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!

Coal, steam and Deltics in the August BRM

 

There's more practical Phil in August's issue of BRM than we've seen in the last few months. I start by showing how to add coal to a coaling stage. It's the same process as adding coal to a locomotive tender, something anyone can do to produce an immediate upgrade to their models. 

Diesel fans aren't forgotten, with a quick detailing article based on the Hornby Railroad Deltic. 

 I'm not going to claim this is anything other than a beginner-friendly quick fix. Whatever you do, this model, dating from 1977, is too small in many dimensions. However, it's ideal for anyone who just fancies a good-looking loco to head up an express train. Fitted with sound, the price of around £130 is very appealing, so much so that I can't find one for sale right now!

Finally, I've been looking at fireless locos. 

 If you run one of these appealing beasts, your layout should include a charging point to fill it full of steam (and superheated water), so I did a lot of digging and tried to create something easy to build and authentic. 

The camera has been out again, this time for the 009 layout Bryn Coeden.

 

August Garden Rail on sale

From Swindon to, anywhere but the GWR!

Malcolm Holland’s Tidewater & Teslin railroad might live in Great Western territory, but this model is about as far removed as you can get from anything Brunel built.

On the workbench: log carriers, a run-down slate wagon, an estate railway loco, and possibly the fastest wagon kit you can buy, plus a stunning Gauge 3 Southern N Class.

Also inside: John Turner models, twin 16mm Baguley Drewrys, and postcards from the ultra-realistic Shade Gap line.

All that, and the latest Product News for larger scale modellers.

Melted Merlin

 

There was a casualty of Gardeners' World - My Merlin Mayflower. 

 

Normally, a very reliable locomotive, I fired it up to put on a show while the judges did their thing. It had run well earlier in the day, but now it was backfiring, there was burning happening in the cab, around the area of the burner. I turned the gas out, and tried again. After a couple of goes, all seemed well, and steam was quickly raised. 

 

Off we went, and about 10 feet from the corner the judges were occupying, the loco stopped. I sprinted around to it, and the cab was full of fire again. 

 

Trying not to make a fuss, I turned the gas off, a bit of a toasty job, and whipped the loco back to the yard, where I left it to cool. 

 

Back at home, I can see that the electronics are not in the best shape. The cover has melted off the receiver, and all the servo wires are crispier than is ideal. It looks like some time will need to be spent replacing a lot of this, although there is some life in them, maybe I can save the receiver. 

 

Of course, I'll need to investigate the cause of the backfire too. A chat with my steam loco guru beckons when I'm back home. 

 

While I'm at it, the O-rings in the cylinders have been asking for attention on cold days for a long while. Perhaps a more comprehensive service is called for. 

 

All this will need to be marked down to being part of the "fun" of operating a miniature live steam loco.