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A milestone reached
This is post number:since this blog started way back in 2005. I hate to think how many words that means I've typed!Thanks to everyone for visiting. Now if only I could finish all those projects on the...
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16mm Society AGM 2017
Here's a first. Because I couldn't make it to the garden railway show at Peterborough this year (busy selling ice cream at a local performance of "Legally Blond") I've had to leave photo duties to my...
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Easter Egg Special!
In the second ever, the first was 2014 and I can't understand why I haven't repeated it, Easter Egg special, I've bought 3 random Kinder Eggs so I can review the kit contents. Kinder toys are the sort...
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What's wrong with playing with toys?
Interesting story on Toy News: Adult toy fans fuel market growthNo great surprise to me. I've worked in IT. You find me a room of developers without at least one person with Star Wars toys on their...
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Warehouse Wednesday - Haarlam Mill Part 2
Last week we looked at Haarlam Mill proper, but beside it is another interesting building, or at least the remains of one. From what little is left, I'd say this was a 1950s structure but you are...
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Mashima motor replacement
There has been a great deal of gloom and doom in the model railway kitbuilding community at the news that Mr Mashima has retired and no-one else is taking over the business. Some have been scrambling...
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Removing a Heljan Park Royal railbus body
Alan asks:For several weeks I have be trying to find out how to remove the body shell from my new 00 Gauge Park Royal Railbus to insert a 21 Pin decoder and to plant a driver and some passengers.Sadly,...
View ArticleSaturday Film Club: Origami genius
Like most people, I've folded a bit of paper. Mainly for aeroplanes but proper origami is fascinating.Some of the work in this film is just beautiful. Sheets of paper expanding from tiny boxes. Not...
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York 2017
Exhibitions always evolve and York more than most. Now in it's 55th year, there are certain stands that should be where you expect them to be, and when things change, it can be a bit of a shock.This...
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Brass roof soldered to whitemetal sides
Finally, some free time to carry on with the Wickham trolley. The obvious next job was to fit the roof. This involves soldering brass to whitmetal. When I fitted the handrails, I had to tin them with...
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Wooden seats
If it's O gauge, wooden bits can be made of close-grained wood. In this case I've used (I think) basswood, or as we call it, lime.At 1mm thick, it's easy to work with a sharp knife, being careful when...
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Warehouse Wednesday: Terrys factory
As I sat eating my cake (morning) or tiramsu (afternoon, how decedant is that in Yorkshire), the view out of the racecourse window was of the old Terrys chcolate factory. Sadly no longer making choccy...
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Bridges, shunters, baseboard builders and a photo shoot in BRM
May's BRM has been a busy one for me. A quick run down of my bits'n'pieces: I've taken Heljan's 1361 tank and added a bit of personality to the RTR model. There are a few modifications, number plates,...
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Removing a Heljan AC railcar body
John asks: I need to get access to my Heljan O Gauge AC Cars Railbus chassis to service the electrical pickups that failed at a recent Show. Any thoughts?I had to go away and look this one up. It...
View ArticleSaturday film club: Road train, Isle of Man style
How do you celebraite a steam festival? By loading a steam locomotive abord a low-loader and hauling it around with three traction engines, thats how!Unsurprisingly, quite a few people pointed cameras...
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Don't kids build plastic kits any more?
I like to keep an eye on Facebook model railway groups to get an idea what the "average" modeller is thinking about. My guess is that specialist forums tend to attract people who are more committed to...
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Small layouts in RMM
Blimey - over a quarter of a century old and Melbridge Dock can still make a magazine cover! There are many human models who would be considered too old for that accolade.Anyway, the appearance in the...
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A bad day with transfers
This is the picture of a bad day. When I took it, I didn't know it was going to get worse. All I had done was pop the transfers on a Slaters kit. They are lovely waterslide letters and went on well....
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Warehouse Wednesday: On the docks
I'm afraid I know nothing about this building other than it's part of Portsmouth's historic dockyard and is best seen from the harbour tour boat. It is a very typical structure seen in docks. Look in...
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Small and Delightful in NGW
May's issue of Narrow Gauge World includes a couple of pages from me reporting on the Narrow Gauge West exhibition.There's a nice selection of photos, including Buttermere Mining which sees a full...
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