Mac c thanks for the advice and video will definitely have a watch thank you

Will - I did watch that video yesterday your friend Matt did - he did a fantastic job building that small diorama - very impressive in how quickly he made it all look realistic

njee - yes that is partly true in my case what you are saying though I am very grateful for everyone advice and suggestions and I can be open minded - but at the same time my interest is based on 

south west trains, gwr modern - since it rebranded to gwr green it's current livery, cross country, freightliner then some early 1990s stuff hst intercity regional railways etc

I have done tons of research over the years and still doing lots on track, scenery, baseboards, electrics, DC or dcc, I have decided on going dcc and I was going to use a door for the baseboard as a door is about the maximum free space I have available

But before I start work on the door, I will attempt at having a go at building a small shelf layout like will suggested

Also njee I would really like a class 444 model but I could never in my lifetime build/paint it - and let's say I did give it a go, I would make a pigs ear of it and it would look horrendous because I wouldn't know where to start I know nothing about painting models and would probably use poster paint or something lol I'm absolutely useless at everything

You'll soon see, as when I attempt to make small layout & eventually the door layout I can make a new thread on this forum with the progress

I think it can be difficult because we all want different things. The OP wants a 444, so building steam era vans and tiny dioramas may not be a productive use of time/funds/skill, even if there's transferability. I'm much the same. I could've completed myriad bucolic branch line termini, but it isn't what appeals to me, I've no interest in the finished article, hence there's no motivation to do it. I'm happy cutting my teeth on bigger projects. They may go wrong. They may never get finished, but I'm motivated by the end result.

I think sometimes we're too quick to say one should start small, to build up, but in the OP's situation I'd just buy the 444 and have a go. Worst case it languishes in the 'roundtuit' pile for years unfinished.

I realise the OP has said he doesn't want to do that either, but just providing a bit of a counter to the "start small" mentality; it's ok to start big as well, it's all fun!

I class myself as a very basic modeller and having been a member of the N gauge society took advantage of the kits they offer.  I chose a box van as my first model.  It's as simple as it gets, 4 sides a top and a base.  I even documented the build on my Youtube channel


The first didn't quite come out perfect, I could have lined up the mitred edges a little better, but the end result met with my approval as as I'm the only one who will see it running there is no pressure.  The video isn't the best (lighting issues and framing - but then that was also a new hobby    )

I'm sure if you follow the instructions in the kit and watch the video you too cold have some kits built.   

Quote from: kusojiji on January 03, 2026, 10:51:02 AM

Quote from: Newportnobby on December 30, 2025, 12:59:24 PMNot one for the purists but I'm sure @Trainfish will think it's fun (which it's meant to be) whereas @Tank will be throwing a fit

That was funny!

The Outfield

https://youtu.be/4N1iwQxiHrs

The Outfield are new to me.
I've now listened to a few tracks and quite like the music but boy is that voice annoying.

MIL is staying with us for another week .
SO you can all guess what I am listening too ,ear buds in to avoid  listening to the crap on the tele .
And I cant hear our little dog yapping to go out .
Bob

Quote from: Newportnobby on December 30, 2025, 12:59:24 PMNot one for the purists but I'm sure @Trainfish will think it's fun (which it's meant to be) whereas @Tank will be throwing a fit

That was funny!

The Outfield

https://youtu.be/4N1iwQxiHrs

Thanks will for the suggestion, it's good advice and I will take a look at the video provided

And yes I can definitely relate to that in getting caught up in the one day land I might build a layout etc

Also I find I can never settle on something - I start to over think everything... Plans always changing - can decide on an era etc...

I'll definitely give it lots of thought what you have suggested - I already have a couple of the ngs shunters in my collection excellent models - plus like the idea of doing a small freightliner termail or something along those lines

If I might make a suggestion, I think what might do you a power of good is to finish something. How about a very small micro layouts like an inglenook shunting layout? Keep it small, only needs two points, buy a shunter like the NGS Hunslet and a few NGS wagon kits to build to shunt around on it. You could do some really basic scenery like a ratio oil depot and some piles of ballast or something. It will give you a useful but bite size experience of many aspects of building a larger layout without overwhelming you. I feel like far to many people get stuck in "one day" land in this hobby because small achievable projects aren't really the prevailing style in the mags etc. But it's one of the best ways to just relax, learn a bit, have fun and end up with something you can be proud of.

My mate Matt did something just like this and covered it in one of his videos. Take a look and see if something like that inspires you!

https://youtu.be/hZfErFC-CrI?si=Hycvx0tm-CsKwh_U

Thanks njee & ensign elliot

After considering what you both have said and what others have said I'm going to abandon the idea for now but I am grateful to all who have offered advice here

I guess I should just focus with getting on with a layout plan/idea

The only thing I have decided to do is go with dcc just not sure weather to go Kato or peco for track - will have to research this further

Thank you to those who recommended me to assist with this project.

It looks a nice kit, with lovely underframe detail and bogies. In theory, if a suitable donor chassis can be identified, I'd be up for helping with the respray and lighting. I think the glazing is probably beyond me.

I think one of the issues of getting this, or a class 350 into white SWT livery is the lack of available decals. The SWT livery is pretty complex, with multiple curves, lines and spots, in multiple colours. Without some decals such as the blue 1st class spots and maybe the red and orange end curves, I'm not sure it would be possible to do to a professional standard, at least by me. I can't see that either Fox, Railtec or CCT do any 2mm SWT decals.

Rob