We’d just about recovered from Gaugemaster, and it was time to set up another layout for Thursday’s club night. A small circuit duly appeared, and eight members enjoyed running time. One or two of the weekend’s bargains were tested out…..
Not much else to report, but a busy railway weekend follows….
And more video of the weekend at Gaugemaster…. See 8:00 minutes.
Next to us was the ‘OO’ modern image Oak Road. Based on Castle Cary station, the scenery captured the local Shepton Mallet hills very well. Lots of HST’s running by (but not photographed), and some fine modern diesels. We commented that Allan’s ‘N’ DB 66 looked very small compared to this ‘OO’ one!
Gas Works in ‘O’ was an impressive shunting layout. Notable was the fact that the layout made up for its (relatively) short length with plenty of height. It was mostly operated with grimy LMS locomotives, but this pristine Terrier made regular appearances. It’s such a lovely livery, the owner couldn’t face weathering it!
Glb Bitterfeld was a small HO layout, really built to display operating modern PW stock. All the tampers, cranes and other odd pieces of rolling stock had moving parts.
Wentworth Yard had large numbers of LNER locomotives passing through the shed.
Burnham was a fairly standard branch terminus, but set in East Anglia rather than the inevitable GWR territory, and with this lovely coaster model on display.
Ian Milroy was there with his Spanish layout (with a very long name.)
There were other layouts, but these were the ones that caught my eye. So finally, I was very taken by Mill Falls, ‘HO’ American with some lovely craftsman buildings on display. Plus lots of detail, such as the manhole covers and litter in one of these photos.
We’re at around 19:30 on the video….
We took a 3×1 modular layout to the Gaugemaster show. This really seems to be an optimum size, easy to transport and set up and large enough to impress at the show. The only drawbacks are the duck-under (crawl under for us oldies) and the lack of space at the centre of the layout. It all worked well, and we kept four trains running for the two days.
As ever, the layout was well received, and we had some good conversations with the punters passing buy. Two persons thought they might visit ESNG, two offered layouts for the NGSE show, and we even sold four wagons. We also spent more money than expected, as there were a few good bargains tucked away in a Gaugemaster storeroom. And I thought that I was saving my pocket money for TINGS….
The rest of the show was of good quality, it was a very friendly time, and Gaugemaster were good hosts. The weather was perfect, sunny but not too hot in the marquees. The layouts were a little tightly squeezed in, but perhaps my only complaint was the plumbing – portaloos and hand sanitizer is not ideal for a long day on the south coast!
And a quick snippet of the layout in action….
The West Sussex Group were also there, with a small display of Gilly North’s modules.
I was pleased to meet Tim Hills, who is bringing ‘TENAC’ to NGSE next April. A French SCNF layout is quite rare here in the UK!
And I liked the notice Tim had added to the layout…..
Smallest layout was the ‘Z’ gauge Kenstadt. Easy to pack up after the show, just fold up and walk…..
A bonus of the Gaugemaster site is the procession of full-sized trains next door in Ford station. The coast line has several services along it, and the level crossing seems to be closed as often as open (at least it always closes as you approach it.)
Pictures of some of the other layouts next time.
A modelling idea that is very close to home….
Sinkholes are all the rage these days, even with their own TV series. We had our own personal sinkhole last weekend just down the road in Hooley Lane. A burst water main was responsible, causing a flood that fortunately stayed out of the nearby houses. However, an Ocado grocery delivery van was less lucky when the driver either failed to spot the hole under water, or tried to drive around it. He wasn’t hurt, and was provided with hot, sweet, tea by the neighbours.
The scene below does have some potential for a layout cameo.
Fortunately, the railway isn’t affected, as this is the London-Brighton main line. They got the van out safely, and the driver wasn’t injured, but the road will be closed for repairs to the water main and the road for a week.
Thanks, Brian, for this short ‘how to’ film about making model trees using Buddleia from the garden.
Of course, what we need now is a video on how to make ‘N’ gauge Buddleia, as it is an essential for modern image layouts. See this old post.
Buddleia at Willesden Junction
From the Guardian, an interesting project – the Tashkent metro ….
After the ban on photographing the Tashkent metro in Uzbekistan was lifted this summer, Amos Chapple, RFE/RL’s photographer went underground to reveal the art, architecture and nuclear-blast protection in Central Asia’s oldest subway system.
Some wonderful stations here…
And a less challenging project from Simon. A remaining semaphore signal on Britain’s railways. Can’t be that many left?
Semaphore signal pic taken on a dull evening at Grange over Sands on Monday with added train.
It’s been a while since I looked at urban termini. Looking at London Victoria in the 1950’s there seems to be an interesting ‘bitsa station’ design that is possible.
The distance between the road bridges is about 4′ in ‘N’, so this is very buildable. To the left one could add a traverser. To the right one could have a second scenic board with those interesting sidings (probably used for parcels stock from the Golden Arrow and fourgons off the Night Ferry.) Or perhaps just another hidden board to terminate trains. The named trains left from platform 1. The others had a range of EMUs and steam hauled trains for the eastern section of the Southern Railway (formerly the SECR).
The next question is which side to view the layout from. To give the full impression of a large London terminus, a view from the bottom of the plan, looking over to the LBSCR section of the station, would be best. This might look something like the next two photographs. (The first one is easily modelled with a Farish ‘N’ class and Dapol Maunsell coaches.)
However, the view from the top of the plan could be the better one. Here we have a terrace of tall houses, the Bishop & Sons depository, and the most attractive Victoria East signal box. Although less easily identified as a large terminus, this would probably be the best way to build this layout.
All in all, another location with potential in a model.
This is an amazing sequence. It’s almost model-like in the way it’s laid out, and the frequency of the trains. Perhaps the only down side is having almost all of the trains the same – but Clapham in the rush-hour looked like that in some eras and at some times. (Note the car reversing over the level crossing to reach a parking space at 8:07. And then immediately crossing the road again for another space.)
The speeded up film also looks a bit like ESNG club night….
Also from YouTube, try this link for the classic Railway Roundabout series. Included are film of Hayling Island, Lyme Regis, the Brighton Belle, and the Isle of Wight. More wonderful viewing to keep you from watching those soaps….
And for the Isle of Wight, try these. All inspiring for modelling (so I’d better get on and do some!)
And some period trains, UK and exported….
The postman delivered two parcels today – my Revolution Class B tankers. I hadn’t realised that I’d ordered 14…. But I must have, as they arrived today and they all look wonderful.
I’d started with the black liveries, so didn’t end up buying any red Mobil Charrington ones. But I’m especially pleased that I added the 4 UM examples to my order. They are rather colourful and will make a Rule 1 appearance whenever possible.
Note the etched ‘Regent’ shield to fix over the transfers. ‘Esso’ wagons also have them. And the ‘United Molasses’ wagon is rather classy!
Good to see 12 persons at last night’s meeting – and the treasurer was delighted that some of them even paid up their annual subs!
We got Raysden out of Derek’s garage for the evening. We wanted to take it to the Gaugemaster show, but also wanted to check that it has survived the hot summer. All was well, just a couple of signals warped a little, and the white metal water tower bent slightly under its own rather top heavy weight. Otherwise, the modelling looks as good as ever.
We did have a slight problem with one of Paul’s bullets, as the platform clearances were too tight for it. I recall that this is totally prototypical – most recently in Italy where the new multiple units wouldn’t fit between the platforms.
Derek was running a GWR goods train….
Simon’s short American goods train passes through Raysden….
Followed by a Shay and some tourist coaches. Not sure about the H&S implications of the coaches….
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