Polish 009 Narrow Gauge Cameo Layout - Introducing Mchowisko

I've built another small cameo box layout using the IKEA Mosslanda shelf. This time in 4mm/ft (1:76) scale - inspired by the 600mm narrow gauge lines serving sugar beet fields in Poland. I have never visited Poland, I don't have much reference material - this model is built with love, but not much first hand experience.
In the video I introduce the scene and discuss some of the thoughts I had on composition. Any questions or thoughts do leave them as comments - thank you for watching.
paxton-road.bl...

[@peterhutchinson5394]

Great composition James, the bicycle is just perfect. It is the sort of desolate landscape, in which a couple of standing stones or a distant barrow on the skyline would hint at earlier times and people lost from the landscape. The bleakness would be almost palpable.

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Thank you Peter, glad it struck a chord with you!

[@CNR5154]

Brilliant! Simplicty achieved. The bicycle is a wonderful touch.

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Thank you, yes, simple. Hopefully a sense of space, as well as place too…

[@larsheydecke887]

Perfekt once again very inspiering 😊👍

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Thank you, that’s very kind!

[@musoseven8218]

That is charmingly atmospheric, beautifully done. With your models its always a challenge to tell the scale etc, thats a knack well acquired by you👍😉✌️ I often add an item or two, e.g. a door left open so as imply human activity. On one of my dioramas I have the classic red and yellow (muted tones) oil drum next to some rusted drums, leaning up against such? An ex WWII gas mask bag used, upcycled (in modern parlance) as a lunch bag by the shunter, whos just nipped off for a jimmy riddle. As you're aware, landscape painters use the "warning colours" to draw the human eye, into, through, or around the painting. Those colours are hardwired into our brains, used sparingly, on a model, they have the same effect as used by landscape painters.

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Thanks - yes red and yellow details. I always try to use them sparingly yet as you say, as visual guides. This is the sort of thing discussed in both of my first books.

[@musoseven8218]

@@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways My guidance comes from my old art master and the likes of Martyn Welch. You have the deft, subtle touch required to get the desired effect 😊👍💜

[@jeffmurphree2937]

Such a simple design. Love it!

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Thank you Jeff, created because I wanted to create. No grand plans… the track especially an experiment for future, larger layouts. As a whole though, a lovely thing none the less.

[@vikingofengland]

Love this, feels other worldly which I like.

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Thanks, a place unfamiliar.

[@nick-c]

Very nice, amazing how much atmosphere you can get into such a small space! One small thing though, the bike should be leaning against the tree, not the sign - Poles wouldn't chain a bike to state property...

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Thank you - and for the fantastic reflection on character!! Perhaps it isn’t chained? 😉 for artistic reasons I might leave it on the sign, against the tree it will be visually lost.

[@jhocktro]

Perfection.

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Thanks James, turned out well I think.

[@MrJonphoto]

Looks like a railway version of Waiting for Godot 😁

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

I’m not familiar with the play, but Wikipedia has given me a rough plot! Every day is a school day!

[@bernicemeade3232]

Nice

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Thank you Bernice.

[@KellinoRail]

Love the Polish narrow gauge. You've done a great piece of work there, although I'm not so sure about the composition as I find the middle tree sits to close to the center and doesn't follow the rule of thirds. Captures everything very well though. Not sure I could think of anything to add, as these lines tend to be deep in forest or out in what we would call a fen. Who made the loco?

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

Thanks, in 55cm the whole thing is much smaller than you think. Thirds didn’t work, I did try moving it both left and right, it just felt unbalanced. Lyd2 is a Worsley Works kit I built on a custom chassis.

[@KellinoRail]

@@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways you've done a great job with it, I will look up their website. I've always fancied an Lxd2, probably a bit big for your layout! 😆

[@SoPacLvr]

What locomotive is that?

[@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways]

The model is a Worsley Works scratch aid kit if the Polish Lyd2 - which were built by Faur in Romania.

[@SoPacLvr]

@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways Thank you. I'll have to look into getting one of them