Monday, February 17, 2025

Doncaster haul

 

I enjoyed limited shopping time at Doncaster, and most of what I had was used to aquire magazine projects for the future. Combined with my general lack of mojo and mahoosive backlog of project already, and the trade didn't do that well out of me. 

Obviously, I can't help haunting second-hand stalls. The club stand that furnished me with the Hornby German coaling stage, also served up a couple of original 16mm scale Cooper Craft wagon kits on the Sunday afternoon. I spotted them earlier and wasn't that worried, but at seven quid each, they were a bit of a bargain, and I do like building them, so since no one else wanted them, they came home with me. 

More useful, was some large (Size 4) brushes from Brushes4You - a company supplying excellent brushes at reasonable prices, who don't have a website. They attend lots of shows however, so supply isn't an issue. I have a lot of small brushes from the company, but recenlty found myself lacking something capable to covering a reasonable area, this is now sorted.

On a whim, I picked up some lining brushes at the same time, out of curiosity. Sign-writing fascinates me, and I'd just like ot have a play with the tools. 

These weren't the only goodies from the show though. More of that tomorrow.

Sunday, February 16, 2025

The Festival of British Railway Modelling 2025

 

Seven days ago, I was half way through a busy weekend in Doncaster. Numbers were up, the trade seemed happy, and our new stand looked magnificent. All the panels light up so it really catches the eye, which might have helped sell more subscriptions than normal. Well, that and the free rucksack on offer. 

I am particually pleased with the seven foot square shot of St John's I took last year for a feature. OK, the camera could really do with more pixels for this sort of thing, but viewd from the aisle, it looks cracking. 

My little NG7 found a space in the corner, and I spent the weekend chatting about the model, how and why I built it, and generally waffling about the hobby. James Finister commented on his blog that it attracted loads of children, and maybe this is partly the size of the models. I'll admit that kitbashing the station is a project I've really enjoyed, and the result is very pretty. 

Being a top celebrity type, it fell to me to be interviewed by The Yorkshire Post - you can see the results here

I shot four layouts, but didn't have much time for other picture taking, but here's a few. 

Tony Wright had a few O gauge bits to sell off for charity. 

The Hornby Live Steam club showed an interesting cutaway model. 

And the owner of Llanfair Caereinion was away from the layout for a few minutes.

But what about cake? To be honest, I didn't find any at the show. There was probably some in the food court, but I didn't look properly. Not to worry, Saturday night involved a trip to Whitby's Fish and Chip restaurant, organsied by Elaine's Trains for a select gathering. 

Dinner started with haddock, chips and Yorkshire guacamole.


 Followed by knickerbocker glory. 

Delicious! The only trouble was that the 13 of us used up all thier large ice cream glasses!

Saturday, February 15, 2025

Saturday Film Club: Kilmersdon Colliery Incline

Shot in 1971, and turned into a film in 1974, this is the last vestiages of industrial railwyas, and steam in the UK. If nothing else, there is some terrifying health and safety!

Friday, February 14, 2025

As British as Bratwurst

 

R191

Another find for the Hornby Collectors Club series - R191 Coaling stage. 

As a kid, I actually built this kit. It probably cost a bit less than I paid for the second-hand, but looking complete, version. I doubt I worried too much about the prototype accuracy, just being glad to build a plastic kit for my train set. 

Let's be honest, this looks nothing like a UK coaling stage. The little crane (quite a nice set of mouldings) and timber framed brick base says Tyrolean to me, but then I'm no student of German architecture. The smoke deflectors poking into the side of the photo give the game away a bit too.

Does this matter? Well, for my purposes, no. What I'm doing is transporting readers back to a time when Hornby fobbed customers off with random German kits that didn't have any basis in Blighty. Not that this would have worried young Phil much.

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Turtles (not tin ones) in March Garden Rail

Garden Rail March 2025
 

Garden lines have to contend with a lot, but as the name suggests, The Turtle Creek Line has a few unique challenges. Rabbits, horses, giant tortoises, and of course, an Australian Snake-necked turtle, are all part of the scenery for this G scale line.

We take a look at Archangel's first coal fired steamer, 'Jack' and renovate a Locobox 'Isabel' steam loco.

On the workbench, we build an electric Harrods delivery van, and take you step-by-step through designing your first wagon for 3D printing. If you fancy some heavyweight building, our team reviews Model Engineer's Laser kit for a Talyllyn flat wagon.

Finally, we include a FREE showguide for the Midlands Garden Rail show.

All this and more, including all the latest product news, in the March issue of Garden Rail

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

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Warehouse Wednesday: Kyle of Lochalsh station in 2008

Kyle of Lochalsh station

A trio of photos from my visit to the famous Scottish station back in 2008. The top view replicates the classic photos that we've all seen with sidings where that big pile of wood is.

Kyle of Lochalsh station

The sidings were where I'm standing to take the photo.

Kyle of Lochalsh station

In the blue diesel days, this would have been a Class 26 on a couple of coaches.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Weid resin reaction

 

I need a spare locomotive for the NG7 layout, and in the cabinet, I have this model, built from a Smallbrook studio kit many years ago. A quick wheelclean and lubrication, and she's good to go. 

But, the tank sides both exhibit a weird bubbling under the paint. 

Does anyone have any idea why? The rest of the model is fine. If I've followed my normal practise, the resin body will have been primed with Halfords primer, then the the top coat is enamel. 

For the moment, I'm going to pretend it's a clever weathering technique.


Monday, February 10, 2025

7mm Narrow Gauge Association book haul

 

It's no good. I can't resist a second-hand stall. At the 7mm NG event, I was good enough not to aquire more projects, but the book box called to me. Well, it's for a good cause. 

Anyway, I skip the big fat hardbacks generally. Either I've already got a copy, or can't justify getting rid of something already in the library to free up space. More to the point, you see the big books all the time. Little pamphlets though - they tend to come and go, never to be seen again. 

And these were cheap, mostly 50p each. Bargain!

A quick list: 

Shire Album 167 - Steamboats. A nice potted history of the steamboat, with some interesting pictures including a few Puffers. Lots of river launches, a type of boat I always think looks so elegant. My dad built one years ago, and in the stash, are bits for at least one more. 

The Groudle Glen Railway, Its history and restoration. From 1993 I think, I already have a copy somewhere, and it has been superseeded by the much fuller, hardback history, but a spare copy is always handy. 

Amberley Chalk Pits Museum guide and stock list. A first edition from 1987 no less - and it's got a picture of "Polar Bear" on the front cover, so of course I was going to buy it. While the text shows its typewriter origins, the photos inside are nicely reproduced, and cover just my sort of prototypes. 

Climax Patent Geared Locomotive reproduction catalogue "L". Interesting stuff with lots of geared loco pictures, including versions with an all-over cab I've not seen before. 

Vale of Rheidol Railway guide. I don't know why, but I keep aquiring VoR stuff. Anything with big narrow gauge steam locos in matt BR blue appeals to me. It's many years since I visited, time to go back I think. 

On the Trail of the Titfield Thunderbot by Simon Castens. This pamphlet, published in 2000, has long been replaced by the authors superb hardback book on the subject, but there are some interesting pictures, and it's a far more potted history, and very handy. I'm not saying I have a project in my head, but if I did, this would be what I'd take to shows. 

The Wainwright P Tanks by Klaus Marx. I've just bought a P Class, and have a couple of kit built versions as well, and this book has some interesting photos. Even if I ignore the locos, the backgrounds are facinating. The only questions, is do I have this already? 

Glyn Valley Goods 16mm scale drawings by Vernard Rockett. Another that I might have somewhere, but as it's a superb collection of drawings, I wasn't going to take the risk. 

Train Shed Cyclopedia No.9. War and Standard Locomotives and cars (1919). This one isn't for me, I'll be passing it on to my make Chris "Overlord" Mead as he's into this wartime stuff. Probably a bit early for him, but I know he'll enjoy it, or know someone who will. Chock full of plans and photos, so a useful resource. 

Transport Age 20. Published in 1962, this is an internal publication from the days when railways looked to the future with optimism. Full of stuff most people don't care about, such as an article on the telephone and teleprinter services the railwasy used, and transit for the Woolworth empire in the UK. Lovely picture on the cover too. 

Is this all rubbish? Is it just me who can't resist the leaflet boxes?

Sunday, February 09, 2025

7mm Narrow Gauge Association - Trent Valley Area Group Modelling Day

 

I've often said that I love little shows every bit as much as big ones. It's often at the smaller events that you find unusual layouts, interesting trade, and delicious cakes. 

Needing a bit of a shopping trip for the NG7 layout, when I spotted that the Trent Vally 7mm NG group were putting on a show just over an hour away, I thought it would be well worth a trip. And I wasn't wrong. 

If I'm honest, I spent an awful lot of time chatting. I got in when the doors opened, left when they closed, and still hadn't given each layout the attention they deserved. On the other hand, I'd bought some books from an estate sale, picked up some of the shopping list for the layout, and shot "Wheal Ponder" for a future issue of BRM, so a productive day. 


One highlight was seeing Apadobe Mine in the flesh, and chatting to Steve about it. I've followed the layout on his blog, ever since I shot his first layout for a magazine feature. In the flesh, it looks great, with lovely cliff work, and nice colours. All in an Ikea box. 

Under construction was this 16mm scale Inglenook project. It ticks a box for a layout I'd like to build. Something a bit scale with scenery in 16mm with 32mm gauge track appeals to me as a future project, and it's nice to see this in a 4ft long space - I could fit that in. One day. 


There are a couple of layouts beyond this I didn't get the chance to point a camera at, but as I say, there was much chatting. 

And cake. Pre-show advertising promised cake and bacon butties - and the delivered on that. 

In my current state of being low on modelling mojo, this event was just what I needed. My willpower kept me away from buying more projects from the second-hand table, but I saw lots to inspire me. Mt Dad has said int he past, and he's right, that were we exhibiting a layout nowadays, it would be something oddball and narrow gauge. Just like the ones in this hall.


Saturday, February 08, 2025

Saturday Film Club: Wagon weathering

Another one of my videos, initially made for BRM TV subscribers - this time ruining a perfectly good ready-to-run wagon. Put it back in the box Parker, you've destroyed its resale value!

Friday, February 07, 2025

Doncaster bound

 


All being well, today sees me heading north for the annual show at Doncaster.

In the back of my car should be, if it all fits, the new NG7 layout, looking a bit more complete than it did at the NEC last year. 

As ever, please stop by the World of Railways stand for a chat. I'm always pleased to meet blog and magazine readers. 

More details of the show here. 

(Yes, I know the date on the logo is wrong, but I didn't have time to change it)

Thursday, February 06, 2025

The locomotive that started it all

Mamod SL1

A recent discussion in Garden Rail, has prompted me to dig out my old Mamod SL1 locomotive for a couple of photos. 

This was the model that got me into garden railways. It arrived on Christmas as a present to my Dad and me from my Mum. As a kit. 

As I recall, it was a very long time ago, she thought that if we tranferred some of our railway modelling enthusiasm to the outdoor world, she'd get some help in the garden. I'm not sure that building a timber viaduct down 30 feet of it was quite what she hoped. 

We built the loco, and enjoyed it, but like all Mamod SL1's, it's a bit uncontrollable, the later models were much better for this. The lever in the front does back and forward, and speed control, but with "control" in very small letters. I don't think we ever managed to pull a train with it, but when the train is made up of lightweight Cooper Craft wagons, that's no real surprise. 

Looking at the model, it's very attractive. Nicely proportioned, and with a reasonable mix of toy and model. Ours is set to 32mm gauge, which I think suits it. I do have the bits for a 45mm conversion, but as part of this involved packing the cylinders out from the chassis with a pile of gaskets, I think I'll leave it alone.

Mamod SL1

Wednesday, February 05, 2025

Warehouse Wednesday: Brick and render building

Brick and render building

Digging through a packet of old photos, I found this interesting and very modelable building. Part of me wonders if I've shared it before, but I don't have time to check, and anyway, it's a lovely thing. 

I have a feeling this is somewhere near Wallingford, judging by the other photos in the packet - but then these tend to get mixed up as in the good old days, you'd have part-exposed films kicking around waiting to be finished off before sending them for developing. For many people, pictures from more than one sunner holiday could be on the same film. Nowadays, with free digital fil, you wouldn't make those 24 shots last so long!

Tuesday, February 04, 2025

Falling at the first hurdle

 

First job on the wagon kit - put the bearings in the W-irons. I clean up the minimal flash on the whitemetal castings, and turn my attention to the brass bits. 

Oh dear. 

While they fit in the castings, there's no way those holes will accomodate the 3mm diameter axles. It looks like the previous owner spotted this, and tried to file some of the ends to pinpoints, just like we do in smaller scales. 

In this one however, we are left with a rounded off axle end or two, that don't stand a chance of running in the bearing. Worse, there's not enough meat to sit properly in there if I open out the hole. 

So, it's back in the box with this kit. A note is written on the outside reminding me I need some new axles, if not wheels. The perils of buying second-hand kits!

Monday, February 03, 2025

Maybe this kit?

 

In an effort to get back into a little personal modelling, and generate some posts for this blog, I've been doing what the fashionistas call "Shopping in your own closet." Basically, looking at the stash of kits and trying to recall the enthusiasm I had when I aquired them. 

I didn't want anything that was too involved - no soldering or spray painting. 

On the shelf is this Brandbright kit for an open wagon. 


It seems complete, and with 45mm gauge wheels too, a bous as I want to increase my stock in this gauge for use behind steam locos. OK, the box is a bit battered, indicating a second-hand purchase, but that will go in the recycling anyway, so it doesn't matter.

Fingers crossed.

Sunday, February 02, 2025

Simon Atkinson - RIP

I'm sad to say, SimonAtkinson passed away last Tuesday. His name will be familiar to Garden Rail readers as we documented his 1:20 scale Talyllyn railway project. His stunning model of Dolgoch viaduct appears in our February issue. 

Simon was a professional modelmaker - he had recently retired as a lecturer in the subject. His past included building one of the iconic space ships from the early episodes of the BBC's Blakes Seven. Specifically, "The London", a prison ship. 

The photo shows the model at the Smallspace show a couple of years ago. What it doesn't show is the model as presented to Simon by Matt Irvine a couple of years earlier. I was there, and the box it arrived in rattled! Simon took it away, and extensivly restored it - and "The London" can now be seen in the sci-fi museum in Milton Keynes. 

I enjoyed an excellent relationship with Simon. He would regularly send me updated on the his models. When he passed, he was working on the cattle creep, which would have been as amazing as the rest. We also discussed how how he would build the line in his garden, a serious undertaking when you need scale scenery to withstand the Scottish weather!

I'm going to miss our chats. It was nice to feel that someone whose skill levels I can only aspire to, was keen to keep me updated, and talk generally about making stuff. 

For more on Simon's work, I recomend a visit to his Facebook page.



Saturday, February 01, 2025

Saturday Film Club: TRAFIC 1971

This is what cars looked like when I was in my pram, at least on the contient. Facinating, and with some impressive camera and stunt work. I wonder if any of the vehicles in it survive? 

Update: Sadly, there is a problem with the video. It worked when I tested it, but not now. Sorry.