Cold Comfort Lane - 1/35th scale narrow gauge layout. Now wired

Another landmark - I have now wired the track and earlier today I finally got around to running a loco..... I'd like to say that it all went well but the little 0-4-0 was really very jerky and one of the wagons fouled the wire-in-tube point rod. So still lots to do but at least we now have an operational (well almost operational) layout.

The second image shows the wiring. Even though it is just a simple Inglenook Puzzle, I have electrical feeds to all of the spurs as well as the main line - you can never be too careful.

I used an old transformer and not the main unit I have planned for this layout - it worked but not perfectly.

The final image shows the three scratch built buffer stops, each one built in a slightly different design. The top one is built from layers of plastic card with wood nails down the centres for support while the two remaining buffers were scratch built from wood scavenged from an old fruit packing crate. The white areas are DAS modelling clay used to blend in the buffers and cover up the wire feeds which now exit below the board.

The weather is just too warm to be working on the layout this afternoon. So for now - that's all.

Tony

Cold Comfort Lane - 1/35th scale narrow gauge layout another update

Another weekend and more progress on my narrow gauge Inglenook Layout - Cold Comfort Lane. As you can see I have now installed all of the track - Peco 0-16.5 'Crazy Track' that has been modified to be more in scale with my 1/35th scale choice. I have removed every 4th or 5th sleeper and re-spaced the distance by increasing the space between sleepers. The turnouts are also modified Peco Set Track units with re-modelled and enlarged sleepers made from balsawood.

The galvanised iron cattle feeders or water troughs were scratch built from plastic card and house the remote wire-in-tube points operating levers. My intention is to add a larger knob on to the ends to make them easier to use, but I can confirm that they work perfectly as they are.

Not much more to add at this time but I will post more once I have any more updates.

Tony

Cold Comfort Lane - 1/35th scale narrow gauge layout update

Another update on my compact 1/35th scale narrow gauge layout - I am still to lay any track but it should be soon. Most of the work has been around the tunnel end with the simple halt now in place and the wooden bridge installed. As you can see there is still a lot of work to do.

This is the area behind the road bridge. I had intended just adding a tall tree but have spent time adding a large utility pipe and contouring the steep bank. I may still add a tree but as this part of the layout is mainly hidden, I will wait and see.

The layout is 44 inches x 23 inches.

More soon. I promise.

Tony

How To Paint With Acrylics 2.0

Earlier this week I picked up this AMMO MIG Jimenez book from a charity shop in Kidderminster. At just £2.00 it was a real bargain and a book I am enjoying reading.

How To Paint With Acrylics 2.0 AMMO Modelling Guide from 2021 - a 176 page guide that is just full of great hints and tips.

Tony

Spanish Windmill - Miniature Wargames issue 508

The latest issue of Minitaure Wargames - issue 508, August 2025 features this Iberian Windmill. The windmill has previously been featured in both Barking Irons (Alternative Armies) and my my self published book Dampfpanzerwagon Guide No.2 - More Wargame Terrain, both out-of-print.

The windmill was built from a plastic beaker purchased from ASDA which was first covered in foamboard and then 'plastered' with DAS and ready-mixed filler. The sails were built from chopsticks and coffee stirrers and the roof from card. The model is based on a MDF base with painting done with various acrylic paints and some household emulsion paint. The final act was to varnish the model and decorate the base.

Tony

Cold Comfort Lane - 1/35th scale narrow gauge layout

Its been some time since I last gave an update on this 1/35th scale narrow gauge layout and that is because I've not done anything! All that changed this afternoon. Sue and I wanted to get some items from the garage and I had to move the layout. Having got it out I thought I would try to do a little bit of work on the baseboard as I've had all the materials for ages.

Sue enjoyed the tennis and I sat outside under a couple of umbrellas to do some narrow gauge railway modelling.

The baseboard sides have now been added and blended in with a mix of DAS modelling clay and ready-mixed filler. With that done I also lined the inside of the road bridge with Tamiya brick paper after weathering the paper to be more in keeping with my initial bridge brick colour. To hide the unsightly join I modelled a pair of iron protective supports from foam and plastic card, one to each side of the tunnel entrance.

The layout does not have an official name but has been referred to as Cold Comfort Lane for some time. I'm sure the two grandsons will have something to say about that, but for now Cold Comfort Lane it is.

Hopefully I will be able to get some more work done soon and I'm looking forward to getting some track laid..

Tony

Tewkesbury Medieval Festival

Sue and I have just returned form a fantastic day out at the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival. The weather was glorious but a bit too hot for spending more than a couple of hours browsing the displays.

Tony

Aircraft images

 Mainly RAF Cosford but we also visited the Swansea Airshow earlier this week.

Tony

Miniature Wargames issue 507 - Scatter Terrain

The latest issue of Miniature Wargames (issue 507 - July 2025) features not one but two pieces of Sci-Fi inspired and scratch built terrain for the wargame table.

The first is a Hellboy fist statue modelled from a ceramic moneybox that was purchased from a local charity shop and mounted on to a foam plinth and laminate flooring base. The second is a group of three force field generators that uses scrap pieces from Christmas tree packaging and some fruit juice bottles. For more information see this link or pick up the magazine from your local W H Smiths or gaming store.

I have included these additional images to show the pieces in greater detail.

Tony