LGB Porter

 

Behold, my Dad's main Christmas present from me - and LGB Porter locomotive. 

I've always tended to buy presents that I'd like to recieve for those I know appreciate my taste. In this case, I've fancied one of these attractive little locos for years, but they are rare. However, at the Lapworth show, one poppd up second-hand, and I snapped it up. 

Apart from a little dust, and not having a box, the model is perfect, and certainly runs well. It will look great on our garden railway once we have this up and running again. 

I'd say that the Porter sits somewhere between the Toy Train and full range. A bit more detail on the waggly parts, but a little too shiny and colourful for the full-fat models. 

Whatever, he loves it, and is currently measuring up for a carrying box to keep the new loco in nice condition, and that's what matters. 

Groundworks, a K6 and Metcalfe build in March's BRM

 

Covering scenic work on a magazine page is tricky. Really, you need a layout to work on, so my demos tend to be very small scale - but at the moment I AM building a layout, and it does need lumpy green stuff, so this time I take the opportunity to go to town with polystyrene, plaster bandage and lot of mess!

Any layout I build tends to have a telephone box on it, so I'm building one of those too. 

That's not the only building work in, or should I say on, the issue. We've a DVD stuck to the front cover, and this features me building the latest Metcalfe Models card kit, and trying to spread a few hints and tips along the way. 

My camera has been out, first to the beautiful St Johns in OO, also the start of the DVD. 

Then we have the very unusual O gauge - Shagbats. 

BRM magazine is available from all good newsagents, or our online store: www.world-of-railways.co.uk

Cowans Sheldon Crane

 

Spotted at the Battlefield Line - the prototype Cowans Sheldon Crane as modelled by Tri-ang and later, Hornby. 

I always thought they did a pretty good job of this. The most obvious change being substituting chains, which hang properly, for the ropes, which in miniature, don't. 

Someone did produce a detailing kits for the model, and I'm having another go at getting my hands on one. 

Best of all, guess what I found on a society stand in the good shed? 

I know I have one in the stash already, but this is in excellent condition, boxed (complete with inner cardboard), and at £7, was cheap! It also seemed like fate was telling me to spend some cash. And who am I to refuse fate?

Ramsey bus station kit

 

I've long wanted to build a model of Ramsey bus station. It's a modest size, but has all the features you'd expect. The frontage is detailed, but with nothing that layers of Plastikard can't handle - no fancy carvings for example. 

Back in 2019, I spent time taking photos from all angles with a long-term view of building a model. I believe that the station is under threat, and has been for many years. It's not ideally situated, being inside the TT track. Having said that, it's still there!

I'm sure I paced out some measurements too, but now there is an alternaive - it turns out that Kingsway Models, make a kit!

OK, it's a bit basic, but as a guide for a more detailed model, it's fine. The version I picked up is second-hand and has several sheets already stuck to Daler board as required. 

Dimensionally, the building will be 215mm wide and 250mm deep. I've always thought it would be the perfect regional bus depot, but then digging around the Kingsway website, there are quite a lot of similar sized options out there. 

Anyway, this lucky find will be stashed into the Isle of Man folder for the time being. If I get there again this year, I might just take a few more photos to be on the safe side though.

(Nearly) finished coach

 

OK, for the moment, I'm going to call the Roundhouse coach kit finished. 

It needs people inside, but I'll pick those up at a show. It's nice to go with a shopping list as this reduces the amount of random "stuff" will buy. Because you simply must buy something at a show. 

Screwing the roof down has worked, and from normal viewing angles, isn't as horrible as you might think. Once I glue the top down, I'll give it a coat of tissue - being able to see the wood grain is far worse than four small screws. 

The "quick" project took a little longer than expected, but it was fun, and if I can pick up another couple of kits for the same price, I'll happily make a three-coach train. My little improvements made a difference to the outside, and I'll certainly do those again to add a little life to the sides. 

Right, now what next?