The year is 1963 somewhere in Victoria, Australia

Ed said

Claus Ellef said

peterm said

Great photo's, Claus.

From “Post #292,775”, 8th November 2025, 9:57 am

…but not so great the long tram can't pass the awning 😒

From “Post #292,776”, 8th November 2025, 11:03 am

Can't be much in it Claus, a mm or so

From “Post #292,785”, 10th November 2025, 5:57 pm

Cutting off a few mm solved the problem

Excellent !  Looking really good Claus - put another building in the gap and it could be a real city scene.  

Petermac said

Excellent !  Looking really good Claus - put another building in the gap and it could be a real city scene.  

From “Post #292,823”, 23rd November 2025, 2:36 am

Thank you for your kind words. The gap between the Daylesford Building and Foys is Bridge Road. In fact, the scene in the previous post can only be captured if seen from behind the backboard to the right of this photo.

Bridge Road Mock-up


Not much vacant land is left in Wombat Creek. Bridge Road is the exception. Recently my wife and I went to Bridge Road, Melbourne, to photograph a few shop fronts. The 'mock-up' buildings are not next to each other in real life. Also, they do not have a green tint (the printer needs a new cartridge). Next step is construction!

"………………………………. Recently my wife and I went to Bridge Road, Melbourne, to photograph a few shop fronts……………………………….."

And why else would one go to Melbourne - didn't you let her buy some shoes or a new dress Claus ?

Petermac said

"………………………………. Recently my wife and I went to Bridge Road, Melbourne, to photograph a few shop fronts……………………………….."

And why else would one go to Melbourne - didn't you let her buy some shoes or a new dress Claus ?

From “Post #292,874”, 7th December 2025, 11:09 pm

No time for shoes or dresses. We were on our way to meet Alan Davies!

Is he a railway modeller or some other, less interesting, occupation…………………..?

Petermac said

Is he a railway modeller or some other, less interesting, occupation…………………..?

From “Post #292,891”, 15th December 2025, 12:08 am

Alan Davies is a well-known British stand-up comedian. He has been an important participant in the TV show 'QI'.

and starred in BBC's Johnathan Creek

Sorry - I was being facetious.  I do know who Alan Davies is.  I often watch him on BBC's QI plus, I did enjoy his portrayal of Jonathan Creek.

Petermac said

Sorry - I was being facetious.  I do know who Alan Davies is.  I often watch him on BBC's QI plus, I did enjoy his portrayal of Jonathan Creek.

From “Post #292,909”, 15th December 2025, 10:17 pm

Hi Peter,
You got me!  

Happy New Year


With the work desk almost cleared, the construction of the Bridge Road buildings can commence.



Happy New Year and the best wishes for 2026!

Happy New Year  Claus, looking forward to more from Wombat Creek in 2026.

Ed said

Happy New Year  Claus, looking forward to more from Wombat Creek in 2026.

From “Post #292,977”, 27th December 2025, 8:03 pm

Thank you, Ed.

Happy New Year to you too Claus (and Ed).  

Those look like 3DK downloads or very similar Claus.  Do you use them as patterns or do you actually use them on the layout ?

Petermac said

Happy New Year to you too Claus (and Ed).  

Those look like 3DK downloads or very similar Claus.  Do you use them as patterns or do you actually use them on the layout ?

From “Post #292,986”, 29th December 2025, 12:37 am

Toole's building


The first of four buildings for Bridge Road is under its way. As templates for measurements I use printouts of the actual buildings scaled down to the right size.

Are the prints from your own photographs of the buildings Claus ?

Ready for painting


I have finished the front of The Toole's Buildings (yes, plural even it is just one building) with some detailing. Once in place, the building will be viewed from a distance of at least 1 m, so I haven't gone into the the fine details. The model is based on a photo I took sort of front on. Until you start the construction you don't know the details of the facade. They may not be determined from your photos. Instead of going back to do more photos, I have used Google Street View. The position of the pediment is quite interesting. Instead of being centred, it is 'pushed' to a position above the right column. The right section of the front is also wider than the left and middle section.


I haven't decided how the painting should go. Do I do a 'nice' job on the full front, or do I leave the right back with peeling paint. I don't know how the building looked like in 1963. Comments on the matter are very welcome!

The shop to the left will be a supermarket and the one to the right a ladies' hair salon. I tried to find some appropriate images of the interiors on the net without success. Instead I tried my hand on AI. Here are prompts and the results.


A 1963 vintage women’s hair salon interior with customers, mid-century décor, linoleum floor, retro salon chairs and hooded dryers, bouffant and beehive hairstyles on female clients, hairdressers in classic mid-60s uniforms cutting and styling hair, women wearing dresses and skirts typical of early 60s fashion, magazines on side tables, warm natural light through windows, nostalgic 1960s atmosphere seen front on no windows at the back (I forgot to prompt 'no windows')




1963 Australian supermarket 4 aisles cash register to the left customer at the cash register employee at the register fluorescent lighting front on view a few consumers along the aisles cigarettes tinned goods soft drink juice deli fruit

Wow, AI in modelling action! Interesting. But it works! 
I also love using street view, though I’ve done more exploring along old rail lines that have been turned into roads or paths. 

Excellent use of AI Claus.  Now tell us how you did it please ………………….