Category Archives: Layout design

Minories #3 – alternative Minories…..

Posted on December 26, 2016 by snitchthebudgie

The last couple of posts on Minories have given enough ideas for any number of successful layouts.  But I’ve been playing around with the basic idea, and have a couple of ideas that could have some mileage. Firstly, Minories on … Continue reading →

Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Layout design, Out and about | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Minories #2 – Out in the suburbs

Posted on December 20, 2016 by snitchthebudgie

If you leave London, and head to the other end of the commuter lines, a Minories like design, sort of ‘mini-Minories’ is another option.  Iain Rice published this excellent design, loosely based, I think, on the outer-London terminus at Caterham. … Continue reading →

Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Layout design, Out and about | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Minories #1 – the original design

Posted on December 18, 2016 by snitchthebudgie

There are few model railway plans that can be deemed ‘classic’.  One surely must be the late Cyril Freezer’s ‘Minories’ plan.  The plan was the result a flash of inspiration whilst waiting for a train, then some doodling to try the … Continue reading →

Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Layout design, Out and about | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Shelf layout design

Posted on December 14, 2016 by snitchthebudgie

An interesting clinic presented at the NMRA MCR “Thoroughbred Limited” Convention May 13-18, 2015 by Philip Gliebe.  It’s interesting as this is an American looking largely at UK branch line layouts for inspiration.  ‘Shelf layouts’ in the USA are often … Continue reading →

Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Layout design, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

No New Ideas

Posted on December 10, 2016 by snitchthebudgie

Mike Cougill continues to post challenging – and dare I say it philosophical – articles on his OST blog.  It is not that common to read contributions from authors who can build models, but also to think and write.  Here … Continue reading →

Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration, Layout design | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Layout design – redux – different voices – simple layout, complex operation

Posted on November 22, 2016 by snitchthebudgie

The third post, a long way behind the traction ones, is about small, switching layouts. Another interesting voice in the layout design world is Lance Mindheim, who most originally posts at http://www.lancemindheim.com/. He has built a number of very interesting … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiration, Jon's layout ramblings, Layout design | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Off my trolley – redux – interurban branchlines – 1

Posted on November 20, 2016 by snitchthebudgie

This post has always been popular, too…. A good, if rather conventional, place to start with interurban layouts, is the conventional branch line.  Some electric railroads were no more than a branch line in total.  Others, like the Pacific Electric, … Continue reading →

Posted in Layout design, Traction | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Off my trolley – redux – streetcars and trolley layouts

Posted on November 18, 2016 by snitchthebudgie

As I’m in Stuttgart this week, I thought I’d repost the three most popular posts since I started blogging three or more years ago.  I’ve updated them a little, too.  One difference I note from starting blogging – I cut … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiration, Jon's layout ramblings, Layout design, Traction | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Tolworth 2016

Posted on November 14, 2016 by snitchthebudgie

A year has slipped past, and once again I scrounged a lift off Derek Atfield to pay a visit to the Tolworth Showtrain exhibition.  And once again I nearly didn’t go – it was a foul wet morning – and … Continue reading →

Posted in Exhibitions, Inspiration, Layout design, Out and about | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Jon’s modules – a new module – the Club House

Posted on November 12, 2016 by snitchthebudgie

You will recall a while back, I posted Allan’s holiday snap of an interesting building in Switzerland made out of old containers….. And how I had bought a bag of cheap containers at TINGS….. Well, I found the site of … Continue reading →

Posted in Jon's layout ramblings, Layout design, N Club International | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment