Little people

 

It's time to play, spot the personality!

Having videod Redbridge Wharf some time ago, it seems that they have commemorated my visit with a couple of 3D printed Phils among the people on the layout. I was challenged to spot them, but failed completely. In my defence, it's a big layout, and I was tight for time. 

So, if you go down to the wharf today, look on the station footbridge, where I can be found getting a face full of soot. 

I'm also spotting in the corner of a field towards the left hand side of the model. 

I'm not alone. Last year, Rapido's own Corwin was scanned with his head in his hands. Unbeknownst to him, his colleagues had a load of models printed, and set them up around the show. The one I spotted was on the excellent Bowaters layout.

Don't expect to see him in future though, the layout owner was very clear, this is a one show-deal!

More Giraffe photos

 

You've got to hand it to the Rapido team. Inspired by my video, they dropped everything and printed a couple of giraffe heads, and were colouring them with paint pens within 20 minutes. 

The AK pens are pretty effective, and obviously ideal for quick jobs. Worth remembering for the future. 

I was presented with both heads at the end of the show, and I'm really chuffed with them. 

While there, we also took the chance to give a traditional Tri-ang car a quick wizz along Overlord. 

Rapido Railex 2025

 

Ahh, Maidenhead. This year, I managed the run down there in under 6 hours, and arrived in time to help set up the stand. Useful, as I'm tall enough to assemble the light boxes without a ladder. 

This was the year of the giraffe car protests. As you will remember from last week's post, the Rapido mob had started a beef with me over the lack of giraffe transport in their latest announcements. So, I turned up with a petition. 

They had other ideas. When we got to the stand on Friday, a cuddly giraffe looked down on us from the top of the light box, and another had appeared in the water tank of my little layout. 

Actually, it's a very nice 3D printed model, which was under construction 20 minutes after my video dropped. There was another in the official display cabinet. 

Anyway, I worked the room with the petition, getting some dubious sorts to add names to it. 

I'm not actually convinced everyone was taking it seriously - the first name was Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and Simon "Mr Hornby" Kohler also appeared, even though we didn't see him. However, he's since promised to sign, so all is good. 

By the end of the two days, we had nearly 100 names on the pages, and I presented them to Andy Hardy, Rapido UK big boss. He looked impressed. 

I think we can take it that soon there will be a new addition to the range...

The show was as ever, great fun. Star of our stand, was Chris Mead's swimming pool model, which appears in the current issue of BRM. So many people were captivated by the vivid blue water, and he kept having to abandon his layout Overlord, to explain the resin process. 

Elsewhere, I photographed one layout, and have the details for a couple of others to squeeze into my busy calendar. 

Cake? Well, nothing worth speaking of in the hall, but on my way back from lunch, I detoured through the adjacent cinema, and found a cake stand. I couldn't resist the Duffins. Very nice too, and my little giraffe friend didn't seem quite so keen!

Saturday Fim Club: Snow Hill Tunnel secrets

I was one of those who walked through the tunnel in 1987. I still have the certificate somewhere!

DJH 02 diesel - the kit that started it all for me

 

I have inherited a kit from my late friend Andy. And it's a very special one to me. 

Many years ago, I was a poorly paid junior audit clerk, who went out with friends, operating their model railways. Under their influence, I wanted to build locomotive kits. But which one to start with? On my wages, whatever I bought would be a significant investment, so I couldn't afford to get it wrong. 

On the market appeared a diesel shunter kit from DJH, marketed as a beginner's kit. This sounded just right. 

At a show I looked at one of the kits on sale. It included a ready-built chassis, and the whitemetal castings didn't look that different from a plastic kit. My friend Dave checked it over, and concluded I couldn't got far wrong with it, so I handed over my cash. 

Back home, I carefully assembled the model. As hoped, it sent together well. The chassis featured a double-reduction gearbox for slow running, and even I could manage to screw the Romford wheels on. 

I even detailed it by scraping off the moulded handrails, and replacing them with wire. Pretty much what I was already doing with RTR models anyway. 

I think I made a good job of it. For a while I was allowed to run it on Dave's layout Scotland Street - although it couldn't get into one of the platforms due to its width. 

Sadly, the whitemetal chassis eventually twisted. This must have been a problem generally, as an etched version replaced it in later kits. Even sadder, this loco was in the box of trains that was stolen from the back of our van on the way back from a show. 

It was replaced with an etched kit from Craftsman, but I'll never forget that first loco. Which is why I'm really pleased to have another chance to build it. The kit is even an early version with a whitemetal chassis. Proper nostalgia. Thanks Andy. 

1980s Hornby garage in The Collector

 

Another classic kit in the latest issue of The Collector, the house magazine of the Hornby Collectors Club. 

This is another reboxed kit from the period - easily spotted because the painting on the box has German text on the garage, and all the cars are from the same country. 

Because of this, it's HO scale, and the Tri-ang cars won't fit in the bay, but I don't think this is too much of an issue. The result is a useful building, which was, until recently, in the Gaugemaster Fordhampton range, albeit rebranded as a BP service station. 

Warehouse Wednesday: Albert Dock, Liverpool

A few shots of the Albert Dock in Liverpool, which I took a couple of weeks ago.I'd dropped my parents off at the Isle of Man ferry terminal, and enjoyed an early morning stroll to the station, and my train home. 

Years ago, my Dad and I exhibited Melbridge Dock here. An enjoyable weekend.  

It's an interesting place. In my mind, I'm imagining what those who worked here would thinking of the gentrification that has taken place. The people who built it would probably be pleased that not only are the buildings still standing, but that they are appreciated, and have been found new uses. 

The docks museum is being redeveloped, so I couldn't visit, and the "Titanic Experience" doesn't appeal. Surely, that's mostly drowning in a cold sea?  

A box for the B4 tank

 

All steam locomotives, be they electrically powered, or steam, need carrying boxes. None of this digging a model out of its shopping box, spreading packing materials all over the lineside. A proper box, works better, and looks more professional. I might not know what I'm doing, but I do my best to pretend. 

So, the B4 tank needed a case, and I wanted to have it sit in its carrying cradle. To this end, I make a wooden box, just like the ones for the rolling stock, complete with clear, sliding front.  

At this point, lightning struck twice. 

Years ago, when planning The Hellingly Hospital Railway layout, I planned for it to fit on the back seat of my 1973 VW Beetle. I carefully measured the distance between the sides, and built the baseboard to fit. 

When I came to put the finished layout in the car, I discovered that while it might fit in the back, the board was too long to fit between the B-pillars, so it simply wouldn't go in. I had to build the whole thing again...

And when I came to build the box for the B4, I measured the length of the cradle, added a bit, and got on with the woodwork. 

When I came to put the cradle in, I discovered that I'd not allowed for the length in the mouldings that the plastic front slides in. Duh. 

So, out with the saw and a heavy knife, to put cutouts in the sliding parts. They still hold the plastic, but now the cradle goes in. 

I'm not sure if this isn't the best solution. To have the cradle fit without making these alterations would require a box wide enough for the whole lot to slide back and forth. So, on balance, I have decided I am a design genius. The model goes in and out, and is held firm in transit. What more could I want? 
 

16mm stock boxes

 

I always describe my job as being full of temptation. I like model railways, and spend a lot of time looking at things I can buy for model railways. This leads to far too many projects, and worse, far too much stuff. 

Large scale stuff causes even more problems than small scale stuff. I need to place a limit on it. And that limit comes in the form of a wooden box. 

Since much (OK, all) of my large-scale playing trains takes place on other people's lines, the rolling stock has to be transported in the simplest manner possible. Taking a leaf from my boat modelling, this means in purpose built wooden boxes. 

So, a year or so ago, my Dad and I built one for the coaches. It has card dividers, and stripwood to stop the vehicles rolling back and forth. I've now carried out the same job for the wagons. 

As a little loco fan, I reason that a three-coach train is sufficient, and likewise, four wagons will be enough. For slightly larger locos, they can be combined into a mixed train. 

Transport is easy. The boxes stack, thanks to little rubber feet glued to the bottom, so storage should be easy, once I work out where they will live in the house or garage. 

And since the boxes are full, this should disuade me from buying more kits! 

I wonder if this will work?  

TINGS 2025

 

A tour of this years N gauge show - I particularly enjoyed the Kato circus modular layout. So much imagination in each piece. We had to vote for our favourite, and I chose the berry above, but only just. Unaccountably, I didn't photograph the Brio railway crossing. 

On the Gaugemaster stand, there was more Kato, with some really interesting tramcars, including a modern city scene made up of ready made track modules, and plstic kit buildings. It represented Japan, but with a small amount of work, could be Anglicised easily enough. OK, the modules aren't cheap, but nicely modelled inlaid track isn't going to be. 

My club has been working with a primary school on some Kato-style modules, and they had a terrific display. The kids have been making rolling stock to run on their layout. I'm told the wagon below features Taylor Swift. 

With my work hat on, I've got four layouts to talk to about photo shoots in the future, and with my colleague Steven, we recorded several very interesting chats, which will appear on the website over time (he's got a lot of editing to do!). There is also a small pile of projects, which will appear in BRM eventually. 

And the cake was excellent. 

A good day out. 

 

 

Saturday Film Club: The history of Peel Engineering - there was so much more than just the P50!

More Manx stuff, this time a more detailed look at the output from Peel Engineering - a really fascinating company!

See you in Maidstone

 

All being well, as you read this, I'll be in sunny Maidstone for Rapido Railex. 

There will be modelling to look at, chatting to do, and no horrible Gipsy Tart being eaten!

Please drop in and say hello - it looks like a good show! 

Oh, and I have (as da kidz say) a beef with Rapido...

Ugly loco hauls skip wagons

 

All finished, it was time last week to take the Hudsell Clarke for a run on the club track, and stick it on the head of a skip wagon train. 

As you can see, it worked really well. 

 

Warehouse Wednesday: Peel Engineering workshop

Another one from the Isle of Man, this time the workshops that used to produce the fibreglass parts for the famous Peel 500, Trident, and Viking cars, and are still to be found on the harbourside at Peel, even if the firm is long gone. 

It's a very modelable building. Not too big, and perfectly industrial. To be honest, I've always dreamed of building it on a layout, with a stream of Peel cars being driven out and loaded on a train. OK, this didn't happen, but if I even did it, I'd say, "It's my train set."

To find out more, watch this excellent, short documentary. 

New number

 

James posted, "Wouldn't 4 be a more appropriate number in that livery? Then you could use it for Thunderbird services."

And after a day with this floating around the back of my mind, I couldn't resist. Off came the vinyl number 8, and a 4 from the same pack went on. 

I seriously considered a read line around the edge of the battery boxes, but decided this was a step too far. If you get the joke, you get the joke... 

 

Ask Phil: Bending brass

 

John asks: I have been given a 009 etched brass kit to build, and to do this, I'll need to bend the metal. As a time-served black country metal basher, the only tools I have for this is a forge, and a 6-pound lump hammer. Will these do the job? 

Well John, probably not. For delicate work, you need a rather different set of implements. 

I recommend a set of flat and square-ended pliers. The Stanley set shown above came from a Pound Shop somewhere in Birmingham over 15 years ago. They are perfect for bending kit parts along the half-etch line that should be on the back on them (always have the line inside the fold). 

For longer folds, a set of bending bars is nice touch, but a pair of steel rulers in a vice will work perfectly well. 

I wrote a bit more in the subject in 2010. 

And on the Hold'n'Fold tool last year. 

Happy folding!  

Steaming photos

 

A few photos from a couple of weeks ago, when we met up for a steam train session at Ken's line. While there was a variety of motive power, no one's steam engine seemed to be working very well. 

My Merlin behaved OK, but Ragleth ran for a while, but then developed servo problems. I suspect I need to change the servo for something that can stand the heat of being near the boiler. 

It was a roasting hot day too, but there was cake and some cold drinks, so we just chatted away, and played with those trains that would behave. Money was raised for the Air Ambulance, so all was good. 

Saturday Film Club: Globe Making: How the World is Made (1955)

Fascinating - what a lot of work!

Mystery O gauge chassis

 

As usual, I am a model railway junk magnet - and the latest waif and stray to come my way is this O gauge chassis. 

It's well made, with a lovely gear train. 

Pop a 9v battery on, and it turns over silky smoothly. 

But what is it?  I suspect the chassis is scratchbuilt, possibly in the 1960s from the look of it. The wheels I don't recognise either. They are like giant Romfords, with those central retaining nuts. 

 

So, can anyone help identify any part of this? 

 

And, what could I use it under?  

Garden Rail - October 2025

When his LGB-based line didn't satisfy, Mark Nixon decided to start all over again, with British outline rolling stock more in harmony with his garden. He explains how the line was built, and the motivation behind it. 

In the rest of the magazine:

• A vintage, scratchbuilt diesel outline loco
• Fitting radio control to a railmotor
• Build a corner-filling diorama
• Model buildings with JigStones
• Build a 7/8th scale Ruston
• Replace a servo in Ragleth
• Planning a new layout
• Toy container wagons made into useful rolling stock

We've also a 16mm scale layout in under 6 square feet, and a trip to the stunning Barle Valley Railway. 

Plus, stay up to date with all the latest model railway product news.

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

Warehouse Wednesday: Headstocks

 

When I visited the Foxfield Railway, a tour of the Foxfield Colliery. Currently closed to the public, the aim is to restore the site so it can be the end of the line for the rest of the railway. 

For the modeller, it's a lovely, compact site. And the headstocks would be ideal for a scratchbuilder, with concrete-covered steels that cry out to be built from Plastruct. At a guess, they are around 80ft tall, so not stupidly big in OO or N gauge.  

Let's hope the site can be restored, there is a lot of work taking place. But if you have a spare five million quid knocking around, then the process could be a lot quicker!

Ex-works photo

 

With the sideframes on, driving controls fitted, and a nice big numeral on the side, the Hudswell Clarke is looking pretty good in my opinion. 

What it now needs is dirt. And rust. In real life, the yellow paint is a bit luminous, and those poorly painted rivets could do with a bit of grot to blend them in.  

I'm glad I opted for yellow over the more common grey though. There's nothing in my fleet that looks like it, and I hope the model stands out when on display. Choosing a livery is always tricky on a freelance locomotive, much like it is when having a car resprayed. You don't get the full effect until it's too late to do something about it.  

Switch upgrade

 

In the end, I decided that I couldn't live with just an on/off switch in the loco. Admittedly, this was partly driven by being able to pick up a couple of DPDT toggle switches with centre off positions, at a show. 

Fitting the thing was the next challenge. There's not a lot of space. 

 I could have cut another hole for the switch, but by this time the drivers seat was already fitted, and any drilling would have interfered with that. Having the toggle stick out at a slight angle isn't a problem, in fact it probably improves access. 

To cover the rectangular hole, I made a piece of black Plastikard, and even added fake rivets! 

Llanfair garden railway show 2025

 

Happy days. Despite some "liquid sunshine" in Wales, the Llanfair show was rather good this year. A few changes in the backgound, along with being cut back to a single day, seems to have rejuvenated it. 

Now run by the local W&LFR team, there seemed to be a bit more of a buzz about the event than in recent years. The basic mix was the same as ever, but the appearance of some new traders, and several micro layouts, seemed to make things seem more lively. 

I certainly enjoyed myself, with much chat around the hall. Hopefully I've picked up a couple of layouts for Garden Rail in the future, including a classic that inspired me as a youth. 

The reduction in show length will have pleased the trade, who could save themselves a useful amount on accomodation costs, whilst compressing the visitors into a single day. Car parking was difficult, I think I bagged the last space, which was right outside the front of the hall. Ironically, I didn't buy anything at all. In past years, I've had to lug heavy items up the mountain to the car park!

There was some excellent cake. I opted for a Victoria sponge, but since we were in Wales, picked up something for later as well. 

Saturday Film Club: HS2 megastructures

On my recent trip to Brum, I wondered what that massive bridge on the skyline was, and this video explains!

Now, I think HS2 is a very good idea. Maybe the implementation is a bit rubbish in many places, but as I know people whose job it is to get trains up the WCML, and there are precious few slots to do it. Even if you hate the idea though, can you not at least be proud we can manage engineering like this?  

Marston, Thompson & Evershed Ltd

Just over a week ago, I enjoyed a day out on the Foxfield Railway - part of this involved a ride up and down the line on this Hawthorne Leslie. 

The cab is tiny, and there were four of us in there - driver, fireman, trainee fireman and me. This meant a few minutes of toastie legs when the fire hole doors were open!

Of course, now I've had a cab ride, I feel the need for a model version. 

It's no great surprise that one is available, mainly because the driver that day was Richard from Footplate models. When you are a regular on the footplate, and Dapol bring out a model, commissioning one in the colours you know is an obvious move. 

This happened a few years ago, but a polite enquiry had them digging in the back of the cupboard, and I'm now the happy owner of a model. 

All this means, I now have two things. The first is a shirt with an oily, greasy black line on the back, steam loco cabs not being the cleanest place in the world. 

Second, a surplus red Hawthorne Leslie locomotive. It's still boxed, and no more than test run. If you would be interested in providing this (to quote every eBay listing) RARE and UNUSUAL model a home for about £95, drop me a line.