Trainspotting at Quorn

 

Phew. Good job I didn't do any of that train spotting then...

Nope. Didn't see those Airfix tank wagons going through. 

Ummm. Look at those bad boys spotting trains. I'm going to tell on them!

Saturday Film Club: Model Railways Make Me Happy

Beer and S gauge

 

Supping a pint at The Model Railway Club a couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to enjoy this vintage S gauge model. 

Built to 5mm:1ft scale, the model has an interesting history. In 1947, there was disagrement within the S Scale Society as to which scale they should work to - 5mm or 3/16" to the foot. The decision was that the next person to join should decide. 

That person chose 3/16", and the model found itself too large. So, the builder took it apart, reduced every part, then put it back together again! I'm assuming that this expediency was forced because of the difficulty in obtaining materials for modelmaking. 

Now in safe hands, along with a large number of other historic models owned by the club, this loco is being rebuilt so it can run again in the future. 

A fascinating glimpse into the history of our hobby, over some nice beer.

We're off to the show in November's Garden Rail

 

We are off to the National Festival of Railway Modelling this month, with the 16mm scale, Dixon Green & Saed-y-Parc. Builders Phil Thompson, Rob Holmes and Stuart Mackay tell the story of how this portable exhibition layout 'growed'.

On the workbench this month:

• Converting a Bachmann 'Big Hauler' to battery power
• Make a display track for your models
• Build a teardrop caravan
• Service your locomotives at a convenient height

We review Maxitrak's Rheidol locomotive and Allchin traction engine, and see a well-known modeller transition from 45 to 32mm gauge modelling.

All this, plus the latest Product News for the large-scale modeller.

Cleaning away primer

 

Time to move on to the whitemetal body. The part-build is a bit odd. We have some large lumps of metal for the footplate and tank, plus the more vulnerable whistles attached on top. 

Everything is glued together with what looks like an epoxy. Very old skool, I'm going to be soldering for speed, and also the ability to tack parts together while I check the fit. Also, I like soldering whitemetal. Using an adjustable soldering iron, it's nicer than working with glue. 

However, soldering requires clean metal, and the model has been sprayed with primer. No worry, I had a new tool I thought would deal with this, the Le Crayon metal cleaning brush, from TMC. 

Originating in the metal detecting world, where it is used to clean up delicate finds, it's very fine wire wool in a wooden pencil-style holder. 

Sold for cleaning wheels, I was woried about scratching the surface of the tyres, but that would make it perfect for stripping away the primer. 

Except it isn't. That wire wool is very fine, and gentle on the surface. Forget damaging tyres, it will be ideal for that job. It just shows how first impressions can be wrong!

In the end, I scraped the worst of the primer away with a knife, and then polished the metal with the brush - a job it did superbly. The metal shines like silver, and effect I've only achieved with Brasso in the past, but this does it without leaving any residue, or any signs of a scratch. Very impressive.