Alan Gibson Photos: City of Truro

Let's finish this weeks selection of photos from Alan's album with one of the most famous steam engines ever to run - City of Truro.

I'm fascinated by this model as it's one that defeated me many years ago. Based on the old Airfix, or possibly even Kitmaster, plastic kit, Alan has produced a chassis to make it into a running model. That's not an easy task as it involves tackling the outside connecting rods. I couldn't persuade the Romford cranks to stay quartered. The trick, apparently, is to fit a locknut behind them but I didnt' know that at the time.

Anyway, in addition to making the model work, the kit has had all these raised lining removed and replaced with accurately applied transfers. Close inspection of the photo reveals that the handrails are still the moulded ones from the kit, although once painted silver, it's difficult to tell. The name and number are etched so I assume that the handrails were left as removing them neatly is a bit of a pig to do.

I hope you've enjoyed the selection of pictures. Perhaps I'll return to the albums again in the future as I do feel they deserve more of an airing than being stuck on a shelf. Of course, it you are a member of the L&WMRS, you now have an idea what is on those bookshelves!

Alan Gibson Photos: North British Coal Wagon

When you are interested in railway wagons, live in a time when we aren't over-supplied with RTR models and aren't scared of having a go, you will probably end up scratchbuilding some rolling stock.

This North British Jubilee type open coal wagon still isn't available in 4mm scale as far as I know (Parkside produce a kit in O gauge), so this model is probably unique. Built from Plasticard with Jackson wheels and, I suspect, cast axleboxes and buffers. As with yesterdays Persil wagon, this one has a hand-painted livery.

Alan Gibson Photos: Persil Wagon

Hand lettering private owner wagons is something that scares the heck out of most of us. What appears so simple to the untrained eye is a nightmare once you get started. Alan was a professional draughtsman in the era where this meant drawing boards, film and pens rather than CAD packages, so presumably setting out text on a wagon side came a little more naturally. This, the paint-job shown here is a paint job with no recourse to transfers.

This model is kit-built (you can see the early Romford/Jackson wheels) and pre-dates Mainline's ready to run version by some time. Those hefty 3-link couplings would work too - none of your tension-lock tosh ruining the end of this model!

Alan Gibson Photos: B12

One thing I remember about Alan is that he was never that much interested in creating a model railway. He much preferred to work on individual items of rolling stock. Although complete, his layout was a backdrop for photography and I don't remember him ever mentioning actually running it.

This is why we have a B12 locomotive in full LNER livery complete with the early, pierced splashers. The metalwork under the curved footplate was later removed, presumably as it got in the way and possibly was considered a bit "fussy".

As for the origins of the model - difficult to tell. I suspect that there is some Trinag in here but if there is, not a huge amount. Those handrails didn't come from Margate.

Looking at a back view of the model, there is a cab full of metal block, but not the angled end of an X04 motor so I the jury is out. Peering at the wheels doesn't help are I can't see any Romford axle ends.

Whatever, a lovely model.

Alan Gibson Photos: Setinel Railcar

A few days ago, while helping tidy up the L&WMRS clubrooms, I found a couple of albums full of photos from my old friend, the late Alan Gibson. Some readers may remember Alan's article on model railway photography in Scale Trains back in the 1980s. Most of the shots were taken on the Aultibrig and Mingulay Railway and for the time, were pretty revolutionary. Most pictures appearing in magazines at that time were "helicopter shots" from a high level.

Getting in low and producing descent results involved proper lighting, a decent SLR camera and practise. The club owns lots of Alans photos but since he processed his own black & white films, we can be sure that there are many hundreds, if not thousands.

Anyway, I thought it was a shame for all these pictures to remain hidden in the clubrooms and so this week, we'll be featureing a different photo each day. I'll do my best to fill in the details but if anyone can help, please do so in the comment. Also, if you met Alan or knew him in any way, please drop comments in there too. The photos will be scanned in from prints without any electronic fiddling so you can appreciate the quality possible in the pre-digital age.

First up we have an LNER Sentinel Railcar. Alan was a serious LNER fan and so it's no surprise that we have one of these in the album. Looking closely at the picture, I can't work out if it's the Nu-Cast whitemetal kit or scratchbuilt. I'm inclined to the later. As well as being a top photographer, Alan was a modeller whose standards I can only aspire to so this simple shape wouldn't have phased him.

More prototype information here.