Author Archives: snitchthebudgie

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About snitchthebudgie

Secretary of the East Surrey N Gauge railway club

Review of 2013

Posted on January 7, 2014 by snitchthebudgie

It seems to be the done thing to produce a review of the year.  So what did 2013 bring for the Budgie: A total lack of modelling for 8 months, thanks to too much engineering to do, especially Chinese dams, … Continue reading →

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Layout design – different voices – simple layout, complex operation

Posted on January 7, 2014 by snitchthebudgie

Another interesting voice in the layout design world is Lance Mindheim, who most originally posts at http://www.lancemindheim.com/. He has built a number of very interesting layouts.  The first was a 20×20 foot N gauge layout of the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiration, Jon's layout ramblings, Layout design | Tagged , | 2 Comments

ESNG meeting – 2 January 2014

Posted on January 3, 2014 by snitchthebudgie

Well, who was going to turn up at the first meeting in 2014? We got a very creditable nine members in attendance, including Ian back after time out for a broken arm.  So we had a full circuit up and running.  … Continue reading →

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Jon’s modules – the thrill is gone…

Posted on January 2, 2014 by snitchthebudgie

According to B.B. King and numerous other bluesmen. You may have noted how my module posts have slowed up.  I seem to have been distracted from railway modelling over this Christmas.  Perhaps it’s the fact that I’ve now laid all … Continue reading →

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And a Happy New Year

Posted on December 31, 2013 by snitchthebudgie

Who knows what 2014 will bring?  There are some very interesting models promised by the UK manufacturers.  I am very much tempted by the Farish Merchant Navy and Dapol’s 33 and Maunsell coaches.  But no doubt they are still stuck … Continue reading →

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Off my trolley – a new design series

Posted on December 29, 2013 by snitchthebudgie

As I continue to make good progress on my modules, the armchair modeller in me is already thinking about another layout.  I have this irrational urge to build an N-gauge US trolley or interurban layout – sometimes known as a … Continue reading →

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Java junction

Posted on December 27, 2013 by snitchthebudgie

Keeping the overseas flavour, here are four shots of Banjar, Java, and some Indonesian trains.  A modelling point I liked are the grassed areas between tracks.  You don’t see those at Clapham Junction!

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Christmas greetings

Posted on December 24, 2013 by snitchthebudgie

A very blessed and happy Christmas to all (both) my readers!    Photo credits: Creative commons, Raela9 (left) & Base Camp Baker (right)

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Quote of the week

Posted on December 23, 2013 by snitchthebudgie

From “Branch Line to Upwell” in the Middleton Press series of albums, describing the well known ex-Great Eastern steam (and finally diesel) tramway: Rev. Teddy Boston, who moved to Wisbech in 1950, was a (sic) ardent railway enthusiast and often travelled … Continue reading →

Posted in Prototype, Weird and wonderful | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Jon’s modules – staging a fiddle

Posted on December 21, 2013 by snitchthebudgie

Or to put it another way, how am I going to add the fiddle yard (UK usage) or staging (USA) to the short line?  I thought I had this all worked out, but once again reasoning through the options came … Continue reading →

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