Commission: Lametton Halt in OO…

It was the start of the year that a scheme based upon the Looe branch was tentatively sketched out with my customer, and having studied an OS map of the area I suggested ‘Lametton’, this is the result…

This cameo layout is 120 x 30 x 30cm, with approximately 90cm fiddle sticks. Presenting a piece of Cornwall in this self contained ‘stage set’ provides a focused slice of the Looe branch. It is important to maintain a balance of track to open space that feels right vs the prototype - as well as considering the layout in thirds. In this instance it becomes yard / kiln / halt. The scene is inspired by St Keyne halt, which lends us the road over bridge and canal - the second exit by the yard is ‘Landlooe’ bridged a little up the line. Just by the station at St Keyne were some old lime kilns, presumably served by the canal. The halt takes a smattering of Causeland too, with the bridge and path over the canal - which I felt would give the front of the layout a nice balance and has turned out to be a master stroke in composition.

This footpath literally leads us into the layout, the metal spear point fencing punctuating that, as we imagine standing by that fence watching a train up close, like every train we ever watched through a fence as a child. Connections.

That same spearpoint fencing has a pair of bent uprights, giving just enough room to squeeze through for a walk along the railway, a shortcut to Landlooe bridge… the cinder path weaves through the scrub at the front of the layout.

The back of the layout is thickly wooded, mostly Woodland Scenics forest canopy - with a few extra from sea moss thrown in for height. The layout also features a pair of handmade trees - my twisted wire armatures with polyfibre and Woodland Scenics Turf. These give more volume and presence but of course are still somewhat smaller than reality. Placed to form punctuation marks too, between those scenes… road bridges are Slaters styrene and scratch built detail on a foam core structure whilst the platform and building are scratch built in styrene with Ratio concrete posts and fine wire. It is completed with Modelu lamps and custom running in board. The setting feels as per the brief, a moment of sunshine between showers on a typical British summer day - helped by the sky, a rather lovely print from ID backscenes.

This little piece of Cornwall has been wonderful to co-create and I hope the layout I have built has just enough ‘space’ for my customer to add a touch or two of his own, for whilst this is not quite a blank canvas - as this is clearly a GWR branchline, it certainly has scope for a few more details on the platform and in the yard.

If you would like to work with me to create your own dream layout I can help design a layout of any scale and prototype, in any space and of any style! Not just cameo! The layout design process starts at £210 - and there is a small discount on any full layout build that follows. Get in touch using the contact form or Facebook (where you can find an email too) to discuss your requirements or memories and we can begin to discover your story. Until next time, more soon…

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