Supermodels, Rugby

 

On bank holiday Monday, I'd planned to go to Stanford Hall VW Show. I toddled off, and when I arrived, the gates were shut. Odd, I thought. So I drove on to a spot where I could park, and check the times on my phone. 

The gates would have been open. If I'd turned up the day before...

What to do? OK, it's only a 23-mile trip, but it seemed a shame to waste petrol. However, there was a model shop that had been popping up on my social media for months, and it was in Rugby, and I was on the northern edge. 

A quick check to make sure it would be open, and the satnav guided me to Hillmorton, about 15 minutes before opening time. A little stroll allowed me time in the fascinating Maddens hardware store and newsgents - a place that has obviously been part of the street scene for many years, and all the better for it. 

Going back to Supermodels as the doors were opened, I enjoyed a browse. The shop contains some of the stock seen on the website, but what is there is an excellent selection of plastic and figure modeller paints, including ranges I don't know, but will do when I try some of my purchases. No Humbrol, but Maddens have a rack of that. 

There are plastic kits, and loads of tools. Some interesting 3D-printed figures too, but I don't really need a sandworm to add to the project pile, tempting as it was. It's the sort of place where railway modellers can find useful equipment that you don't often see at shows. 

Talking of railways, there are none here. An agreement with the nearby Tony's Trains ensures that they don't step on each other's toes in this respect. Since both are so close, if you visit one, you might as well drop in on the other. An excellent arrangement. 

More on the Supermodels website.  

Faller Track

 

For the Layout in a Day, I like to include both 32 and 45mm gauge tracks. The trouble is, that we were going to have an awful lot of 45mm this year according to the plan. This wouldn't leave enough space of a circuit of Tri-ang Big Big track, as I've use every year since I started building these layouts. 

Messing around with AnyRail, I found that the track library includes the Faller 32mm gauge system, and it appeared to offer tighter curves than Big Big. With a bit of fiddling, we could squeeze an oval in. 

Could I get my hands on any of those obsolete tracks? eBay to the rescue, for just over £15, I was the owner of an oval, plus spare straights. It's a lot like Big Big, even down to the connectors on the ends of the track pieces, the Faller version is just smaller, and not compatible. 

Next, would the stock negotiate these tighter curves? I set the oval up on the dining room table, and gave it a go. Yes, this a proper Table Top railway!

Fortunately, my love of small locos ensured no problems. Everything seemed perfectly happy. OK, at speed, it all looks a bit hair-raising, but on a flat surface, no problem. 

At the show, I found the track a little stiffer than Tri-ang, and once bedded into the ballast, the only issue was the overhanging plants. It's a small oval, and I was keen to fit plenty of greenery in the middle. That meant the trains pushed through the fronds in places, but only the heaver locos were happy with this. Still, they stayed on the track well enough, which is what mattered. 

I'll keep an eye out for more of this stuff. It's very handy. Maybe a couple of points so we can have a proper layout at a future event? 

Key Model World haul

 

No surprise that my rucksack came back a little fuller from KMW, than it started with. I wasn't looking for projects, but when has that ever stopped me? 

First up, a Polish (I think) kit for a glider. Costing only £4, it was odd enough to appeal, and at 1:72, possibly even useful. Looking inside, it appears that these gliders don't have canopies, or at least there isn't one in the sealed bag. 

Then a vintage Hornby bank kit. I pick these up when I see them for sensible money, for my column in The Collector. It looks like an attractive model, and not one you see very often. Under that is a Langley vac-formed 7mm scale viaduct. Useful if I ever need an O gauge photo plank with a background. I've also bought another Wills halt kit. No idea what I keep acquiring these, but it was only a couple of quid. 

More practically, some paint pens I fancy trying out. I've been reading good things about them, so want to try for myself, 

Finally, a monkey bike. No, I don't know why this appealed, but I just loved the look of it. Well, it's fun to buy a silly kit. 

And, most excitingly, the first person I chatted to, was my old friend Chris Mead, builder of the layout "Overlord". He presented me with some jam. 

And it's very good jam. The rhubarb and ginger is delicious on my breakfast sourdough toast. So nice, I need to ask him for another jar...

Key Model World 2026

Year 3 of KMW, promised to see the event evolve into the multi-disciplinary show that I have always hoped it would. If ever there was an exhibition designed for me, this should be it. 

Signs were good. We had a bit of sizable Scalextric, and radio control cars, as well as trains and plastic modelling. 

However, while the new content was good, and the railways an excellent selection, there are issues that those of us who have been around some modelling disciplines for a while are not surprised at. 

Many years ago, I was involved with the Town & Country Festival, at what is now Stoneleigh Park. This was a family day out with animals and other farming stuff, traction engines, horses, and models. I helped out with the railway section, but there were also halls for boats, plastic models, model engineering and RC cars. A good August Bank holiday day out. 

But, in the meetings, comments about the lack of change among some of the displays were raised. The railway stuff changed every year, but others seemed to trot out the same models each time. The plastic modellers defended this by saying people expected to see the "old favourites". 

And this is the problem here. I've been to each KMW, and I'm starting to recognise displays from previous years. There is a G-scale railway in the plastic section, which I remember. It's excellent, but needs a break. The same with the boats, fantastic models, especially a properly weathered tugboat, but some were also on a return visit. 

I suspect this is down to bookings being made with organisations, or SIGs, unlike the layouts, which are booked directly. The group of plastic, or ship, modellers then puts on the display drawn from the people who will come out and bring models. That's not a big pool in some cases, but the most important thing is to fill the tables. 

This is a terrific shame. KMW is a good event. Assuming there is one next year (the crowd seemed a little thin) then I'll be there. I enjoyed a good day out, and am sure this will continue. Perhaps the other disciplines just need to learn to put on a bit more show. 

There are photos from the show on Flickr.  

Saturday Film Club: How A Small Irish Town Built The World's First Commercial Monorail

I've never fancied visiting Ireland, that's what being a child in the 1970s does for you. Except for here. Maybe, as I've ridden on the Wuppertal, it should be on the list.