Phil's wagon

 

This was not my idea.

I think that the chaps at Rapido Trains are somehow responsible. 

Anyway, you can now pre-order yourself a P.Parker Patisseries wagon from the World of Railways shop.  One of only 90 to be made I'm told. 

If you prefer, there is a three-pack too: 

 

This includes a wagon to celebrate RMweb, and my late friend and colleague, Andy York. Proceeds from the Andy wagon will be donated to The Royal British Legion, a charity he supported. 

Being Rapido wagons, they are of the highest quality, and will look amazing on your OO layout. If you have an N gauge layout, then you have plenty of time to build a OO one, as the wagons will be delivered late 2026. 

So, get over to the shop and get your order in now 

(Note: I don't receive any money for this, but it will be a bit embarrassing if no one buys one! Even though THIS ISN'T MY IDEA)

4-wheel wagon

 

Would you believe I picked this lovely little wagon up at a model boat event? No one knows how it ended up there, but I'm glad it did. A fiver well spent. 

A well-made scratchbuilt (unless anyone can identify a kit) wooden model. It's fitted with 30mm diameter, uninsulated steel wheels. Currently set to 32mm gauge, there is plenty of space to move these out to 45mm, which is what I plan to do. 

Mind you, they don't seem very keen on moving on their axles. I'm wondering if I dare try a bit of heat to break any glue joints. Trouble is, it's such a lovely model, I don't want to risk damaging it. The axleboxes are metal, I'm suspecting whitemetal which rather precludes warming things up. Suggestions welcomed. 

Length, over buffers: 160mm. Width, over axleboxes, 82mm. 

The hole in the floor is a mystery. Was this a tender for a steam loco, and the holes is to allow a pipe through to the loco? Maybe a battery cart for an electric model. We'll never know, but it's fun to speculate. 

Warehouse Wednesday: Staines Mustard Mill

Hat tip to Duncan Young for this photo, which he had to get wet to take!

He says, "It’s been boarded up for some time and is adjacent to a path to the railway station. The central part must be for roasting or grinding the seed? It might make a nice low relief model?"

I can't disagree. This is a pretty typical structure, but being modular, it would be perfect as a backdrop to a layout. You could even stick a few sidings in front; they wouldn't look out of place.  

 

 

Model shop carrier bags

 Some people have greatness thrust upon them. I have old carrier bags from long-defunct model shops. 

Trains and Transport of Preston

Modelzone

A paper bag from G&I Models, Wigan or Warrington

A little Beatties bag

St Helens Model Centre

CDS Models, Warrington

 TAG Models, Doncaster 

 Finally, an Ian Allan bag from Waterloo

What a collection! Thanks very much, John J on RMweb. These are now carefully folded in the box with all the Beatties stuff. When I looked through these at the NEC, with members of the trade panel, there were some who remembered these shops - wonderful nostalgia!

NFRM - The Haul

 

Obviously, even though I was busy, I managed to buy a few bits to add to the stash. When you go to a toy train show, the obvious thing to come back with is a Russian space shuttle. A fiver from the MRC stand. They wouldn't let me try it on their test tracks though. 

I did manage to find some train stuff. First up, a couple of additions to the G-scale circus train, thanks to a deal with Richard at Footplate models. 

 

I also added to the old Hornby kit pile with some shops. 

Not sure if I have this one already, but for a fiver towards the end of Sunday, I'll take the risk. In the back of my head is an idea to build a street scene with a tramway running along it, so some shop kits will be useful. 

Some brushes from Burshes4U. I think these are brilliant, so it's time to stock up.  

Another job on the agenda, where it has been for years, is to ruthlessly sort out the brush pots, and bin all the ones not good enough even for dry-brushing. Then I'll put some good brushes in to replace them, which will make painting much more pleasant. 

Finally, a late buy from the MRC second-hand stall for a couple of quid. 

 

All the animals are off their sprues, and some have damaged legs. That's why it's a lot cheaper than the example on the Kitmaster collectors club stand, which is still in its cellophane. 

Playing the "If I was a millionaire" game, I'm not sure, with my limited time, how much else I'd come away with. The £100 Edwardian "Dribbler" on the MRC stand, perhaps. Interesting, but not that interesting to me. I'd probably order an LNER Garratt, and TT:120 DMU bubble car. But in terms of stuff to walk home with, not that much. Maybe I'm mellowing, and realising I have enough toy trains. Well, nearly. 

The National Festival of Railway Modelling 2025

 

What a weekend! Admittedly, I didn't see much of it as all my time was absorbed by hosting the World of Railways theatre. Being ringmaster to panels and talks is new to me - but everything passed off as well as I could have hoped. The conversation and questions flowed, and we enjoyed good numbers, with no free seats for the YouTubers, and well over 100 in for the talks, even on the Sunday. 

The show itself felt a lot better than last year. 2024 was all about getting the doors open. 2025 is the year it started to feel like "our" show. Something different from a traditional club show, but offering everyone exhibits that they will enjoy. 

James Street took the layout prize, but it was a tough choice - there were many cracking models on show, and no space fillers. I shot a couple for future issues of BRM, and there is at least one more I'd like to point a camera at in the future. 

Trade was also good, and a few people took money off me, more of that tomorrow. 

We "enjoyed" the usual moans online - the "void" is the area we don't pay for, yet get to use for loading and unloading. It's always been there, but quite a lot of people forget that. It's also somewhere for famous YouTubers to sit and tell everyone not to go to this show, having reviewed it without mentioning the layouts. 

Chairs - the show has never put out enough chairs to keep everyone happy, and we are no different. But then the motor show a couple of weeks ago had no chairs at all, and IPMS only have seats in the catering area. There were a load, and of course, a theatre you could sit in, munch your grub, and be entertained. I know a couple of people who enjoyed apple pie and custard in the front row of Mr Hornby's talk!

Talking of cake, my weekend started with Empire Biscuits, and continued with Malteser cake, stolen (I passed these to the WoR team) and apple pie and custard. Well, it's difficult to get away long enough to grab a proper lunch, and I didn't want to collapse with hunger during the day...
 

So, the weekend was fun. Well, I enjoyed it anyway. Numbers were considerably (well over 10%) up on last year. Hopefully, this bodes well for the future, as I think the National show is an important fixture in the calendar. It's not like other shows, but then why should all model railway exhibitions be the same? Model railway enthusiasts certainly aren't. 

Saturday Film Club: YouTubers at the National Festival of Railway Modelling

Last weekend, I hosted the Theatre at the NEC. One of the panels hotly anticipated, and packed to the rafters, was the group of YouTubers. Both Saturday and Sunday sessions are now online, so sit back and enjoy. 

Saturday

Sunday

 

 

T55 JFJ motor

Another mystery item from the box of stuff in our clubrooms - a chunky skew-wound French motor. 

Dating, according to the writing on the box, from 1981, the configuration is a bit odd. A large permanent magnet sits over the armature. There are a couple of contacts on the back. Touch a 9v battery on these, and the motor kicks, but doesn't revolve. I wondered if it was designed for AC current, but the instructions, translated by Google Lens, don't mention this. 

This is a heavy-duty unit, but I can tell you no more than that hence the post here. Should I spirit away for a project? What would I use it for? 

The interweb isn't much help either. I found one other example - an expired auction on French eBay. 

Suggestions? 
 

 

Shedtastic January issue of BRM

Here's a quick turnaround - a kit bought on Sunday, built and in BRM January four days later!

OK, it's not the most complicated model in the world, but everyone has to start somewhere, and a four-step build of a laser-cut shed is as good a place as any. Let's face it, if you don't do a great job, then a wobbly shed isn't unrealistic. 

The camera has been out, first time for the stay-at-home O gauge layout "Amberside". 

Then we have the tiny layout "Torry's End". This micro is given more page space than the area it occupies - but the article is fascinating, and the modelling, especially for a first layout, exceptional. 

BRM is available from all good newsagents, or our online store. 

By diesel to Port Erin

 

Looking for some photos for a magazine article, I found these from 2014. I'm not sure what is rarer, Isle of Man Railways diesel No.21 actually working, or the load, a collection of Peel microcars!

The loco has disgraced itself, and spent the last few years on blocks in the bus station car park. The reasons behind this are complicated, but largely stem from politicians trying to do something on the cheap, and ending up with a machine from a dubious firm, apparently. 

Whatever, this was one interesting train. A collection of Peel cars - P50's (including the prototype) and Tridents. 

 

Ratio SR van finished

 

It's not special. Not a stand-out supermodel. This is exactly what I wanted - a very run-of-the-mill "layout wagon".

I used to turn these out all the time. Meldridge Dock was full of them. My thinking is that you see a mass of vehicles, rather than a load of individuals. As long as the weathering, and overall effect, is harmonious, the layout looks good.  

Well, that, and I'm hopeless at applying transfers when they are in the kit, and too stingy to buy them when they aren't. Mind you, on the kit box, the transfers show plenty of silvering, so I'm not the only one. 

My solution is blobby numbers. Just get something in the right place, and no one bothers to read them. Anyway, if you are wagon spotting on my layout, I'll think there is something wrong with you. For this model, some Humbrol 147 was applied with the smallest brush (note to self, buy some more) to hand. You can read "XP" and not the rest. 

 I had planned to use a mapping pen, but my white ink had the consistency of semolina pudding when I dug it out, so I need to buy more of that too. 

Chalk marks are pencil crayon. Again, my pale grey has hidden itself, so they are white. 

Weathering is a little dry-brushing and lots of weathering powders wiped with a wet cotton bud. 

So much of this is easier if you practise. As I say, this used to be bread-and-butter work, but I can't remember the last time I built a wagon kit. I enjoyed this one though, and there are more in the stash... 

 

More plastic kits for the stash

 

Scale Model World was always going to be a spendy show. It's part of the fun, and my bank account was prepared. In the event, the bill was about the same as a single Rapido Y7, which isn't so bad. I certainly came away with a few boxes!

First up, the planned purchases. SMW is great for bargain prices on current kits, so as I wasn't in a hurry for these, I waited for my visit. As an added bonus, it ensured I'd leave with a new toy, and not just something random. 

The MiniArt holidaymakers are in wonderful poses. I've certainly seen people doing just this!

Airfix's Alvis Stalwart is a prototype that fascinates me. Now, I don't do military stuff, but I had a plan. One that I wasn't the first to think of. 

No need for camo, when a civilian version is available, thanks to Matchbox. OK, it's probably not real, but I remember having one of these toys when I was a kid, and the paint job will certainly be easy!

Mind you, I rather like the look of this version too. 

Moving on to impulse buys, I'm a sucker for a VW Type 2, and this looks like a rather nice kit. 

There's a satisfying number of parts in here, and options to produce four different liveries. Sadly, on the bargain stand, there wasn't the airfield "Follow Me" version, but I suspect applying to the all-over transfers would be a nightmare anyway. 

In the stash is a three-wheel bakers van, and I decided to add some figures and a stall to the project pile. 

 

The "Piste Circuit"? Well, the name made me snigger, and it was only three quid. What I have is a slice of racing circuit to use as a diorama base. Not sure I have much to pose on it, but I'm sure that can change...

Finally, a tool purchase. 

While I own an airbrush cleaning pot, but the rest of the bits have been on the list to buy for a long while. A tenner for the lot? Bargain. 

I'm sure some of you are thinking about the wisdom of adding more kits to my stash. Truth is that there are some that have been "maturing" for many years. I don't think I've built anything from last years pile for a start. Each kit represents a little possibility. I love making stuff, and while my time for this sort of personal project is sorely limited at the moment, I dream that one day each one of these will make it on to the workbench, and we all need a dream, even if it is a silly one involving plastic, glue and paint. 

Anyway, how many of you lot don't have a stash of your own?  

Scale Model World 2025

Plenty of inspiration at the IPMS modellers annual extravaganza. As every, it's a big show, that takes all day to go around, and that's only because I pretty much ignore anything military, and didn't get the chance to visit the competition this year. 

To be honest, trying to describe everything, or pick a favourite, is a waste of time. Have a look at my gallery on Flickr, and tell me what catches your eye.  

Saturday Film Club: LWMRS supports a project to mark 200 years of the modern railway

I've always been a fan of the Kato Circus system, and now some of my fellow L&WMRS club members have taken it into schools to great effect.

The layout will be at the NEC this weekend - please drop by and have a look, it's really impressive.  

Off to the NEC

 

This weekend, it's the big show at the NEC. 60+ layouts, and more trade than you can shake a wad of cash at. Something for everyone. 

My role will be to look after the theatre. Last year we had a cinema, but this proved so popular, we are adding some live demos, and panels to the mix. So, it's my job to stop people overrunning, and keep things on track, as well as asking intelligent questions. 

More detail on the NFRM website. 

 

Mystery O gauge signals

Mystery from a box of (mostly) junk that has arrived in our model railway clubrooms. A couple of O gauge signals of some vintage. 

There are no makers marks, but they look commercial rather than home-brewed. The searchlight is 10cm tall, and the two-aspect 9cm. 

 

The searchlight base is fitted with four pins - I guess a pair for each bulb in the head. There are screw terminals on the other one. 

Put a 9v battery on the rear pair of terminals, and the signal lights up. The front two don't do anything. I suspect a blown bulb, but don't fancy disturbing the wrapping on the head, which looks like fabric sticking plaster for fingers!

So, a bit of a mystery - can anyone shed a light on these?  

Uh-oh

If you are reading this, something has prevented me from updating my blog for some time.

Obviously, I don't know what that something is. I might be on holiday and forget to postpone this blog post, in which case I'll be back in a couple of weeks.

I might have run off with a millionaire supermodel and be living a life of luxury no longer concerned with toy trains.

I might have been kidnapped by aliens or pirates, in which case would someone come and rescue me, please.

Anyway, if this is the last post, I hope you have enjoyed my blog to date. Thanks for dropping by and good luck in the future...

Phil

Warehouse Wednesday: Shunting bollard and wagon turntable

 

Spotted, on the way to Germany, in the Coal Drops Yard, behind Kings Cross - an ornamental shunting bollard and wagon turntable. 

Now, I'm assuming the track has been relaid as there isn't a flangeway alongside it, but these "ornaments" actually look pretty convincing. OK, the turntable is now glass, not wood, but it's in the right place, and pays homage to the history of the yard. 

The shunting capstan is on an access cover - possibly because it was a powered version, so you'd need access underneath? I'm not sure why it's there otherwise. 

I bet most people haven't a clue about either, but readers of this blog are so much better educated... 

Painted van

 

Now the cat has wandered off, I get a precious morsel of modelling time to whack some paint on the van. As this is a traditional build, I'm painting it by hand. All my other rolling stock is hand-painted, and with a bit of weathering, it looks fine. Saves sorting out the airbrush too. 

Colour should be bauxite, but the shade on the Ratiop box looks like a pale earth tone. I don't think it has faded either. I tried that, and decided I didn't like it, so whacked some Humbol brick colour over the top. It needed a second coat anyway. 

I probably should have bought a bottle containing an "approved" shade of paint, but bauxite is one of those colours that seems to change shade depending on the photo you look at. My feeling is that it wasn't as stable a shade in real life, so always using the "correct" version isn't any more accurate than my bodge. 

The result isn't bad in real life, it looks a bit streaky in the photo. Once I've added lettering, and dirt, this should look fine. And at least I'll have managed to wrangle some modelling time for myself!

Oh, and the roof is a mix of Humbrol 66 and 67, with loads of talcum powder dabbed into it. The resulting texture is very pleasing.