I am a designer and builder of finescale LEGO trains and associated models. I build primarily in 8-wide, that is to say, around 1:38 to 1:43 scale. I am most interested in the British train scene, particularly the crossover period from steam to diesel traction (so broadly about 1950's to 1980's). That said, if a prototype grabs my attention and seems to lend itself to being modelled in LEGO, I'll give it a go.

In this photostream you will find a combination of models designed in the digital domain (using a program called LEGO Digital Designer [now sadly unsupported]) and also ones committed to real LEGO bricks. My design process nearly always involves firstly designing the model digitally, then exporting a bill of materials in order to obtain parts from LEGO and BrickLink, followed by a build and modification stage, to reach the final model. Some models never make it to real brick.

I am neither a purist nor a seasoned 'modder'; I like to use aftermarket connecting rods, wheels, track, power and control systems, but equally I try to keep to the available palette of LEGO parts wherever possible. If I do spray-paint parts, I endeavour to limit that process to parts and colours that have been commercially manufactured at some time but are possibly no longer available. Increasingly frequently I will modify LEGO motors to improve output speed, and in the future I look forward to obtaining a 3D printer in order to make my own wheels, couplings etc.

At some point in the future I would like to build a proper full-size layout (say 5 x 8 metres / 16' x 26') but a lack of space and the prohibitive cost currently prevent that from happening! In the meantime, my son and I build occasional temporary layouts on the living-room floor; some of the images here are from those occasions.