Time for a quick look at the projects I've built this year for work. I'm working on 2024 rather than magazine dates for simplicity, trying to do anything else is a quick route to madness!
Starting in BRM's March issue, on sale in Janaury, I built a fire engine from a whitemetal kit.
There was an Intentio Models Signal Box.
A simple wagon load in four steps.
Spring brought us an N gauge platform kit from West Hill Wagon Works.
An O gauge stone water tower from a Skytrex resin kit. I made a video about painting the stonework for the same issue.
Some very fiddly 2mm scale etched brass deck chairs from Severn Models.
In April, I dabbled in DCC putting a chip in a Hornby 88DS locmotive.
A little scenic work, making grass tufts.
More scenic work in March, this time a water feature.
We go back to the Intentio signal box to paint the walls, and fit an interior.
The four-step project is a simple coal load.
June saw me catching the bus, or at least building somewhere to catch one from. The shelter is Wills, the green stuff is old skool scenicing.
A perenial topic is ballsting, and so I chuck some stones around on a piece of 009 track.
I start on the farm in July, with an abandoned steam roller diorama. As I recall, this turned out to be more complex than expected, as it needed three different gound covers.
Moving to N gauge, there is a fire engine from a 3D printed kit.
And the first "Quick guide", this one covering weathering powders.
Off down the TT:120 pub for August. The basis of the model is a Hornby ready-top-plonk building with some Phil style upgrades.
And a simple OO pump house. Ugly, but useful.
One of my most challenging projects appears in September's issue, a bowling club. How to produce the grass? Unexpectedly, it's also one of the model popular models on the stand at shows.
There's another bus stop too, this time a Metcalfe kit.
October, and the NG7 layout project starts. First, there is planning.
A "Quick look" at ground cover materials.
An old garage model finds itself upgraded with a flashing welding light.
The NG7 project continues with a bit of baseboard building.
This also spawned a video on hammering in nails.
A Hornby collecable "Nellie" is weathered.
For the four step, a classic whitemetal kit for an open wagon is built from a venerable Peco whitemetal product.
More good, basic stuff in December, with a piece on tracklaying.
A "Quick guide" to backscenes.
Some budget-friendly scenics with hedgemaking.
More old kits for January, this time the Peco O16.5 coaches.
A quick wishing well from a kit in four steps.
And continuing my ability to "ruin" valuable collectables, I cut holes in a Hornby building.
We finish with a look at modelling options for Dunster station.
There have been a few projects for Garden Rail too.
January saw a 16mm scale living van built from a Bole Laser kit.
In June, another Bole 16mm scale kit, this time a coal dock.
In July, we had the "Layout in a day" for the National Garden Railway Show.
August saw me having to maintain my growing fleet of steam locomotives, and to that end I built a locomotive cradle.
A nice, ugly loco for September. A 16mm scale Wittenberg Schafer locomotive from Houston Gate Locomotive works.
October, and it's time for the classic 45mm gauge Binnie skips.
November, and we have a 32mm gauge display track, because every one needs something like this.
December completes the year with a double bill. First, a 16mm scale Woodleigh Models wagon.
And bringing up the year, a Timpdon Models small brake van in the same scale.
There's also the little matter of some project for the Hornby Collectors club.
An Airfix Church.
Travelling crane.
Tri-ang hardware store.
And in TT:120 - A Scalemodelscenery workers cottage.
3D printed model of Mrs Lopsided's house from The Ladykillers film.
A small station building from LCut Creative.
I think that's pretty much all the practical projects from 2024.
In addition, there have been 13 videos for BRMTV, and of course I've attended Doncaster, Glasgow, Ally Pally, NGRS, Warwick Garden Rail show and the National Festival of Railway Modelling where you will have found me chatting away on the World of Railways/Garden Rail stand.
Oh, and I edited 12 issue of Garden Rail.
So, this year has been busy. Don't worry, I won't get bored, there are plenty more projects in the pipeline for me to work on!
