society kit. Heavily weathered and limed. EggerBahn box van, a gift from a friend. Stripped and repainted in Tamerton Foliot Light Railway livery.

(22 September 2025)

(21 September 2025) Pleased with the way these Modelu figures came out. Painting the details is a pleasure with clean crisp prints. I thought painting ties was straightforward, so I had a go at hat bands.

(19 August 2025) Some low-relief workshops for the village. Petite Properties Limited kits, plasticard flint shells, shingles and Cornish roof tiles from York Model Rail

(17 August 2025) Work in progress: the ultra-low-relief standard gauge station above the (fictional) narrow gauge terminus. The real mainline was twin track but I’ve singled it to save space (as it’s non-functioning). The signals and platform details are all LSWR.

(14 August 2025) Finally got round to installing the lighting rig. LED strip hidden in aluminium angle painted blue, which also acts to brace the backscene.

(16 June 2025) Main buildings planted and static grass applied to the mainline-narrow gauge junction. Still to add the mainline station.

(21 May 2025) Progress on the second board, the junction with the Waterloo-Plymouth mainline (here reduced to single track branch status!). Nice little engine shed kit from JSModels.

(27 March 2025) John Hancock kindly gave me some unwanted HOe stock, amongst which were this pair of open wagons (which I reliveried for the Tamerton Foliot Light Railway) and a cute little diesel, all Egger-Bahn/Jouef. The diesel motor was rather growly, but a replacement from Tramfabriek runs much nicer. I’ve added DCC, and glazed the cab with solar control film (which hides the motor and chip). New motor Old motor

(25 March 2025) Signal box for the mainline:narrow gauge junction, in what I hope are LSWR colours. Lasercut kit from 360 Lasers; imterior mostly Springside whitemetal. Very nice kit: all ply (plus precut acrylic windows): no cheap card.

(24 March 2025) Time to start tracklaying on the second board. When I cut the wood, I made an extra set of end-boards for a possible third scenic board to go in between the end two. I am beginning to think that the layout is big enough already!

(12 March 2025) The notices supplied with these noticeboards from Scale Model Scenery looked way too modern, so I found some 1920s Devon-based artwork online. Delighted when I found the Plymouth Argyle fixture list for the 1920-21 season. I know they are so small that no-one will ever see them, but I know they’re there.

(9 March 2025) Some people say they hate ballasting, although I find it therapeutic. However, I freely admit that I dislike applying vegetation, especially static grass. So I’m pleased that my attempt here is broadly OK.

(2 March 2025) Decided the back corner needed some height to balance the other end of the board. Not another tree! So built a very low relief church.

(24 February 2025) Cosmetic, but could have been made to work. MSE kits. Nice, except no etched line to cut made removing from the fret a pain.

(18 February 2025) The trouble with putting lights in every building and lamppost is the amount of wiring underneath…..

(11 February 2025) Tamerton Foliot village starts to take shape