Sometimes we make very small, simple models.

Here's one...

The rural, verdant country terminus of Withy Bottom.

Andy McMillan
makes wonderful
model railways!

This is "Withy Bottom", a very simple GWR branch terminus. 

Of course, being designed by Andy, this is not quite as simple as it looks...

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indentAs you can see, there is not much to this model; just three turnouts, 5 yards of track, a station building, a pair of cottages, an old stable, a couple of sheds, some platform furniture and a bit of greenery.  Of course, as the saying goes, "it's not what you've got; it's what you do with it that counts"...
indentA 45xx and a pair of Hornby Clerestories represents a "through train" from a local town.

Andy McMillan
makes wonderful
model railways!

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indentA Hornby station building, slightly "tweaked" by  replacing the stepped gables with proper "West Country" stone capping, a couple of corrugated hut kits, some station furniture and a suitably verdant setting are all that is required to give that indefinable quality "atmosphere".  As long as you have that even the simplest layout becomes a haven where you can pass away a few happy hours...

indentFor do not be fooled into thinking something so simple can't be enjoyable for that is far from the case!  True, trundling back and forth with a couple of coaches could get a little tiresome but that's not what this layout is about.  But before we get onto what makes this little gem "a bit special", let's  see the rest of the model...
indentHaving unloaded and "set back" (a cunning device to require extra shunting manouvres from a simple layout) the 45xx begins to run round its train.  Note the church painted on the backscene; all you need to express the local village...

Andy McMillan
makes wonderful
model railways!

indentFrom the trackside a good backscene really comes into its own.  There's no doubting a high backscene does wonders to remove the distractions of wallpaper, curtains  etcetera so that nothing intrudes to distract the eye from the model. 4

indentBelow, a plan so you can get your bearings, followed by a full page photo... 6

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The deceptively simple track plan of Withy Bottom.

Andy McMillan
makes wonderful
model railways!

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indentAlmost the whole layout.  Despite only being 15" wide, see how the model "flows" along in an undulating line.

Andy McMillan
makes
wonderful
model
railways!

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3indentThe Station Approach lies alongside the single siding with its coal stacks and coalman's hut.  The stream sits behind a steep bank; a device to hide the control panel!

indent6 Below a goods train...
Find out about shunting Withy Bottom... ... as soon as I have time to add it!

The end of our quick tour of "Withy Bottom".  I hope to add more later when I have the time...

Andy McMillan
makes wonderful
model railways!