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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,...
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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...
View ArticleSaturday 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...
View ArticleNew 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...
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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,...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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....
View ArticleSaturday 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!
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
View ArticleSaturday Film Club: Jerry Cans
This is unexpectedly fascinating - the history of the Jerry Can. Such a common object, but with a fascinating back-story.
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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...
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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...
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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...
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