Taunton, for the pasties and cake

All being well, on Sunday, I will be in Taunton for the South West Area Group of RMweb's annual extravaganza. It's a fun little show, with some top quality modelling, and even better refreshments. 

Obviously we will be missing Andy York, but very quickly after the announcement of his passing, we agreed that he would be very upset if the event was cancelled. Andy loved the people and the models on show, and so it's very much in his memory the event continues. I'm sure he will be looking down on us approvingly. 

More details can be found on the RMweb thread.

Down the club

Regular readers will know I'm a big fan of model railway clubs. Yes, you have to work a bit to fit in, and there are some "characters" who might be a little offputting, but there are also many really good aspects. 

Here's a selection of things spotted at the Leamington & Warwick MRS last Thursday. 

A group were running a production line building Airfix cement wagons. They are being improved with brass bearings and metal wheels. The aim is an attractive train for the OO layout. 

A group were watching a figure painting demo using military modelling techniques, lead by one of our newer members. 

This is a Gauge 1 Drewery Shunter, 3D printed in one piece, and based on a file for a TT scale model. We think a fully running locomotive should cost around £150, including a chassis from Model Engineers Laser. 

In addition, several layouts were being worked on, and people were chatting over tea. 

Not a bad way to spend an evening. 

Warehouse Wednesday: Lisbon warehouses

 

Spotted near the Lisbon waterfront - don't these just look like something Faller would produce as plastic kits? 

Since we were hunting food at the time, I only had the chance for a single quick phone shot, but you can have a better look on Google Streetview.

Little Lisbon trams

Did I go all the way to Lisbon to see trams, and not bring back some souveniers? Don't be daft!

Ryanair luggauge limits, obviously reduce the amount of tat I can put in my suitcase. Useful, as there is a LOT of tat for sale in the city. 

However, I wasn't going to come away entirely empty-handed. So, in the middle, we have an Atlas originals tram bought before the holiday in an Oxford Diescast sale. I like the Atlas trams, it was cheap, and meant I didn't have to find space on the plane. Handy, as there wasn't one for sale in the city itself. Oh no. Nothing nearly as accurate...

At the front, a fridge magnet, to join my collection including the train from Switzerland. 

Behind that, a little model, complete with a bit of overhead, for my mate Tim. He's passed on a couple of little Australian trams from trips, so I return the favour. 

And at the back, a drawing (print) bought in the market, from the artist. I took a photo of him, and will stick it on the back. There's quite a bit of art featuring trams, and some of it is quite fun. I liked this as it's small (A5) and different from anything in the tat shops. 

I did manage to avoid the horrors such as models with bogies though! Maybe next time.

Pires & Thadeu, Lisbon

 

"I want to go into that tat shop", I said. 

"Why? We've been in loads already.

I point at the picture of a train on the awning. That, and the stack of Oxford Diecast models in the window. 

The shop is in Lisbon's old town - the touristy bit if I'm honest. But, inside it's more interesting than most shops. Apprently, this is one of the city's oldest toy shops. You can tell that because of the somewhat faded plastic kits on the top shelf. 

There was a little bit of train track in a cabinet, but no trains. No paint or glue either. Loads of diecast cars though. Oxford ones mainly, so better than a lot of the horrors in other shops. 

The rules say that if I'm in a model shop, I have to buy something. Ryanair's rules say that if your bag is too big for the tester, it goes in the hold, at a price somewhat more than buying the airoplane. So I bent the rules a bit, and bought some stamps. To be fair, not the easiest things to get your hands on!

Address: R. Áurea 148, 1100-063 Lisboa, Portugal