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(10 February 2025) Finished a bunch of buildings for the village board of my 009 layout. Buildings are mostly from Petite Properties, except the barn (scratch) and the row of cottages (kit-bashed from PP kits). Roofs and most of the windows from York Modelmaking. Interior furniture from Severn Models, plus some scratchbuilt.

(5 January 2025) I recejved several great suggestions for modelling a thatched roof. I bought a copy of “Cottage Modelling for Pendon” and a pack of plumber’s hemp, but when I studied the method I realised it would be quicker to thatch a real cottage than to attempt this. So I used DAS clay instead. The Seven Stars in Tamerton Foliot is the oldest pub in Plymouth (parts 13th Century). It was never half-timbered to my knowledge (a bit of modeller’s license: it’s a nice kit fr

(22 December 2024) Track ballasted and weathered on the village board. I added pulleys for the signal wires using N gauge handwheels. Each pulley is two handwheels back-to-back to give a rim into which the signal wire (EZ line) can bite. Wires to be added later so they don't get damaged during scenic work.

(12 December 2024) Village halt in place and lit. Also the dockside masonry ( using DAS clay ).

(2 December 2024) Cosmetic!

(23 November 2024) Proof of principle before fixing the magnets: Greenwich couplings & uncoupling magnets. They worked!

(21 November 2024) All wired up (and no place to go).

(18 November 2024) Both boards built (6 mm ply throughout), and now finished tracklaying on the village board.

(17 November 2024) Assorted train and station crew (including cats). Modelu figures.

(7 November 2024) I may still be building the layout, but at least I have some wagons ready to run on it! 009 Society kits (awaiting couplings). I was pleased at how well these kits went together: a pleasant change after years of building N Gauge ones.

(6 November 2024) Time to stop planning and start building my first 009 layout. Inspired by the village of Tamerton Foliot where I grew up on the outskirts of Plymouth. The LSWR main Plymouth-Waterloo line passed nearby and a station was built 2 miles from the village. In my re-imagining, the distance was too great for the gentry and a light railway was built for their convenience. The railway also carries agricultural produce for London: strawberries and rabbits. The model h