You should have read the instructions

 

A few days ago, I mentioned a spacer that is fitted behind the bufferbeam to set the solebars in place, but the instructions specifically say not to glue in place. I didn't spot this, so by this stage, the offending part is very firmly fixed. 

The reason it shouldn't be there is that the bolt on the back of the coupling isn't long enought to reach through it, and allow a nut to be put on the end. In fact, the end of said bolt is flush with the face of the spacer. And the hole isn't big enough to get the nut in. 

I had a quick poke to see if I could persaude the glue to let go and release the spacer, but nothing doing. I had to make the hole bigger. 

The solution was a screwdriver fitted with a chuck, and 6.5mm diameter drill bit. This was just long enough to let me butcher out the hole so a nut could be fitted in, and the coupling screwed up tight. It's not idea, but it works, and that's all that matters. 

 

Bodgery, but satisfying bodgery. 

 

 

One door opens...

 

 

Some nifty design allows builders to enjoy opening side doors on the Brandbright wagon. The straps on the side are moulded around a brass wire, which you cut so about 2mm sticks out of the side of each. This then sits in whitmetal hinge bottoms. With a bit of tweaking, it all works OK. 

 

So, why have I, someone who loves a working gimmick, glued it all solid? 

 

Well, the idea is sound, but I'm not convinced the hinge bottoms will stay stuck under the floor for a start. Using superglue on them, it all seems a bit fragile. Mayne if they could be screwed in place, I'd be happer. 

 

Being practical though, the wagon is, as the instructions suggest, just more robust with the door firmly fixed with some PVA. I want a wagon that I can use without treating it like fine china. And having the ability to say "hey look, the door can open" isn't a compesation. 

 

So, it's firmly fixed in place, and I don't feel the slightest bit guilty.

Bargain hunting at a small show

I started writing these "haul posts" as a bit of fun, and easy content for the blog. This one though, shows why small shows can be just as entertatining as larger events, perhaps more so if you are searching for bargains. 

Here's the pile from the Stratford Upon Avon Model Railway Show second-hand stall. 

First, a couple of sealed plastic kits. 

Kits from the Hornby "Town & Country" range are always in my sights. Most of the range is stashed away for future builds, probably for the Hornby Collectors Club, but they are good enough for more general use. Many have made it into the Gaugemaster Fordhampton range, and even if they haven't, they are often available second-hand. This was one of three identical kits in the pile. 

The Mini was also one of three, and to be honest, I bought it as a fun to stick together model. At least the finished car won't be huge!

Something very Phil, is this Dutch barge. 

I think it's a modified Artitec Rhine river boat. I thought, there should be a mast up front, but looking at the website, it's a tall bollard. Not bad for a quid. 

Moving on to "collectable" model railway wagons, we start with R137 operating cement wagon. 

In really nice condition with all ladders and printing present. From a box of 50p wagons. The same box R131 wagon with wheel load. I've writen about this in the past, and always liked it. The wheel load is a mix of plain and spoked wheels. Is this original? 

Very handily, there was a R342 car transporter. 

OK, the box is mashed, but I was after the cars. In the future, I have a project that could do with some nice Tri-ang vehicles for the final photo. There are some in my collection, but I have to go and dig them out. For a whole pound, I'll save myself the bother. As an added bonus, I don't have the car transporter in my collection. 

The real gem from the same box is this: 

R561 in really nice condition. The Tri-ang Toys and Pedigree Prams paper sticker is perfect, in fact the whole thing is lovely and clean. There isn't one of these in the collection, and it's always been one I fancy because of the own-brand livery. No box, but for the price I can hardly complain!

A couple of points - I arrived at the show when it opened, but was chatting for 20 minutes before getting to the stall. Also, I did this in two bites, and both times rounded up my bill to both save messing with change, and add a bit more to the club coffers. Considering the bargains I bagged, this is only fair, I'd have paid more over-the-odds but I ran out of cash!

It was nice to see plenty of kits picking up ready-made buildings for peanuts. These will be poridly added to their train sets very quickly, I know that's how I'd have worked!

Back to the main point, there is no way I'd have snagged this lot at a big show. Dealers there can afford to take stock how with them, knowing it will be out again the following weekend. A club stand has to price to sell as once the who closes, so does the opportunity to offload stock. So, if you are being sniffy about a local event, perhaps this might change your mind? 

Stratford Upon Avon Model Railway Show 2025

 

My plans for a toy-train free weekend were thwarted by UK Modelshops newsletter dropping into my In-Box, and alerting me to the Stratford Upon Avon Model Railway Show on a previously free Sunday. 

I've always been of the opinion, often expressed, that if there is a toy train show locally, you should support it. Partly to keep the event viable for the organisers, but also because you never know what you will find. Local shows are where new layouts appear for a first trip out, and with my proffesional head on, sometimes I can bag a shoot, and even an exhibtion booking, before the layout becomes better known. 

Stratford promised 11 layouts, and in truth, apart from the ex-Chris Nevard Combwich West, none were magazine fodder, but they were still interesting. To be fair, nearly all were personal projects, and most still under construction. They worked, but lacked finesse. On the other hand, it was a great chance to chat to the builders and pick up ideas. 

 The "Layout Phil would like to build" award goes to HolyWell Town. A facinating little prototype that even in 4mm scale, fits into eight feet, plus a fiddle yard. There's a lot of operting potential too, thanks to a tiny headshunt, which is slightly longer than the real one!

Llantwy was also rather nice - basically a simple OO, with a 009 extension, that was a mass of nicely modelled cameo scenes that provided plenty for the audience to spot. 

And of course, smaller shows involve home-brewed catering. 

As I came in the door, I spotted some delicious looking chocolate cake, and an hour or so later, having been warned it was running out by one of the members, I sat down for a cuppa to try it out. Declicious - not too sweet and sickly, just how I like it.

So, nice cake, some interesting layouts, a good second-hand stall (more on that tomorrow) and loads of chat. Being a local show, I knew quite a few people and enjoyed being able to catch up with a few friends. A lovely morning.

Saturday Film Club: Warwickshire Lines (Stratford-upon-Avon - Leamington Spa - Coventry - Nuneaton) - DRIVER'S EYE VIEW

While I'm away, you can enjoy some views of trains much nearer home for me. I've travelled on these lines, but have to look out the side window, at lease I do since the removal of those classic DMU's where you could sit behind the driver!

London bound

 

This weekend, I'm scheduled to be at the London Fesitval of Railway Modelling at Alexandra Palace. 

Current plans have me loading up the NG7 layout for a couple of days playing trains, and chatting. There might be some layout shoots, and I suspect the second-hand stall will extract some money from me. 

In the meantime, please visit the LFORM website for full details. If you drop by, remind me I need coarse Woodland Scenics scatter, and a big can of Mek-Pak please.

Big locomotives, and small ones, in Garden Rail April

 

Feldbahn railways are a German speciality, and so it's no surprise that they are a popular subject with the locals, including Uwe Hannemann, whose impressive layout we feature this month. If small locomotives and rolling stock appeal, then you will love this line.

We delve back in history for a look at some early coal-fired 16mm scale locomotives, and also review one of LGB's latest – the Harz mountain railway Mallet, a truly impressive model.

On the workbench:

• A Baguley 677 diesel
• Bolster wagons for 16mm and 7/8^th scales
• Traders carts for a model market
• Cherry trees for your line
• Photo planks
• Building a Pickering brake van

All this, plus the latest news for the large-scale modeller. 

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

Ends on, and another mistake

 

How hard can putting the ends on a four-plank wagon be? 

Allow for the sides, basically stick the ends in the middle of the floor, run PVA along the bottom, and then superglue the whitemetal stanchions in place to brace the whole lot. 

There are pitfalls for the unwary. The stanchions have extra boltheads at the bottom, so make sure they go on the right way up. Some pencil lines drawn with a square are a good idea so they are fitted accuratly, tricky if you are eyeballing it with superglue drying. FWIW, the middle two are 10mm either sides of the edges of the coupling hole, and the ends, 2mm in from the edges. 

 The sharp-eyed will notice that the floor wood changed colour as it emerges from the stanchion. There is a reason for this. 

 At one end, I managed to nudge the bufferbeam out a touch when filling the solebars. This left a gap about 1/2mm when the end was fitted to along with the bufferbeam. Nothing really to worry about, but I decided to sort it out by glueing a bit of leftover fret in the gap. Once dry overnight, I trimmed it with a saw and then sanded like mad until it was perfect. 

I'm quite pleased with myself. Of course, it shouldn't have been necessary, the other end is perfect, but I always say that the art of good modelling is learning to bodge...

4 wheels on my Brandbright wagon

 

The Brandbright wagon kit is back! 

Thanks to the very generous Steve from Bole Laser Craft, I have a set of wheels, which he dropped into my hand at Doncaster show. I should point out that Brandbright also offered me a set - both really appreciated, as were all the kind words about my missing modelling mojo. 

Anyway, work starts by glueing the bufferbeams in place, then laminating the solebars. I've also stuck the spacers behind the bufferbeams, and after this photo was taken, will PVA the other solebar in place. The instructions tell you not to do this with the spacers. We will return to this in a later post. 

The W-irons are screwed in place. A long, thin screwdriver is a good idea to poke around the sides of the wheels. 

Access is pretty good - I've known kits that try this, only for the screw heads to be blocked by the wheels! It's easier to put the whitemetal parts on the ends of the axles, then drop them between the solebars. Trying to wiggle the axles in with one end already screwed in place is next to impossible. 

Once done, the chassis rolls freely, so I know I will have a working piece of rolling stock. Love those heavy metal wheelsets too.

Midlands Garden Rail Show haul

 

On the basis you can't leave a show without having bought a box of something, I picked up this kit for a couple of micro cars. I've always been fascinated by the things, and since I'd never fit in the real thing, models will have to do. Regular readers know my fascination for wierd plastic kits, so this won't come as a surprise. I'm not even going to pretend there is a model railway use for these, I just fancy sticking them together. Painted red, as I found several cans of the colour in my stash recently.

On the right, ceramic wick, for a project that will appear on here in the not too distant future. On the left, something actually useful - insulated track clamps. My garden railway is clamped together, but this causes an electrical problem as the points don't self-isolate. Plastic clamps are the solution. I need four, and had to buy 10, but I'm sure the spares will come in handy one day...

Finally, tiny plastic ducks. Several wagons were running around with some in, and eventually I spotted them on sale from Tony Green Steam. For a quid a pack. I bought two. No idea what to do with them yet, but I'm sure they will be duckerating something soon!

Midlands Garden Rail Show 2025

Cake - Excellent. On Saturday, Amie and I enjoyed Victoria sponge, and carrot cake. I tried the sponge on Sunday, and can report that it was just as good. In fact the food at the WEC is, as I've said in the past, better than pretty much any exhibition venue. Saturday lunch was a giant Yorkshire pud with sausages, onion gravy, mash, peas and carrots, for a tenner. And it was delicious. 

The show seemed a little quiet, but it is very difficult to judge. I spent a lot of time on the stand chatting to people, many of whom were complimentary about Garden Rail. We signed up a few new subscribers too. The new stand looks good, and was quick to put up, and pack away. 

Opposite us was some tinplate train action. They spent the whole time rattling around the layout, just as these things were designed to do. 

Plenty was on offer to tempt money out of your pocket. Yes, I bought a few things, I'll show you tomorrow. What was impressive was the amount of new products on offer. I think I can probably fill the normal "Product News" section in the mag just from this show. 

RC Trains demo of their controller using  Brio setup was nifty. The layouts were good, but you can't fit large scale on a small trade stand!

I did miss out on one run - the G1 layout  promised a stunning looking LMS railcar at 3:30 on Sunday, and I forgot. One to look out for later in the year. 

All in all, a pleasent weekend, helped by it only being 10 minutes drive away for me. Back home at 4:30 on Sunday, having packed and loaded the stand? Yes please!

Saturday Film Club: To & From the Seaside on a Summer Saturday

Good grief, was this only 1991? It seems like a very different world on the railways now. Proper nostalgia.

A real life giraffe wagon

 

Regular readers will know I love the Tri-ang Giraffe wagon. Enough to have aquired 20 of them over the years, but thanks to a post of Facebook, I find that there is a prototype, of sorts. 

It seems that The Great Eastern Railway once had to transport a stuffed giraffe from Harwich docks, and came up with this loading diagram to get it within their loading gauge. OK, the animal was both dead, and wrapped in canvas, so no ducking under bridges, but it's not bad. 

The griaffe can now be seen in Ipswich museum, and there is a short video about it here. 

Dealing with my bald spots

 

No, not the ones my barber insists on showing me in the mirror at the end of a haircut (Why? I've not got my glasses on.) but those along the front of the NG7 layout. 

I'm not sure if the static grass just didn't take properly, of if its been worn away by people stroking it at shows. Whatever the reason, suddenly, I can see brown paint. 

Time for some remeadial work. PVA is splodged over the brown patches, and then out comes the static grass puffer bottle to blast fibres into the glue. A couple of hours later, and the glue has dried. My bald spots are gone!

 

Warehouse Wednesday: SR concrete hut

Another picture from Duncan Young - this time of a classic Southern Region concrete platelayers hut. 

Famously, these were designed to fit within the loading gauge when loaded on a wagon. They could be craned off, the chimney attached, and the building was ready for occupation. 

This example has a few modern additions - the trellis and flower bed, and the fire buckets, but it's a good guide for weathering. I'm not sure how I would paint those dots on the roof, but they are a typical feature of aged concrete.

The secret world of hobbyists

 

I've been interviewed by Alexander Poots for the UnHerd website. 

It's a nice piece, which you can read here.

Glasgow haul

 

I am getting better at not spending money too randomly at toy train shows. However, I can't really spend three days in a hall full of stuff, and not come away with at least one item. 

So, purchase number one is a Hornby R135 "Callard & Bowser" van. For a fiver, I picked up a properly Scottish souvenier. It's a bit of fun. Best of all, it's empty, because I don't like butterscotch.

Produced in 1983, in a run of 4000, it's one of Hornby's made up liveries. This has no place on a srious layout, but who says we always need to be serious? 

To be honest, that was very nearly it. Honour was satisfied. I had a new toy. And then I was perusing a stand at the back of the hall on Saturday afternoon, and spotted this. 

Curious, I asked the stallholder what loco it came from - an 09 diesel apparently. Hence the top speed of 30mph, and redline at 27.5. 

"How much?" I asked, expecting a price in three figures. £25. I snapped his hand off. 

Reader, the lesson is, put price labels on things. This wasn't hidden on the stand, but after nearly two days, it was still there! I suspect everyone thought it would be far more expensive. 

It's a lovely thing, or at least I think it is. Solidly made, with a bit of weight, there is something about railwayana that appeals to me, and I think it's the quality of construction as much as anything. That, and I wonder what life it has had before coming into my posession. 

But, what to do with this lovely lump? 

On the back are a pair of electrical terminals. Put a 9v battery on them, and the needle moves to 15mph. Could I wire it into a control panel in some way? Hmmm....

Modelrail Scotland 2025

Let's start with the important stuff - cakes. 

Empire biscuits were available from the nearby (5 minutes stroll) Greggs, and most days we cleared the store out of these delicitous delicacies. And very nice they were too. That a friends daughter turned her nose up at the ones I brought back just means more for me in the future. Her mum scoffed both shares. 

From the Morrisons in the exhibition centre, I picked up snowballs from local baker, McDonald & Son. I'm not a big fan of coconut, but they tasted OK. Sort of a soft donut with jam in. I ate a couple, and then fed the Accurascale boys with the rest of the packet. 

 

And there were Tunnock's teacakes. The plain chocolate ones that you can't get south of the border. I bought mine from Gretna services on the way up, so they didn't stop me trying to smuggle them into England. Superb. 

Of course, there were layouts, and some really good ones. I carried out three photo shoots for BRM, but could have easily doubled that if it hadn't been for the public being allowed in! This was just Scottish layouts too - anything that lives within sensible striking distance wasn't on my list. 

Trade was good, but with some odd holes. I'm in the market for a box of Woodland Scenics coarse scatter, but no one had any WS on sale! I did wonder if someone had opened a portal to a branch of Beatties. There were plenty of boxed Airfix GMR wagons on sale, and the buggest pile of Jouef coaches I've ever seen. As I recall, these weren't bad models, so for £15 a pop, if you just wanted something to run on the layout, a bit of a bargain.

 My overall feeling was this was a good show, and I'd certainly have been happy if I'd paid to go in as a punter. The people were freindly, and I'd certainly have found plenty to look at, and be inspired by. 

There is an eclectic mix of photos on Flickr.

Saturday Film Club: Using Humbrol Smart Mud

I had a lot of fun with this one - using Humbrol's "Smart Mud" product to produce a farm track, complete with tyre marks and cow prints.