AK paint pens

Newish on my workbench, are some AK paint pens. I'm a big fan of the MiG oilbrusher, it's a really handy device to have around for quick touch-ups, and these pens might be even better.

First impressions are good. The paint flows well, and seems pretty opaque. Basically, painting with no cleanup at the end. The pointy tip isn't going to work for really fine work, but for a lot of jobs, it's OK. 

One job I have found them perfect for, is painting moulded on handrails. 

My only moan is that the colours are quite light. RCM007, brown, looks to be quite a dark shade, close to my favoured track colour, and the shade most useful for the oilbrusher. The results are a poor match for the pen casing, quite a bit lighter as the work on the Ratio pallets shows.  

I like the pen format, but I think I need more experimentation to find the colours I need. They will be out there, I just need to locate them. 

Covrail haul

 

A rather more useful selection of goodies from Covrail than normal. No weird kits, although I looked hard at a Roundhouse HO scale loco that would have been interesting to put together, but decided I really don't need any more loco kits...

I started with a servo from Amazing Little Trains. Andy assures me that this will be much better than the frazzled one operating (sometimes) the regulator in Ragleth. I'm fed up with taking the body off this loco, so let's hope he is right. 

Then, a pile of products from Model Railway Bits. New to me, I liked the look of the curved and pointy sanding sticks, and very soft round brush. The latter is sold for dry-brushing, but looks more suited to weathering powder application. 

A quid's worth of 6-12V LEDS, some 9v battery snaps and those useful push-chocolate block connectors. 

Then some Army Painter washes. I've noticed a lot more MiG and Ammo paint appearing at shows, especially the rather nice paint pens. Perhaps the trade is spreading its net wider, and railway modellers are more open to buying non-model railway products. Whatever the reason, a greater range of materials is always good. 

The inlaid track came from a second-hand stall (thanks Earl) and finally, I stocked up on model filler, something I'm inexplicably out of.  

Covrail 2026

Advertised as an air-conditioned venue, sadly the show was bumped out of the hall with aircon, into a tin shed without it, so this was a hot and sticky event. 

I certainly needed to keep my hydration up, as there was a lot of useful chatting to be done. This might have been a local show, not a big event, but it happened to have dragged in quite a few people I knew, who I needed to talk too. A very efficient day!

Layout-wise, the picture was a bit mixed. Some nice stuff, and a smattering of space-fillers. A few of those were new exhibitors, including a club junior section, so I don't begrudge them the space as everyone has to learn what it's like inside the barrier, and despite this, there was still much to see and enjoy. 

My favourite was probably the Cuban model, Central Alonzo Mill.

Well modelled, and importantly, well lit, it exuded the Cuban vibes, or at least as much as I can tell, only knowing the place from a couple of Bond films. 

I also liked Pine Ridge. 

Unlit, this didn't matter as it helped showcase the shop interiors (impossible to shoot on a mobile I'm afraid) and some really detailed buildings. 

I'm very much not a fan of military stuff, but have to say the railways in shell casings, and in a hat, were effective. 

And of course, I can't resist the G-scale model of the Wuppertal. 

The trade didn't include any of the really big names, but wasn't bad either. Plenty of RTR, some good scenic stuff and electronics. OK, no hard-core specialists, but for the market the event aims at, not too shabby. 

Overall, a nice day out, if a bit hot. Being 10 miles down the road, and only eight quid to go in didn't hurt either, although I suggested they should go for 10 to save messing around with change.

More photos over on Flickr.  

Saturday Film Club: The Plastic Box That Spins and Pretends to Be a Car

I found this video because one of these cars popped up on eBay for not much more than Sinclair C5 money. 

It is probably a good job I don't have the garage space... 

Collectors Corner Catalogue 1983

 

Operating from various premises around Euston station from 1963 to 1998, Collectors Corner, was a simply wonderful emporium for those who love train stuff. 

Set up to dispose of all sorts of railway ephemera from the entire network, I remember several visits to the slightly run down and disorganised premises, and loved every one. 

The catalogue, a budget-busting and tenuous addition to the Beatties collection, shows just what was available, and at prices that make me want to build a time machine. 

Wall clocks starting at £50 for a wooden cased spring-driven clock, to £300 for a large platform clock. Class 08 nameplates, £12, Class 47 £18. Timetable posters for 75p. Signal arms £10. BR knives, forks and spoons 75p each. 

Visitors would pore over piles of leaflets and advertising materials - I came away with a lot of APT material, including a tie, for pocket money prices in the late 1980s. On my paltry wages, while the much-desired clocks were outside my budget, but there was plenty of small railwayana available. 

I also bought a couple of the 1970s white plastic station signs, which had to travel back on the tube with me. At 7ft long, that wasn't easy, but well worth it. In 1983, these were only a fiver, 

Sadly, privatisation saw the business transfer to Hudson St in York, where it was far more civilised, and lasted a year or so. There will never be anything like this again. 

Please tell me I'm not the only person who remembers this place!