The layout fits onto the bookcase, which replaced the fire on the chimney breast, about 3'x1'. I don't like round layouts or Pizza ones as the Micro Layout Site calls them, in which you see the complete track plan. So I wanted some view blockers, a hillside with tunnel and a large building; a toy factory seemed the best for a Christmas layout.
I then went into collecting suitable small buildings; many were built up cheap second hand European ones, or some from a cheap toy play set. Some were from kits: the station was a Pola N gauge built up one which I heightened the wall and added HO doors, the pub was a Dapol Inn kit which was shortened and narrowed, cutting off one gable end and the full width became the overhang above the door. Well spotted Giles when it appeared on Carl's website. The main kit bash was the toy factory. This had been a Pola factory conversion, but felt I could use somewhere else. So for the final one I started with a hamster house (Wilkinsons), heightening the walls with Wills featherboard sheets. Then some roofs from Airfix Waterloo Farm house with wooden siding, and also some walls around the loading dock. The large holes in the were hidden with walls, windows and doors. I also used a small European station as an over track bridge.
I found a cheap 12v car set of Christmas lights which went into one of the buildings. The trees are 3 different types, 2 cheap plastic styles plus some wire brush ones. The whole scene was given the winter treatment with thick emulsion paint used and dribbled on roofs etc, with Woodland Scenic's snow powder added when still wet. The people are a mixture of Model Power winter and steam era sets with some Airfix Wagon Train ones. I have rebuilt some freight stock and loco into a French looking narrow gauge look. The 2nd set is due to be made into a passenger set. As a cheap a different project it was fun to do.
The above layout may be seen on Carl Arendt's
Micro Layout web site:
http://carendt.us/scrapbook/page43/index.html