A little barge

 

I'm starting to get back to normal after all the events earlier in the year, and one thing I'm determined to do is build a few projects for me. No worrying about publishing, other than on this blog. A chance to rediscover the fun of modelmaking. 

First kit out of the stash is a 1:48 scale kit for a small narrowboat from Petite Properties.  

I've built enough stuff from this firm to be confident everything is going to fit together properly. I'm not in the mood for a lot of fettling. Not that this will stop me making small changes, but fighting a kit is out. 

The model is an oddball addition to the range, which is probably why it appealed to me when I spotted the photos on social media. It's not normally on the stand at model railway show, so I had to pre-order for collection. Yes, I could order through the post, but I wasn't in a rush, and chatting is more fun. It's a popular kit too, it's often out of stock, so I was lucky. 

As with all Petite kits. what we have is a set of laser-cut MDT and cardboard parts. There's some wire in here as well. Instructions are included, although everything looks pretty simple. 

The prototype is a holiday cruiser. There is something similar in the Craftline range, although Petite's is shorter.  

A chuffing good time with the Merlin

You may remember that at the BBC Gardeners' World show, I had an issue with my Merlin Mayflower. A cab full of flame made the RC wiring a bit crispy. 

My assumption was that this would all need replacing, but out of curiosity, I switched it on during the week, and it worked!

Next stage was a trip to the club track for a proper test. The evening was warm, high 20s rather than last week's 30+. The loco fired up quickly, with all the fire staying in places where the fire should be in a model steam locomotive. 

Pressure took a while to build, and looking in the cab, I could see why. There was a loose bolt on the back of the boiler. Hot water was coming out, and if there is water, there will be steam escaping. 

I nipped it up with a spanner, and all seemed well. The loco trundled off around the track, making five or six circuits before running out of gas, in the steaming area. 

After a few minutes cooling, I regassed and watered, and off we went again. Sweet as anything. 

I lost count of the number of circuits this time. The goods train is at the limit of the model's power, although it would help if I lubricated the axles, and there is some squeaking from under a couple of the wagons. That should reduce the rolling resistance a bit. 

I can't complain though. For the moment, the RC gear stays in place. I might wrap some tape around the receiver, which doesn't have much of a cover now, but for the moment, if it ain't broke, I'm not going to try to fix it! 

 

Saturday Film Club: Bekonscot Model Village, a ride around the full route

I'm not sure why I haven't seen a locomotive point of view trip around Bekonscot's extensive Gauge 1 railway system before, but here we go. 

Book Review: Groudle Glen Railway Souvenier Guide

 

It's about Groudle, so therefore, brilliant. What more is there to say? 

OK, there is a bit more. This latest version of the guide, at 70 pages, is far more than a simple stock list. The text takes the reader from the earliest days of the Glen, and then the railway at the end of it. It introduces the steam locos, then their electric replacements, and exactly how badly those worked out. 

We go through dereliction, and gradual restoration before coming up to the present day.  

Only after this, do we cover each locomotive, including a few no longer on the line. All the stock gets a moment in the sun too, and that includes the all-important working wagons.  

My only worry, is that this is such a good history, it negates the hardback history that is also an impressive read. That said, it's perfect, and well priced at under a tenner, for the normal visitors the line attracts. If they read the contents, a little of the magic of my favourite railway line will be revealed. 

Only available from Flavel's Emporium on the line, so go pay a visit! 

I got some Gauge 3 into September's BRM!

 

You could say one of my practicals in BRM is a bit rubbish - well I was asked to take a modern dustcart, and work it into a diorama. The good news is that as well as the modelling, I've written a little history of wheelie bins!

As a bonus, I've modelled a man using a manhole to come up from under the road. 

In the four-step section, my first coach makes an appearance, being fitted out with passengers. Timely, as there is a little discussion floating around wondering if model buses should be available with passengers fitted in them. 

My camera has been out for a couple of cracking layouts. 

First, we have Temple Bridge in OO. The moment I saw this at Stafford show, I wanted to shoot it. The builder has really nailed the London atmosphere. Not just a terminus station and loads of yellow bricks, but with a small factory tucked in the middle of the scene. While there are less of these today than in the past, they are still a feature of the capital.  

Next, we have Littlecliff on Sea, in Gauge 3. 

I know, shouldn't Gauge 3 be part of the Garden Rail remit? In this case, I lobbied hard to say it was a BRM subject. This is one of the most detailed layouts I have ever seen. I'd go so far as to say it will be in my top five model railway layouts, I have ever seen. And I've enjoyed looking at a lot of layouts. The modelling is stunning, the atmosphere perfect. My only complaint is that it took its builder only six months to create. 

Seriously, this is a layout worth buying the magazine for on its own. Who knows, maybe the photos will inspire a few modellers taking flight from the smaller gauges where there is a lot of RTR, to consider larger scales because of the detailing possibilities on offer.