Consistency Is Key

For the last couple of modelling sessions I've been working on one of the key buildings for the test track - the standard gauge steam locomotive shed.

You probably recognised it straight away as a Melcalfe kit, and it may seem strange that someone who's made something of a fetish of scratch building should be taking the easy way out.

Primarily it's because time is of the essence.

I want to get this 'test track' done before my son gets fed up of waiting or loses interest in model railways.

Also, at lot of the stock he'll be running is getting on for 40 years-old, and some of these Metcalfe kits are arguably of a higher standard of detail!

And the final reason is that I have always believed that consistency - or uniformity, if you like - is one of the most important factors in how a layout looks.

The Metcalfe range has the advantage that we can quickly (and inexpensively) populate the layout with the full range of railway structures, and create a townscape around it, and they'll blend together nicely.

So often I've seen layouts at exhibitions - mostly ones built by clubs rather than individuals - where you'll see a some stunning stock or structures placed alongside other stuff that is nowhere near the same standard, and it sticks out like a sore thumb and spoils the effect.

On the other hand you can get a layout where there's nothing particularly outstanding, but everything is of a good, consistent standard, and the whole thing looks so much better for it.

(For those wondering, the engine shed isn't finished yet, but I won't be adding the smoke stacks, because they will come perilously close to the high limit when the layout is folded away.)