Getting the balance correct and avoiding mistakes.

harper · May 18, 2025, 02:51:19 PM

How can you get the track, scenery, town and usability correct when quashing as much as possible in a model railway layout?
It may sound easy but I have seen exhibition layouts that don't achieve it, ok some are themed or have a bias but most try for a balance.

Something that I see or hear people mentioned is that most layouts don't have enough figures(people)on them. Numerous passenger trains come and go, as does good trains. Where are the passengers going/coming from, likewise where do the goods come from and go to?
Or should ones imagination fill in the gaps?

Another mistake I see are scenic items, do they come from the period being modelled?
I know a Ford Capri is just a car but where they around in 1950 (Consul Capri 1961), likewise a tractor is just a tractor isn't it?

port perran · May 18, 2025, 03:45:02 PM

I guess that it is all up to personal taste in the end but to be more specific.
A main line station will require passengers of course and a fair few to make it look busy (though it's easy to overdo it).
A country or branch-line station will need only a very few passengers and a couple of station staff.

As for where trains come from/go to then that is down to imagination unless you have lots of room.
My layout is of the sea wall at Teignmouth so one end curves into Teignmouth station then onto the fiddle yard so that I imagine trains carrying on towards Newton Abbot and beyond whilst the other end disappears into Parsons Tunnel with trains going to Exeter and onwards.

I agree that road vehicles should largely match your chosen period as should locomotives and stock.
However many people like to use Rule 1 (run what you like) so it is up to the individual.

As for scenery, generally don't overcrowd things unless you are modelling a very busy urban scene.
Generally countryside has few buildings so don't overdo it.
A golden rule is to make it look like the countryside was there first.
The railways were built through it not the other way round.

Just my quick thoughts
Cheers
Martin

PLD · May 18, 2025, 07:48:45 PM

Quote from: harper on May 18, 2025, 02:51:19 PMHow can you get the track, scenery, town and usability correct when squashing as much as possible in a model railway layout?

The answer to that part is simply DON'T try to squash in too much!!
As ever, the answer is in research, and even if not completely replicating an actual location, do look at the prototype for inspiration and direction. There is so much information out there in books and on the web.

Arguably, it's the difference between a "toy train set" and a "Model (of a) Railway"...

Quote from: harper on May 18, 2025, 02:51:19 PMSomething that I see or hear people mentioned is that most layouts don't have enough figures (people)on them. Numerous passenger trains come and go, as does good trains. Where are the passengers going/coming from, likewise where do the goods come from and go to?

Another mistake I see are scenic items, do they come from the period being modelled?
I know a Ford Capri is just a car but where they around in 1950 (Consul Capri 1961), likewise a tractor is just a tractor isn't it?

Completely agree with you on that though - modeller's focus typically ends at the boundary fence (some if stops with the trains)...
Again just a little research can make a big difference - just having the right livery/fleetname on the bus inevitably parked in the bridge helps afirm the location...
Apparently (contrary to what you see on layouts) not every station from the 1920 onwards was served by London Transport Routemasters...

Bealman · May 18, 2025, 09:39:25 PM

"A tractor is just a tractor, isn't it?"

Ooh, fighting words, @Trainfish

Trainfish · May 18, 2025, 10:26:35 PM

A tractor is only "just a tractor" if it's green, Fendt, John Deere. Maybe a blue Ford sometimes or even a red Massey Ferguson occasionally but in general green tractors rule:

In all seriousness it can be especially difficult on a large layout like mine to get everything exactly right to the date you are looking to replicate. I like to think a few years either way doesn't usually matter and unless everyone knows when a John Deere 6820 or a Ford 7610 was seen on a working farm and whether a Ford Capri mk1 or a Cortina mk3 was on the road at the same time then you'll get away with it.

Quote from: Bealman on May 18, 2025, 09:39:25 PM"A tractor is just a tractor, isn't it?"

Ooh, fighting words, @Trainfish

I am of course in the green corner these days although in the 1980s I was definitely in the blue corner for this fight.

OffshoreAlan · May 18, 2025, 11:46:24 PM

Surely it's down to personal choice. It's impossible to get a totally realistic layout (why aren't the people moving, why doesn't it ever rain, why are there no flying birds, and so on) so you choose your own preferred level of realism. Admittedly a horse and cart on a Motorway would be incongruous (as well as illegal

), but if you're happy with it then who cares ? To my mind this even applies to exhibition layouts - your layout, your "rules"

Bealman · May 19, 2025, 12:37:47 AM

"Less is more"

Trainfish · May 19, 2025, 12:51:55 AM

Quote from: Bealman on May 19, 2025, 12:37:47 AM"Less is more"

Not with tractors it isn't

Bealman · May 19, 2025, 01:13:40 AM

Or pubs, eh.

Trainfish · May 19, 2025, 11:03:33 AM

I only have 6 pubs, or is it 7, on my layout so far

That's a good balance for a countryside area set around 1980 which my layout is. We used to have loads in the villages and countryside back then. Sadly not so many these days.

njee20 · May 19, 2025, 01:11:09 PM

As has been said ultimatley it's personal! Also everyone has a different view of what they want to be correct. Some will want accurate rakes of wagons/coaches, some will want prototypical signalling, some will want road vehicles specific to the time, some will want all stock weathered congruently. Of course some will want all of those, but it is inevitable that some things will be 'bug bears' for individuals. I would never (unless invited) foist my views on others - everyone's priorities are different.

cornish yorkie · May 19, 2025, 06:04:52 PM

Quote from: OffshoreAlan on May 18, 2025, 11:46:24 PMSurely it's down to personal choice. It's impossible to get a totally realistic layout (why aren't the people moving, why doesn't it ever rain, why are there no flying birds, and so on) so you choose your own preferred level of realism. Admittedly a horse and cart on a Motorway would be incongruous (as well as illegal ), but if you're happy with it then who cares ? To my mind this even applies to exhibition layouts - your layout, your "rules"

WELL SAID THAT MAN

stay safe regards Derek

steve-ng · May 19, 2025, 08:30:24 PM

Quote from: Trainfish on May 18, 2025, 10:26:35 PMA tractor is only "just a tractor" if it's green, Fendt, John Deere. Maybe a blue Ford sometimes or even a red Massey Ferguson occasionally but in general green tractors rule:

Only if it's a Field Marshall.....much better to go with a decent grey Ferguson or a dark blue Fordson Major!

harper · May 19, 2025, 08:42:09 PM

Personal choice does play apart as well as the available space for the layout.

harper · May 19, 2025, 09:00:37 PM

@Trainfish

Funny you mentioned a John Deere 6820 (early to mid 2000) and a Ford 7610 (mid to late 1980s), I have farming connections and have spent numerous hours sitting quite both (numerous ones of each). The Ford 7610 is one of my favourites, very much underrated.
Not a John Deere fan, spent too much limping home, waiting for them to be fixed and I have a dislike to the powershift gearboxes. Most were fresh out of the dealerships a couple of days before. My experience with most German made /design mechanical items , are that there very much overrated!

I don't think a MK1 Capri and a MK3 Cortina would look out of place together.

I'm looking for a bus for a Welsh 1930's layout, any ideas?