Saturday, October 31, 2015

Tyseley works open day

The weatherman said wet and horrid, but I'd been given a free ticket to Tyseley's open day and since I had a good book to read, fancied a little train ride.

Roundabouts

Arriving at the gates, the first things everyone saw were a couple of fairground rides - a traditional roundabout with horses and a rarer version with Austin J40 cars running around in a circle. I didn't know much about these, but thanks to James Finister, I can point you at this fascinating website. The cars were made by disabled Welsh miners from leftover Longbridge steel and sold as pedal cars or used for roundabouts. Sadly I was too big for a ride so pressed on inside.

Big steam engines
 
 
Tyseley is a locomotive works or as described by one of the stewards on being asked if they ran trains all week, "a locomotive factory". Basically, if you have a big engine to restore, take it to Tyseley along with a pile of money and they have the skills and facilities to make it better for you.

As such, we have a large workshop, turntable and very short running line. The open day is mostly large and impressive locos standing around in steam and occasionally shuffling about for the spin on the roundabout.

There's a bit of trade, mostly loco preservation societies selling second hand books and model railway items but it's about being in proximity to large engines. Too close a proximity if I'm honest as the open-air roundhouse (what happened to the building planned many years ago?) puts everything too close together for photography.

Puddle

I found it more interesting to take pictures of the ground for modelling reference. Yards are ballasted with incredibly fine "stuff" or laid in bricks. These don't show up well in photos but even though this is a modern site, it's the nearest I can get.

One problem with all this is that's a hard core enthusiast territory. A pannier and coal tank topped and tailed a pair of coaches for rides and a Peckett wandered around with a brake van and shunters truck, but you've really got to like big lumps of metal not moving very far.

To induce families to come along, someone had the bright idea to add music. Thus, we had a folk singer called Autumn entertaining us with a few of her own compositions played out over a PA system that started at 11 and was wound up well beyond this. Standing next to the speaker was unpleasant. No matter how good the music was, guitar and vocal folk doesn't come across well this way.

Mind you saying, "I'm in the little red train in the corner" doesn't play well to an anorak audience who'd prefer to listen to the hiss of steam.

Worse is to come. Waiting for some turntable action, one of the organisers was next to me chatting to someone from an Arts organisation. Next year, they hope to get a beatboxer, the term was explained to the organiser, who will interact with the crowd.

Apparently this will involve said artiste giving a "shout out to the man in the woolly hat." or similar. Ignoring the fact that this covers about half the audience, it's just not going to go down well with the targets of the "shout out". These aren't people who want to interact with someone wielding a microphone. Quite a few of them will be introverted enough that this is pretty much their worst nightmare. They are very happy wombling around looking at steam trains. Trying to "big them up" will see them heading for the exit.

Now you might say this is fine, more room for families, but why should they be driven away just because someone in the Arts world feels he needs to impose his version of fashion on a wildly inappropriate place? How would he like it if a group of them invaded a nightclub, took over the microphone and started to explain the finner points of Stephenson's valve gear WHETHER THEY LIKED IT OR NOT.

Even in the rain, Tyselely isn't cool. But that's what the audience likes.

Rant over, more pictures on Flickr.




Friday, October 30, 2015

Whittle's Burlingham Seagull

Burlingham Seagull

You've probably been leafleted via your favourite model magazine, by Atlas Editions. They offer stupidly cheap models with the promise that you aren't locked in to a never-ending contract for more of the same.

Curious, I sent off for the Whittle's Burlingham Seagull coach, and it looks very nice. However, rather than read about it, watch this video of me taking it out of the box. It's what the young people are all doing and I'm assure this is the first step on the road to riches. Enjoy.
 



Thursday, October 29, 2015

Prototype for everything - Insulating fishplates

 
Spotted at Tyseley works at the weekend, what appear to be insulating fishplate just like those produced in nylon by Peco.
 
Curious, I asked PW guru (well he knows more than me) Simon Paley what they were:
 
Yep, they are IRJ's, Insulated Rail Joints, those are new, but using the existing bolts, they are normal fishplates, but with a Polymer Coating, there's also a plastic plate between the two rails, much like the PECO insulated plates

On the ones in your pictures, they are on S&C so they are used in the same way we use them on a layout, there is electricity running through the rails and the IRJ creates a break between sections, although the 'Frog' is not switched.
 
So they really are insulated fishplates! I'm going to look for an uncoupling ramp now...

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Warehouse Wednesday: Yellow brick London

London warehouse

Somewhere near the Thames, in a back street, I found this sympathetically gentrified warehouse.
 
I like the wooden doors and the crane. Presumably the doors wouldn't have enjoyed windows in the past - solid wood seems more likely. The crane is probably real though, and would make a nice simple subject to scratchbuild. I've seen very similar cranes on lots of warehouses so I'd guess it an "off the peg" design.
 
The rounded corner engineering bricks around the doors are interesting too. Presumably this was to avoid wearing the yellow brick (is this very soft?) with ropes.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Textured Deck

Textured deck

Some time ago, someone reading this blog looked at the Bantam tug photos and suggested that a textured spray paint would be ideal to represent the safety coating on the prototype deck.

This sounded good to me so after a trip to Homebase, I've shot a coat of Rusto-Oleum textured finish over a heavily masked model. Colour chosen was Desert Bisque, biscuit colour, so I'll be repainting it with grey later, but the effect is very good.

I would advise practising with the paint before you try it on the model. For a start, the can seems to have about twice the pressure of a normal aerosol. Even after 5 times as much shaking as required, the paint at first seems to be very watery. Efforts to build up a dense layer result in lumps. The deck hatch was wiped clean as I managed to lose it while painting.

Left to dry overnight, the finish settles down to a lovely opaque and consistently gritty effect. I'm very pleased with it.

Of course, I now have a can of texture spray to finish up. I wonder where I can use it next?

Monday, October 26, 2015

AEC to Albion?

Lorries

Last week, James mentioned that the Coopercraft AEC kit might have been based on a 1934 Albion lorry, or at least a mashup between this and the AEC.

I recalled that inspired by a plan used to illustrate an advert in an old model railway magazine, I produced something not unlike that Albion, although I thought it was a Foden.

Anyway, the cab was cut ahead of the doors and angled inwards. The central bar was removed from the radiator, although replacement would probably have been better as it's still too wide. While I was at it, the chassis was cut down as I like the look of short wheelbase lorries.

The fuel tank should be round but I couldn't tell this from the advert and the work took place pre-Interweb so finding a photo required digging through books, where you discover that lorry buffs take the same 3/4 views as train fans and you can't see the detail anyway.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

The Festival of British Railway Modelling 2015

Ruston Quays

Busy, busy, busy. That's what this show was. So busy that I didn't even have time to eat any cake!

Ruston Quays looked pretty good with its new lighting rig and fascia. The DMU shuttle worked well apart from a minor error in my measurements for the stopping point in the station which meant it tried to pull up about 2mm into the MDF. Even using Tony Wright's Derby lightweight, a bit shorter than the Class 101 normally in use, didn't help much. At least I know why you should fit sprung buffers to a 4mm scale model now.

The hall was busy but my layout viewing time was severely limited so the photos taken were all shot just before opening time on Sunday.

Anyway, you can see the pictures here. I didn't get any cake so I'm not writing any more.

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Bookazine in the shops NOW. Go and buy it!

 
My latest bookazine, "The BRM guide to Building Your First Model Railway" is in the shops now. Stop gawping at your computer and go and buy a copy. It's only £5.99 - a bargain!
 
You can read a review here. Yes of course it's a good one, I wouldn't link to it from my blog if it wasn't, would I?

Friday, October 23, 2015

Bantam Bumpers

Bantam bumpers

One of the hardest jobs on this boat has been the brackets holding the wooden bumpers on the front.

The faces of the wood should both be facing forward but the hull at this point curves. I ended up bodging away with layers of plasticard building up the side supports until everything was in the right place.

Lashings of plastic solvent and some sanding later, they don't look too bad. The real things are pretty tatty so with a bit of weathering, hopefully I'll get away with it.

The wood will be held on with fake bolts. For the photo I used Deluxe Materials Tacky Wax which proved to be strong enough for a temporary fit.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

More plastic noodling - Bantam steering gear and hatch

After it's appearance at the Model Engineer show, and a trip to the Model Boat Show in 3 weeks time, I've got to try and finish the Bantam Tug. An evenings messing around with plastic has moved the model forward a bit.

Bantam Steering gear

The chains for the steering gear exit the side of the wheelhouse and travel in tubes to the back of the boat. Good job I checked the photos for this as I'd assumed this was a simple box. A couple of lengths of plastic rod have done the job although this did require the removal of a rivet and some of the plastic along the bottom edge.

Bantam Steering hatch

In front of the superstructure there is an oval hatch. Easily replicated with a pair of compasses cutting out some thin sheet. Add in a couple of hinges and straps from the same material. On the prototype there is a padlock but I suspect this is a "parked in London to lets keep the locals out thing.".

I wish I'd measured the hatch as I think mines on the small side. Let's hope no-one notices.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Warehouse Wednesday - Doncaster

Warehouse Wednesday has proved to be far, far, more popular than I expected. So much so that I've started receiving photos from other people to include. Here's the first from Keith Parkinson:



Please see attached photos of a warehouse I used to see regularly when going to Network Rail meetings at their Marshgate Depot in Doncaster. The building can be seen from the Friars Gate Bridge public road leading over the River Don, the warehouse backs on to Grey Friars Road.

I just think it oozes decrepit charm and abounds with modelling potential. So many materials, textures, colours etc. And right for any railway, canal etc model.



I am not sure what the ‘thing’ in the river is – looks like the bottom half of a boat(?)

Perhaps some natives from Doncaster could give further enlightenment?

The sunken "thing" is a lighter - an unpowered barge used for moving coal or spoil. The building is superb. Does anyone know any more history?

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Parked up AEC

 
While posting Ruston Quays shots, I thought I'd show the AEC lorry mentioned last week. It's finished and parked up near the baby Bantam tugboat. I need to add figures and tools and stuff for it to be the work crews transport.
 
From previous comments, I can see the issue with the windscreen horizontal bar. The cab side paneling I'm less worried about as I quite like it, so I'm assuming the owners added for decoration themselves.

Monday, October 19, 2015

Ruston Quays detailing starts

 
All being well, I'm fast asleep as this post goes live after a busy weekend at Peterborugh with Ruston Quays.
 
With the lighting rig built, all major construction is finished and I can move on to the fun stuff - adding details.
 
As you can see, a start was made before the show with some barrels and electrostatic grass behind the old carriage body. All the grass is applied using a puffer bottle rather than an electric tool - it's the best way to get fibres into corners and for the tiny area I'm working on, it takes no time.
 
Looking at the photo, I see fibres have stuck to the carriage body but a damp brush will take care of those. The barrels could do with a wash of rust colour too.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Great Electric Train Show 2015

Canal

I've just time for a quick post on this event:

Cake - Excellent. Strawberry and white chocolate. Soft, not too sweet and nicely decorated.

Layouts - Also excellent. I don't think there was a duff one there. Several I hadn't seen before and many I'd like to see again when I have more time.

Trade - Very good indeed. You might expect lots of box-shifters but I managed to pick up some specialist bits. It might be that I was the only person to buy a set of broaches but at least I could replace the set with a broken one (thanks Dad). I enjoyed lots of chat with the trade too, in fact wandering around before the doors opened, I was amazed how many people I knew and knew me. Too many to talk to each one.

MPD

Workwise, I spent a couple of hours on the DOGA stand fiddling with the AEC kit. Not much got done as there was loads of chat.

Anyway, head over to Flickr for more photos.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Midlands Model Engineering Show 2015

2-2-2

For a change, I'm posting this while the show is on!

You'll have noticed that if all is well, I'm in Peterborough this weekend. Normally I'd have a trip to the MME on Thursday to enjoy a mooch and perhaps pick up a few tools, but this year I'm crazy busy so the only chance to look around was on Wednesday evening when I dropped off my Bantam Tug for display.

Even that is unfinished, although, I this is perfectly fine for this show. In fact, some of the most interesting exhibits are without paint...

Wooden paddlesteamer

Anyway, all this means that this post is a bit light on words, other than me imploring you to head over to Flickr to check out my photos...

Friday, October 16, 2015

Off to Peterborough

Canalview

Today, I'll be packing up Ruston Quays for it's first exhibition appearance at The National Festival of Railway Modelling at Peterborough. The layout is far from finished but I'm keen to show it this way so people can see how it goes together. We have a new lighting rig in need of paint, no DCC and Peco uncoupling ramps.

Next year, it will be done.

If you get the chance to drop in, please say hello. Hopefully, you can even have a go at operating the layout...

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Demo build - AEC Monarch

Modelling time has been at a premium recently. At the weekend, I was sitting behind a demo table as part of the DOGA stand and at 8 in the morning, didn't know what I was going to build.

Rooting around in the cupboard I found a very old Coopercraft AEC Monarch kit - ideal as assembly takes a minimum of tools and glue.

I snapped a few stages of the build:

Lorry Build 1

The kits, fresh from the bag. Note the discoloured plastic, it's THAT old.

Lorry Build 2

Chassis assembly starts.

Lorry Build 3

Main parts built and ready for paint.

I know this is a well known kit, a bit of a modelling cliche, but the finished lorry will look nice on Ruston Quays. The other road vehicles will be diecast, so it's nice to have at least one kit.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Warehouse Wednesday - Tewkesbury


Tewkesbury1

Sat on the River Avon, in the picturesque town of Tewkesbury, is this imposing and somewhat ugly mill. Originally two brick buildings, now joined by a metal-clad bridging part, the result is very modelable.

I'm particularly keen on all the ugly pipe hanging from the walls.

Tewkesbury2

These "added extras" are rarely modelled but are a common feature of many working buildings. I wonder if they need planning permission? Most look as though they are thrown up haphazardly, although I'm sure there is really plenty of planning before anyone nails something to the walls.

This link drops you in the middle of the complex on Google Streetview.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

I've been scanned!

Phil Scanned

While at the Great Electric Train show last weekend, thanks to a deal done through my local club, I've been 3D scanned by Modelu.

The process is simple - you stand still while Alan walks around you waving a tablet PC with a couple of lenses on the back. For show, this is connected to a big screen and if you are pointing in the right direction, you can see the image build up.

A couple of minutes later, the whole 3D person appears on scree, first in white and then fully coloured.

The effect is amazing. As you can see, my shirt is a complicated large check pattern but it's captured it. I'm holding a notepad gricer style. The only omission is my glasses, which confuse the scanner and defeat the printer.

I've ordered a 4 and 7mm version of me. When they arrive, I'll post the results here.

Modelu website.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Montini blocks - NOT Lego

Montini kits

Found in an old box in the club second hand stock. Not Lego, although it looks a bit like it, but plastic blocks from the Italian firm Montini.

Digging around the web, it seems that these might date from the 1950s or 60s. They may even pre-date Lego. Someone suggests that the boys from Denmark ripped off Montini because the Italians didn't register the design. If that's true, there is some irony that Lego have since lost a trademark dispute and the world is full of notLegos with are compatible but not the same.

The plastic these are made from is very soft and flexible. The designs aren't great, but then neither were early Lego models. Children had much better imaginations back then.

Montini produced quite a range of kits, these are the bottom end as there were pretty substantial sets too. Sadly, that's all I can deduce from Tinternet. Can anyone add to the story?

Sunday, October 11, 2015

How to make me grumpy at shows Number 423

DB 103

There you are, standing behind the layout operating trains when someone thrusts a model in your direction.

"I'm looking at buying this. Can you see if it works for me".

There is an implied but unspoken, "NOW!"

Or more recently, "Have you got a screwdriver. Can you take this loco off it's base so I can see if the wheels go around before I buy it.", again with an implied, "NOW!"

What the questioner fails to comprehend is that everyone watching the layout has paid to come in and be entertained. Also, layouts are attractions in their own right and not just adjuncts to trade stands. You might only be interested in rummaging around in boxes of junk for bargains but other people are there too.

And traders, please don't point punters at the nearest suitable layout just because you can't be bothered to bring along loco test facilities. I nearly came to blows with one trader who thought that was all we were there for and laughed at the idea we weren't. It's very telling that only "bottom feeder" (table of junk, mis-spelt difficult to read signs, slightly smelly) trade do this and I've not seen him at a show since and I'm not sorry.

The man with the Atlas loco above? Wandered off after handing it over and didn't come back for over an hour. The wheels do go round.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Daventry 2015

Special Guest BadgeTempted by the offer of excellent cakes, we hauled Melbridge Dock out of storage for a day in sunny Daventry.

In my role as MREmag editor, I was to open the show by cutting a ribbon. That was fine - ribbon blocking the path of eager enthusiasts - but no scissors so the "special" guest had to nip back to his layout, rummage in the toolbox and run back with a (safely carried) knife to do the duty!

Our layout behaved itself perfectly all day. Once dry joint was found on setup and quickly fixed.

Biggest surprise was finding out that it was 25 years since we'd first exhibited Melbridge Dock back at the Town & Country Festival. How time flies!

Despite this, people really enjoyed the model and although the day was quiet, there was an awful lot of good chat with visitors. Several had never seen us before - not surprising as show appearances have been sporadic recently - making it all the more interesting.

Several asked how long the model is (6ft scenic + 3ft fiddleyard) thinking it's the sort of space they have at home. We might yet inspire a few more layouts!

Cakes were, as promised, excellent. Delicious cupcakes in the morning and chocolate tart or shortbread with afternoon tea. I was also given 8 slices of chocolate cake as a joke by the exhibition manager...

Main Street

Layouts were mixed. Star for me was Adrian Hall's large American HO/HOn3 layout "Bear Creek Junction". Loads and loads of detail plus a precarious, by realistic, viaduct along the front. One to seek out if you get the chance.

Quite a range of scales were on offer, from N to G3 with even some 5.5mm scale.

Trade was better than the normal small show. I've come away with some excellent Skytrex pieces to review and Proops Bothers stand took a few quid off me as I've not seen them at a show for years but the range of tools is great.

Excellent day. Go and have a look at my photos on Flickr to see why.

Friday, October 09, 2015

So that's what's in a Hornby TTS loco

Class 40 chassis

For various reasons, I'm in the process of ruining a Hornby Class 40 fitted with TTS sound.

It's the first sound fitted loco I've ever owned and running the model on the club OO layout, I was pretty impressed. OK, I can't remember what a Peak sounds like but to me it was making diesel noises and I played with it like a new toy blowing the horn to anoy the nearby P4 crowd.

Anyway, body removed, here's what's inside. A chip, that appears to be a standard fitting movable to other locos for that DCC malarky. The speaker is screwed to a metal block. I'm told it sound even better if you turn it upside down.

The bogies are identical apart from the motor in one. I'd guess putting a second power unit in would be a doddle if you can solder wires together.

Of course, it doesn't look like this now.

Thursday, October 08, 2015

Big brick buildings in BRM

Ruston Quays warehouses

I'm bricking it in the November issue of BRM. It's time to make some big buildings and I really do mean big.

The main warehouse is 50cm long but is joined by a smaller one shown above and over 5 feet of arches for the retaining wall.

All these bricks need colour and so I've covered my method of doing this with pencil crayons and weathering powders. If this doesn't appeal, there are 3 other options including the Pendon one with each brick painted with watercolours - I'd be a gibbering wreck if I tried that!

Best of all, I found a use for a quarter of a Springside Morris Minor kit. Now all I need is a home for the rest!


Ruston Quays wagons

We'll need some wagons for the shunting yard so I've taken 8 different ones and carried out some simple modifications to personalise each one. I don't like to see strings of identical wagons on a layout so hopefully this will inspire a few people to dabble in the art of ruining perfectly good RTR products and turning them into unique models.

Fordhampton Station

Years ago, Hornby licensed a kit for Dunster station. I always liked the look of it, but the photos hide that the attractive stone covering was flat stickers.

You can now buy the kit again from Gaugemaster, this time part of their "Fordhampton" range. It's still a very nice model but the new stickers are still flat. Replacing them with 3D Redutex surfaces makes a huge difference and now with care, a really lovely model station can be built by anyone.

We've split the build between the pages of the magazine and the DVD. On the disk, you'll also find me showing how to use Ballast Magic to add coal to wagons. I get a bit annoyed when people pay for someone to coal a model tender - it's such a simple and satisfying job and this way there's not even any messy glue!

More details of the November BRM on RMweb.

Wednesday, October 07, 2015

Warehouse Wednesday: Regency Wharf

Regency Wharf

I've been hanging around the towpaths of Brimingham recently in the interests of research.

Right in the city centre, I spotted this conversion of an old industrial building. I can't find any history on the building so I have no idea what it was before Jimmy Spice moved in.

This strikes me as a real challenge to model. Designing a modern building from scratch that looks right is tough but this has to blend in with an old one too.

The building has a website here.

Tuesday, October 06, 2015

Scarlet reporting for captain duty

Scarlet the Captain

Nearly a month ago, I showed you Captain Scarlet with added Milliput being prepared for his role in charge of the Bantam tug. He's now been smoothed, sanded and repainted for the role.

Using the existing neckline and jumper, I've not had to do too much to him for a reasonable effect. OK, sat on his own this isn't the most realistic figure in the world but tucked away in the wheelhouse, he'll do the job. Still looks a lot better than those horrid, rubbery dolls that many boaters chose to populate their efforts with.

Maybe he's too square shouldered but the skin looks pretty good. All I've done is shadow (I know, different show) with Games Workshop inks. The staring eyes - well at least he's paying attention to the steering!

Monday, October 05, 2015

Baby Bantam

Bantam and Baby

A baby Bantam?

Yes indeed. You see, Ruston Quays needs a tugboat for the canal basin, and, well I just happen to know the very vessel.

More details in the December issue of BRM, or come along to the Festival of Railway Modelling in Peterborough to see titchy Bantam for real!

Sunday, October 04, 2015

Banbury 2015 - The last show?

I've always had a soft spot for Banbury show. Years ago we were booked in with Melbridge Dock and at the time had no more appearances in the diary. After a fun day, we took home 9 invitations to other shows.

Since then we've exhibited there with all our layouts. It's only half an hour away and we'd go as visitors anyway. Taking a layout gets you in for free and even petrol money.

Cutting back on the shows means we pay to go in but it's a pleasant little show not far from home. The sort where you find unexpected layouts you've never seen before and trade that can't afford the big events but still have interesting goodies to empty the wallet.

And the cakes are good.

Barry's Motorcycles

Layouts were mixed. Some typical local show basic models but there were treats too. Muldale is a lovely small O16.5 industrial model. Perhaps the stock is a bit standard NG with more emphasis on using OO chassis than prototype fidelity but it's OK. The buildings though - brilliant.

Muldale Canal

Lots of cameos and character. Finescalers would probably get sniffy but in five feet of model there was more life than many a 30 foot "proper" railway.

Gantry Crane

In HO, Salz station used the trick of hiding the railway a little. You had to view peering over into the scene, which was well modelled and not too clean.

In fact the entire back wall of the show was good. OK, I'd seen all the other models before (can't remember all the names and there wasn't a guide sadly) but for a local show, it was punching above it's weight.

Quarry under construction

Exhibition organiser Andrew Carter is working on a very interesting looking quarry layout which appeared as a work in progress but shows great potential, especially the rock crushing plant. I'm looking forward to seeing it again.

Trade was mostly RTR and second hand but the Oxford Rail Society sold me a couple of very old Modelcraft lineside kits for no money, at least one will make an interesting blog project one day. I also came away with a large Ian Allan railway club sign - the name in the middle of a cutout GWR loco photo. It's been in a shop window judging by the discolouration on one side but far too good to leave for £3 if you have an interest in publishing.

Sadly, this is likely to be the last Banbury. Andrew is giving up and no-one is interested in taking over. You can read the full story on MREmag. Sadly, this is all too common in smaller clubs.

Once the show was the event in the year. Now most of the members aren't interested. I know that a very small percentage of those at my own club actually visit a show other than our own so I can understand why they aren't bothered and it is an awful lot of work. Worse, the crowded calendar makes booking the layouts and trade you want ever more of a challenge.

Photos from Banbury over on Flickr

Saturday, October 03, 2015

Gerrorf moy train set!

 
All being well, by the time some of you read this, I'll be stood behind Melbridge Dock at an exhibition. Hopefully, I will not be suffering something that annoys the heck out of me.
 
The photo above illustrates the problem - Punters who think your model is just something for them to lean on.
 
I've no idea if the owner of the layout above was bothered, he didn't say anything but might have just been being polite. The hand is gripping something that has taken many hours to construct but is now just considered to be there to support someone who can't stand up.
 
This is why I like barriers at shows. I don't have the inclination to build a model that is structurally sound enough to support the weight of a crowd. I expect them to make their own provision if they can't stand for any length of time if leaning facilities aren't provided.
 
I vividly remember one visitor to a York show with hands the size of shovels approaching every layout and almost falling on to the barrier in front. The great paws would land with a thump and I'm sure had barriers not been provided, the scenery would have born the brunt.
 
Don't blame the young either, it's oldsters who are the worse culprits. Of this subset, enthusiasts are the pinnacle. It's as though they thing reading a few magazines means that their paws on your model won't matter - after all, they know about modelling so they won't do any damage by gripping your miniature fences will they? A bit like BMW owners who think that sitting on double yellow lines with hazard lights on renders them invisible.
 
So, if you are watching my layout, hands in pockets please.

Friday, October 02, 2015

Daventry tomorrow

 
Today, or at least the later part of it, will be taken up packing Melbridge Dock up for it's trip to Daventry Model Railway exhibition tomorrow.
 
We don't get the chance to take the Dock out for shows very often now so if you fancy some shunting action then please come along. From what I remember, the cakes are pretty good too!

Thursday, October 01, 2015

Busy October ahead

 
Flipping the calendar over to October shows a month that's looking pretty busy.
 
3rd October - Daventy Model Railway Exhibition with Melbridge Dock. So desperate are they for a hint of celebrity, I'm opening the show. Having said that, the place it's being held has been renamed in my honour so I can't complain.
 
10th & 11th October - Great Electric Train Show with the Double O Gauge Association demonstrating stuff on Saturday morning and all day Sunday. If there's anything I do you'd like to see demonstrated, please let me know and I'll see what I can do.
 
17th & 18th October - The National Festival of Railway Modelling with the first outing for Ruston Quays. This should be interesting as I'm going to be letting visitors operate the model.
 
15th to 18th October - Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition. Strictly speaking, I'm not actually going be here other than as a punter on the first day, but my Bantam Tug will be on the Knightcote Model Boat stand, possibly finished.
 
After this I might just collapse into a coma for the rest of the month. More likely I'll be chasing my tail trying to catch up with projects with looming deadlines.
 
If you are visiting any of these events, please drop by and say hello. It's always nice to meet blog readers - makes me think that's it's worth doing all this!