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. 

Plastic tram, made in Hong Kong

He's a blast from the past, a plastic tramcar, Made in Hong Kong. 

Other than the code number L No.547, and the title "A Double Decker Tramcar", there's no indication of the manufacturer. When I was a kid (cue the Hovis advert music), Made in Hong Kong meant cheap tat, and to be fair, this isn't a quality toy, but it looks lovely. 

Costing 3/6 when new (is that lot?) I'm thinking this is a 1960s toy, but that's a guess. Even the internet can't help much, other than show me lots of other toy trams. 6 inches long, it's a nice size for play, and there is quite a bit of detail. 

Drive comes from a flywheel unit underneath. This had come loose when I bought the tram, so it's been refixed with lashings of superglue, giving me a white shadow around it. This required me to open the model up by sliding a blade around the bottom edge of the roof. The glue joint broke pretty cleanly, and once the model had been washed to remove all the dust, it's gone back together really well.

Thursday steam

 

As the evenings become longer, there's the chance for some steaming before the model railway club tea is served up. 

My Roundhouse Lady Anne hasn't seen much track action since it was rebuilt by Black Country Metal Basher, John Campbell, so I thought it was time for a little run. Admittedly, the last attempt was curtailed because the roof-mounted battery box was playing up, and I've not got around to replacing it, but as all seemed to be working, I decided to take the risk. 

On track, filling the gas tank was still a bit of a faff, no matter which can adaptor I use, I'm never happy with the process. I can't work out sometimes when the gas is going in, standing there like a numpty with apparently nothing happening. Eventually, it squirted back out, so I assume the tank is full. 

Lighting up with my new pizo-electric lighter was a different kettle of fish. No problem at all, the spark being nice and visible, quickly causing a pop noise and the sound of a working burner. 

After a few minutes, although the gauge was only showing 10psi, the loco seemed to want to move, so I shoved it back and forth - a veritable fountain emerging from the chimney as we moved, despite me extracting over 20ml from the boiler after the fill. This soon stopped, and the loco wanted to be off, so I hitched up the goods train, and she trundled away. 

Once warmed up a little, the loco was happy to run in full forward, with the regulator half-closed. Basically, keeping my fingers off the radio sticks, and letting it go. If I wanted more speed, there was plenty of it, this is a lively loco when you want it to be!

After ten or so circuits, I felt the speed was falling off, and since I'm lazy, pulled up in the steaming area to save wandering around the line to retrieve a day loco. 

Not a spectacular run, but a good, solid one. The sort of confidence-building session that makes me keener to do more. The evening sun made the bodywork glisten, and reminded me, I really should buy a safety valve cover. Something to polish like a proper steam engine owner. 

 

Garden Rail June

We have the technology – or at least Uwe Richter does. His German garden line may have started as a clever way to use up spare paving stones, but it can now run autonomously, or be handed over to younger modellers for hands-on fun the whole family can enjoy.

Overlooking the Isle of Man, we visit the Little Angel line through a series of postcard-style views charting its development. Staying with the Manx theme, Dave Pinniger builds his first steam locomotive kit – a “Caledonia” lookalike.

On the workbench:
• DHR Class One locomotive
• Budget-busting radio control
• How to paint a FR Fairlie
• Slate waste wagons
• 3D scanning for club members
• A springtime scene
• Designing a layout for the BBC Gardeners’ World show

Plus all the latest products for modellers working in the larger scales.

Garden Rail is available from all good newsagents, or online: https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/