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My car WILL be roadworthy next year, and I don't need to do any work.
This is the current state of my Beetle, well apart from the rear tyres which are flat. Despite this, I can be sure it will be roadworthy by the end of May next year. How come? Am I finally going to...
View ArticleSaturday Film Club: The Indian Hill Railway
A little more video from the Wiltshire show a couple of weeks ago. This time the popular Indian Hill Railway layout built by the East Surrey 16mm group.This time I'm afraid the lighting wasn't great...
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Warwick classic cars 2017
Last weekend was the first one off in a few weeks so I'm getting the chance to catch up with some events I've not brought you. First up, we have the classic car show that takes place in the middle of...
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Fork lift truck build
Gordon Asks:I notice from a web site that you built a fork lift truck from a Viking model. Could you be kind enough to send me details.The model I am building - Burnden Park (was featured in your...
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DCC in kitbuilt locos?
Andy Rossiter asking the questions.In your “adding extra pickups to model locomotives” workbench article I assume that the picture you show is of a ‘OO gauge” chassis and not ‘O gauge’.I am currently...
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Warehouse Wednesday: Telephone cable warning
Once upon a time kids, telephones were attached to to wires and everyone had to carry a sign like this around everywhere they went to stop others tripping over the cables...Actually, no. Thanks to...
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Vintage speedboat
Another kit from the pile, this time a vintage speedboat - well it's a change from all the toy trains.The kit is from George Turner, bought as part of his sale of models when he gave up making boats to...
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No longer rudderless
Starting at the back end with the job that's taken loads of head-scratching. My plan involved fitting a big rudder through the rear extension and hoping I could run and operating rod through the back...
View ArticleSaturday Film Club: 30 days at sea
This is a simply beautiful piece of film charting the progress of a container ship. Well worth ten minutes of your time if only to see how our models get to us by sea!Along the way we glimpse how ports...
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Elsecar Garden Rail 2017
The first steam engine I spotted on arrival at Elsecar wasn't, as expected, a garden rail model but a full-size Sentinel being prepared for a days work on the site steam railway. If I'd done some...
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RIP Dave Elbourne
Last week, after a short illness, one of the greatest influences on my model making career and someone who played a significant part in me ending up in my current job, Dave Elbourne passed away.I first...
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More MEK
Time for another Mek-Pak refill post. Last week I broke open the latest big tin bottle. The previous one having lasted since 2015.Price for the latest is £26. That's up 80p on 2 years ago and £4.70 on...
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Warehouse Wednesday - Small pit head gear
This is one of those annoying photos of a prototype too good not to share, but of which I know very little. From the Elsecar Heritage Centre, this pithead gear stands near the beam engine house. The...
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Brushless motor
Fast boats used to mean an IC motor with all the attendant noise and pollution. Then we moved to electric power but the motors were still pretty chunky. Now we have brushless motors is pretty simple -...
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Building a battery box
The biggest problem with this kit?I've never seen one built up. In fact this is the only example of this model I've ever seen - and I have looked long and hard.All this, combined with the lack of...
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Making plans for XTC
XTC – THIS IS POP A brand-new 70-minute film on one of Britain’s best-loved and most influential bands of modern times, XTC. Emerging from the late 1970’s new wave punk explosion XTC amassed a devoted...
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Hand drawn tram
Something a bit different for Sunday, but since it's so relaxing, a perfect interactive experience. Short Trip is a scenic tram simulator created by Alexander Perrin.Hand drawn, it looks beautiful and...
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First sea trials
Down to the lake with the speedboat for its first proper sail. I hadn't wanted to do this in the bath as I hope it will fly away so fast the length of the tub could be traversed in micro...
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Try, try again
With things not looking good, it was time to spend a bit more money. First, a new prop - something in red this time because red things go faster. Also, slightly smaller than the old propeller and...
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Warehouse Wednesday: Beam engine house
If you are tempted by a Chris Nevard style beam engine house for your layout, these photos of a prototype from Elsecar might be useful to you. Sadly, the chimney has long since gone, but you certainly...
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