Noch and Prieser stocking fillers

To finish the week, I have a few little bits from Noch and Prieser.

Starting with the biggest box, some laser-cut strawberries for the small holding or allotment. 48 plants in the finest cardboard, pre painted and just needing releasing from the sheet to make ready to pop in the ground. This is another item on the list of things I've meant to have a go at, and now I will. They require a more serious project to be part of but as soon as I have an opportunity, I'll let you know how I get on.

Laser cut Ho scale strawberries via Idealo

We also have some figures, two boxes of which can wait until more appropriate points in the year - I think you can guess which these are !

I have to mention the Landscape Painter from Prieser though. For an interestingly posed model, supplied pre-painted and ready to use, the price compare favourably to buying a similar model in unpainted whitemetal from a specialist supplier.

I suppose you could be picky and say that it's fine if your landscape matches the painting he's working on, but I'm sure pedants could easily replace the canvas with a photo, perhaps run through a watercolour filter, of their layout. Or just place him with the back of the easel facing the audience.

Preiser Landscape painter via Idealo

Revell Volkswagen T3 Camper

OK, so the original idea was that I would buy some model railways, but once I started digging, another possibility opened up - a model VeeDub.

Long term readers of this blog will remember my unsuccessful Dampervan project based on the Top Gear amphibious Volkswagen T25 camper. The Revell kit I used was lovely and I'd had it in mind to revisit it and produce a perfectly stock model. Well, this is still the plan although Revell changing the box artwork did throw me a bit and I didn't realise what I'd done until I got the model home.

Anyway, in the box are 80 components including the rather good one-piece bodyshell. The side and rear doors can be modelled open as can the poptop roof. I haven't decided which way to go with that yet. Plastic kit modellers tend to have every hatch gaping but I think a more normal closed look might be better. It would certainly be easier to store ! At the back, a detailed engine is included.

Inside the model is a Westafalia camper interior. Quite a modern one if the box-illustration is anything to go by (I didn't use any of this in my previous attempt so I don't know) which is good because Westy plaid seat covers are a nightmare tartan mix of olive greens and oranges.

All this produces a 1:25 model 18.5cm long.

Incidentally, for non VW nuts, T2, as per the box and T25 as per me, are the same vehicle. T25 was the UK nomenclature for the third shape VW van.

Revell Volkswagen T3 "Camper" via Idealo

Faller River Cargo Boat

 

In the United Kingdom, most people tend to think of river transport in terms of narrow boats. Abroad, large barges still ply their trade on many watercourses which is why Faller produce this kit for a Dutch Barge.

The model can be built in two lengths, the longest being 36cm. 102 parts, mostly moulded in suitable coloured plastic should make for speedy assembly.

You might not think a foreign barge is what your model railway needs but plenty of people would disagree. I'm pretty certain that Chris Nevard has used something similar on one of his layouts, although needless to say I can't find a photo to back this up at the moment.

Not to worry. A quick perusal of "Britian's canal and river craft" throws up a number of UK possibilities. Both the Aire and Calder Navigation and Bridgewater Canal saw craft that looked just like this. In fact I'd be reasonably happy to build the model straight out of the box and use it this way.

With a little more imagination, the kit could be the basis for a decent live-aboard. Dutch barges are very popular in this respect - the width makes the insides more akin to a real house rather than the corridor living a narrow boat forces on its occupants. While that broad beam reduces the number of waterways open to you, at least being able to lover the roof and windows of the wheelhouse means bridges hold no fears.

Faller selection via Idealo
 

Faller Children's Merry-Go_round

OK, it's big kid time now. I know I'm not alone in looking at the various continental manufacturers range of working accessories and thinking, "That would be fun". On Sunday, I said there was a huge range of goodies that I wasn't aware of and simply drilling through the Faller selection pretty quickly made me decide to have a go at this kit.

The model is a fairground merry-go-round for children. The box is stuffed full of plastic mouldings. According to the wrapper there are 157 pieces in 10 colours, a drive unit (motor) and sheet of stickers for decoration.

You can probably work out most of the details from the photo. The motor/gearbox unit is a single pre-assembled item (the yellow cylinder by the silver top) that apparently drops into place with everything to rotate sitting on top of it.

The riders will sit on or in many different types of small vehicle including cars, boat, fire engine, horses and a steam engine. Most of the parts, and the instructions, cover assembling each of these. In theory you don't even need to paint them as everything is supplied in different colours of plastic. When I get on to this, I think I will replicate the colours in paint as I never feel self-coloured plastic looks right, but then I'm just being picky.

I bet this model could be built and operating within a couple of hours. Certainly if you are happy not to paint anything, an afternoon should see it done. Finding a spot on the layout for it might be harder as the based is a 12cm diameter circle. Maybe it could live on a village green as part of a fete. Add a bit of bunting and a few stalls and the results would be eye-catching.

A huge rage of Faller stuff via Idealo

Hornby R590 Station Halt

My review of the products sourced through Idealo starts with a dream project. Hornby's station halt building has long been a favourite of mine - I really think that the little building is a gem despite it being in the range for over 30 years - and this is an opportunity to get my hands on one.

In the surprisingly small box you find the building (in two parts), a straight section of platform and two ramps. Fencing it provided to stop your passengers falling of the back. If they need to sit there are benches and for the really lazy, a motorised luggage trolley.

The set continues a tradition of old model railways with names from main line stations for the nameboard. I want to build York then it's going to take a big gulp of modellers licence to believe this is going to do it. Who cares though, this set isn't aimed at me, it's for kids who want a station for their train set and if the train calls at York or Crewe or Derby on every circuit, who cares ? As long as Network Rail don't get any ideas on rationalising these stations from this we'll be fine.

I particularly like the adverts which appear to come out of the same school of art that produced the 1975 Hornby catalogue.

Is this suitable for more serious modellers ? I think so. The shelter would benefit from a coat of paint and weathering but I could see it on a Colonel Stephens type branch line. The platform isn't bad although those white edges are a bit garish. Maybe some toning down would help but the biggest problem is the tapered plan. This is fine if the model is on a curve but really, you want straight platforms. I'd be inclined to stick at least one more straight section in anyway.

The blockwork faces look modern. You could cover them with plasticard or maybe this is a station on a preserved line where they are a friend to Mr Breezeblock.

As I say, possibilities. I think a little bit of a diorama is in order for this one day.

Hornby R590 Station Halt at Idealo

Introducing the Idealo projects

I've been plugging away with this blog for 6 years and all of a sudden have been offered some free stuff. A gentleman called Tommy George got in touch, said some nice things about the blog and then hit me with this:

I work for a company called Idealo, a price comparison website who, amongst other things, compare the prices of model railways, trains and accessories. While the area is something of a niche, we are trying to expand our knowledge and prominence in this area; something which we'd love for you to help us with.

A price comparison site for model railways, trains and accessories ? Blimey, that really is a niche business ! Cudos for taking the time to go hunting for model making blogs and supporting them though.

Using the site seems a bit eBay to me. You drill down through categories and find products at the end. It doesn't matter where these are coming from, the site handles that bit, you concentrate on looking for the item you are after. In web terms, this is the correct way to go and fits in nicely with usability geeks thoughts on the "scent of information". Every step takes you closer to your goal and as long as you feel you are on the right path, you'll stick with it. Unlike eBay, you can just buy the stuff at the end rather than hanging around waiting to be outbid by someone with 1 second to go.

Anyway, we converse a bit and I end up with a voucher to go shopping with. Initial thoughts involved buying a train set. Neil Rusby did just this when made the same offer. However, this is a blog about making things, not buying train sets so I took the opportunity to hunt for a few projects. Like Neil, I've gone for things that I wouldn't normally consider. Well, most of them anyway.There's dream project in there and I'm showcasing the breadth of product available.

Over the last week, packages of good things have been landing on my doorstep and over the next week, I'll take a look at each one to give some initial impressions. Look out for them then appearing in a more detailed build over the next few months among the other stuff. Rest assured that I have spent the moeny, so I can say what I like !

Idealo price comparison website

Incidentally, Neil did a bit of comparison with Google Shopping and the results seem to be in favour of Idealo for price. I looked in a similar way and was more impressed with the range on offer including several manufacturers I'd not seen before. Maybe I just need to get out more, or maybe this sort of window shopping is just the thing to start you off in a fresh direction if your modelling has gone stale.

Model railway section of Idealo