Little Brian

 

I have a fun way to remember my Dad. A miniature caricature of him has been commissioned from Rob Bennet. I ordered four, one for Mum, sister and me, plus a spare to drive a steam engine. They came unpainted at my request. 

We've each kept one of his caps, Dad rarely went out bare-headed, so I've done my best to copy the colours of each of our headgear souvenirs. 

The rest is a beige M&S windcheater, Humbrol 121 dry-brushed with 147. Trousers are a dark blue and antracite mix, with dry-brushing in blue. 

Anyway, we love Rob's work, and are sure that Dad would have as well. 

I have a plan though. 

Little Phil, and Little Brian, will live in my bag as miniature me has been doing for a few years, and we will go on adventures together. Next time Little Phil finds himself on top of a mountain, or an interesting railway location, he will have company. 

Update: The little people have enjoyed their first day out, a visit to someone who was a friend to both of us, and his 32mm gauge garden railway. 

Dad's celebration day - 31st May 2026 - you are all invited.

Back in January, we lost my father, Brian. 

He'd never been religious, and didn't want the fuss of a funeral, so we didn't have one.

However, we still wanted to say goodbye, and give friends the chance to join us in this. 

So, on Sunday 31st May, we will be jumping into the L&WMRS planned open weekend with a few tributes to him. 

I hope to bring Melbridge Dock along, it was the most successful layout we both built. If I can recruit some operators, we'll be running it all weekend. 

At the boat club, we'll have a model or two he built on the water. We're also donating a bench to sit where he used to enjoy watching boats on the water, swifts catching flies over it, and a chip butty. 

A set of coaches he built will run on the outdoor track.  

There will be food laid on. Probably a barbecue, hopefully some rhubarb (his favourite) and definitely NO custard! (he hated custard)

That's the current plan anyway. It's definitely won't be maudlin, Dad wouldn't have wanted that. He was incredibly proud of the model railway club, so it seems the ideal place to celebrate him. 

Because it's a normal open weekend,  all the club layouts will be operating, so there will be loads to see and do, even if you didn't know my Dad. 

So, please put the date in your diary - the more the merrier! We're right in the middle of the country, and it's a lovely spot, the perfect day out. 

(Note: So we have an idea for food numbers, drop me a line if you are coming.) 

Saturday Film Club: Unboxing English Electric locomotives

Steven and I had great fun filming this unboxing of a couple of Hornby locos. I played with some DCC, and enjoyed it!

Ally Pally time

All being well, by lunchtime today, I'll be in that there London for a capital show.

Yes, it's time for The London Festival of Railway Modelling, two days in the magnificent Alexandra Palace. 

It's one of my favourite venues, so much more character than your average exhibition hall. I just need to stay in the show and not spend my time gawping at the view over London. 

It's the show's 25th Birthday too. Doesn't time fly? I still fondly remember IMREX in the Horticultural Halls, and now the show that replaced it when these became too expensive, is a quarter of a century old!

As ever, there will be a wide variety of layouts and trade, details of which can be found on the exhibition website.  

I'll be on the World of Railways stand for the duration - at least when I'm not wandering around shooting layouts for future issues of BRM. 

If you aren't sure about a visit, let this top chap persuade you. 

 I hope to see you there! 

Help, my lorries got no wheel! In April's BRM

 

 

On my workbench in the April issue, I've taken an Oxford diecast Christmas lorry, and ruined it. Off comes the festive lettering, and one of the wheels. On goes dirt and graffiti, plus a pile of bricks to prop the thing up. 

There is also a wooden shelter - from a Scalemodelscenery kit whose construction defeated me, but I built it anyway. Well, bodging is an important skill...

The camera has been out for three of the four layouts in this issue: 

Broadwell lives in Cardiff, and is an impressive club-sized tail chaser with a very familiar station building. 

As well as the material on the page, the layout appears on BRM TV. 

Next, a first for me, T gauge, with the Ock Valley. 

Finally, a fun micro layout, Broad Arrow in 009. 

 BRM magazine is available from all good newsagents, or our online store: www.world-of-railways.co.uk

Supermarket customers will, I think, find it bagged with Garden Rail, which has a DVD on the cover.