London Festival of Railway Modelling 2016

"No you can't move the stand."

That's what I was told on arrival at a show. A slight mix-up with the planning left Ruston Quays stranded in the gangway if we followed the diagram in the programme. I was supposed to be beside the BRM stand but this was as wide as the island it sat at the end of. And moving it a bit wasn't an option.

Hurried calls on the radios from the organisers and a few minutes later, a site electrician was hard at work with bit of wood and cables. Result, a new spot opposite the BRM stand with electricity and an excellent view of the Bachmann stand. The location was perfect with just enough room behind for all my stuff but not too much. The layout was easy to find but not in the way.

The trip to the hotel started with an amazing site - London at night from the top of the hill. Sadly it wasn't possible to stop and take photos so you'll have to trust me and enjoy the next mornings view instead.



The reason I was happy to have a good view of the Bachmann stand was that they had brought along something new. Gone were the piles of returned RTR. Instead we had a members lounge for the Collectors Club and demonstrations of Woodland Scenics products by staff flown in the the States. The expectation was a bit of a fuss when the first people in the door found out.

As expected, the first visitors sprinted for the stand. They didn't see anything at the front and carried on around the sides. I'm told that the first person to circumnavigate the stand managed it 33 seconds after the opening.

Not long after, my view was obscured by people enjoying my layout, something that didn't change all day. My only break was to appear in the lecture theatre - to talk about the layout!



Day 2 started with a wait in the back of the hall as we'd all forgotten the 8:30 not 8am opening. Once in, I took the chance to have a little wander. Not that there was much to see as the layouts were still being prepared for the day. At least I managed to pick up some sandwiches, even though they contained the slimiest processed chicken ever served up.

I also had the chance to renew my acquaintance with Andrew the Hedgehog who I first met at Doncaster. As a souvenir, I bought a knitted miniature which we subsequently did silliness with.

The main interest from visitors was in the DCC Concepts point levers - marvelous tactile devices for working the points.  Despite hundreds of people working them, they are still as good as new. Not cheap but in the opinion of many people, worth the money.

After this it's Skytrex warehouses and Wills arches. Lots of, "Where did you get that?" questions.

Sunday is always quieter than Saturday but after an hour I was chatting away again until my break for the theatre. Maybe a better night's sleep helped but my talk lasted about 10 minutes longer than the day before. It wasn't helped by Andy York sitting in the front row scoffing chocolate cake however!



Needless to say, once I'd finished, I was straight over to the 2mm Society stand to claim a piece. Those guys make excellent model railways and even better cake!

The layout worked well with only a couple of issues: the Hornby DMU is stuttering a bit after a while. I've cleaned the wheels several times but have a horrible feeling that this is yet another loco worn out on a stand. That will be the third, although the first standard gauge one. We also have an issue with a point motor which isn't throwing perfectly in one direction - hopefully an adjustment of the wire through the tiebar will be enough to fix this. 

Winding down, I managed a few minutes buying stuff with some lengths of plastic for a model boat and an Airfix J94 from the Kitmaster Collectors club for a future project.Then pack up and head home and some sleep!

Thanks to everyone who dropped in and said hello. I hope you enjoyed the show, from the photos I've seen it looked excellent.

My paltry selection of picture on Flickr.

Pretty good photos

Cameras are over-rated. What you see above is my aged Fuji AX650. I took yesterdays blog photo on it and the results, in low light, weren't half bad. Maybe not suitable for blowing up huge in a magazine, but pretty good all the same.

Last weekend I found myself having to take new product photos with it. Not realising there would be so much good stuff to see I'd not bothered sticking the Canon G12 in the bag.

Despite this, I didn't do too badly:

Dept of field is a bit limited, but I've seen magazines use photos that aren't sharp all the way along. The key is to sit the camera on something solid where possible. Stick it on auto, let the focusing do the job on the nearest point to the lens and then press the shutter button smoothly. A little bit of post processing and they are good to go. 

Digital photography is both wonderful and a but scary for modelling. Obviously I take a lot of photos but then so does everyone else judging by the number of images thrust under my nose at exhibitions...

Easy clean airbrush

One of the cardinal rules of airbrush ownership is that you MUST clean the tool out after every spray painting session.

I did a little painting last week for a BRM video. We finished shooting around lunchtime and so I was faced with a choice - trip to the pub or clean the airbrush.

A week later, I've finally got around to doing the cleaning.

Happily, the tool proved to be easy to clean. A bit of cellulose thinners rubbed on the needle and poked down the paint cup followed by a blast of airbrush cleaner and all is shiny again. The Spraycraft airbrush seems to be every bit as easy to own as expected and doesn't do a bad job of painting too.

I've had the same experience with the Sparmax airbrush I received for review. This is a bit of a prima donna in the painting department as it requires paint to be thinned to homeopathic levels if you want to avoid blockages, but like a true diva when it performs it's fantastic, it too cleans easily.

Both are easier than my trusty Badger 100 which ought to be easy as it's such a simple tool. Maybe the difference is the top mounted paint cup on these tools as opposed to the side mounted separate cup on the Badger. I always thought I preferred this for painting but maybe I'm wrong.

Warehouse Wednesday: Modern tin boxes

Last week I looked at the remains of AP Leamington. Beside them are these modern industrial units built in the last 12 months.

The simple design would appear to be easy to model. There's pretty much no fiddly detail to replicate, in fact the hardest job would be keeping your work clean and tidy as there's no chance of hiding any mistakes.

Of course, if scratchbuilding it too daunting, the new Wills industrial units look very similar indeed.

You're just being silly

Much as I love exhibiting model railways, by the end of the last day it's difficult to avoid letting your hair down a bit. Last weekend was no exception.

We'd borrowed a production model of the APT-E from Locomotion models and after posing it sensibly on Ruston Quays, I couldn't resist setting the nose up pointing out of the hole I made at the end of the station to stop the DMU hitting the fascia support board. If I'd had my own model, or perhaps some else's, I could have just wound the speed up and saved myself drilling a hole!



In pre-Internet and mobile phone days, people had to make their own entertainment. Many whiled away the hours knitting giant hedgehogs, which they then left in amusing places. I'm amazed no-one has modelling one before. Fortunately I was able to buy a suitable knitted animal, indeed there were a delightful array of colours on offer...

New sign for old

If you write on a door with white ink and then heavily wash it with paint to weather said door, the ink runs.

No problem, print a new sign and stick it over the old one. Then add figures from Priesler and Dapol, tools from Severn Models and an Oxford Diecast pickup.

I'm quite pleased with this.

Chairman's Challenge boat sails

Better weather means more time sailing boats and one on the list to see afloat is the hull I'm working on for the Chairman's Challenge this year.

With the mechanical gubbins installed, I tested the hull in the sink and as suspected, it's very buoyant. A couple of bags of lead shot were needed to bring it down to waterline.

On the water, the model sails really well. The hull is lovely and with all that weight, pretty stable even in tight turns. I could have used a smaller propeller as it needs no more than the first couple of notches on the transmitter for a sensible speed.

All good anyway, now to get back to the superstructure.

Large Scale Model Rail show 2016

The weather is improving so it's time to start thinking garden railway. Handily, the Large Scale show is just around the corner from me so along we go to see what's new in the world of big trains.

If I'm honest, the last few events haven't impressed me much. Were the event further than the ten minute drive away, I might not bother. The 16mm Association event in Peterborough is far larger and so if it were a distance I'd chose to do that one instead.

However, this year that would have been a mistake. For a start, I'd not have seen the Hambleden Valley Railway.



Actually, I would because it's at Peterborough this year but here I got it without crowds.

Basically, we have a very normal model railway. A branch line terminus with a loop and some sidings. In this respect the trackplan is very similar to Melbridge Dock. The big difference is that it's worked by radio controlled steam. And worked properly.

Shunting is aided by Accurcaft couplings converted to automatic operation by the addition of some metallic bits hanging from the back. Magnets under in the track operate them - I have a similar setup on Ruston Quays and it's brilliant and simple. This is the first time I've seen anything like this used in G scale however.



The End of the Line is another layout right up my street. Build by Giles Flavel, it's now owned by my friend Tim Crockford and I'm a little jealous.

A narrow gauge line feeds a standard gauge one with coal. The little skips are dragged out and automatically tipped into the larger wagons. It's nicely modelled and weathered. Even without the operating features, you'd be impressed.

Of course, those who know the layout normally talk about the radio controlled lorry rather than the trains. Very well done, the vehicle operates at a realistic speed and can reverse under a conveyor belt for loading before being driven off scene.

All this takes place in a space around 10 feet long. Rather longer is the Charnwood Forest Branch.



A cracking O gauge model over 30 feet in length and U shaped so you have around 70 feet of track. There's two stations and two shunting yards - plenty to occupy the operators. If I'm being pedantic, the buildings look a bit orange to me BUT the modelling is of a consistent high standard so this really isn't a problem.

Finally, the bad news is that Accucraft are after my wallet. On the stand was the first of next years Isle of Man models:



Mona in electric form will be around £1300. I might go and buy a lottery ticket as it looks lovely in Ailsa Green. Add in a few of the nice looking M wagons and I could spend more than my last car cost me...

And best of all, the first ice cream of the year from the van parked outside!

Photos on Flickr from the show. 

Off to London

Today I'm packing up Ruston Quays for our trip down to the London Festival of Railway Modelling.

Driving in the capital is one of my least favourite occupations but needs must. If I go down the M1, it reduces the time spent on the North Circular. Well, that's the plan anyway.

As well as showing the layout, I'll be in the lecture theatre at 2pm on Saturday and 12 noon on Sunday.

If you come along, please drop by and say hello. If you sit in on a talk, please don't fall asleep...

London Festival of Railway Modelling website.

Rockin' the hi-vis look

I'm off to Alexandra Palace tomorrow and in the paperwork there is new instruction: 

Please note that all exhibitors present during Friday set up and on Sunday break down, effectively during the period when vehicles are present in the hall, will be required to wear hi-vi jackets.

No hi-viz, no setup.

Mentioning this to a friend brought a huffing "Health & Safety gone mad" response, however I beg to differ.

If you have ever driven a van in a confined area (something my friend has never done) then you'll know the challenges involved in maneuvering a 2 ton vehicle around while not squashing anyone, or demolishing a stand. It's bad enough when those driving are the sort of stand setup worked who live in a transit. For us lot you've the added danger of people who hire a van a couple of times a year and don't get the same sort of practise.

So, the regulation may be aimed at "normal" stand setup staff but it's even more appropriate for us. Especially since "us" includes people who will nip in between a moving van and stand assuming that are immune from being squashed. As a driver, I'd like them to clearly visible, it gives me half a chance.

I'd expect this rule to spread to any venue where people and vehicles mix in close confinement. I wouldn't be surprised to see the NEC implement it for a start.

Anyway, I already own a fluorescent yellow jacket but it's a bit bulky to wear when assembling a layout (ideal for waiting for the RAC though) so £6.99 from my local workwear shop bought me a tabard in orange and reflective. For cheapskates, I'm told that Lidl are selling something similar for a couple of quid. If it avoids squishing, money well spent.

Warehouse Wednesday - AP Leamington

Once upon a time, Automotive Products was the largest employer in Leamington Spa. My dad worked there and I remember in the 1990s collecting him from work occasionally on Friday when the crowds would emerge.

Thousands of people exiting on foot and by bicycle with a few cars. There were those who lived far enough away to drive but they had to wait for the pedestrians as the mob was too thick to push through. A few wives would collect their husbands but generally parked outside the gates and transferred to the passenger seat for the trip home.

All that has long gone, apart from one large stores area tucked behind the massive Woolsey warehouses that now occupy the main site. These have been around as long as I can remember and I'd guess they date from the 1950s or earlier. The factory existed in the war and I think enjoyed camouflaged roof painting.

Compared to modern buildings, there's a lot of brickwork in evidence. The site has an air of evolving rather than being designed in one go - hardly surprising considering the length of time it existed.

Don't throw away a little person

I have a plastic box full of figures. Some are new but others have been rescued from old models or even bought in odd boxes of second hand stuff. 

The man above is an Airfix figure and as you can see, the paint was peeling off him. No matter, a quick daub with enamel and he's good enough to stand on the layout. I know he looks a bit crude but you are seeing him many times life size. 

And yes I know the paint has peeled off his shoe. It did than when I removed him from the painting stick he was superglued to. 

So, don't throw away those plastic or whitemetal people, they can always be saved.

NCB Blue

Steven asks: 

I was wondering exactly which paint make and shade you used for the RSH sidetank? The shade when weathered is just right for one of the NCBs Cumberland area locos.


It's Humbrol 25 - Matt blue. Sprayed over a grey primer base courtesy of Halfords. I think the trick is not to spray the blue too thickly so the grey tones it down.

Add a dose of filth (mostly Track Colour)  first sprayed then wiped away and then sprayed again and the colour isn't bad.

Sold As Seen

This is an Airfix 1400 ex-GWR tank in BR livery.

As you can see, it's dust and rusty. The box has a badly torn window. I bought it a year or so ago for £12. Last weekend, I tried to sell it. For £12. 

Now you might reasonably conclude that for £12 there is probably something wrong with it. Ramsay's Guide values it at £30 although that's likely to drop once the Hattons/DJM version appears. 

Anyway, I did sell the loco. To someone who deals in second hand model railways. He didn't ask anything about it, just paid up and left. 

This is odd as everyone else buying a loco asked if it works and was treated to the model doing a turn on the test track we had along the back of the stand. We gave advice and sometimes talked people out of purchases if they were likely to be unsuitable. Hornby Dublo coupling fitted wagons do not work on a youngsters train set and we don't want them to be disappointed. 

Likewise, an early Triang train set might look on the face of it like a good deal but it is early, and even though the loco works you're going to have to stick to Super 4 track. 

As for DCC, forget it. I don't think anything we had was even DCC ready, although the loco model shop offers a fitting service for those scared of soldering chips in and since he had a stand, we happily pointed people in that direction if they were umming and ahhing over a purchase. 

Anyway, in the middle of the afternoon, the buyer returns and angrily tells us that the loco is faulty. He's tried it and while the motor runs, the wheels don't work.

True I say, there is a problem with the wheels . They do rotate but I have a feeling someone has taken them off at some point and not put them back on properly. I could fix it but don't need the model, hence it's appearance on the stand priced at a couple of quid more than made up static Airfix loco kits. Even the motors sell for at least a fiver.

"It's not fit for purpose!" I was told. 

"It depends what the purpose is." I reply.

Which is true. Stick it in a siding and it's perfectly good scenic feature. You'd pay for a "proper" scenic item. You'd even pay more for one of those badly cast lumps of coal sold as souvenirs. 

"Also, as the signs say, everything is Sold as Seen." I point out. 

Sadly, there is more demanding and threats to "take this further" so I took I returned the money from my wallet rather than taking it back out of the cash box. Returned in the sense of chucking the stuff at him. I'm not proud of that but nor do I like being shouted at. A complaint was duly made to the exhibition manager about me. 

To avoid this happening again, I can offer some tips to buyers on second hand stalls:

• If there is nothing to say a loco is a runner, assume initially it isn't. Most of ours were, but to varying degrees of effect. Some needed a service, others were perfect. We had customers who enjoy repairing locos and are happy to buy less than perfect - it's their hobby.
• Ask questions - "Does this run?" is the popular and pertinent one. 
• If there is a test track, ask to see the model run on it. We happily ran stuff even if someone was only half-serious about buying. If the stallholder won't try it then there is definitely something wrong and you need to adjust the amount you are willing to pay accordingly.
• Examine the model. Take it out of the box and have a good look. 
• If it's a kit, have a good look inside the box but be careful. Stallholders don't appreciate someone upending the parts all over the table.
• If a bargain looks too good, as my old friends in Trading Standards always said, it probably is

There are bargains to be had. I have an HO Shay that I knew was faulty but since it was cheap, I risked the money. Taking it to bits, the universal joint was loose on the motor shaft. A drop of superglue later, I have a working, if scruffy, Shay probably worth 3 times what I paid for it.

Caveat emptor

Leamington 2016

A new venue!

After several years at Stoneleigh Park, the owners decided we were no longer welcome, presumably they preferred the empty hall, so we headed back into town with the first show at Mid Warwickshire College.

The building has recently undergone a massive re-fit and they are keen to rent it out. We were there first hirer's. As a show venue, it's a lot more complicated than the vast square box we've enjoyed over the last few years, but thanks to some excellent planning by Nick, everything fitted in pretty well. No-one found a pillar in the middle of their layout and we even made good use of the numerous curved spaces.

One such space was in the foyer, a round room with an open segment. You can't fit layouts in there but it is absolutely perfect for the second hand stall. And that's where I stayed pretty much all weekend.

As such, I can't really give you a proper report on the show. I did spend time with Charles Insley in the Narrow Gauge lounge - we'd grouped layouts where possible - where we talked unusual model locos. He'd got a couple of very nice 3D printed models that didn't look 3D printed at all.

On the layout were a couple of the Bachmann USA models from their Thomas range. More specifically, a Skarloey which Charles had de-faced and turned back in to Talyllyn. It looks great and runs well. Proper RTR 009. Sadly, the terms of the Thomas licence held by Hornby means these models can't be officially imported into this country, even if they were factory de-faced.



The only layout I had a proper look at was also narrow gauge. This time a tiny moving diorama set in a Dickensian town. There was much detail to spot and a very helpful paddle with all the information you needed to work out which building belonged to which story.



Another curved area was given over to the model boat club and they put on an excellent display of models. These were popular with the visitors, it's nice that not everyone is too blinkered and can just enjoy good modelling.

Sales on our stand were brisk. RTR models were selling, although the Hornby Dublo and Trix didn't shift. What we did sell were wagon kits. A couple of members took the opportunity to clear collections and despite insisting on a maximum of 20 items per person to avoid becoming overloaded, we let them stick in an extra box half way through Saturday to fill the table up again.

If you came to the show, I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks to all those who stopped for a chat.

Hornby APT

The Hornby model of the Advanced Passenger Train, strictly speaking an APT-P, was launched in 1980. Designed in conjunction with British Rail, it unfortunately enjoyed a rather more reliable tilt system than the real train. The demise of the prototype 5 years after the model launched led to a limited sales life with the final batch being produced in 1984. 

Despite this, the model has always been popular on the second hand market. If you want a set, then many sellers on eBay will be able to furnish you with one for less then a price of a modern RTR big diesel. 

What you get is a rather basic model. Admittedly the APT wasn't bristling with surface detail but current day modellers will I suspect be unimpressed by what is a very 80s Hornby production. Had the plan to produce a quick re-run a few years ago come to fruition, I suspect the forums would have been full of frothing demanding a few (read: complete redesign but sold at 80s prices) changes to the moldings. 

With the immanent arrival of Rapido's APT-E, I'm sure we'll see the two models together and I have a feeling that the 35 year gap between them will be very obvious. However, with a Blue Pullman costing over £500, how much would people be willing to pay for an APT to more modern standards?

RTP buildings aren't a new idea

 

Digging around the back of a cupboard this week, I found a little bridge. 10cm long, just over 6cm wide and 3cm tall. Made of plaster. 

Hump-back bridge Small is a A.C.E.M. Product manufactured in Nottingham. A little web searching tells me very little more about them other than the range included tunnel mouths, retaining walls and dry stone walling. 

According to the box, the world distributors are none other than Edward Exley of Baslow, Derbyshire. They were in good company with the (for the time) well reguarded coaches produced by the same firm.

Supplied ready to plonk, the colouring has an indefinable "oldness" about it. Maybe the colour just looks like something out of an old magazine. 

Can anyone shed more light on this?

Warehouse Wednesday: Waterloo arches

 

Underneath Waterloo station in London, a few feet from The Hole in the Wall pub, are some arches supporting the station approach road. This being London, no opportunity has been missed to use these as rentable business space. 

The moment I spotted this scene, I knew it was worth an appearance on the blog. At least 3 different types of brick - blue, red and London yellow, stonework, cables, ducts and loads of dirt. Everything you could want in a small space. Well, everything you could want as an enthusiast of grotty working buildings.

I couldn't see what goes on underneath the arches unfortunately, but if you fancy a virtual walk around, here's the link to Google Streetview.

One man's trash is another man's tresure

Leave me in charge of a second hand stall for a weekend at an exhibition and you can be sure some of the sales will be to me.

This year I got away pretty lightly.

• Dart Castings letter boxes. I needed one of these in a hurry recently and am sure I have at least one in the collection of whitemetal bits. Could I find it? Of course not so £1.50 well spent.
• Fox Transfers D Numbersets for selection of English Electric Type 4 Locos. Didn't know they were for Peaks when I bought them and there is one number missing, but for a quid, well worth squirrelling away into the transfers folder. 
• Lithoplan Model Products BR Timetables & Signs. Never heard of Lithoplan Model Products and these look a little crude, but for 50p, if I need to finish a 1970s station model then I'm sorted. For timetables, toilet signs and platform numbers anyway. 
• Kenline 4mm scale wagon kits. Two 4 plank LMS wagons for £4. Kenline kits fascinate me as the bodies are made of pre-cut plywood. Metalwork is whitemetal castings suplimented by pre-riveted plastic strips. It's all a bit crude by today's standards but with a bit of care, perfectly presentable layout wagons can be produced. More to the point, they are interesting to build. 

So, more bits to add to the pile that to any sensible person already looks too large. On the other hand, a stash of materials is pretty much essential for me and while I can ignore the pile of old RTR, the little packets are pretty irresistible.

Inspired by Melbridge Dock

Look at this:

Above is the stone warehouse on my layout Melbridge Dock. Now look at this:

Mike Hunter bought this layout from eBay and the builder has obviously been influenced by our layout big time.

He's also picked up on our green, curved top gates straddling the baseboard joint.

I'm really flattered by this. For someone to have looked at something we built and think, "I fancy making one of those." and then actually go away to have a go is a real compliment. It's also nice to know that people looking at layouts on display at exhibitions are taking away more than just the contents of their carrier bags. The stuff in their heads is probably more valuable...

Bachmann biscuits

On behalf of MREmag, Tuesday saw me take a trip down to London for the Bachmann product announcements for 2016. I've covered this over on MREmag so if you want details of the new goodies, head over there.

Now, I know what you are thinking. "I bet all the money I spend on model railways goes to fund a great big shindig for the press and their mates."

Well, rest easy. The only refreshments provided were tea, coffee and hot chocolate from a vending machine - and there wasn't any tea to be had by time I got to it as Mr York had finished up the milk - and biscuits.

Yes, I know there are party rings but most of the plates were plainer fare. Not a chocolate biscuit to be had.  I didn't think journalism was like this.

While the event was all about the model railways, Bachmann's recent acquisition of the PocketBond group also played a part. This wasn't just a press event, the real focus was on the retailers. The company likes to look after them, after all they are the shop window - literally!

So, a couple of displays showing the vast array of Pocketbond items on offer were provided. Most eye-catching to me was the massive plastic kit of HMS Hood. It must be over a metre long and yet costs only £299. OK, not the same as a five bob Spitfire of 1960s Airfix fame, but not bad for such a large and detailed model.

Designed as a static model, I can't see any difficulty fitting radio control inside. Arranging access to the insides might be fun but no worse than any other battle ship. If I were Deans Marine, I'd be keeping an eye on the range.

Mr Rainbow's coal wagon

 

Dropping in to my local model shop in the week, I found a shiny new wagon pressed into my hand for review. 

An exclusive commission from Bachmann for the shop, the prototype was the only wagon owned by JH Rainbow. The livery is as accurate as possible with a lot of research taking place by the owner and doubtless some of those who drop into the shop. It's amazing what you can find out if you ask enough people. 

You might wonder why the wagon is numbered "5" if it's the only one in the fleet. As far as anyone can tell, the other 4 wagons were the horse drawn carts used for delivering coal around the town so the railway wagon was just added to the series of numbers - I really like this story. It's the sort of social history that makes this hobby so special. 

Anyway, if you want one, contact Classic Train & Motor Bus.

L&WMRS show this weekend

 

Today, I'm going to be helping mark out the hall and then over the weekend, I'll be flogging top quality pre-owned items from the club 2nd hand stall. We've all new stock this year so if you are in the mood for a bargain, come along!

Leamington & Warwick Model Railway Society Exhibition website.

Parlimentary Trains, card kit car park, airbrush and a bit of HO in BRM

It's a busy issue of BRM for me this month. For a start, I've been given an airbrush to play around with and provide a few hints and tips for readers on the page. The airbrush is part of a reader offer for the mag and it's a nice bit of kit. Very reminiscent of the little Neo on sale about a year ago, this appears to be very similar but in a shiny white casing rather than the rubbery grey one. If you fancy having a go at spray painting, it's a far better choice than cans of air and a splatter brush.

£85 including masking tape and cleaning jar seems like a bit of a bargain to me. While not top of the range (what do you expect for that money) you could happily weather stuff with it and with care, paint at OO loco. Just mix up plenty of paint in a jar to compensate for the small paint reservoir on the airbrush and you'll be good to go. I've certainly tried worse products at a higher price. According to the box, you can airbrush cakes with it too, although best not use modelling paints for that.

We've reached the final part of the card kit saga too.


I'm finishing off the model by setting it in a scene. Full details are spread over the DVD and mag pages. The model has come out very nicely. If you fancy doing the same, one of the toughest jobs has been simplified in the last week - ready printed clear windows are on sale from Modelrailwayscenery.com. I'd have loved these when spending hours cutting out the window bars on the pre-production kit months ago.

Moving on toe new projects, I'm still working through the scales with my wagon building. While last month it might have been suggested that I'd be working in OO, there is a scale in the way that just happens to be the most popular in the world - HO.


British HO is a very specialist topic but there is product available and the society were able to supply me with this resin and etched kit for a 16T mineral wagon. Easy to build and looking great, the resin sides are the thinnest I've ever seen. You can see light through them! Have a look at the 1:87 Society website to learn more.

Finally, I've been to see Stephen Weston and Peter Chatham from Parliamentary Trains.


It's a fascinating story taking us through the early days of the model railway industry thanks to a man who has always been interested in novel uses for production processes. They let me see how a modern laser-cut kit is produced too. On the face it it, it all looks quite simple but this is deceptive - making one kit might be simple, making a business is far harder.

British Railway Modelling website

Warehouse Wednesday: Tamworth telephone exchange

I know it's not a warehouse but this IS a large, very modelable, brick building and it is undoubtedly historic.

Years ago, every town had a telephone exchange containing banks of metal racks filled with relays. Proper, mechanical relays that clicked and whirred away. Now the whole process is handled by computers and the buildings are empty, or at least becoming empty. The new equipment simply doesn't take up the same space!



All that weight explains the balconies on the side. A feature of all exchanges that were taller than a single story, on the roof there is a hoist, here a simple girder with a pulley on it, to haul heft equipment from the ground - very like a traditional warehouse.

Telephone exchanges are one of those building that modellers will consider "modern" but in fact many date from the 1950s and 60s, easily seen by the architecture that was a la mode at the time. While not glamorous, I could see them fitting into many a model railway layout.

If you want to know more, check out this website for photos of other exchanges. I knew it wasn't just me interested!

Owen's Bridge and Emmett loco in NGW

A first appearance in Narrow Gauge World magazine for me this month. I've made the most of it with a couple of articles though!

NGW joined the Warners stable a few months ago and I was asked if I had any narrow gauge content for a revised and hopefully improved modelling section.

Obviously, as a freelancer, I said yes and then wondered exactly what I had that would fit the bill. I've done a few NG projects over the years but not that many have been photographed to a standard that I'd be happy to send to an editor for print.

However, the joys of selling articles on a "first serial rights" basis is that there's nothing stopping me from re-using something I've done already. Simply stuffing an existing article in the e-mail, while perfectly legal, isn't acceptable to me. Nor would I expect any editor to be happy with that sort of this - at least in such a small market. Perhaps if the magazine was an overseas publication it would matter less, but I'd still want to tweak it a bit.

Which explains why the first piece in the mag involves Owen's Bridge.

 

The layout appeared over 3 issues in BRM many, many months ago. The revised piece is 3 pages long and much more a traditional layout article. OK, I haven't used the phrase, "Baseboard were made in the traditional manner" but it is a much tighter piece with less detail. You can't cram all details of the construction process into the normal 2000 words available, no matter how many people at shows seem to think you can. It's only because they've never tried to do it...

Article 2 is brand new, a build of my Emmett loco Nellie:

 

I'm still very pleased with this model and it's nice to see it finally in print. Maybe the subject is a bit "out there" even for NGW, but I hope the readers enjoy it. 

Narrow Gauge World Magazine website.