Roof making

 

Regular readers will know I'm a fan of dry-fitting kits together to spot possible problems later in the build. 

Looking at the sides on the barge, I'm not 100% sure where they sit. Logically, the bottom of the side sits atop the sides of the hull. But there is a gap at least one layer of card could sit in. Get it wrong though, and the roof won't fit. Looking at the photos in the instructions, I think I'm right, but there's one way to be sure, make the roof. 

Work starts by putting a curve in the piece of card forming the roof. A set of metal rollers would be ideal, but mine are buried in a cupboard, so I just rolled a bit of dowel back and forth, with the card on my thigh - less chubby people can use a couple of towels. 

It worked fine, so the next job was to fit some MDF formers in, which are clipped in place as shown. Finally, a spine fits into these. I did all this quite quickly so the glue didn't have time to dry until everything is in place. The cutting of the MDF ensures very tight fits, but there is a tiny bit of movement of the MDF formers in the holes in the card. 

Speedy work ensures this isn't a problem. Using normal PVA rather than Roket card glue would have been wide too, but didn't occur to me at the time. Fortunately, I've got away with it. Luck or skill, you choose.  

Bow pen rims

 

Looking at the sides, I thought a nice brass rim around the edge of the windows would look good, but it would need to be perfect. 

It occurred to me that maybe I could run a bow pen around, with the corner of the card in between the jaws. This would keep it consistent. 

With no idea how this would work, I loaded it with neat Darkstar Molten Metal Brass, and had a go. After all, if it went wrong, I could wipe away my shame, and slap some red on top. No one would be any the wiser. 

And you know what? It worked perfectly. I was able to trace around the edges easily, and the acrylic paint flowed perfectly. I'm quite pleased with this!

 

Barge sides

 

Back to the barge! Various work projects have got in the way, but it's back on the workbench. 

There's a lot of painting going on. Also a lot of ignoring the instructions, which, if I'm honest, aren't the easiest to follow. Apparently, you are supposed to build some furniture next, but as far as I can tell, this can wait until the sides are ready. That way I'll know if it fits. We'll see how this pans out. 

Anyway, the sides are made up of three card layers, sandwiching some clear acetate. The basic idea is to make painting easier, as the shaped outer can be painted red, and then overlaid on the next one, which is green. That's clever, if not particularly prototypical, but I can live with that. 

The card is really nice quality. Sharply cut and it takes paint really well. OK, the satin green took three coats for a decent depth of colour, but that's down to the Humbrol paint as much as anything. 

Inside, I'm going for a varnished wood effect. OK, a mid-brown, but from the outside you won't be able to tell. The MDF dividers looked like they might be a problem, so I went over them twice with a AK white paint pen. After that, the brown looked great, even on the burnt ends. Mind you, the MDF absorbed the white like crazy. I'll remember its usefulness for priming in the future though. 

Would you care to join me in Lutterworth this Thursday?

 

The Joys of Model Railway Publishing 

Phil Parker is the editor of Garden Rail magazine and a features writer for BRM (British Railway Modelling) magazine and website. Phil shares his experiences of these roles and of the UK modelling scene.

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Earlier this year, I received a call asking if  I'd be willing to speak to the Lutterworth Railway Society about writing for model railway mags. Years ago, I used to pop up at lots of conferences for work, and generally enjoyed the experience, so I thought, "Why not?"

I understand that it's an open invitation, so if you fancy a trip to The Pavilion, Coventry Road Recreation Ground, Coventry Road,, Lutterworth, United Kingdom, LE17 4RB at 7:30pm, why not join me? 

And, if your group fancies a speaker for an evening's entertainment, hit the Ask Phil button, and we'll have a chat. I can talk about publishing, how you get into it, or the future of the hobby as I see it. Just remember that tea and cake will be required!

 

Saturday Film Club: What is kitbashing?

They have let me into the studio again - this time to talk about kitbashing with Steven. 

As well as the video, he has put together an excellent guide on World of Railways.  

Another Lego Santa

 

The best time to sell a convertible is in the summer. No one wants to buy a car with no roof in the snow, or when rain is hammering down. Conversely, the best time to buy a convertible is in the winter. You'll stand a better chance of a bargain. Wet feet, but a bargain. 

Which is why I snapped this Lego Santa to add to my festive bricks box, in July (this is a catch-up post).

Set 246-2 was released in 1977, when we had finished celebrating the Silver Jubilee.  It's proper vintage stuff when they didn't make special bricks for everything. The nearest we get here is a yellow two-stud with a smiling face, and I'm sure that appeared in other sets. Yes, it's a bit blocky, but that's how I like it. 

We're also in pre-minifig days, so Santa can be quite tall, making the design of the sleigh and reindeer much easier I suspect. 

Price including postage, six quid. OK, no box, and torn and incomplete instructions, but I don't care. The model is simple, and has a lovely vintage charm. Wait until December though, and I bet his value soars! 

(According to Brickeconomy, the set has appreciated from an original £1.19 by 13751%. OK, that's mint boxed, but who knew there was proper trading in Lego? Buy! Buy! Buy! Build! Build! Build!)

Finished slate wagon

Job done. I was aiming for a faded look for this wagon, so dug out a Lifecolor Weathered Wood pack of paints to give them a go. 

I tend to find these paints a bit pale, the White Wood is basically six of pots of white, but for this job, they looked OK. Anyway, this is what "proper" modellers use, so I really ought to have a go. 

First, the entire model was painted with Cold Base Colour, a beige. Then dry-brushed with Cold Light Stage. Once this was dry, a wash of Warm Base Colour to emphasis the grain and plank lines. This took a bit of working, but I think the end result is OK. 

All the metalwork is colour with a AK black marker and them touched in with rust from the Lifecolor Rust Wizard set. 

For such an old kit, this really comes up well and was great fun to build  - more details on the Binnie website.  

Warehouse Wednesday: Wingfield Station

On the way back from Crich, I dropped in to Wingfield station. Knowing nothing about it, other than having spotted a sign on the way up to the tramway museum, it was one of those wonderful discoveries that happen occasionally. 

The station isn't served by the real railway any more, but trains still pass by what was once the platform, and it's a lovely spot to sit eating a tub of delicious ice cream, and watching multiple units thrashing by. 

Rather than take you through the extensive history of this Grade II listed building, allow me to point you at the excellent website.  

As a modelling prospect, this building has a lot going for it. Modest in size, and not overly ornate, to my eyes, very attractive. If you're not sure, there is a 4mm scale model of it in the goods shed. 

With an eye for the unusual, I was very taken by the train planters around the site. 

 

 

I want some of these in the garden!

More photos of Wingfield station, and its planters, over in my Flickr album.  

Hellingly Hospital Tramcar

If there was a list of model rail vehicles I never expected to see, the Hellingly Hospital Railway tramcar is very high on the list, but there, in a cabinet at the Tramway museum, is a stunning 5/8th inch to the foot miniature, built by David Getgood. It shares space with a number of other models he built, all lovely, but this is the one for me. 

The scale works out at 1:19, basically 16mm scale, and slightly larger than the G3 loco from the same site that I own. I think they would still look great together. Maybe one day I'll make that happen. 

Apparently, David  started building in 1950, completing the models over the next 50 years. They are operational with 24v motors, and performed on layouts until 2015. How I would have liked to see that, and speak to the builder!

It certainly puts my OO gauge model in the shade. 

 (Photo: Chris Nevard)

 

Model trams haul

This was supposed to be a cheap show! So, how did I come away from it a couple of hundred quid lighter? Not money spent on cake either...

Dodging the smelliest person I have ever encountered at a show while browsing the TLRS second-hand stand, I spotted some 7/8th scale Groudle Glean Railway coaches in the corner. Making my way over to them, partly to avoid the stench, I whipped out my pocket ruler (we all have one don't we?) and checked that the wheels were 45mm gauge. 

Closer inspection showed these to be an average-built set of IP Engineering kits. I don't like the livery on the ends, and the woodwork could do to be a darker colour, but you know what? They are a set of coaches to go with my Sea Lion. I have a feeling there are kits in the stash, at least I hope so as they don't appear that often, but these are built. One needs a coupling pocket rebuilt on the end, but they are built. I could run them. 

After a little negotiation on the price, realistically, I was likely to be the only person after something like this I pointed out, and they were stashed under the stand. It's opportunities like these that mean I enjoy a second-hand stall more than any amount of shiny new stuff. 

Of course, these weren't the only weird things I picked up.

Atlas Lisbon tram for a fiver in its box? Yes please. I really must go back there, ride more and take plenty of photos. Manx Electric Railway supplement - can't remember if I have a copy but why risk it for a quid? It's a good read too. 

The books were a cash donation. Vauxhall Cars is for my Mum. I was born in Luton, and her dad worked for "The Vauxhall" like so many others in the town, and she remembers him owning many of the cars in there. Mr Whippy is because I like ice cream, and it's the sort of history that fascinates me. So far, I've learnt that their headquarters were down the road from me in Leamington Spa!

And finally.  

Impulse buys. The four-wheel railbus is one I've eyed up in the 009 Society cabinet a few times, but never really thought much about it. The other is just an interesting kit. Both for 1/3rd the price they would sell for on eBay. They always say you regret the things you don't do, and I'd have kicked myself for not picking these up. Maybe I was the only person in the hall who would have bought them, I'm sure I'm one of the few who handed over the money intending to build them. 

And yes, I know my kit stash is bigger than it sensibly should be. But each one is a little dream, and I can live with that.  

Crich Model Trams 2026

I had a lot of reasons for visiting the model tramway event at Crich this year. 

First, I'm layout shopping for work. I've always felt that model tramways are under-represented, and if I'm going to find something that will work on the page, surely this is the place?  

Second, this was one of my Dad's favourite museums. I remember many years ago on our first visit, he was like a kid in a sweetshop. He loved trams, and there they were. Running through a street scene, and beautifully restored. And so many of them! I had arranged to donate a couple of boxes of die-cast models so they could be sold to raise a bit of money. I gained a chunk of useful space in my office; the tramway museum brings in some funds to help their work. 

And thirdly, I just enjoy the day out. It's only 90 minutes up the motorway, and as a member, I get in for free. 

As far as model tramways go, I drew a blank again. There were a couple of interesting N gauge models, but nothing that would stand the sort of scrutiny of a magazine shoot.  My favourite OO model was nice, but very narrow, and once you start to take 3/4 views, this becomes an issue. Never mind, maybe next year. 

However, there were more model railways than tramways, and I spotted a couple I need to investigate. One problem was that several were upstairs in the workshop, and the lighting is good for exhibits, and hopeless for models. None of which had their own lighting rig. Much peering through the gloom was required, which was a shame. 

Outside, the first tram I saw, and indeed rode on, was a four-wheel LCC car. I've inherited a part of a 3/4-inch-scale model of something very similar (a Preston car, I think), so this was appropriate. 

Little Brian posed on the dashboard of this, and Bluebell, another of his favourites. 

I enjoy the changes to the museum over the years. The buildings have changed a bit, we no longer have a little engine shed beside the shop for example, and the ice cream kiosk has become a pair of vintage-looking catering lorries. 

There were also a couple of ladies wandering around in full 1930s dress, and in character. I heard them chatting to a girl about the price of her coffee, "You'll have to make that last all year!" and marvelling at one of those new-fangled motor cars. 

The car in question was 91 years old! I enjoyed a chat with the owner, who had driven it, full of family, from Telford. It's good up to 45mph, so no motorways for that trip. 

An enjoyable day. The weather helped; it can be a bit chilly on top of the hill in an open-top tram, but Dad always insisted on heading for the top deck, so I had to do the same. Just like he always liked lemon meringue pie, so I had to eat that on his behalf as well!

You can see more photos from the trip over on Flickr. 

 

Saturday Film Club: How Star Trek's Original Phaser Prop Was Built

Film and TV props, especially older ones, fascinate me. Once, when looking at some from Red Dwarf, I commented that they were more basic than I'd expected. The builders agreed, but pointed out that they were on screen for a fraction of a second, and people were more interested in the story than the details of the gizmo being waved around by the actor. Well, until the advent of DVDs, and sci-fi fans who will step through a scene a frame at a time, to fully take it all in. 

One of the best-known sci-fi props, has to be the phaser guns from Star Trek. Here, we take a good look at one of the screen-used props.  

Kenversions coach kit

You know I love a weird, vintage kit. Well, under the table in the The Tram Junction, Laxey, Isle of Man, I found a couple of envelopes, claiming to contain bits for a coach kit. It was too complicated to go through in the shop, but a fiver secured both, so I could enjoy a proper look later. 

What we have (I think) is, a six-seat brake coach kit. 

It's made up of good-quality cardboard sides and ends, various guillotined tinplate parts, and a rolled roof. More an aid to scratchbuilding than a kit, this is one for the modeller. There are lots of bits, and I'm not entirely sure they are all required. 

No chassis parts are included, I have a feeling that a Lime O gauge wagon chassis could be used, but when I get around to this, I'll make my own.  

I've been digging into Kenversions, and found this interesting article (PDF) by Derek Wiggins, covering the range of Mamod bodies the firm sold, with a passing mention of the rolling stock. There is also a catalogue, also in PDF form, which shows the coach I have. Hat tip to HGLW for hosting these. 

Buffer dilema

 

As supplied, the kit comes with a split pin, a bit of wire and a plastic hook. This will produce a realistic Ffestiniog coupling, but one that will be incompatible with everything except Cooper Craft wagon kits. Even then, the things will be a fiddle to use, which is why I prefer a bit of chunky chain. 

Digging in my spares box, I find some rather nice whitemetal buffers. There is a bolt thread on the back, so with a bit of bodgery, there is a strengthener that runs along the reline of the wagon to cut away, this fits into the bufferbeam, nice and strong. Especially with loads of superglue.  

All fitted well, but I didn't like the result. Too large, and more importantly, too complicated. This is a very simple wagon. It wouldn't be fitted with anything so fancy. 

Removing them was a bit of a mission. That superglue had done its job, and eventually, I had to cut down the back of the buffer casting, through the bolt, with a piercing saw. Two blades later, it was done, but hardly a relaxing job. 

The replacement is a block of hardwood (we always keep stocks handy for this sort of job), roughly shaped, and superglued in place. Since I don't trust the glue, despite the effort it took to remove the old buffers, a couple of pieces of brass wire fit through the block, and into the bufferbeam, where they are bent over. 

A hook, made from bent paperclip, is fitted in the top so I can use my chunky chain for coupling. This setup looks, to me, far more in keeping with the wagon. Which means I can move on to paint. 
 

Upper body building

 

The slate wagon body is simple, and ingenious. First, the sides are dropped into holes in the floor. These needed to be drilled out, although I just waggled a tapered reamer in to make them larger. Lashings of MEK softened the plastic so they would push in. 

Then, three slats are inserted into the ends. For the middle two, you ease the upper and lower side slats, and then the new one is grabbed by bumps on the end. Again, the holes in the end slats needed to be opened up - a 3mm bit sorted this out. One in place, loads more MEK to bond everything together.  

All that is left to do, is fit the couplings. Some very accurate ones are supplied, but they won't couple with anything else I own, so time to come up with a plan. 
 

Slotting the wheels in

I like being able to slot parts of a kit together without glue. In this case, the glass-filled nylon solebars and axleboxes can be slid into the floor with a little bit of a wiggle. Handy, as there has been a change to slate wagon kit since it was introduced. 

Original kits were designed to take finescale wheelsets. Now, a set of 16mm Association standard wheels are included, and these are slightly different. 

No problem, the modeller just needs to remove some plastic from the inner solebar. The photo in the instructions isn't that clear, and neither is the view above, but hopefully, this will help. 

I started with a coarse half-round file, and then carved away with a sharp knife. The plastic cuts easily, and I quickly removed the material. Probably too much if I'm honest, but we don't want to risk the wheels rubbing on anything. 

Once done, the solebars and wheels go back in. A quick check to ensure the chassis sits flat on a mirror, and then lashings of Plastic Weld, hold it all in place.  

Binnie slate wagon

 

Here it is. The kit that launched the Binnie empire. Moulded in ABS, and glass-filled nylon, a kit for the Ffestiniog 2-ton slate wagon. 

Reintroducing this kit has involved 40-year-old moulds and many burnt fingers from the manufacturer. As a piece of history, I felt that with my Garden Rail Editor jacket on, I ought to buy one and have a go. Despite being a limited-production kit, my parcel arrived in under a week, so I'm putting the canal boat aside for a couple of days to put the thing together. 

The instructions say "Trimming of flash will be required before assembly" - a legacy of those old moulds. My photo shows the worst bit, the one that would show up on camera best, and indeed, the first job is to clean things up. I don't think this is any worse than kits in the old days. Modern plastic manufacture means we rarely see excess material, but once upon a time, modellers just took it in their stride. 

A sharp scalpel blade and an abrasive stick took care of the worst of it, so I could move on to assembly. 

Meet Wilfred

 

 

I love "Art in the Park". The beautiful, if somewhat yellow, Jephson Gardens, are filled with stalls. Each of those stalls is manned by an artist selling their wares. All the hand-made creativity you could want, in a small(ish, it's getting bigger) space in Leamington Spa. 

Now, I know it's possible to spend a lot of money here. There is everything from ridiculously cheap cards (I stock up for Christmas) to serious paintings and sculpture costing well into four figures. I'm not in that market, but I do have a modest budget I'm willing to spend each year, as regular readers will know. 

There is also weird food on offer. My rule is that I should try something new each time, and this year I scoffed street food glazed duck. From a stand with a particularly muscular lucky cat. 

OK, dessert was (again) the toastie version of millionaire's shortbread from Jabberwocky, but it's sooooo nice. 

The weather was on the side of the organisers. Dry, sunny, but not quite as hot as it has been recently. The crowds were out in force, I just hope the artists did well. Standing there all day with everyone judging your efforts isn't going to be easy. You have to keep smiling, even when they are just tyre-kicking. 

Anyway, I blew a small part of my budget on a little creature that leapt out at me from the Clay Pidgin stand. My usual method of doing this event is to go around twice. Anything that has stuck in my head by the second visit, is a contender for my cash. Not this time though, Christina Callaghan was setting up and I dived in. No idea why, I just liked it. 

Wilfred, as a friend has named him, is a porcelain figure with several different glazes. The comb and lips are smooth, the rest textured. I think there is a hint of SuperLambanana about him. Apart from that, I really don't know why I like this little figure, but I do, and that's all art needs. Maybe it's a little bit mad, but then so am I. 
 

Saturday Film Club: Static Grass - The shocking difference!

Some wise advice from my good self, all hidden behind a thumbnail chosen by one of my rotten colleagues! I will get my own back...

Sea Lion painting

OK, I'm a sucker for one particular Groudle Glen Railway engine. When I saw this painting of the best steam engine in the world on eBay, I managed to resist, for a couple of weeks. Week three, and £25 later, it was mine. 

The watercolour may be slightly "naive", as the art world might say, but there is a lot right about it. The proportions of the loco, and the perspective for a start. Distorted round parts are a mark of the less-than-able artist painting or drawing a steam engine. OK, hiding the wheels helps, but I don't think artist John Beckett has done a bad job. At least the rivet counters will have fun with the bufferbeam! I'm pretty sure the scene is near Lime Kiln Halt too, where a track comes down off the hillside. 

I can't find anything about Mr Beckett online, so I'm guessing he's a talented amateur rather than an important, named artist. To me, this doesn't matter if I like what he has produced, and I do. 

At 42cm x 34cm, and very nicely framed (the price is worth it for the frame alone), should I ever own somewhere suitable to hang it, at least finding wall space won't be too much of an issue.