Hello from Bristol

[Stuart Birks]

Having tried other forums I had given up until a friend of mine recommended i try this one. I have been lurking for a while and everything looks good so I think it is time for me to start a few posts.
My layout is nearly complete and is a typical GWR branch terminus. My main interest is in making things so all the buildings are scratch built, all rolling stock is kit built and all locos are modified or tweaked RTR.
Here are a couple of general shots of the layout. It is in the loft and so has the usual obstructions in the way but the first photo is the scenic section on the approach to tha station.


This is a general view of the station.



Some of my construction methods are not the conventional way of doing things so I will do a series of posts to show how I have done things.
I have recognised a few names from other forums so some of you may have already seen some of this elseware.
Stuart

 

[Dog Star]

My main interest is in making things ....

Now that is why WT came into existance so you are going to fit in just fine. Nice photos to start, keep on with images of your work.

regards, Graham

 

[David Waite]

Hi Stuart
Welcome to WT
David.

 

[Herb Garden]

My main interest is in making things

You are among kindred spirits here. Welcome to the WT family!

 

[chigley]

everyone has an opinion or a idea, it all helps

 

[Stuart Birks]

Thanks for the comments.
I think a brief history of my layout will help with understanding some of my later posts.
It started as a fairly simple twin track oval for my son. I did most of the construction and it was fairly successful. There was a village made from superquick card kits covering the track at one end.
After a while we needed more rollingstock storage and I wanted a layout of my own so an extension was built through a cupboard which then split into a fiddleyard on a lower level and my bit above it shown in the top part of the diagram.


After a while my son lost interest and so the oval section was ripped up and replaced with a terminus with a scenic section along the wall side. The route through the cupboard was extended to come out in the bottom corner.


The station building was scratch built but fairly simple. The other buildings were kits.
I was now unhappy with the superquick buildings so decided to scrap that and try something a bit more ambitious. This was the start of my interest in detailed building construction. Details of the buildings in the village will be covered in a new thread.
The village was a success so the small station was ripped up and became Acorn Wood.


I will cover the construction of this in some more threads.
Stuart.

 

[Joe's Garage]

Hi Stuart, as the others say welcome and this looks very nice. The scenery looks very realistic with the "purple" flowers on the embankment. There seem to be lots of these around at the moment in Somerset but I am sure they are not rosebay willow herb. What are they?
Looking forward to more photos.
Cheers
Julian

 

[JimG]

The scenery looks very realistic with the "purple" flowers on the embankment. There seem to be lots of these around at the moment in Somerset but I am sure they are not rosebay willow herb. What are they?

Rose Mallow?

Jim.

 

[40057]

Hi Stuart, as the others say welcome and this looks very nice. The scenery looks very realistic with the "purple" flowers on the embankment. There seem to be lots of these around at the moment in Somerset but I am sure they are not rosebay willow herb. What are they?
Looking forward to more photos.
Cheers
Julian

Many British plant species have purple flowers as bees — as important pollinators here — see purple well. (Bees have different primary colours to humans and can see ultra-violet but not red. In places where birds are major pollinators, red flowers are common as birds see red well).

A purple flower in grassy places at this time of year might well be a species of geranium.

 

[Stuart Birks]

Hi Stuart, as the others say welcome and this looks very nice. The scenery looks very realistic with the "purple" flowers on the embankment. There seem to be lots of these around at the moment in Somerset but I am sure they are not rosebay willow herb. What are they?
Looking forward to more photos.
Cheers
Julian

Thanks for the kind comments. Sorry, I'm no gardener. Its WW Scenics purple flower flock. It just looks pretty.
Stuart

 

[Joe's Garage]

I agree it does look very pretty Stuart

Thanks for the kind comments. Sorry, I'm no gardener. Its WW Scenics purple flower flock. It just looks pretty.
Stuart

Rose bay willow herb is pinker and usually out in August I think. My Dad used to say it was fireweed as it seemed to grow after a fire on the embankment.

Cheers
Julian