CONCOCTINGCON CAMEOS

QIs there any chance that you could feature some cameos that would make a layout stand out and look more realistic? Lee Lannon, via Facebook

AWhat makes a good cameo depends entirely on your layout. To begin with, consider a few basic things, such as is your layout a prototype or freelance? Is it realistic or fantasy? Do you want it to be serious or funny? There really is no right or wrong when it comes to cameos, just as long as they fit with your layout; a crashed UFO might look right at home on a fantasy layout, but as you’re looking to increase the realism of your layout, this obviously won’t be for you. A common mistake is to have too many cameos on a layout. For example, a sleepy rural branch line that contains roadworks, a car crash, and a crowd of 70 people waiting for a single-car DMU won’t ever look right. You also need to make sure that the cameos on a realistic layout are period specific - we all know that the Ariel Atom didn’t exist in 1953, but you might easily assume that the Ford Escort 100E did, when in reality it wasn’t produced until 1955. Suggesting cameo ideas is always a difficult task. Without seeing the layout in question it’s not really possible - what fits on one layout might not fit another. So we put the question to the Model Rail Facebook community, and several users were kind enough to send us some photographs. Enjoy! This beautifully realised scrapyard is one big cameo. JACK BOSKETT