Clik here to view.
WW1 railway in BRM
It's British Railway Modelling time again! The November issue sees a major change to the magazine. For a start the price has risen by 50p. Bad news you might think but in this case the rise is to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The many scales of Toby
You might have been wondering why I have been building an N gauge J70. Well, here's a hint. You'll have to wait a while for the full reveal.
View ArticleClik here to view.
A cardboard coaching inn
While on holiday a couple of weeks ago, my Dad took a Metcalfe card kit to amuse himself with. You need something to do in a Cornish caravan if you aren't to overload on cream teas apparently.On his...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Starting small
I speak to a lot of beginners setting out in railway modelling. I do my best to dispense helpful advice. The main thing I say is "Start small". Sadly, by the time I say this, it's often too late. Lofts...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Prototype follows model - Part 1 - The Baby Deltic
Many years ago, if you wanted a Baby Deltic for your model railway, you took a Class 37, a saw and started chopping. You'd need a Class 20 chassis for the underpinnings too. After a few hours happy...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Prototype follows model - Part 2 - Signwriting
Sign writing. Is. Hard. The red wagon looks like I've had a go, which means it doesn't look like any prototype. The letters are too thin for a start. Neat, but too thin. I'm not sure the shape of the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
GWR Steam Railcar
Back in August, I suggested that since I was going to be away from the workbench for a goodly chunk of October, I ought to build a kit to entertain you for the duration. You voted, and the clear...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What's in the railcar box?
I don't know why, but when I first opened up the box, I was surprised by the cast whitemetal sides. In my mind, I'd expected etched brass parts for these and had already started to ponder how I would...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Traditional instructions
Traditional instructions. A great long parts list which you are supposed to check through before starting - and never do. Well I don't anyway and even if I did, it wouldn't do me any good here. It's...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bachmann 1F
"What?!?!""Another RTR loco? That's the second one you've bought this year!", I hear you cry. Guilty as charged. I appear to have fallen in to the trap that has already snared so many modellers. I have...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Patina
Wandering around Barrow Hill a few weeks ago, I spotted a familiar shape - a 1F. Just like the one I bought from Mr Bachmann. Apart from the open cab anyway. Looking at the loco, what struck me was how...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hobbyco Store - Sydney
Apologies for the lack of posting from a land down under. It seems that WiFi here is limited and/or expensive so I've had to concentrate on working on MREmag.com or backing photos up to Flickr.However,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Pot of bearings
When I pen a magazine article, one phrase I hope never to write is, "I got this from the spares box."How frustrating is that for the reader? I might have a spares box able to provide the vital missing...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bushed chassis
I'm not sure what world Nu-Cast were operating in when they decided that the whitemetal loco chassis would provide adequate bearing surfaces, but in my world they were wrong. With all those waggly...
View ArticleClik here to view.
4 wheels on my loco
The big worry with a whitemetal chassis is that the thing won't be flat. Castings have a tendency to subtly change shape as they cool and while that might not be an issue with the pretty bits, where...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Triang R298
How nice is this set? A Triang R298 Home Maintenance set for your model railways. Complete and untouched. Containing some tools: tweezers, and electrical test light and some screwdrivers. Spools of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Q Car
Behold. The Holy Grail of Triang collectables. R571 "Q" Car Produced in 1968, it's an exploding wagon that when open reveals a pair of "Red Eye" missiles. The mechanism swivels these into firing...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Broken, but not in the way you think
Controller turned on. No red light. No locomotive movement. Faulty electrics? Nope. The knob isn't gripping the shaft properly. It's turned around a little bit. As it happens, I didn't spot this...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Back from a land down under
Right - I'm back from Australia. The trip was great, none of the flying involved crashes and I'm now faced with trying to get back to normal. Whilst I'm sure no-one wants to read me banging on about...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Stobie Poles
It's funny what you become interested in on holiday. Or maybe it's just funny what I become interested in. On the other side of the world from my home, the object that fascinates me more than...
View Article