G3 haul

 

The trouble with the rule that you can't go to a show without buying at least something, is that the purchases can be a little random. Good job I like random!

A nice kit for a Southern Railway concrete hut from Mels models. I've seen some concrete paint around, and want to try it out on this. The build might eventually become a Garden Rail feature. Just the sort of job that isn't too taxing, so could appeal to readers nervous of making models. It would also make a nice standalone build for someone wanting to dabble in a larger scale. 

Five velcro pads from RC Trains. Becuase I was looking for some of these in the boat bits stash, and can't find them. I can never find them. I swear one day I'm going to open a cupboard and there will be an avalanche of the things. I've bought loads over the years!

Finally, from the bring'n'buy, an interesting, and very cheap, cast plate that says "Tare 12 Tons". The label said wagon plate, but I'm not sure. Any suggestions? 

Talking of that stall, I felt I ought to own a length of G3 track. 

 £15 seemed like a good deal. Maybe when I get around to building some wagons to go with the loco...

Gauge 3 show 2026

 

A bit of a result this. The G3 AGM and show used to be in Flitwick, an hour's drive away. This year, it was at the motor museum in Gaydon, ten minutes travelling!

The other benefit is that the whole event is indoors, including the test track. This allowed them to put on a full programme of models running, so there was entertainment all day. Add to this a scenic G3 model, the G1 track, and an O gauge layout, and you have quite a bit to look at. 

In my bag, I'd brought my G3 model of the Hellingly Hospital Railway locomotive, hoping to have the chance to sneak it onto some track. As it was, I bagged a few minutes on the test track, borrowed a couple of wagons from the very accommodating John Tuckett, and enjoyed it trundling around. Two wagons looked just superb behind the model. 

 I could be really tempted to build myself a train like this, but with wagons at approaching £150 a pop, not an unreasonable price, and more projects than I can shake a stick at, that dream will have to wait for a while. Besides, for the loco in green the wagons should be 16 ton minerals, not attractive wooden ones. Then I start thinking about making Hellingly in G3, egged on by Simon Castens who is republishing the Iain Rice Cameo Layout book later this year. 

 Having the track indoors was nice as the weather wasn't conducive to standing around outside anyway. 

The Society had put a board up along the lines of the G1 version with booked slots so we all knew what would be running at any time. 

Elsewhere, there were many fine models, including some from John Tuckett's next project, a stunning slice of London. 

I'm really looking forward to seeing this, as Littlecliff blew me away. I'm processing the photos for this as it's appearing in BRM in a couple of months. 

Catering is provided by the museum cafe, and a very nice bacon and brie panini was enjoyed, along with some lemon meringue cake. 

I'd thought a couple of hours would be enough, but there was so much to see, and loads of chat, that I arrived shortly after 10:30 opening, and left just after 4. That counts as a good day!

Saturday Film Club - Happy Birthday Groudle Glen Railway!

A bumper set of videos to celebrate the GGR's birthday today. 

 

 

Shaun the Sheep, and the man who can't do maths...

 

Before his stroke, my Dad and I used to enjoy watching Shaun the Sheep each morning. It's more fun than the news for a start. He really appreciated the effort required for the stop-motion animation. I loved the way a complicated story could be told in five minutes with no dialogue. We both enjoyed the stories. 

Anyway, Big Chris at the railway club offered to 3D print some sheep for me. In G scale. But, along the way, he got his scales a bit wrong. So we have G scale sheep, and something along the lines of 1:12 ones!

The Shaun printed, is the version from the Wallace and Gromit film, A Close Shave. He's got a jumper on. 

Those who know the film well, will have spotted that the red line around the cuffs should be a zig-zag, but it's hard enough to paint a straight one, so if it bothers you, tough.  

 

Dad's train

 

A nice sunny Thursday evening gave me the chance to take out the newly named locomotive "Brian" and give it a run on the club track. 

Initially, all went well. 

But after three circuits, the loco stopped, making a grinding noise. Investigation showed the gears had eaten themselves. 

This wasn't good. However, to compound matters, the reason this happened is, because I am STUPID. Talking to Boot Lane, it seems there is a little bottle of oil in the package, which I seem to have lost. In the instructions, which I didn't read properly, is a note that the gears MUST be lightly oiled. Something I didn't do. 

They have kindly provided me with replacement gears, and oil, which I have been sternly told, should be used this time!