R279 Mock Georgian House - Part 1. What's in the box?

 

Regular readers will know I'm a fan of the Hornby Town & Country range of plastic kits produced in the 1990s, so when I chanced upon a pile of R279 Mock Georgian House, I snapped a couple up for a "stick it together for fun" session. Well, it makes a change from 3-wheel Japanese trucks! 

In the box, the plastic mouldings are all very nice and crisp. Self-coloured too, if you like that sort of thing. Windows are pretty good and will be augmented with printed glazing. 

The prototype is one of those identikit dwellings that proliferated in the later years of the last century. Nowadays, I notice a greater variety of designs on new estates, but I'm sure I've seen plenty like this. The designer did a good job. 

And who was that designer? Well, the Pola branding on this part tells us it wasn't someone from Margate. The range was bought in, but none the worse for it, and handily, you can still buy them fromn Gaugemaster.

Cable reel repair

 

This cable reel has been part of my exhibition kit for decades - but no more. 

For Ally Pally, electrical gubbins had to be PAT tested. And it failed. 

Once opened up (there are two screws under the plack cover around the sockets) the reason is plain to see. The cable insulation had broken awaywhere it enters the centre of the drum. 

The rest of the cable looks fine. Scuffs, but no more broken outer insulation. While the reel needs to retire from exhibition use (I bought a replacement) I don't see why I shouldn't fix this one. 

Each cable was cut where it is crimped to the brass(?) bars, and many inches taken off the end. By comparing the cables, I could cut the insualtion back to match the original. 

It's important that each wire is the correct length or it won't fit back in the drum. 

After this, the connections were uncrimped by forcing a small screwdriver along the wire then finishing the unbending of the connection with pliers. The freshly tinned wires were then crimped back in, and given a touch of solder for good measure. 

Reassembly is the reverse of the above. It pays to take photos as you go. The plugs were very tight in the sockets until I realised that I'd put the brass(?) bars behind the metal U-shapes, not inside them as they should be, That changed, it's all good to go. 

Jobs like this give me imense satisfaction. If I hadn't fixed the reel, it would go to landfill. Instead it can live again. But, is this a good idea? I don't think I'm being foolhardy, but if you aren't careful, it would be possible to produce something dangerous. 

Good or bad idea?

Stratford and District MRC show 2022

 

Thank you, the excellent UK Model Shop Directory. Through their free newsletter (if you aren't signed up, you should be) I found out that Stratford & District MRC were putting on a show a few miles from my home. It was on a Sunday, I was free, so I trundled along. 

One-day little shows used to be my favourite ones to do as an exhibitor. No stress, just turn up, play trains and go home. Lots of chat but if things weren't going well, it didn't seem to matter as much as at a larger event where I'll always tend to set myself a high bar. 

Anyway, the show was at Tiddington bowls club and I arrived after lunch to find it as busy as you might expect. Around the room were a series of club and members layouts. In the centre a table full of second-hand items. 

Sadly, no cake. Booo. 

One of the reasons I like little shows is because it's where you find layouts that have hardly been seen. New to me was the club layout Chippenham Junction. It's N gauge, as were most of the layouts actually, and is showing a great deal of promise. I liked the viaduct end which has plenty of different ground levels - just like real life. Buildings are scratchbuilt and with a bit of weathering to tone the newness down, I can see me wanting to take a more professional view in the future. 

Another layout I liked is this little OO display. If I had to pick a model I'd like to build, it would be this one with the much-modified Metcalf models and a distincly industrial feel. Sadly, there were running issues. but that doesn't detract from the look. 

While there wasn't anything imediatly featurable in a mag, every layout was the product of someone's love and attention. This is the grass roots of the hobby - something a lot of people seem to forget. Everyone seemed to be having fun, and so in my book, they were doing the hobby right.

Saturday Film Club: Jerry Cans

This is unexpectedly fascinating - the history of the Jerry Can. Such a common object, but with a fascinating back-story.

Etched brass coal

  

Today seems like a good time to remember a little something I put together many years ago - and has just re-surfaced as I was tidying up - etched brass coal. 

April fool stories are always popular in the press. Many of us remember Steam Railway repainting "City of Truro" into BR Black to wind up the GWR fans. I though it looked great, and I am still lobbying for Locomotion to release it in this livery. Ideally with both sides painted, unlike the spoof story version. 

Anyway, I fancied having a go at this and persuaded David Brown, then editor of BRM, to let me loose. 

Taking a lump of real coal, I painted it in suitable colours, complete with a very obvious solder line down the centre. This appeared in the mag to mild amusement. 

Next, some iron pyrite (Fool's Gold) was crushed up and put in a suitable bag. This found it's way on to the Green Scene stand at York for the day itself, complete with a price tag. 

On the back we added the instructions:

Assemble coal into a heap using 700 degree solder. Prime with a short spray of black car primer then paint with Humbrol Coal Black modelling paint. Finally dust with black weathering powder to finish. 

At noon, Mike Cook read out over the tanoy, a short list of layouts whose operators had tried to buy the product...

Sailing the Tri-ang yacht

  

A sunny Saturday provided me with the chance to test my Tri-ang yacht that I re-rigged earlier this month. 

There wasn't a lot of wind, more a very gentle breeze with lots of calmness, but I didn't think the boat would like to take to the water in a gale. Not least because there is a hole on the deck that could really do with a bung in it before things get too rough. 

I like the idea of setting the boat free to have its own adventures so just dropped it on the lake for a tootle around. 

Given a light breeze, it set off in a pretty straight line and at a reasonable pace. It healed over a little, but the connection between sails and rudder seemed to be working to ensure good steering. 

The difference between enough wind to move and enough wind to lie on its side isn't great, always a problem with the smaller vessel. Fortunatly, the hole in the deck remained just above the water so there wasn't an embarasing sinking. 

I really could to to learn how to set the sails properly as I think it will be possible to improve the sailing if I can get all the tensions correct. Definitely a work in progress. 

Good boxes

I spotted this on Twitter and it really struck a chord with me:

One thing no one ever talks about being an adult is how much time you debate yourself on keeping a cardboard box because it's, like, a really good box.

It's a phrase I think about regularly. I bet we all end up with lots of really good, very useful boxes. Boxes that could become the start of that filing system we all promise ourselves to look after all those bits and pieces. Yet, there are too many of them and I could easily need a box to hold the boxes!

Enough! I can't keep them all, to the recycling bin with them!

Does anyone else have this problem?

Bachmann Model Collect Create shop

  

Last week, with my BRM hat on, I visited the new Bachmann model store in Hinckley. The Model Collect Create shop is NOT a model shop apparently, because it only contains stock from the Bachmann range - but I beg to differ. There are kits and railways and loads of other great stuff, so I think it is a model shop. 

More importantly, the concept is inspired by Games Workshop. Look at their shops and you'll find people learning how to paint figures most days, and especially Sunday. Bachmann plan to have visitors wandering in off the street and building a kit, or some Woodland Scenics project. Basically, anything to get them into our hobby. 

I've done a fuller write-up over on World of Railways, complete with video tour. 

I love the concept. I love the ambition. If this shop works, then we can look forward to more appearing. They won't compete with the existing trade. Indeed, the top account holders were told about this before the press so there wouldn't be any disconcerting leaks, and they like it. Everything will be sold at RRP, but the target market is not the seasoned modeller, it's the general public. 

That won't stop me heading back one day though. 

So what did you buy at Ally Pally then Parker?

It seems the law of the web says you must post pictures of all the "top bargainz" you buy at a show. No idea who came up with this, probably an N gauge modeller as they seem especially keen on it, but who am I to buck the system? 

A Hornby "Lord Westwood". I've fancied adding one of these to the collection for a long while. Basically, this is a GWR Hall in a lairy ficticious livery with the Hornby phone number on the tender. It drives the Great Wobbly fans mad - and that is as good as any reason to want one. 

Released in 1974 and only in the catalgue for two years, these things normally command premium prices. I'm not paying £65+ no matter how much it annoys the GWR maffia. I will pay £15 though, especially for a model in such terrific condition. 

Well, I say terrific, the price takes into account the motor doesn't work. Worse, the steam sound is diconnected too. The later should be an easy fix, and I'm sure I can source a working X04 motor from somewhere too. Locomotives of this era might be light on detail, but you can usually rebuild them. 

Both "Lord Westwood" and this giraffe car came from the second-hand stall, and both cost the same price. It turned out that there were no less than three cars on the stand, and I doubt I got the best one. Compared to the model my friend Earl gave me just before Christmas, this is tatty and I probably paid over the odds, but then there is the fun of buying a giraffe car at Ally Pally, so I can live with this. The repairs will be something to blog anyway. 

A few weeks ago, I realised that I don't own a hand-operated drill. Well, for £3, now I do. To be honest, I bought this one because it looks fantastic, but the jaws close tightly enough for a sub-1mm drill bit, so it's going to be useful. And if it isn't well, who cares when it looks like this!

Finally, one that will take a bit of research. A Model Power controller. This dinky unit has an odd conrol - the greem lever on the bottom. That was the selling point, well, that and it was only a fiver. I can be curious for that money. If it works, I dream of fitting the thing to a test track as it wouldn't take up much space. 

And that's it. I know many would have spent far more, but then my life is well-stocked with toy trains so I don't really need any more. All of these sort of meet William Morris's instruction "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” so I suppose this is all right. 

The London Festival of Railway Modelling 2022

Strolling around Alexandra Palace on a crip spring morning is magical. No matter that the reason I'm down at the gate at 7:05 on a Sunday morning is to ensure a good place in the car park for loading up later in the day, there is something special about appearing at an iconic venue. 

Two years ago, this was the first major show on my calendar to cancel, but now we are back. I'm attending my with my BRM project layout DHAPR Wagon Works, with additional photo taking responsibilities. 

Saturday was spent talking. Lots and lots of talking. Sunday was much the same. And I'd forgotten how much hard work this can be. I'd also forgotten how difficult it is to eat and drink properly during the day. A breakfast in a box from the hotel doesn't really set you up for the day, so there was lots of surviving on KitKats and other bad things going on.

At least my hotel was next to the poshest fish'n'chip shop in the world, so the evening meals are sorted. Hand made cod fishcakes with chips and salad. Very nice thank you. 

 

Of course it's not all about food, although Jamie Warne delivering home-made cookies to the MRC stand (I tested a couple to be on the safe side) was undoubtedly a highlight of the weekend. He needs to stop modelmaking and get on with baking!

Saturday Film Club: Guildford to Cranleigh and Horsham in the early 1960's

Just a short video this week - and one that makes wish for a time machine to be able to go back and experience travel like this!

R131 Wagon with wheel load

While I'm not the toy train collector I once was, there are still a few odd models that have lodged in my brain. I remember coveting this, R131 Flat Wagon with detachable wheel load as a youngster. 

Looking at the Hornby Collectors Guide entry, it appeared when I was four, so not too many years before I took ad interest in model railways. By that point, a staggering 41,000 had been made. You don't see production runs for a single wagon in those sort of numbers now!

I suspect that the idea of getting some "free" wheels appealed to me. I certainly wasn't looking at prototype fidelity as I doubt there is any. What I didn't know, is this is the only wagon Hornby, or anyone else made, that can run upside down as those wheels rotate in their cradle!

Oddly, there the R number isn't on the chassis of the model. Does this indicate it is from a set?

This model came my way when I needed something for a magazine article. A little negotiation with the shop owner allowed me to swap the wheels under the wagon for some of the dreadful "Silver Seal" sets inflicted on us by the firm in the period. Now, I wanted 'orrible wheels, so someone else has the slightly better set that should have been under this wagon. Everyone wins!

Coupling up rolling stock and APT oggling in April's BRM

 

A model railway needs rolling stock, so it's time for me to build some for my latest project layout, DHAPR Wagon Works. 

On past layouts, couplings have been an issue. The "sensible" option is to stick to traditional tension locks, but that means trying to solve the uncoupling conundrum. None of the simple commercial ramps work as well as I think they should, so with a tiny layout and limited operation, I've gone all fine scale with 3-links. 

There's also the chance to enjoy one of my earliest layout photo shoots. Lower Exbury is a lovely model, but when I took the pictures in London a couple of years ago, I couldn't forsee that various factors would conspire against them appearing in print. Everything is better now though, and you can see the fruits of my efforts. 

The April issue sees our review of Hornby's latest go at the Advanced Passenger Train, and to conincide with this, on BRM TV, I'm talking about collecting APT memorabilia. Sadly, I didn't get to take the model in this photo away with me!

Harecroft Mine Hutch - Part 3: Adding the wheels and job done

And there we have it - job done. I've painted the chassis with Revell No.9 to match the ironwork. While I'm not sure if this is prototypical, but it looks good. 

A dose of weathering powders followed. These work brilliantly on wooden models and with little skill, a variety of shades are produced from just dark brown, black and a touch of rust. 

I have made one change - according to the manufacturer, the axleboxes can be glued in place. I tried that with superglue, and didn't feel they were likely to stay attached very long. 

Digging out the pillar drill, I popped holes in them so I could use brass pins for extra support. Driling the plastic was tricky as it melts if warmed up. I should have used the drill with variable speed, but didn't. Never mind, all bu one od the pins were fitted and those 'boxes aren't going anywhere. 

This is a lovely kit to build, and produces a very cute item of rolling stock. In the back of my mind, I've always wanted to build a 16mm scale 32mm gauge micro layout, and a few of these would be perfect as the basis of the rolling stock. 

Harecroft Birkhill Mine Hutch kit.

Harecroft Mine Hutch - Part 2: Building the body

 

As expected, all the body parts slot together perfectly with no fettling. I intended to use PVA glue for assembly, so treated the wood to a couple of coats of Weathered Woodstain before starting. No matter how careful you are, some glue will escape onto visible wood, and that stops the stain taking. This then stands out like a saw thumb. 

I also scribed the planking on the inside of the wagon. A small touch, but this is a tiny model so details matter. Also, I feel I've make it "my" model with this quick upgrade. 

The laser-cut wooden "ironwork" was sprayed black, then lightly sanded to hide the woodgrain. Bolt heads were stuck in place with superglue and the whole lot sprayed black again. I need to pick up some Revell No.9 Anthracite spray really, as the colour suits a weathered model. I quickly brush painted it though, which looks fine and hides the grain even more. 

The sides are etched with guides for the ironwork, so a bit more PVA and the body is pretty much ready to go, and looking good. I know Harecroft's version is sign written, but I'll make a pigs ear of that, so my model will be unbranded. Know your limits!

Harecroft Mine Hutch - Part 1: What's in the box

 

I'm embarassed to admit, that Harecroft's Birkhill Fireclay Mine Hutch kit has been in my stash for at least three years. Bought long before Covid, it's been knocking around the office in it's lovey, tidy box, for far too long. However, it's time has come as I look for more simple kits to build to distract me from  doom-scrolling the news. 

First impressions are good. This is a more detailed model than many 16mm scale kits. Most of the parts are laser-cut wood, plus some acrylic. Wheels come from Binne and bolt heads from Cambrian. A good move - why re-invent the wheel (or bolt head) when there are people making these things out there who will happily supply another kit-maker? 

Three A4 sides of instructions compliment the model. Printed in colour, they provide a prototype photo and some in-build shots, although this is such a simple prototype, you could probably get away without them. A dry-run slotting the major bits together gives the builder confidence that this model isn't going to be abandonded half-way through the build through frustration.

New boat battery makes the difference

 

New battery ordered from Component Shop on Sunday - Tuesday morning, new 3300mAh, 7.2v battery drops through letterbox. Excellent service. 

It certainly takes longer to charge then the old, knackered one. On the water - 20 minutes sailing with very little loss of speed. Maybe that brushless transplant can wait a while.

Saturday Film Club: Discovering railways with Peter Purves

Let's head back to 1977, when railways were more interesting (do enthusiasts from every era think the same thing?) and let Peter Purves tells us how exciting they are. 

Not partonising, just a straight tour that shows trains as something to be proud of. 

Peter Purves is a top chap too. Years ago, a friend and I were working at the local Guide Dogs event. In our cub uniforms, we had to stop people going up stairs they shouldn't. 

At the event were Barbara Woodhouse and Peter Purves. I queued up for a Woodhouse autograph and on reaching the front, was pointed at a sign telling us should would only sign books. Peter, on the other hand, happily signed my event programme and chatted to to the two of us. I still have that programme somewhere, and don't own any books by Barbara Woodhouse.

Off to Ally Pally

All being well (with the current state of the news, I don't like to tempt fate by being certain, or looking forward to things) I should be heading down to the capital today to take part in the London Festival of Railway Modelling this weekend. 

For reasons we all know, it's been a couple of years since the last London show, and there are plenty of people looking forward to climbing up that hill to see some excellent model railways. 

I like Ally Pally as a venue. It's light and airy for start, which should help with Covid (remember that?) issues. 

It's also an iconic building with a stunning view, making exhibiting there extra special. If the weather obliges, I enjoy a stroll along around the building in the morning. The adjacent park is worth a look too. 

Anyway, the plan is that I will be taking the BRM project layout - DHAPR wagon repairs. I don't intend to operate it like a layout, but instead act as a demo, chatting to everyone about layout building and even letting a few people get hands on with the model. 

If you are visiting, please drop by and say hello, I'll be pleased to see you. 

Tri-ang Dockmaster train set

Who doesn't deserve a train set for their birthday?

My Dad enjoyed a major birthday recently, and I thought it would be nice for him to enjoy a set as a present. Of course, he doesn't do that DCC stuff, he's old-fashioned enough not to be convinced by that new-fangled electricity either, so clockwork it is!

The local model shop had a really tidy Tri-ang Dockmaster set on the shelf, and I decided that I wanted it it would make an excellent fun gift. A little fiddling with the track and we had fishplates on the ends of all the rails - they are spot welded, but some had still gone missing. Fortunatly, Super 4 rails slide in and out of the sleepers easily, and after a bit of digging around, the owner and I managed to make up a complete set. Price was a little higher than the original 16/11 though!

The loco and wagons are in excellent condition, hardly used, if at all. There is a key too. Once set up, the loco runs really smoothly, performing 7-8 circuits before running out of puff. 

I know this isn't a rare set. Pat Hammond's history tells me that in 1964, this was the most numerous set produced by the firm. I don't care though. For a start, handing it over was fun and made everyone smile - worth a lot on its own. 

It's the box I really like though. Look at that painting - it shows a world that would have been current when the model was produced, and is history now. Cargo ships arrive at ports laden with metal boxes, not holds to labouriosly unloaded by men and cranes with hooks. 

I like the way the artist has painted the model in the box, complete with missing buffer heads and coupling rods, not a fictionalised version to look real. Even the sqaure hump on the boiler top to give the clockwork spring somewhere to expand into is there.

It's a lovely set, Unashamedly a toy, and from and era when model railways could be fun.