Horsepower, a new cab and finished N gauge in BRM

 

Some projects ideas take a while to develop into the models that will appear on the pages of the magazine you buy. In December's BRM, I've a feature on shunting horses that isn't exactly how we intended it when first planning months ago. 

With a big piece on gunpowder traffic written by Ben, the plan was that Pat Hammond would do something on the Triang Exploding wagon and I'd build a diorama showing an Iron Mink full of explosives being unloaded. Pat did his stuff as expected but when I came to research my project, I hit a stumbling block - no-one could turn up any photos of unloading in action. 

Presumably early flash guns weren't allowed near gunpowder vans for very sensible reasons. That's great but what do I do for a model? 

The solution was to keep the van shut and look at another aspect of the transport. Many of the vans were shunted by horses. You don't want a cinder-spewing steam loco around after all. Even the horses worked without shoes to avoid the risk of sparks from metal on ballast. 

So, my unloading diorama became a horse shunting scene. The Mink is pulled by a pair of beasts watched by a suitably military figure. We've some cracking prototype photos too, all of which hopefully adds to the piece.

 

My other appearances are second parts of articles. Last month I did some work on a Midland 1F, trying to keep things simple. This time I've gone to the other extreme and had a serious go at a model. 

Keeping with the idea we look at modern models rather than old stuff, the "victim" this time is a DJ Models Austerity. 

The main modification is replacing the cab and bunker with a Lambton cab as used on that collieries lines so engines could pass under a coaling stage. While I'm at it, the chimney gets the chop, replaced by a Giesl ejector. 

All the parts are from RT Models so are really intended for the Dapol/Hornby J94, but the DJM version runs better and I managed to strongarm a faulty production model out of him, so I thought I'd abuse it properly...

 

Finally, we have part 2 of the N gauge layout in a box. Time for buildings and detailing. 

I'm really pleased with how this model has turned out. I just hope its new owner likes it as much - you can read in the magazine how you could be that person with a free to enter competition. 

(No DVD appearance this month. I'm filming new content this week though so you don't escape for long)

BRM December 2016