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Painting a Mini - In the pink
What did I buy on my first visit to Tornado Books and Hobbies?Pink paint. Tamiya pink paint.Well, it's not a colour I tend to keep in stock. I don't think I've ever painted something properly pink....
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January 2020 Garden Rail
 We head into 2020 with the latest issue of Garden Rail. The lead layout is a 7/8th scale model that makes use of the scenery surrounding the line to make the scene look huge in photos. We've also...
View ArticleSaturday Film Club: Restoring old street lights
Apparenlty, even in 1963, Britons still yearned for the past. Then we were bust replacing our street lights with modern ones, but those old lamps were being restored and sold back to us as antiques. It...
View ArticleThe social side of model railways
A couple of weeks ago, this video caught my eye on LinkedIn.The maker explains how he knows lots of people, but has none he would consider a friend. This is sad, but not untypical, especially for...
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Farewell Railway Magazine Guide to Modelling
Just before Christmas, some sad news - The Railway Magazine Guide to Modelling is to close after three years.According to the letter sent to advertisers and distributors:Unfortunately, this current...
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Using rollers
David asks:I just ordered a set of GW rollers, which I have noticed you also use. Any top tips on their use, please?An interesting question which I've been pondering for a few days. First - good choice...
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R3705 Ruston 48DS
No-one who knows me will be surprised I ordered a Hornby Ruston 48DS as soon as I could. This was after a few weeks of knowing it was coming, but not being able to rush down to my local model shop...
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Vote Turbocar!
Those top chaps from the Wishlist Poll are having a bit of fun over Christmas - they have set up the "Quirky Poll" - a survey of some of the weirder things that model railway fans might want....
View ArticleSaturday Film Club: Painting a scene
It's holiday time, so spend longer than normal gawping at this video from many years ago. I love Bob Ross programmes. They are my go-to stress reliever - watching a scene gradually appear in front of...
View ArticleIs it time to revolutionise the exhibition experience?
From Montignac Model Boat show report in Model Boats magazine:I was aware of a large table being set up at the front of the hall and shortly after the hall opened to the public at 10:00, we exhibitors...
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Head scratching on the J72 cab interior
I don't understand the cab interior. The diagram and instructions don't really help me much. Maybe I'm just a thicko.Fortunately, I know what I want to do - fill the gap so you can't see through the...
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Colour, or at least black
Close-up photos can be cruel. On this loco, they exposed the horrible mould line up the front of the chimney.Once scraped away, there was a line along the top of the boiler too. When that was dealt...
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2019 - Review of the year
It's time for that post again, the one where I look back at projects done and those that haven't progressed.Here's the update from last year: 7mm scale Garratts STILL haven't been out of their boxesI...
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Layout in a box and bumper DVD full of Phil in the February BRM
One big project in BRM this month, a complete layout in a box.If you are new to railway modelling, finding all the materials can be a challenge, so I've put together a complete package so you can build...
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Parabellum model shop
A shop to be placed firmly in the "how the heck did I not know about this place" tray.Based in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, Parabellum has been open for 21 years. OK, it's only open Thursday, Friday...
View ArticleSaturday Film Club: Hodbarrow Hematite Mine
A couple of minutes from the 1960s showing operations at Hodbarrow mine. Some interesting pointwork and the chance to see a real industrial locomotive at work.
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The only good use for a co-ax plug
As is traditional, I bought the special double-issue of the Radio Times. The one that covers Christmas and New Year. While not a massive TV watcher, it's useful to see if there is anything worth a...
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Four non-blondes
What's up? Well, I've painted a set of figures for the J72. Yes I know there are four of them, but I want to pick the ones that fit best, and then there is another project waiting in the wings which...
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There's no floor in this plan...
Not a great photo but it was hard enough persuading these ModelU figures to hang on the inside of the J72 cab without worrying about producing something photogenic.As it was I wasn't going to flatten...
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