Midlands Garden Rail Show 2026

 

Time was against me this year. My two days of wandering were trimmed to one due to other commitments. Not to worry, I cracked on, and talked to all the trade, as well as enjoying a little of the layout. 

According to the people I chatted to, Saturday was busier than it has been for years. Sunday seemed to be about normal to me, so I'd say this is very good news for the hobby. Busy shows hopefully mean the trade take some cash, and there are loads of people enjoying themselves. 

Over the years, the members of the 16mm modular group have been upping their game, with some stunning models, full of detail, and worthy of being layouts on their own. 

Another star was Brunel Models Gauge 3 of Ross-on-Wye station. Part of a much larger layout, one I'd love to see!

Among the layouts, Loft City Central has been expanded considerably, but now takes half a day to set up!

Little Phil had to make do with a sausage roll, as the Saturday crowds had depleted the stocks of cake. 

I've been experimenting with shooting video on my phone, so see if it's good enough for social media. The results don't look too bad to me, what do you think?  

Saturday Film Club: Extinct Miniature Railways & Forgotten Furniculars! Exploring Margates Lost Railways

It seems Margate isn't all about Hornby, there were several small railways too!

After watching this, I dug a little for the funicular and found this bit of film. 

Anyone up for building a model of it?

That's the Tri-ang tree!

 

Out for an early morning stroll, I spotted an unusual tree. At least, to most people it will look unusual, but as a seasoned modelmaker, I recognised it immediately - it's the one in the Tri-ang Modeland hardware store!

 I don't think it's made of rubbery plastic though...

The Paint Rack, Coventry

 

Finding myself with a load of spare time last Saturday, after an event in Coventry, I idly asked Google maps about local model shops. I expected nothing, but to my surprise, there was one 40 minutes' stroll away. It was a nice day, so of I went. 

The route took me along Gosford Street, one of the few areas of the city left reasonably unscathed by both wartime bombs, and post-war town planners. There are some interesting buildings that give a hint as to how the city might have looked. 

Towards the end is Fargo Village, an area of "fiercely independent" shops. Plenty of trendy clothes, skateboards and comic books, but also The Paint Rack. 

While the shop is modest, it's well stocked, obviously by a keen modeller who recognises the tools and materials other keen modellers will require. There are at least eight different paint ranges, including Humbrol, from where I picked up a couple of pots of 173 (Track colour), normally unavailable. 

Plastic kits are the thing, and what an eclectic selection. I spotted the Santa Tank I've already built and the Future Boy Conran Robonoid awaiting my attention. You don't see those in most shops! And yes, there was much more temptation, especially a working kayaker - but I reminded myself I really don't need any more projects for a few weeks. 

Materials-wise, plenty of Mr Hobby and other specialist potions. 

There's also Airfix beginners set, QuickBuild and knock-off Lego. Something for all abilities!

Chatting to the owner, he knows his stuff, and this is a bit of a passion project. I think the location is perfect, a stroll from the city centre, and hopefully cheap enough to make the shop viable. 

You can find out more on The Paint Rack Facebook page.  

Making G scale spectacles

 

OK. I think I have a solution to making glasses for G and 16mm scale figures. What you see is a first test, but it shows enough progress for me to be confident.  

Looking at real specs, the frame around the rim is (for the sort of glasses my Dad and I would wear, neither of us is Sue Pollard) incredibly thin - a little over 1mm from the front. I can't make that from wire. 

And before you ask, I can't find etched specs in this scale. 1:12 for dollhouse figures, yes, but I'm not that impressed with these either. 

Anyway, what you see is the lenses. So, using a leather punch, I made lots of clear disks. The ones in the photo on the G scale figure are 2mm in diameter. Then I cut the very tops off to produce a straight edge. This is superglued to a 0.45mm piece of wire which makes the top and arms of the glasses. 

The result isn't bad. I could move the lenses in a little towards the nose, but that will be easier when the wire is more firmly held in place. I taped it to his head for the purposes of the experiment. I'm thinking some little holes above each ear, and bending the wire to go into these, will be better long term. 

I'm also pondering paint. I could try to colour the edge of the lenses, but have a feeling this would get messy. Still a little more experimenting to do, but I'm on the right track.