Garden Rail 2020-01

JANUARY 2020
ail
ISSUE
MARCH3052016
ISSUE 105
HOW TO BUILD A
RAILWAY THAT LASTS
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01
9 770969 952092 >

JANUARY 2020 | £4.99
SCOTTISH
SPLENDOUR!
TAKE A TRIP ALONG THE
HIGHLANDS HILL AND
MONYKEBBOCK TRAMWAY
NEW LOCOS FROM

MAMOD AND REGNER
2 Garden Rail 305 | January 2020
Contents
IN SHOP • DIGITAL • MOBILE • APP
ail
Incorporating GARDEN RAILWAY WORLD
Issue 305 • January 2020
4
16
VIEW FROM THE END OF
THE PLATFORM
THE HIGHLANDS HILL AND
MONYKEBBOCK TRAMWAY
Peter Bakke
BUILDING THE LINESIDE HUT’S
FREELANCE CLERESTORY
Publisher: Steve Cole
stevec@warnersgroup.co.uk BOW-SIDED CARRIAGES
Editor: Phil Parker Greg Oehm
phil.parker@warnersgroup.co.uk
T: 07879 664 383 22 MIDLAND QUARTET: A TALE OF Garden Rail: Published monthly
Design: Neil Sayer
Advertising: Bev Machin FOUR 2P’S by Warners Group Publications
bevm@warnersgroup.co.uk T: 01778 392055 John Mileson
Hollie Deboo Next Issue: 306
hollie.deboo@warnersgroup.co.uk T: 01778 395078 24 A SCRATCHBUILT KERR STUART 4415 On sale: 16 January 2020
Production: Allison Mould David Anderson
Allison.mould@warnersgroup.co.uk T: 01778 395002
Advertising Designer: Amie Carter
30 AND NOW FOR SOMETHING
amiec@warnersgroup.co.uk
Marketing Manager: Carly Dadge
carlyd@warnersgroup.co.uk
Columnists: David Anderson, Peter Bakke, John
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
Mark Thatcher
46
Denbury, Rob Golding, John Mileson, Chris New, Greg
Oehm, Dave Skertchly, Mark Thatcher, Alan Poxon
35 BUILDING BAYFIELDS
www.warnersgroup.co.uk Rob Golding
40 CONVERTING KADEE COACH
COUPLINGS TO HOOKS
©Warners Group Publications plc 2020
All rights reserved. Material is only accepted on the John Denbury
understanding that there are no copyright restrictions.
Although every care will be taken, all materials submitted 44 DIARY DATES
are at the owner’s risk and Warners Group Publications
cannot be held responsible for loss or damage however 46 WINTER WORKING
caused. Copyright on all materials in this magazine Dave Skertchly
remains vested in the Authors and Warners Group
Publications. Reproduction of the whole or any part is
forbidden without relevant permissions. Warners Group 50 PRODUCT NEWS
Publications and the Editor cannot be held responsible
for any error that might occur in text or advertisements. 58 MAKING STEAM Next Month: If you’ve enjoyed
Reliance placed upon the contents of the magazine is Chris New the 7/8th Highlands Hill and
entirely at the reader’s own risk. Monykebbock Tramway in this
60 MAILBOX issue, you’ll be pleased to know
Printed by: Warners Midlands plc coverage of the scale continues
Distribution
62 LOOKING BACK AT SUMMER with a Sand Hutton Wagon built by
News Trade – Warners Distribution Alan Poxon Steph’ Hicking.
T: 01778 392417
Model Trade – Warners Trade Sales

T: 01778 392404
Overseas Agents – Japan

Erei Co, Ltd 1-1-12 Toyotama-kita,
Nerma-ku, Tokyo 176
Subscriptions
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Garden-Rail.co.uk | 305 January 2020

3
WELCOME
VIEW FROM THE END

OF THE PLATFORM
Looking backwards
The Garden
Rail Garden
W
ow - 2019 was a busy Railway at
Peterborough.
year! Can we top it
Our hobby seems in 2020?
to be going from strength to
strength, at least it is if the
amount of new items being
released to tempt us to open our
wallets is anything to go by. Every
issue seems to have a bumper crop
of items in Product
News and
we find new
suppliers
regularly.
There’s An unexpected visitor that I think
plenty of was something to do with Mark
modelling Thatcher along with the buildings and bonsai.
going on too if
the number of too. We see a lot of We also need to consider how Garden
articles submitted 16mm pieces, where are the Rail can develop. I do my best to chat
to me is any guide. G1 and G scale modellers? when I’m at shows but if anyone wishes
We’ve a wealth of All this work means that my own to offer suggestions, please do. No
really interesting material waiting for railway has seem little development. magazine can stand still so what would
publication – but don’t let that put you The difficult to access length between you like to see more of? Or less of (Yes, I
off sending me your ideas. Any editor fence and pond is still in need of know. Typos. I’m working on it)?
needs a good stock of material to ensure attention. A couple of bags full of This is your magazine. All we at
they can put together the best magazine bolt-on rail joiners away me spend an Warners do is try to do is bring you the
every month and I’m no exception. hour crawling around in the dirt, but very best issue possible every month.
If you’ve a project you’d like to show hopefully will make that length a lot That is one thing that will not be
off, send me an e-mail and I’ll discuss more reliable. changing! ■
it with you. All we need is some words Mind you, I did manage to build
and a few pictures and you can be a complete railway for the National
appearing on these pages. Don’t forget Garden Railway show at Peterborough,
we pay for contributions and send you something to be repeated next year it
a free copy of the issue you appear in seems. At least the organisers seem to be
as a thank you. While I can’t claim you keen to let me and my bags of compost
become rich writing for GR, you might back in again anyway!
become a tiny bit famous.
One area I’m very short of is articles LOOKING FORWARD
covering live steam locomotives, so if
you’ve modified your models in any way So what can we expect in 2020?
or have had to effect a repair, let me More of the same for a start. More
know. I’m sure other readers will be just to read from real modellers around
as interested. the world, including you perhaps?
I’m also on the look out for layouts to (Did I mention I’m always looking for
feature and rolling stock builds. Don’t contributions?). Our hobby is enjoyed
worry if you think your models are less in every country and I’m keen to look
then amazing, for a start we are all our beyond the UK where possible and
own worst critics and more importantly, relevant.
there is always someone out there who
will be inspired to do something similar. Photobombed by the 16mm Association publicity
Garden Rail covers all the large scales officer!

LAYOUT FOCUS
1:13.7
The Highlands Hill and

Monykebbock Tramway
Peter Bakke set out to a build a 7/8th scale scenic railway in the landscape. We think
he's achieved just that.
Per Leo indulges in

a little pole shunting.
I
n 2006 I wrote an article for this make the model itself more plausible; Hill. The line switch-backed down the
magazine about my garden railway at doing so makes you think before you hillside to keep the gradients reasonable,
the time, the 7/8ths scale Glendoric buy (sometimes!), and encourages a joining a connecting line between a
Tramway. That railway was my first essay consistent style of track-work, buildings farm and an adjacent croft. The total
in the scale, and used 32mm gauge track and stock. length of the two connected lines would
to represent a small 18" gauge private I think it also helps if you set the have been just under a mile.
Estate Railway. Thirteen years on, railway in an area that you know well, In later years, the Forestry Commission
following a house move and a change particularly if you currently live in that took over the line, setting up a small
of gauge to 45mm, I again have garden area. In this case, although the HH&M base at Highlands Farm; the line to the
railway that is, to some extent, complete. is entirely imaginary, it is set within a adjacent Bissets Croft was retained to
specific geographical area close to my assist with the interchange of timber
HISTORY home in Aberdeenshire. from the tramway to road transport. In
My personal preference is for a scenic The back-story is that two adjacent the era modelled however (late 1960s to
garden railway. I think that having farming concerns co-operated to build early 1970s), Highlands Wood has been
a vaguely plausible story for your a 2-foot gauge tramway, to bring timber felled to the limit of sustainability, and
garden railway will in turn help to down from the forest atop Highlands Mr. Bisset has retired from crofting.
The Forestry Commission Cream teas and ice cream

Simplex on shed. at the Post Office.

LAYOUT FOCUS
1:13.7
Fowler Resiliant
Lamb on the line! The at work.
James Hilton Models
produced Hudson-
Hunslet waits for the
line to clear.
It is supposed that Bisset’s croft-house I find most interesting, but of course • Hudson-Hunslet also made by James
has been bought by a couple, Mr. and recognise that selling rides on trains, Hilton Models
Mrs. Ricer, who have converted particularly when they are steam-hauled, • 20hp Ruston & Hornsby ZLH made
one end of the building to form the brings in essential funding for the by Charley Lix of Beatty, Nevada
Monykebbock village sub-post office preservationists’ passion. • Roundhouse Engineering
and shop. Any readers who may remember HERCULES, with cosmetic
Gary Ricer is an agricultural my 2006 article will know of Lord modifications inspired by a variety of
engineering instructor at a nearby Glendoric, owner of the 18” gauge German Feldbahn locos
Agricultural College, whilst Mairi Glendoric Tramway. What those readers • Fowler RESILIENT class, made by
Ricer is now the sub-post Mistress and will not know however, is that The Laird P-Line of Kolkotta, India
shopkeeper. Gary’s passion however is also has a small collection of 2-foot
small, narrow gauge industrial tramways; gauge steam locos, for which he has no There is also a wide variety of modified
together with his colleagues at the facilities on his estate to run. wagons, so wide in fact that I am
college, he has formed a Society to that To keep the collection in good working not entirely certain of every item’s
end and negotiated weekend running- order, his locos rotate through temporary provenance!
rights with the Commission. It seems residency on the HH&M; the collection
likely that as the Commission’s interest in includes two Bagnall 0-4-0s, a very pretty TRACK-WORK AND BALLAST
the tramway continues to diminish, the Type 1 Decauville 0-4-0 and a Kerr- I appreciate the fantastic appearance
Society (the “Garioch Industrial Narrow Stuart WREN. All of these models are of hand-built track, but I think it is
Gauge Railway Society”) will soon take from the Accucraft UK range. also reasonable to say that hand-built
the line completely into preservation. Models of internal combustion locos track will never last as long outdoors as
form the major part of the line’s motive proprietary plastic-sleepered track.
STOCK power, including: The downside however is that there
Some readers may have detected a is no mass produced track made
minor nod towards the Leighton • 40hp WD Simplex Swift-Sixteen kit, specifically for 7/8ths scale, and I find
Buzzard Light Railway, which I cannot converted to a ‘Covered’ variant that the spacing and/or size of sleepers
deny. I think it is fair to say that it is • Simplex 60S made by James Hilton used for G-scale and F-scale track looks
the Stonehenge end of the LBLR that Models wrong.
Kirsten watched by a driver of

Simplex 60S No.6 on shed.
one of those new Minis.

7
LAYOUT FOCUS
1:13.7
Manhandling a
The compromise I have arrived at is to skip on the wagon
apply a simple and quick modification turntable.
to PECO SM-45 track. To make the
plain track look more like light 2-foot
gauge track, I cut the webbing between
the sleepers and push them apart, so
that adjacent sleepers and the lengths of
rail between them form a square. Doing
this creates track that is pretty much
to scale for the erstwhile Ashover Light
Railway.
I haven’t modified the points in any
way, but accept the compromise since
sleeper spacing generally closes-up for
points when compared to plain track.
The height of the Code 250 rail used
by PECO seems about right for 30lb
per-foot, a good compromise for 7/8ths
scale. track with blows from a stiff brush, to which no proprietary models exist to
The track generally lies on a bed of create a functional ballast. For me, the my knowledge. My preferred material
potting grit, that has been tamped- plus-side of this method is that it looks is PVC Signboard, a very versatile and
down and levelled by hand with a “right” to me; the down-side for some stout material which can be super-glued,
house brick into a shallow trench dug is that it needs settling-in and regular filed, carved, sanded, drilled, nailed and
with a trowel. More potting grit is then maintenance. can be cut to shape accurately with the
passed through a fine garden sieve; the same tools you would use for plywood.
larger bits remaining on the surface STRUCTURES The key advantages of sign-board
of the sieve are put into the track-bed Most of my structures are scratch- over plywood however are that it is
bucket, but the finer bits that have built, because I wanted to represent the virtually rot-proof and much lighter.
passed through the mesh are mixed with Aberdeenshire building vernacular, for When you are sourcing this board
granite dust and coarse sand. through a search-engine, you should
This second mixture is spread into the know that it is more frequently referred
to as “Foamed-PVC Board”, which will
Bagnall Per Leo on a log train. give most people the false impression
that it is like the card and expanded
polystyrene-sandwich sheets sold in art
and craft shops. There are a number of
suppliers in the UK; I have had good
service from a firm called “Simply
Plastics”, easily found on t’internet.
For kit or ready-made buildings, the
major players currently seem to be CHS
for pre-formed concrete items, and Bole
Lasercraft for plywood kits.
PEOPLE
Finding the right figures for garden
railways can be quite a challenge. I
Simplex No.8 approaches the road crossing.

LAYOUT FOCUS
1:13.7
An overall view of the shed

area, with something interesting
being delivered by trailer.
am not personally fond of caricatures, these are nominally 1:12 scale as those figures in, or close to, 7/8ths items
which limits my choice in this scale. opposed to the 1:13.7 of “7/8ths” scale. it is as well to try and choose those
In most cases I have used 12th scale The actual scale of dolls house figures which are slightly under-scale.
figures from the Dolls House trade; does vary and if you will be placing Increasingly though, true-scale 7/8ths
Bagnalls on shed. Red diesel on tap.

9
LAYOUT FOCUS
1:13.7
Road vehicles can be a challenge, but this
VW Type 2 is from John Lewis. It pays to that is easy to run, and then hold a
keep your eyes open and a ruler handy. competition to see who can take the
longest time to travel between two
points, BUT without stopping. My only
caution is that often it is a newcomer
who wins!
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
At 2-years of age the line is certainly
not finished, but the core layout and
image are now unlikely to change
much. What I do need to do is to put
some infrastructure in place suggestive
of the Garioch INGRS; perhaps a
low platform at each end of the main
line, a small “station” building at the
Monykebbock end and some skip-
frames adapted to carry visitors. Most of
my motive power and rolling stock has
been bought ready-to-run or as easily
finished kits; I would now like to take
You can read about Peter’s previous the time to do some scratch-building.
layout in the January 2006 issue of
Garden Rail. CONCLUSION
There was an interval of 12 years
between dismantling the Glendoric
interest on operating days; it can Tramway and the new line appearing
also help to prevent expensive more-or-less in its current image. The
collisions. This is especially true reasons are various, including a number
if, like mine, your line does not of experiments with scale and gauge
have a continuous circuit. changes, including a venture using
Being a small industrial hand-built track to a gauge of 38mm
figures are being tramway, there is little point in devising (don’t ask!).
3D printed from scans of real people; a time-table or having signal-boxes and The primary reason however, was that
a number of suppliers do this, but I bell-codes. If I am operating on my I didn’t follow my own advice that I
have had good service and results from own, then I will devise some simple set out at the beginning of this piece. I
Hardy’s Hobbies. but representative tasks, for example wouldn’t like to say that this time was
taking foresters and their equipment wasted (it certainly wasn’t boring), but I
VEHICLES up to Highlands Hill, returning later have now resolved to take a little more
As with figures, there are quite a few with bolster and bunk wagons for time in planning any future line that I
diecast model vehicles available in 1:12 loading and then delivering short logs might build and to resist going off on
scale; unlike dolls house figures, the to Monykebbock for chopping into tangents, only to end up selling things
scaling is consistent with the result firewood, and longer logs to Highlands that I shouldn’t have bought in the first
that they are all about 10% too big for Farm for transshipment to road lorries. place. All that said, I am very happy
7/8ths. These models can be used, but An additional feature added (or with where I am now... ■
really have to be placed at a bit of a should I say omitted?) from the
distance from some buildings and items formation at Monykebbock is the lack Garden Rail Resource
of rolling stock (a famous scene from of a run-round loop; this means that a
“Father Ted” comes to mind...) rope or chain shunting is required to Bole Lasercraft
One success I have had however is put stock into a siding, without the loco Yew Tree House, South Street, Bole,
a children’s toy that was sold in John driver blocking himself in at the end Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 9EJ
Lewis shops at Christmas in 2018; it is of the siding. If more than one loco is www.bolelasercraft.com
a surprisingly accurate 1:14 scale plastic operating, then radio-communication
model of a Volkswagen T2 camper is assumed to be used, with one “Fat Hardy’s Hobbies
van. There are also a few items of Controller” directing operations and www.hardyshobbies.co.uk
radio-controlled construction vehicles issuing instructions and limits to the
available in 1:14, although they do tend drivers. Simply Plastics
to be models of modern prototypes. For those Open Days where some Unit B1, Commerce Way, Colchester
visitors have no particular interest in CO2 8HH
OPERATIONS trains, I find that a simple competition www.simplyplastics.com
Having some sort of running system will get everyone involved. The easiest Please mention Garden Rail
for a garden railway can add significant one to use is to fire-up a steam loco when contacting suppliers.

Garden-Rail.co.uk 305| January 2020
11
We will buy almost any
Railway Collection, large
or small. All gauges
will be taken, in any
condition. We always
give an honest price
and will collect and
dismantle any layout.
Telephone: 01302 371623

Mobile: 07526 768178
or email: anoraksanonymous@googlemail.com
InNOW
2013AVAILABLE
we were IN STOCK
approached toSOON! –
produce KERRall theACCUCRAFT’S
STUART
Talyllyn Railway locomotives ‘WREN’ TWO
as NEW
0-4-0T
a commission and
although this never came to fruition we had worked up the concepts and designs with a view to
themIN
producing GENERIC of our1:13.7
own accord. SCALE
LOCOMOTIVES
Due to developments(7/8THS withinIN IN:we 1decided
1:19
the trade FT)that, rather than
SCALE
waste all this effort, we would bring the irst of these, Dolgoch, to the market in 2019. Delivered to
Now available
great
Talgarthacclaim, for
the tank 7/8ths”,
Dolgoch
engineisandthe much-requested
being followed
Sabrina by TR
the saddle Kerr
No.Stuart
tank 1,are ‘Wren’
Talyllyn,
on their0-4-0ST.
with In the
a view
way! Both UK freelance
toare the model
delivering has been
thelocomotives
model in
produced
early
with 2020.in association
design inspirationswith fromKent Garden
Manning Railways
Wardle aimed andatwill only available
providing fromentry
a robust, themlevel
or direct
model from
which is
Accucraft
easy (UK). and operate. Although the design is still
to maintain
The model is built
outside-framed to a has
it now scale theofsophistication
16mm:1′ (1:19 of scale) and follows our standard design brief being
simpliied
internally
Kerr Stuart
Walschaerts gas-ired
produced with and
valve gear163 a centre
slidelue
‘Wren’ type boiler
locomotives
valve and available
cylinders before theyin either
for a smoother ceased32mm
trading(‘O’
in gauge)
1930 and ora45mm
further(‘1′
four
gauge).
were
performanceThe axles
constructed run in bronze
thereafter
and enhanced by bearings
Hunslets.
delivery and all
The
of power. Asthe
‘Wrens’ rods we
owe
before, andwill
their valve gear (piston reverse) will be
origin to the ‘Buya’ class of 1903 although
the type encompassed a huge steel.
manufactured
also be offeringfrom the stainless
power unitnumber of variations
The
(complete cab roof
with isincluding
boiler)ixed,
as an insideto
ideal and
access theoutside
regulatorframes
andand insideisand
reverser via
outside valve gear. Our model is based on the 2’ gauge ‘new type’ developed in 1915 with inside frames,
the cab doors,
starting point forwater viawho
those the boiler
might iller
wish cap, gas via the toolbox
to scratch-build their own and the lubricator iller is in one of the
ackworth valve gear and cast-iron wheels itted with steel tyres. n due course ‘Wrens’ were sent around
bunkers. The copper boiler
body in 1:19 or even 1:13.7 scale. is itted with
the world, many to Africa and Asia whilst in the UK
a gauge glass. The model is built from
they found homes with construction companies
stainless steel and
The locomotive brass. Although
is internally gas ired itted
with a centre lueand boiler. The Half a dozen ‘new types’ have been
the MoD.
model
with TRisbuffers
gauge and
ad ustable
couplings fromthe 32mm
model (‘O’ gauge) to 45mm (‘1′
preserved, ive of them in the .
will accept
gauge) andourhasZ1/Z2 chopper
insulated wheels couplings
as standard. The axles run in
for those
bronze who wish
bearings andtoall
usethethem.
rods The The model is internally gas ired and has slide
and valve gear are manufactured
from stainless
model steel. The
will be available incab roof lips up and over sideways
TR green, to give with working Hackworth valve
valve cylinders
accessRed
Indian to theor cab
black.controls.
Estimated The UK boiler
RRP is itted with a water gear.gauge.
The boiler is itted with a water gauge with
£1650.00.
The modelWe wouldfrom
is built likestainless
to thank Davidsteel, copper and brass. blow down valve, lubricator and pressure gauge.
Fletcher
The model forwill
thebe
superb drawings
available black,and green and red and blue. It is available in 45mm gauge (gauge 1) only. The
members of the Talyllyn Railway for their model can be ordered in black, blue, green and red
help in providing
UK pre-order RRPdata for thepost-delivery
£1050.00, model. £1095.00. with a UK RRP of £1650.00.
I.O.M. 4 Wheel Coaches L&B Howard Van
1:13.7 KS Wren 0-4-0ST 1:19 ‘Dolgoch’ 0-4-0T
TEL: 01981 241380

CONSTRUCTION
1:19
Building The Lineside Hut’s

Freelance Clerestory Bow-sided
Carriages
Greg Oehm lights up his line with a new rake of coaches.
I
t really is all Garden Rail’s fault. in a cardboard box. Opening the box, True to form, the following day
There I was, minding my own I was pleased to see each package was dawned dull and overcast. Shelving my
business, checking out Product wrapped in bubble wrap, and then each painting plans, I waited impatiently for
News in the July 2019 issue and I saw kit in its tightly bound in its own zip- finer weather, which was to be over a
pictures of The Lineside Hut’s new lock bag, with smaller parts in their own week away. While doing so, I followed
freelance clerestory bow-sided carriages. smaller, labelled zip-lock bags inside. I the suggestion in the instructions and
Fetchingly painted in blue and white, was impressed, no chance of losing or sanded the edge of the carriage base
my attention was caught. I can’t help it. mixing up parts here. to an angle. This would help form the
I’m a sucker for two things – clerestory tumblehome when I attached the sides.
carriages and great curves (On carriage WAITING, WAITING…. The enforced wait allowed me to
sides, I mean! Really, the minds of some I chose to begin with the brake composite have a good look over all the parts
people…) kit. Firstly, I looked over the instructions and familiarise myself with them. You
Raiding the piggy-bank, I ordered with an eye to seeing where I could know, these are darn good kits. There
both available versions – a four- modify it or add detail. I particularly is a wealth of interior detail supplied in
compartment Composite and a three- wanted to see how the clerestory roof each. I tend to be a bit over the top with
compartment Composite with guard’s was made. From the website, I had the detailing but if that’s not your thing,
compartment. At the same time, I also impression the roof could be made as a building the kit as supplied will result in
ordered bogies (ex-Roundhouse, with removable item, which suited me well. a fine model.
The Lineside Hut’s own fixing system) Indeed, the roof is removable, could I I was also able to let ideas for lighting
and buffers to suit. install LEDs and a battery? to take definite shape. The clerestory
The whole bundle was dispatched While pondering that question, the roof has three basic parts: a ceiling that
promptly and arrived in Australia about first step in construction would be fits inside the carriage; a main roof; and
a week later, packed safely and securely painting the parts. I would use my the clerestory. Ribs acting as formers
standard carriage for the curvature of the roof hold the
colour scheme of ceiling and roof apart, leaving a small
carmine and white space where wiring could be hidden.
outside, courtesy
of my local car Fitting the
aerosol spray compartment
supplier. walls.
Preparing
the ribs
and roof for
lighting.

CONSTRUCTION
1:19
Fitting the first side

and forming the
tumblehome. Spot the
mistake!
Lighting Stage 1. The

arrangement of wiring
and bus bars.
I wanted the clerestory lit as well

as the compartments so that it would
appear functional. To make that work,
I decided I would have to mount LEDs
pointing downwards from the ceiling
and upwards into the clerestory. That
would make a total of eight LEDs per
carriage, with all the wiring hidden in
the roof space. Tricky.
LET THERE BE LIGHT brass rod from a hobby shop for use LEDs would have to be in the centre
Now with a rough plan, I set about as bus bars running the length of the of each compartment. I proposed to
obtaining the bits that would make carriages to which I would solder the open the holes out gradually, using
my lighting plan work. From my local LEDs. It was all beginning to take shape slowly increasing diameters of drill bit
electronics supplier I purchased enough in my mind and I was starting to get and drilling by hand. This would avoid
LEDs for the two carriages – a clear impatient. Would this weather ever stop? damaging the ply. While my trusty
lens, 12,000mcd yellow 5mm LED. I decided to build the roof Dremel would do a great job up to a
These run off 3V and are bright enough concurrently with the carriage body. 3mm diameter hole, I needed 5mm and
to cast a warm, gas-lamp like glow Beginning by clamping three of the using a power drill would “bite” into
inside to show the interior detail, but internal roof ribs together with a spring- the ply too savagely.
they don’t have the garish, blue-white back clip, I drilled two 1.4mm holes Despite this careful approach, I did
light of a white LED. about 15mm each side of the centre- end up with some minor damage on
I also purchased CR2026 3V button line. Absolute accuracy wouldn’t be the visible portions of the ceiling.
batteries and battery holders to suit. I needed, so I performed the task using Thankfully, I was able to hide this by
opted to omit switches in this build – as the standard Mk1 eyeball. using the washer-looking part of 5mm
the roof would be removable, I could The bus bars would run almost the brass grommets as a dress ring around
just pop the battery into its holder as length of the carriage through these the LEDs.
necessary and, “Let there be light!”. holes. I then carefully marked the I stuck the LEDs for lighting the
Also purchased was some K&S 3/64th centre-line of both the ceiling and the compartments in place with cyano,
main roof, before marking where the ensuring that the long (positive) legs
Proof of concept. The compartment lighting, holes for the LEDs would go. of the LEDs were all on the same
operational! Here, accuracy was essential – the side. Like all diodes, LEDs only allow
current to flow in one direction. It
would be rather embarrassing to have
one LED the incorrect way around,
and so permanently off!
Once I had painted the major parts,
assembly of the body began. The
internal compartment walls were easy
to fit and slotted into their locating
holes in the carriage base nicely. Using
a pair of engineer’s squares, they were
left to dry so they
would be upright.
Then it was the
turn of fitting the
ends. Because the
internal panel in the
Guard’s compartment
Lighting Stage 2. The

clerestory lighting in
place.

17
CONSTRUCTION
1:19
Forming the roof. The LEDs seen here are

those which will eventually light the clerestory,
with their brass dress rings.
needed a bit of sanding to fit, I elected

to glue this to the Guard’s compartment
end panel. Now, the Guard’s
compartment end has look-out windows
and in my haste, I forgot to include the
glazing between the internal and external
panel. Not realising my error until much
too late, I would need to work out a
solution to overcome this silly mistake.
That would be a job for later.
Fitting the sides went pretty well. The
instructions suggested using masking
tape to help form the tumble-home, and
I found this a great hint.
Having successfully fitted one side
and left it dry cure overnight, I began
the other only to find I had put the sides One lined side,
around incorrectly. Muttering a few with the
bad words, I carefully prised the now- equipment
needed to
stuck side off the compartment edges
do it – the
and ends with a Stanley knife blade and easi-LINER
reattached it on the correct side. system.
It was only then I recalled the advice
in the instructions reminding builders
that the ends of the carriage with guard’s With Stage One of the lighting design good Welsh whisky (yes, there is such
compartment were handed. Ah, well, at operational, I began to think about the a thing). The answer became obvious
least there was no damage to anything finer points of Stage Two. Clearance was fairly quickly. If I mount the LEDs on
– except to my pride at making such as going to be the big issue here, in my the bus bars but pointing upwards and
basic error. But that was now two errors plan, I would need to connect the LEDs allowing for a little spring in them, that
caused by rushing, I would need to be for the clerestory to the bus bars with would avoid any shorting. Providing I
more careful in future! wire to allow the main, outer roof to placed the LEDs exactly over the lower
While the reapplied sides were curing, be stuck to the ceiling. This meant the ones, I would be able to mount the
I started the wiring of the roof. The brass amount of wire had to be minimised so main roof piece over the top, guide the
rod bus bars were sanded with fine wet wires weren’t escaping everywhere like LEDs into their locating holes and all
and dry paper to give a clean surface for worms from a can. would be well. That was much simpler
solder to bond to. I carefully soldered I also had to align the LEDs to ensure than I had expected – time to heat up
the LED legs to them, then attached no short-circuit between those on the the soldering iron again.
two short lengths of wire to connect top and the ones underneath, bare Well, the idea was sound, but I forgot
the terminals of the battery holder. The wires might not be practical and more that I only have two hands! It proved
final step was to carefully feed the excess wire, rather than less, might be better. to be a bit tricky trying to hold the
wire into the top of the roof and secure Meeting these competing needs was soldering iron, the solder and the LED
the battery holder to the carriage ceiling going to need a good think, so I called in place, but with the aid of a heat sink
with some double-sided tape. “time” and poured a wee dram to get clamped to one LED leg and the bus
That done, it was time for the acid the brain cells lubricated…. bar, I managed to get them all wired in.
test: would the lighting work? To my One should never underestimate A quick test with the battery, and all
pleasure, it did and beautifully! the synapse-stimulating powers of a eight LEDs lit up. Success.
With that done, it was time to put the
main roof in place. Carefully feeding
Building the clerestory.
the four clerestory LEDs through pre-
drilled holes, everything was clamped in
place and left to dry – ensuring, before
everything got stuck down for good,
that all still functioned.
AND TO CAP IT ALL….

Building the actual clerestory needs a
careful hand. My advice is to make sure
everything is absolutely square. The ends
CONSTRUCTION
1:19
to trying lining something, I can really

recommend these pens. They are so
easy to use, the hint’s in the title you
may say. Chris also provides a 4 minute
YouTube video to illustrate how to do
things. I watched it a few times, then
Using a bag of shot
gave it a go. No more than fifteen
and internal ribs I slowly glued to weight the internal minutes of work later, I had two fine
in place using two engineer’s partitions while gluing. (0.5mm) lines on each side of the
square, making sure the edge carriage, and they looked beautiful. I
of the squares ran along the edge of the Don’t get the cheap stuff, get the right placed the lines on the fret overlay for
clerestory side. The ribs and ends were stuff. Lots of touch-up by hand later, I ease of application, but what a result. I
then added, sandwiched between the applied the decals and then was almost showed the Beloved my handiwork and
squares – that way they were square ready to varnish the carriage in a clear because the lines were so delicate and
both horizontally and vertically. gloss spray. But before I could do that, I beautiful, she completely missed them.
With the basic frame built, I added wanted to apply a gold pin stripe to the With all those trials overcome, I was
toplight glazing in the clerestory. This is body sides. now the proud owner of a substantially
another thoughtful addition to the kit, In the past, my carriages have used a complete body shell. All that was
with a stencilled curlicue design that 3mm wide gold pin striping from a car left to do was the internal structure,
gives the clerestory a bit more definition. detailing range. But it wasn’t terribly underframe and bogies, and detailing.
I wasn’t sure at first what glue to use. good at sticking to the carriage sides
Avoiding cyanoacrylate as it might and the changing surface from panel to ON THE INSIDE….
fog the glazing over time, I settled on fret overlay made things worse. I have The kit provides internal lining, a
standard PVA, figuring that cellulose been adding to my rake of Brandbright combination of a laser-cut thin ply
acetate and poly vinyl acetate had enough carriages of late and I had to stick with frame and vinyl leatherette. I’ve not
in common to allow a good bond to be this method for consistency, but I seen this in a kit before and was further
made. It seems to have worked. wasn’t satisfied with it. I wanted a better impressed – it’s a nice touch. Fully
Once the glazing was glued in place, alternative, as these carriages would end assembled, the inside detail looks really
the clerestory was glued to the top of up being the premier rake. swish, even for a third-class carriage.
the main roof and allowed to set before Now, I had While the instructions say
adding the clerestory roof. The roof recently bought to weight the internal lining
took a few goes to get just right – the an “easi-LINER’ down when fixing it in place,
blessed thing would not bend! Slowly pen set from Chris making that work with
fixing each little problem over a few Arundell. This was the tumblehome and in a
nights, I breathed a sigh of relief when principally to line small space is a challenge.
the roof was finally attached to the my locos instead My solution was to lay the
clerestory sides. of using vinyl tape, carriage on its side, and
but you can line then add each piece, using
OH, WHAT A GORGEOUS BODY! anything, right? So, a zip-lock bag full of small
Time to turn my attention back to the I bought a tin of shot as the weight. I also
bodywork. Oh, what a saga this was. Humbrol yellow placed a length of ramin
Sadly, the car spray paint I used lifted paint that looked under the tumblehome to
in places as I removed the masking tape most like gold ensure it was supported. This
that held the panel detail frets in place. (I believe gold method allowed the shot to
There is a moral here – the paint had paint itself doesn’t mould to fit the inside of the
been a special tint job done by an auto apply as well) and tumblehome, yet still provide
spares shop, rather than my preferred got cracking. weight to allow the lining to
brand and frankly, it wasn’t as good. If you want bond to the body side.
My favourite interior detail
My favourite part of the kit. The pieces were the laser-cut
detail pieces that fit above the detail pieces that sit over the
seats, in the process of having their seats, with large, wide arches
panoramic pictures fitted. Nice, eh?! begging to be filled with
something decorative. There
were so many options for
individualising the carriages
using the six pieces supplied
with the kit. To begin, I
A view of the internal detail.
Everything inside the carriage –
save for the photos – comes with
the kit.

19
CONSTRUCTION
1:19
stained mine in a cedar moulding and the bottom exceptional. The extra touches really
timber stain. The wall of the sole bars. I was brought the carriage to life, and I can
underneath I painted worried that on tight recommend adding them. I did put the
cream for a contrast; curves this might limit torpedo vents in wrong, so if you spot
with the detail pieces the bogies from pivoting. my error, don’t say. I already know. It’s
over the top, the The washer allowed just an error I keep making – sigh! I also
combination would a smidge more room added an Oehm-made lamp iron for a
look very smart. between the bogie and the tail lamp – just a length of brass strip
I wasn’t content to sole bars. It also allowed a bent to shape and drilled to take two
leave that, though. I small recess, so I dropped 14BA screws for fixing.
did want something in a cut-down retractable
the wide arch. I toyed pen spring in the recess CONCLUSION
with having one side per to provide a bit of compensation With that, the carriage was now
compartment with a mirrored for the bogies. (The springs were complete, save for populating it. I am
finish using aluminium foil (an idea sourced – free – from my pupils, who also considering adding etched brass
from the instructions) and a picture find destroying pens irresistible. Why? I railway nameplates from Narrow Planet
in the other but the foil wasn’t playing have no idea) A three-foot radius curve – a cosmetic addition that I will retro-fit
when I tried. Keeping the foil flat and is no problem now. to all my coaching stock.
unblemished was impossible. I also made up and fitted the running Despite silly errors of my own
So, screwing up the foil and hurling boards supplied with the kit. Once creation, I found the kit enjoyable to
it away in disgust, instead I opted for fitted, the running boards are the widest build. Speaking of silly errors, how did
having just pictures. On-line I found part of the carriage – a full 100mm I solve the lack of glazing in the carriage
some lovely wide, panoramic pictures overall. Being down low, they may foul end? Well, I had some left-over perspex
of Wales and printed them onto photo on platform edges or other lineside from an earlier project or seven, so I
paper using a standard ink-jet printer. infrastructure, something to take cut some glazing and carefully filed two
Then, tracing the inside arc of the fret into consideration? It probably looks pieces to shape so that they fitted in the
with a fine pen onto the photo, I cut wider than it really is as I suspect the window frames and fixed them in place
outside that line by a rough 2mm. tumblehome accentuates the difference, with five-minute epoxy.
This gave me enough edge to stick on but a clearance test before final fitting of Construction is straight-forward, and
the back of the fret at the top, doing the running boards is advisable if your the basic kit builds a very attractive
the same on the sides and bottom. railway has restricted clearances. piece of rolling stock. There is scope
The photos were then stuck into their Finally, it was time to add those extra for detailing and modification that
“frames”, with the whole lot stuck onto details. The first thing I added were only adds to eye-catching nature of this
the compartment walls. How was the door handles. While the kit comes with carriage. All up, indulge yourself and
result, you ask? Excellent, but don’t take T-shaped door handles, I elected to give this kit a try – I know I’ll be adding
my word for it – look at the photos. substitute these with Brandbright brass to my rake soon enough. And I believe
handles. The other handles will go into The Lineside Hut have got some other
ADDING THE OTHER DETAILS. the bits box for another day. modifications in mind too. I can’t wait
With the body done and the buffer While shopping on the Brandbright to see what they are! ■
beams and sole bars added, it was website (mistake!), I also got torpedo
time to add the bogies. One change I vents, lamp tops, vacuum pipes and end Garden Rail Resource
made was to insert a 5/8” i.d. washer steps to access the roof. And, because
between each Roundhouse bogie and the carriage had a guard’s compartment, The Lineside Hut
The Lineside Hut’s fixing system. I I ordered a brake standard. Fitting 43 Rope Lane, Wistastion, Crewe,
found that, having fixed the solebars these parts was not especially difficult Cheshire CW2 6RB
in-board by 6mm each side, there was or exceptional, so the details I will www.thelinesidehut.co.uk
a slight catch between the bogie spring spare you. However, the results were
Chris Arundell
Colkett Drive, Old Catton, Norwich,
Norfolk NR6 7ND
www.mylocosound.co.uk/?page_id=12
21
Brandbright Ltd
Holland Business Park, 3, Holland
Way, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11
7TA
www.brandbright.co.uk
Please mention Garden Rail
when contacting suppliers.
The lights are on, but no-one’s home. Yet. But

it’s a fine looking carriage, innit?

CONSTRUCTION
1:32
Midland Quartet:
A tale of four 2P’s
A completed 2P in SDJR Railway colours.
John Mileson and friends build a quartet of Midland locomotives starting with the tenders.
garden railways, but surprisingly there
N
one of us knew quite how it The advantage we saw by all building are few low priced kits on the market.
came about. All four of us: the same class of engine, at the same None of us wanted to spend upwards of
Mike Britton, Mick Mumford, time, we could draw on a pool of £3,500 for a kit. In fact we wanted to
Harry Simmonds and myself, had for skills. Hopefully, this would ensure a spend considerably less than £2000.
many years (about 300 between us) successful outcome and not add to the Our research showed two things. First,
been under the influence of model pile of half finished projects stashed the second hand market commands
railways and, like most addicts, been under the bench! high prices for used engines. In any case
involved with all the popular scales from for inexperienced live steam modellers
OO to 7/8th to the foot. WHERE TO START? to purchase a used loco may have
What none of us had done however, The first things we all had to agree on thrown up all manner of problems.
was a group project. We decided each of were: Secondly, all our investigations
us should build, from a kit, a Gauge 1 • What class of locomotive would we pointed to the long established British
live steam engine. like to build? manufacturers, Barrett Steam Models,
As it happened, all of us were • What would be our budget based in the West Midlands.
members of G1MRA (the Gauge 1 • Were there any kits available for a Just to give us some confidence and
Association), had owned a variety group of people with a variety of re-assurance, we decided to visit Barretts
of battery powered and off the shelf skills, jacks of all trades and masters of small factory, to discuss with the
live steam locomotives and living in none? founders son Steve, and his wife Sheila
the Midlands allows access to a large the options open to us. We knew from
number of 45mm gauge garden railway Gauge 1 is a very popular gauge for their web site they produced locomotive
tracks. kits for beginners/starters and a range
of more more expensive and complex
‘professional’ kits.
The least expensive in the beginners
range were small tank engines, but we
suspected these would be a bit too fiddly
for old hands to cope with. The kit we
all fell in love with was the Midland
2P, 4-4-0 tender locomotive. Priced
at around £1600, it was within our
budgets. Four kits were ordered and our
joint venture began.
The key parts ready for assembly.

CONSTRUCTION
1:32
on. Whilst instructions were good, we

were all apprehensive.
We had no reason to be. Carefully
following the instructions, the
tender body was quickly formed
and in no time ready for assembly.
As mentioned before, we opted
to solder rather than glue the body
together, and now would be the
critical time to see if we had made
the right decision. One morning we
met to carry out the soldering. For
some reason everyone looked, well,
pale and drawn.
Plucking up courage, and with plenty The tender footplate complete.
of Baker’s No. 3 fluid, solder and gas
torch, we made a start. What was all
the fuss about? Gently warm the whole possibly out of control, is not a scenario
body of the tender, apply lashings of to be relished.
flux, some solder and within the hour Steve Foster came up with a pre-wired
Harry completes the first part of the soldering the first tender was soldered, followed package of water sensor, regulator servo,
operation. by the other three. Only one leaked and batteries and transmitter all ready for us
this was quickly remedied. to locate under the tender. It is a tight
The kits may be paid for on a monthly Colour returned to our cheeks and we squeeze, particularly between axles and
basis and delivery is phased over a one were ready to start adding the details. bottom of the water tank, however, after
year period. Another very important We soldered the body using 225°C a few aborted attempts all was well.
reason for choosing this model is it is solder, Adding the details was therefore And so our tenders were complete,
mostly screwed together, using adhesives easy using 145°C solder. except for adding any transfers required.
where appropriate. However, we opted We will return to the locomotives in a
to soft solder certain parts of the tender PAINTING future issue. ■
water tank. Three of us chose to paint our locos
black. Using Upol 8 etch primer and Batteries,
THE KITS Halfords gloss black spray cans, no receiver,
etc., stowed
The first delivery of parts for the problems were encountered. Our forth between the
tender arrived along with the superbly member decided to paint his engine axles and
produced instruction manual - easy to Midland Red (Crimson Lake). The water tank
read and with plenty of photographs. At same etch primer was used, followed by bottom.
first we all wondered what we had taken Phoenix Precision spray cans of gloss
top coat.
In all five layers of paint were applied,
the secret being to spray very thin coats.
Most people know a paint run on their
model takes a long time to remove,
so a little patience to start with
pays off.
ADDING THE
ELECTRONICS
Our skills in this field were to
say the least, limited. Wiring a
three pin plug was the extent of
our combined skills but despite Garden Rail Resource
this, we chose to add boiler
water level indicators and radio Barrett Steam Models Ltd
control regulators. We all knew 47a Coronation Road, Pelsall, Walsall,
running a boiler dry could WS4 1BG
be an expensive mistake and www.barrettsteammodels.co.uk
when one reaches a certain
age, chasing after a loco that is Fosworks
www.fosworks.co.uk
Painting completed. The two pipes Please mention Garden Rail
under the tender are for water. when contacting suppliers.

23
CONSTRUCTION
1:19
A scratchbuilt Kerr
Stuart 4415
David Anderson fancied a

RTR diesel but when his choice
wasn’t available, it was time to scratchbuild.
T
he January 2017 issue of Garden available and no further models would be with no complicated pistons or
Rail featured a review of a produced”. So, if I wanted one of these valve gear to reproduce. I make no
superb, professionally produced unusual and interesting locomotives I attempt to hide the layout of the
model of a Kerr Stuart 4415 diesel would have to make it myself. It would motor and radio components as being
locomotive by a Mr Dave Holroyde. not be to the originals very high standard similar to the original model it is the
This highly detailed model was one of of accuracy, but from a few feet away logical configuration. There are some
five in the first batch and further models there’s no doubt what it is. significant differences, however.
might have been made “depending on The prototype is a boxy chain Construction got underway by cutting
levels of interest”. driven diesel so it is relatively easy for the parts needed to build the chassis and
Enquiring in March last year as to the modeller to build the body from later the body which fits onto it. The
current availability with sales agents 2mm styrene sheet. The transmission later is retained by two screws front and
Carnforth Models, revealed “none were being by chain is straightforward rear behind the couplings, which are
nearly invisible.
Get the chassis done then you can add
Any locomotive cab should
be tall enough for its driver. everything needed onto it. Dimensions
The 16mm Association rule is were scaled from drawings found on the
very handy to make sure it is. Internet and using my trusty 16mm -to
one foot scale ruler. These came out to
be length 240mm, width 95mm and
height 150mm.
The cab opening was made just
right for my Modeltown driver figure
to stand upright without banging his
head. The 16mm Association Scale
ruler in the photograph, is a very useful
item for this job.
The original model used Delrin
chain and sprockets and this is where
my version is different. I opted to use
Meccano and compatible parts sprockets
and chain. I concluded that it is far
CONSTRUCTION
1:19
A quick look underneath shows the Meccano based coupling system for
the axles. All wheels are powered and the centres wear original tyres,
which are showing their age.
The battery was originally intended for a

camcorder, but I removed the covering
carefully as it’s an excellent power supply.
An aerosol cap improves the sound. Simple and

effective.
an experiment. To The motor is an MFA Como 12/24

save bothering volt DC type with an integral reduction
my friend with a gearbox, this is mounted at the front of
lathe who turns nice the chassis with its chain drive to the
steel flanged wheels front axle and a further chain to the
for me and to solve the middle axle and so on.
problem of steel on All axles are driven using this simple
metal rail slippage to set up arrangement. No provision
I made up some for adjustment is provided. I did not
wheels that could attempt the fine detail of the ball raced
be fitted with axle boxes and chain adjustment of the
silicon rubber O original model.
rings as tyres. I found some fettling of the sprockets
This is a light was necessary to allow the chains to
model and I run on and off the sprockets without
did not want to snagging. Delrin sprockets and chains
add deadweight lead ballast to improve will not need this but you will need to
traction. turn up some adaptors to allow them
Wheels are made from Meccano part to be mounted on the Meccano axles.
no. 24 Bush Wheels with one inch pulleys Part number 63 “coupling” would be a
(part no. 22a) soft soldered to them. starting point for this.
Once the tyres are fitted they are the right Looking along the chassis the
diameter and leave enough of a flange to Mtroniks “Small Diesel Tug” sound unit
work really well on the Peco 32mm gauge is at the front and its speaker is fitted on
track at my local model club. stand offs above it. The original speaker
One end of the model houses this nest of wires The centre wheels are flangeless and in was too big to fit so I obtained a smaller
which provide the radio control switching. It’s not the photograph have original Meccano diameter one which is covered with an
tidy, but everything works. black rubber tyres which are perishing aerosol plastic cap to improve the sound
and due for replacement. A further quality. The noise it creates is perfect for
more robust and is easier to assemble. option for the transmission would be to this type of locomotive.
The chains are very unobtrusive and use Meccano’s own chain and sprockets. The battery I have used is an 11.1 volt
only can be seen when the model is The axle centres are 2 inches between Li-Ion one of 9.5 Amp hour capacity.
picked up and turned over. the front two and 2 and a half inches This is a huge capacity and will run the
To get the axle spacings right for the between the middle axle and the model for many hours. Made for use
chain I just placed Meccano strip over rear one. Meccano being very old is with a camcorder, and costing about
the plastic chassis material to mark the measured in inches! £20 with a plug-in charger, it’s a lot of
centres for the axle holes. A 4mm drill If you don’t want your wheels and battery for the money!
will create a hole the 4.08mm Meccano sprockets to slip on the axles grind a The bright blue protective shrink
axle can pass through with smidge of slight flat down one side of the axles, wrapped packing to prevent damage in
silicon based grease as lubricant. Ball and use Loctite or similar threadlocker handling is not necessary so I reduced
races are an option here but I have on everything. its size by carefully removing it. You
found no problem with the limited Meccano parts are easily available will be left with a battery that looks
mileage my model covers. on-line from specialist suppliers and it is very much like a Li-Po one you can
My wheels , as you can see, are really possible to download a list with related buy for model cars or aircraft. All these
quite different and were something of images of the complete range. battery types require careful handling,
25
CONSTRUCTION
1:19
storage and charging. Follow the makers Both coupling

instructions. bars can be
Removal of the protection exposes raised by radio
remotely.
delicate over current protection circuitry
which I encapsulated by using silicon
rubber sealant. Once the battery is
secured on the chassis and protected by
the body it is quite safe from damage.
On top of the battery is the Speed
Controller (ESC) a 1060 Hobbywing
Brushed Speed Controller which can
be obtained for £15 or less. This is
mounted on the battery and secured
with a blob of silicon sealant. Garden Rail Resource
Further along the battery are Meccano and Compatible Parts
press stud terminals which I always 12 Elwy Drive, Rhyl, LL18 4AB
disconnect from the model when the receiver via a Y lead. You can see I www.meccanoandcomp.com
charging. There is an LED red ON retained the pin and chain couplings
indicator light here so I can’t forget to which I originally built the loco with. Mtroniks Ltd
switch it off. Do not be put off by the “viper’s 41A Ilkley Road, Otley, West
In the recess in the chassis is the nest” of wiring, just follow the wiring Yorkshire, LS21 3LP
receiver, a FlySky 3 channel type. This is instructions step by step and you will www.mtroniks.net
all that is needed, one channel for speed get there! The Golden Rule is, if in any
and direction. I normally have this on doubt, check the polarity is correct with Modeltown
the left stick. The right stick controls the a meter before switching on and then Beechholme 6, Station Road, Halton
sound unit On-Off and the horn. check again to avoid any irreparable Holegate, Spilsby PE23 5PB
Push the stick left to start the engine damage. It’s the electronics version of the www.modeltown.co.uk
which then settles into an idle or carpenters “measure twice, cut once”.
follows the speed of the loco when the My model has minimal detail, as I Squires Model and Craft Tools
throttle stick is moved. Moving the find it all too easy to knock small pieces 100, London Road, Bognor Regis
right stick to the right sounds the horn. off. The cab has a driver and his mate PO21 1DD
The sound unit itself is switched on who don’t seem to bother to turn to www.squirestools.com
and off via the Mtroniks Switching unit look when reversing. The cab roof is
fitted near the battery. 0.5mm styrene sheet and the engine Please mention Garden Rail
when contacting suppliers.
A significant addition to my model access covers are just stuck on styrene
is the provision of radio controlled sheet. There is no cab internal detail but
uncoupling and coupling. I proved the option is there if you fit a smaller the glass surrounds, no glazing is fitted.
this on another model and it works battery and gain enough room. The original loco might have had this
well. A small servo is mounted at each The panel detail is simply marked but my crew prefer the ventilation!
end of the loco body to raise or lower on, the exhausts are pieces of tube that In all this project has not cost a lot of
a coupling bar by movement of the I thought looked about right and the money, I traded build time to save cash.
transmitters right hand stick forwards sand boxes are just rubber blocks cut to I am very happy with its performance
from neutral. size. The cab window louvre doors are and you can see it in action by accessing
The two coupling servos operate fixed in place , the round holes for the my YouTube channel called “Triang
simultaneously and are connected to windows are finished with washers for Big Big Train”. It is controllable,
travels at a scale speed and
looks “right”. The
rubber tyres give a
very slight wobble
on moving off but
this disappears once
under way. Just drive
it slowly, after all this
is Narrow Gauge not a
High Speed Train. ■
The original model that

inspired David’s build was
reviewed in the January 2017
of Garden Rail. Back issues
are available from www.
world-of-railways.co.uk

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29
CONSTRUCTION
1:19
AND NOW FOR

SOMETHING COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT…
Mark Thatcher builds Dduallt Station from Bole Laser Craft Limited
I
t is hard to believe that in all my is only the third wooden building kit I and the second was a wooden carcass
years of constructing buildings and have ever built. The first was a simple station building kit from Jackson’s
writing about model buildings, this station kit from Brandbright Limited, Miniatures that I recall covering in
over 3,000 lifelike bricks and tiles from
Minaco. So it was an absolute delight to
get my hands on this model from Bole
Laser Craft.
Dduallt station (pronounced
“Thwacht” apparently) can be found
on the Ffestiniog Railway. First opened
as a station in 1880, it was a wooden
structure and had a single office to the
right elevation of the building.
That said, I could find zero references
to the original building online and
when I spoke to the folk at Bole Laser
Craft, they only managed to source
a couple of old photographs from a
railway book. These of course were in
black and white. They had no idea of
the colour scheme so they chose their
own, which I largely followed. It is
worth mentioning though that there are
As you can see, this is a very comprehensive kit

of parts, and the layered design makes it is easy
to paint all the parts prior to assembly.

CONSTRUCTION
1:19
The plastic roof sections

supplied are serviceable,
but you may wish to
improve on these as I did.
It is worth spending a
little time to paint the
a number of applications online, like ends of the A frames
Algorithmia that will convert black and as the ends are visible
where they overhang
white photos into colour, so it would be the front and rear
interesting to try that. elevations.
On first inspection the contents of
this kit were extensive and of excellent
quality. Having not built one of these the whole thing without any glue. This into the wood at different absorption
kits before I probably took a little was a great start. levels and this will result in a very
longer than usual to familiarise myself I could also see that I could spray- patchy finish.
with all the components. This was paint each part prior to assembly, which Now, in the old days I would have
aided massively by some of the finest not only made for a quick paint job had to give each part two or three coats
instructions I have ever seen, complete but also offered an immaculate finish of sanding sealer or wood varnish. This
with 3D exploded diagrams of each as there is no chance of paint slopping would have taken an age. But now,
stage of the build. Possibly these have from one component to another. All thanks to a can of U-Pol adhesion
been lifted from the original 3D plans in all it took a leisurely morning to get promoter followed by a spray-coat of
used for the laser cutting process. The the components painted. However, Halfords grey etched primer, this step
material used is a resilient birch ply when looking more closely at this kit, I probably only took an hour or so.
in two thicknesses: 3mm for the wall did notice there was an elephant in the I pretty much followed the colourway
and roof sections and 1.5mm for the room – but more on that later. that Bole Laser Craft have used, using
building’s overlays. Halfords Ford Ivory for the main
The way the model fits together is MASKING POINTS structure, accented with Ford Burgundy
also very ingenious. Each component My previous experience from working Red (which is more of a crimson) for
has several tabs which lock securely into with wood is that sealing and priming is the raised wooden overlays.
the sockets of its neighbouring part. the most important part of the process. A closer look at the reference colour
The fit between all of the parts was so If you don’t perform this well, then you picture on the box showed that the ends
good I could have almost push-fitted will see your top coat being absorbed of the roof trusses (called ‘A frames’)
Left: All the components are now painted and
ready for the final assembly.
The brick-effect pattern works surprisingly well

and the light coat of Halfords red primer does
not mask the laser-etched brickwork at all.

31
CONSTRUCTION
1:19
Using wood off-cuts as spacers to help align the

two layers. This is the back elevation with a gap
for the chimney.
are visible where they overhang the

walls of the building to support the
roof. These had not been painted on
Bole’s reference model to match the
side overlays and were quite noticeable,
so it made sense at this point to mask of the barge boards won’t be seen, but
and paint them up prior to assembly, the finials will be.
as it would be a fiddly job to hand- I should mention at this point this
paint these later on. I did not take kit comes with a rather lovely
much care with masking these as the 3D-printed chimney. What did
masking points would be hidden by we do before 3D-printing
the thickness of the walls, but I did eh? I just sprayed the same
want to keep these A frames in their Halfords red primer used
natural wood finish inside the building. for the brick chimney,
Some of these will be visible on the and then whilst it was still
underside of the open waiting room wet, blew a light coat of
part of this model. I did however did Halfords satin black over
not spot the same treatment was needed the top part to simulate
on the barge boards which were a part soot and general grime.
of the side elevations, so these indeed
were hand painted. I am glad I spotted INTERLOCKING
my error before the roof was fixed in SECTIONS
position though! After the paint was dry it was
While I totally get that wood is a time to assemble the model. This
very good material to use to model, was quick and easy. I used UHU
er, wood, I wasn’t sure how the brick glue which worked well. My
chimney would turn out, being building will not be left outside and you
modelled out of plywood too. may choose to use something stronger. Clamps are useful to have to hand to hold the
I need not have worried. My concern You can use some scraps of the wood upper wood detailing whilst the glue sets.
was that in the painting process all the that the finials were pressed out from
brick detail would be lost. But I found to help align the overlays, making for a strengthens the overall model. One
whilst painting the building sides, the very accurate fit onto planked sides and more clever thing is that whilst these
planking lines were still very visible, if ends of the building. holes are punched through the entire
you spray at 45 degrees to the surface. One really nice touch is that you are wall sections, they will all be hidden
I had thought I may need to go over provided with a U-shaped seat section when the side overlays have been added.
these lines later with a Sharpie pen to for the inside of the open shelter. I That is another example of how well
rejuvenate them, but did not need to. stained this part with Colron pine wood thought out this kit is. I am afraid I did
It was the same story on the chimney dye to darken it up a little. The seat not follow the exact sequence in the
as the mortar lines were still very visible section also has lugs on it, removing instructions and actually
after painting. This brick detail was any guesswork to get it straight and assembled the chimney
further enhanced by picked the odd level, as the lugs pop into sockets on stack last as I felt it
brick out here and there in the back and ends of the interior would be easier
a Humbrol matt orange wall sections. Not only that to handle
which added definition to but this entire assembly greatly
the stack.
When painting the
three barge boards I
noticed I needed to
paint both sides of the
finials in the middle
as these would be
visible, so once one side
of these parts had dried, I
just garbage-matted these
sections off on the reverse
side. Like the A frames, I The main carcass of the
was not particularly precise building is really taking
doing this as the reverse side shape now.

CONSTRUCTION
1:19
Left: The A frames have now been added. As

well as looking great they add rigidity to the roof
too.
Below: The vestibule with the added

detail and the door fixed in the ajar
position.
The front aspect of the station just awaiting

the slate roof to be added.
kit is serviceable, but I think such is the

greatness of the rest of this kit, I wanted
the building to embellish it further and not detract
without it in place. from it. So off I went back to my good
Once the outer walls friends at Minaco to order some 1/24th
were all assembled, this scale weathered grey slates for the roof,
structure was further enhanced capped off with some 1/12th scale ridge
by adding the A frames to add not tiles. These are over-sized compared to
only more great detail, but also to help the tiles, but seem to work. I always use
support the roof, followed by a long into place. Even the grain of the wood the rule that if it looks right to you then
thin section of wood just below the is well scaled. But sadly for me the it probably is right!
apex of the gable ends (just below where roof did not quite work. Don’t get me Obviously this process is a little more
the roof will eventually be located). This wrong. It’s not a car crash, more of a time-consuming and probably adds
long strip locates the top of all the A minor prang. £20 or so to the build cost, but I hope
frames neatly into place. Firstly, the only way I could see to you agree with me that the end result
This really only left the final details fit the plastic tiles accurately would be greatly benefits from it. I actually find
like the bargeboards and scalloped roof to cut it slightly over-size, glue it into it quite cathartic adding row after row
valances to be glued into place. The roof place, then carefully go around the of tiles. I always start with the row of
section itself is a two-part construction overhanging edge with a scalpel or razor tiles at the base of the roof, then these
using a wood former, which locks into blade. This I felt may be a risky process act as a reference of the overhang of the
the pegs on the A frames followed by with lots of room for error. next row. Once I have established this
the supplied blow-moulded plastic roof Secondly, maybe I have been spoiled measurement, I draw horizontal lines
tile sheet. When I added the chimney, by working with the lovely wooden across the length of the roof, to ensure
three half brick sections needed to be parts, but adding a plastic roof to this that when I reach the apex I have not
removed with a pair of snips to allow model did not feel right as I feel it got an awkward spacing left to deal with.
the stack to abut the rear elevation. This cheapened it a little. And thirdly, whilst This is another good reason to use 1/12th
is clearly explained in the instructions. I have yet to see a reference photo of the scale ridge tiles as it give you a little more
prototype, I could make an educated wiggle room at the top of the shop!
WHERE’S THAT ELEPHANT guess that the roof would have been of
THEN? Welsh slate, yet the plastic roof supplied LESS IS MORE
Up until now I have had absolute looked more like brick, albeit with each Regular readers of this magazine know
praise for this kit. The components are course overlapping. that I always like to stamp my mark of
beautifully laser-cut and readily snap Don’t get me wrong, the roof in the individuality on anything I build, but
33
CONSTRUCTION
1:19
The mixture of materials work
symbiotically in this kit, plus
my additional leading and
slate roofing.
The real flagstone floor and Modeltown’s signs On a wooden building, a fire
added to the waiting area. bucket and hose is a wise
precaution.
The front elevation with a lone passenger

amusing himself reading Garden Rail.
The rear elevation, with the

to a large extent I think I have already chimney adding a nice contrast
done so with the ‘real’ slate roof and my to the wooden frame.
use of real leading to trim around the
chimney stack. Garden Rail Resource
After the slate roof was added I felt
there should be some sort of tiled floor to Bole Laser Craft
the open shelter. I cut an off-cut of wood shelter, reading Garden Rail of course! Yew Tree House, South Street, Bole,
to shape and then added some flagstones To the outside, a tap with a hose and a Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 9EJ.
that I had in stock, also from Minaco. lone fire bucket were all I added. www.bolelasercraft.com
Then I thought it would be fun to model So, yes, what a great kit! The accuracy Dduallt Station kit: £65
the office door in its open position and of it is quite amazing and I love the slot-
reveal a similar floor in the vestibule area together nature of it, which adds rigidity Minaco
and I also added some scale tiling sheet and makes the assembly un-get-wrong- Unit No.1, 101 Seddlescombe Road
to the inside vestibule walls. able. It would be a challenge indeed to North, St Leonards on Sea, East
I added a knob to the door too. This mis-assemble it as the parts will only fit Sussex, TN37 7EJ.
rather made a rod for my own back, one way, which is the right way – unless www.minaco-uk.com
as the inner door is not modelled in you are daft enough to assemble the left
the kit, so I made one, otherwise with end wall with the scribed planks facing Modeltown
the vestibule door open, you would in towards the shelter! 6 Station Road, Halton Halgate,
be able to see right into the inside of Yes the roof is a little disappointing, Spilsby, Lincolnshire PE23 5PB.
the station. However I did not want but certainly not a deal breaker in my www.modeltown.co.uk
to overly clutter the clean lines of this view, but possibly could be improved in Please mention Garden Rail
building so I held myself back on doing the future. I have already had discussions when contacting suppliers.
too much as I think in this case, less with Bole Laser Craft and they tell me
is more. I did however relent and add that this is very much on their radar now. showing huge promise. I very much look
some period advertising signs and a I had a huge amount of fun building this forward to reviewing their Foreman’s
Station Master’s brass door sign from kit and think that for a relatively new Office kit, which I already have to hand,
Modeltown, plus a seated figure to the business (they started in 2015) they are at some point in 2020. ■
CONSTRUCTION
1:19
Building Bayfields
Rob Golding provides a step by step view of the construction of The Bayfields Light Railway
F
ollowing on from my previous
article in Garden Rail 299, our 1.
esteemed editor contacted me for The first area constructed was Bayfields station with
a follow up, to detail the basic processes its yard/steam-up area, featuring a loop line and
I used to construct The Bayfields Light various sidings. This was to be built using a brick and
concrete base, and therefore a foundation base was
Railway. This came at just the right time required.
as, due to the demolition of our rotting Timber shuttering was used to create a frame to
summerhouse and patio surrounding it, hold the concrete base while it set. This base was to
I have been able to re-build and develop be built directly on top of part of an old patio, so there
part of the railway - and document was no need to excavate further into the ground.
Using a concrete mixer, a mix of ballast, water and
this process along the way. Hopefully cement was mixed as per the guidelines and poured
these notes will be of interest to those into the frame.
thinking of starting a railway in a
reasonably small garden.
2.
With the concrete base set, the timber frame was removed. Brick and block
laying could then be started on top of this to create an outer wall.
My first attempt at bricklaying was not a success as the mortar mix was
too weak, however with help from my father-in-law, I was able to salvage my
previous effort. My advice is to get some help if you are new to this!
Concrete blocks were used for the course along the fence, and standard
engineers bricks used on the more visible walls. These engineers bricks were
also used vertically to create the curve on the lawn side.
With this outer wall complete, the inner area was filled with hardcore
rubble and then a concrete top poured over it. Tamping and smoothing of the
still-wet concrete gave a nice smooth finish on which to lay track and build
platforms.

35
CONSTRUCTION
1:19
3.
Here are the first tracks being laid at Bayfields, with the help of some pre-
cut plastic guides to set the correct radius of curve when using Peco flexi-
track. The guides clip in between the rails, and although these particular
guides were made by a fellow ‘garden railwayer’, similar radius guides are
readily available and are a worthy investment. An Isle of Man 4-wheel
coach was also on hand to check clearances, this being my longest fixed
wheelbase vehicle.
4.
Track was fixed to the concrete
5.
base using ‘japanned’ (black Once the track was laid, I cast a concrete platform in-situ again using shuttering to
coloured) screws (3.5mm x make a frame, and putting a rapid set cement, sharp sand and cement dye (black)
25mm or Size 6 x 1”) and 5mm mix into this.
Rawl plugs. An SDS drill with Ballasting the track then followed, and two methods have been used to achieve
suitable drill bit was needed to this.
get through the concrete. 3mm jointing aggregate has been used to ballast the entire railway, but on this
Screws were applied to the section it was mixed with rapid setting cement. This mix was brushed in and
outside of the sleepers to avoid around the sleepers dry, and then carefully ‘watered’ using the gentle mist setting
the chance of the plastic sleeper on the garden hose.
curling in the sun, and throwing Once set, any loose bits can be picked out from the point work to ensure they
the track out of gauge. work correctly. Cement dye has also been used to create areas of oil, ash and muck
Under the set of points, a on the track (as by the end of the platform) where a steam loco would stand when
green glazing packer has been waiting in the station. The second method, using PVA glue, will be discussed later.
used to pack a gap between
the sleepers and the trackbed.
These are available in various
thicknesses, and can be cut
easily with a craft knife. They
are very useful for getting the
track level.
6.
It was now time to begin using a different construction technique, but certainly one
that has generated the most interest when people visit the railway.
Filcris is a material made from recycled plastic, and can be used just like wood.
The benefits being that it does not rot and, depending on the thickness, can also be
bent into curves. It comes in strips, planks and posts, and Filcris also produce kits
especially designed for garden railway trackbed construction. Sounds perfect, but
care must be taken during construction, as I have seen cases where sunlight has
affected the stability of the material. This has caused it to expand and bend, causing
the track to go off course, or making it look something like a rollercoaster.
The route of the rest of the railway was marked out with pegs and bricklayers line,
but a garden hose or string could also be used. Care was taken to make the route
nice and flowing, and use the largest radius curves possible.
The above photo was taken during construction of the Filcris trackbed, and it
gives a sense of what can be achieved in a relatively small garden, without the
railway taking over.
7.
We now jump forward to the rebuilding of a section of the railway, but using the
same ‘ladder’ technique of construction as has been used for the majority of the
Bayfields Light Railway.
Following the marked-out route, 50mm x 50mm Filcris posts were set at
regular intervals (40-50cm) in the ground. A hand auger, which looks like a giant
corkscrew, was very useful in digging out the holes. Note that in this image the
holes have already been filled with Postcrete.

CONSTRUCTION
1:19
8.
The top of each post was made to be level with the previous post using a spirit
level. Adjustments could be made by adding sand/gravel to the bottom of the hole if
the post was too low, or the post could be driven further into the hole with a rubber
mallet if it was too high.
It was also important to check that each post was vertically upright and not
wonky, and a smaller spirit level was ideal for this. Temporary wooden batons were
also used to prop up the post, keeping it upright and level, similar to when putting
up fences.
9.
Once I was happy that
the posts were level and
upright, it was time to set
each post with Postcrete.
This is pre-mixed cement
mortar, that sets very
quickly once water is
added. Each hole was
half-filled with water,
and then the Postcrete
poured into the hole until
all the water is soaked
in, ensuring there was
even Postcrete all around
the post. In about 20
minutes the post was set.
10.
Once the posts were set solid, it was time to fix the runner rails to either side of the
posts. The runner rails are pre-cut in 18mm x 42mm x 3 metre lengths. Filcris was
easy to cut using a hand saw, or a band saw. These runners will eventually support
the track boards, onto which the track will be fixed. Spacers also needed to be fitted
in between the runner rails, in the gap between posts.
11.
With the main running line ladder complete, it was then possible to break out from
this and add in the loop line. Again using the same technique as before, and using
the set of points as a guide certainly helped.
12.
The completed loop line, and two additional sidings now in place. I have filled in the
gaps between the runners with some old sand and grit to help soften the rumble
caused by trains passing over the top.
37
CONSTRUCTION
1:19
13.
The track boards are then
screwed to the tops of
the runners. These are all
cut from a Filcris plank
140mm wide x 18mm
thick and into lengths of
75mm, then attached to
the runners using two
countersunk screws.
14.
Areas where points are
to be installed proved a
bit more tricky, as the
track boards needed to
Garden Rail Resource be wider. Using the same
plank, track boards were
Filcris Ltd specially cut to size and
shaped using the set of
The Old Fire Station/Broadway, Peco points as a guide.
Cambridge CB23 2TA An old bandsaw cut
www.filcris.co.uk through the Filcris like
butter, but does make a
when contacting suppliers. mess of plastic sawdust!
15.
As there were gaps
between the individual
track boards, especially
on curves, these needed
to be covered so that
the ballast does not fall
though. This was done
using weatherproof duct
tape, and provided the
track boards are clean,
sticks very well. The
ballast would eventually
hide the tape from
view. I also covered any
countersunk screw heads
with tape, to prevent
them from becoming
filled with dust and rust;
making life easier if ever
taking up or changing the
trackbed.
17.
The Peco track was screwed to the Filcris using the Japanned screws, via the
16. outside of the sleepers. There was no need to screw down every individual sleeper,
but perhaps every 10 or so, or where screws were required to hold the curve of
Final stage of track bed construction was to fix 30mm x 6mm PVCu Cloaking the track in place. It was important to leave a small gap between the joins in each
Profile to the outside of the track boards to form a nice clean edge, and to hold the rail for expansion, and on the long curves the joints were staggered at around 50%
ballast in place. either side.

CONSTRUCTION
1:19
18.
Thin plastic glazing packers and bits of Plastikard have again been used to pack
any gaps between the sleepers and the trackbed. Here some new trackbed is
connected to the old, and is slightly low. The packers will keep the track stable and
level, and can be trimmed with a knife so they are hidden under the sleepers.
19.
Ballast was applied to the track, but this time bonded with exterior grade PVA glue.
This was mixed with water at a ratio of two parts water to one part glue and stirred
well to avoid any air bubbles. The liquid is then carefully dribbled onto the ballast,
preferably on a hot sunny day (this helps it to set quickly). On some parts it has
taken a couple of applications, but after two seasons it has remained solid and not
turned white.
20.
The completed ballasting of the track on the new section of the BLR. Once the PVA
had set, it is important to pick out any stray bits of ballast from the point work, or
from the rails.
As can be seen in the lower left corner of the photo, the framework has been built
for the new platform. This will again be made using a sharp sand/rapid cement mix.
Why Bayfields?
Before he retired from teaching, my dad knew a fellow teacher who
owned a small chalet in North Devon near to Bideford. Although it was
a bit of a 70’s time-warp, I can still smell it every time I enter a charity
21.
shop, it was cheap to rent for a couple of weeks, and my family and I The new ‘Havencoombe’ station completed just in-time for an August 2019
spent many a childhood summer holiday down there in the early 1990s. open day.
It was these holidays in North Devon that I discovered The Lynton The platform edge is hardwood, and the board crossing is plywood heavily
and Barnstaple Railway, and the various lost lines of Devon that has coated in ‘creocote’ wood preservative.
interested me ever since. The chalet had no house number, simply a I admit I am not an expert on plants and gardening, but a trip to a local nursery
name - ‘Bayfield’. provided us with some nice small ground-cover plants to use around the
railway. Time to play trains...

39
CONSTRUCTION
1:32
Converting Kadee coach

couplings to hooks
John Denbury swaps his knuckle couplings for something simpler.
T
he original Gauge 1 Model The coach as tighten the 3 screws and the job is
Company produced BR Mk1 supplied. finished. All this will take less than five
coaches were fitted with a minutes to do.
prototypical hook and chain at the The beauty of it is the coach is not
guards end of each BSK coach but all altered or damaged in anyway and of
the other couplings were Kadee 820s. course you can change them back again
The coaches were originally sold as at any time.
rakes of four made up from a pair of Coupling hooks are sold in pairs, but
SK’s and pair of BSK’s. You had a hook do not come with either a chain or screw
and chain at either end of the rake link coupling so the choice is yours. ■
which would happily couple to most
G1 loco’s and rolling stock. precious rolling stock on your knee so Garden Rail Resource
Later on they were sold individually, work out how you are to support the
and when they became Accucraft they vehicle before starting work. Elstow Engineering Limited
are available as single vehicles. This mix Undo the three self tapping screws so Elstow, Bedfordshire
of couplings means that even the same the retaining plate lifts off, making sure www.elstow-engineering.co.uk
make of rolling stock may not couple to catch and keep the small spring that Please mention Garden Rail
together. will probably fall out as it is a loose fit when contacting suppliers.
Elstow Engineering came up with and is reused in the
a simple solution which for a lot Elstow coupling.
of people was to remove the Kadee Take out the
and replace it with a hook coupling Kadee and replace it
conversion. The whole process takes with the hook.
almost longer to describe than it does to Replace the
carry out. retaining plate and
The only tool you lightly
need is the correct
fitting cross point
screwdriver.
Turn the coach
upside down, I
rest mine in a
simple home-made
wooden cradle for
safety. It’s not wise The Kadee and Elstow
to balance your couplings compared.
With the coach back on

its wheel, you can see
the simple, but effective,
coupling hook.

railsofsheffield.com
WE WANT ANYTHING MODEL RAILWAY RELATED,

ANY AGE, ANY GAUGE, FROM A SINGLE ITEM TO A
LIFETIME COLLECTION. DISTANCE NO OBJECT.
PLEASE TELEPHONE, OR EMAIL YOUR LISTS TO
SECONDHAND@RAILSOFSHEFFIELD.COM
BUY . SELL . EXCHANGE . ANY GAUGE . ANY AGE
RAILS OF SHEFFIELD VALUE YOUR SECOND HAND COLLECTION VERY HIGHLY

LOCOS - COACHES - WAGONS - TRACK-WORK - CONTROLLERS - ACCESSORIES
DIE-CAST - LORRIES - BUSES - PLANES - SOLDIERS - RAILWAYANA - AND MORE
FULL COLLECTIONS PURCHASED / UK & WORLDWIDE COLLECTION AVAILABLE
TOP We urgently require collections of any size, FAMILY

BUSINESS
GUARANTEED
featuring products from the following manufacturers:
PRICES FRIENDLY
PAID SERVICE
WE ALSO BUY RAILWAYANA SIGNAGE AND TOTEMS AND MORE...
Telephone our Second Hand team on: (0114) 255 1436 or email: secondhand@railsofsheffield.com
21-29 Chesterfield Road - Sheffield - South Yorkshire - S8 0RL - UK - Tel: (0114) 255 1436 - Fax: (0114) 255 5982
Email: info@railsofsheffield.com Web: railsofsheffield.com railsofsheffield railsofsheffield railssheffield railsofsheffield
Not only do carry ready to
run rolling stock, we can also supply your scratch rolling
stock building needs with our new Builders Yard
Hardwood packs in various sizes, Birch Ply, Varnishes and

Sanding Sealer, Paint,Glue, Clamping Squares and Cramps
Sanding Blocks and more being added all the time
Why not visit our online shop to see the full range
www.coachandwagonworks.uk

John Sutton Models THE MIDLANDS GARDEN RAIL SHOW
I sell a wide range of new and MIDLANDS GARDEN RAIL SHOW

secondhand models in SM32 and G45
• Orders welcome for UK and Overseas
• Callers welcome by appointment only please Sponsored by
Just arrived in stock

Accucraft Sabrina & Talgarth in 3 colours
IOM Bogie Braked Coach now available
Locomotive storage boxes in 3 sizes
Wanted: Your Garden Railway locomotives and

complete collections. Excellent prices paid. Will
pick up or can arrange collection - speak to John SATURDAY 14th &
Many new and second hand locos in SUNDAY 15th MARCH 2020
Open 10am – 4pm Daily
stock check website for availabilty
66 Carthorse Lane, Brockhill, Redditch, Worcestershire B97 6SZ WARWICKSHIRE
Tel: 01527 67696 - Mob: 0779 8924575 EVENT CENTRE
www.johnsuttonbooksandmodels.co.uk
johnsutton3@sky.com A Leading Garden
Railway Exhibition
Over 35 leading suppliers to help

you create your dream garden
railway including locomotives,
rolling stock, track and accessories.
Admire up to 15 amazing
Layouts and Club Displays.
Full restaurant facilities.
FREE car parking for over 2,000 cars.
BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW! Inspiration
ADMISSION ONLINE FULL PRICE
PRICES TICKETS* TICKETS** for planning
Adult £8.00 £9.00
Senior Citizen £7.50 £8.50 your garden
Child (5-14) £3.50 £4.50 railway - see
Children under 5 FREE
when accompanied by a full paying adult/senior live steam, gas
* Tickets are available via our website at discounted prices until
midnight on Tuesday 10th March 2020.
** Full price tickets are available on the day from the ticket office.
and coal fired
Please call SEE Tickets on 0115 896 0154 if you would like to book
a ticket by phone. Last admission 1 hour before closing.
locomotives.
www.midlandsgardenrailshow.co.uk
Follow us for the latest news!
@MeridienneEx Meridienne Exhibitions LTD

43
DIARY DATES
DIARY DATES
Date: 31st December Date: 14th March
Event: Little Locos Day Event: Narrow Gauge North 2020
Venue: Woodseaves Garden Plants, Sydnall Lane, Venue: Pudsey Civic Hall, Leeds, LS28 5TA
Woodseaves, Market Drayton, Shropshire TF9 2AS Times: 10:30am to 4:30pm
Times: 11am to 4:00pm Admission: Adults: £8.00, accompanied children under 16:
Web: www.youtube.com/WLLR16mm/ £1.00
Additional Info: The Woodseaves Lake Light Railway has Web: www.narrowgaugenorth.org.uk
approximately a scale mile of 32mm gauge running track Additional Info: Exhibitors include Poppleton Nursery
and regularly hosts themed 16mm running days. This will (16mm). Trade includes Timpdon Models and P & G
be the second annual "Little Locos Day" - an opportunity Engineering Supplies. Hot & Cold refreshments available.
to meet and discuss the smaller narrow gauge locomotives Plentiful free parking. Disabled access to all areas except the
and the railways associated with them and have an enjoyable stage. Proceeds to Sue Ryder Care - Wheatfields, Leeds.
day. Anything in the vein of Lister's, Ruston's, Simplex's,
inspection, mining and contractors locos and anything else Date: 4th April
small in size is all encouraged. A day to leave the steamers at Event: National Garden railway Show
home. Refreshments and cakes available. Venue: Peterborough Arena, East of England Showground,
Peterborough PE2 6XE
2020 Times: 10am to 5pm
Admission: £12.50 on the door (under 18’s and carers
Date: 17th-19th January admitted free), however buying in advance (online from 9th
Event: London Model Engineering Exhibition December) will save you £2.00 per ticket.
Venue: Alexandra Palace, London, N22 7AY Organiser: The Association of 16mm Narrow Gauge
Times: 10am to 5pm (4:30 on Sunday) Modellers
Admission: Adults: £12.50 Senior: £12 Child £4.50 Web: www.nationalgardenrailwayshow.org.uk
Web: www.meridienneexhibitions.co.uk/events/london- Additional Info: 19 layouts, in scales including 16mm
model-engineering-exhibition to the foot, 7/8ths, 7mm narrow gauge, G, G1 and G3
running a mixture of live steam and electric powered stock.
Date: 26th January 100 trade stands including suppliers you simply don’t see
Event: G Scale Kent Winter Meet anywhere else as well as major manufacturers launching new
Venue: Teynham Village Hall, Belle Friday Close, Teynham, products, information stands and heritage railways. Model
Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 9TU of the Year Competition, Member to Member secondhand
the venue is approx 400m from A2 sales and lots more.
Times: 11 am to 4 pm
Admission: Adults £2.50, children £1.00 Date: 30th May
Organiser: G Scale Society Kent Group Event: Llangollen Garden Railway Festival
Web: www.gscalekent.co.uk Venue: Llangollen Royal International Pavilion, LL20 8SW
Additional Info: Large scale layouts in 45mm and 32mm, Times: 10am to 4:30pm
including live steam, Trade and Sales stands. Car park, light Admission: £7. Accompanied children under 16 free.
refreshments, disabled access
All events are published in good faith. Please check with the
Date: 29th February organisers before travelling a significant distance as Garden
Event: Model Railway Winter Showcase and AGM Rail can’t be responsible for changes or cancellations.
Venue: The Rufus Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick, To submit and event for publication, please e-mail phil.
Bedfordshire, MK45 1AH parker@warnersgroup.co.uk
Times: 10am to 4pm
Admission: Non-member (Family ticket) £5, Member £3
Organiser: The Gauge Three Society
Web: www.gauge3.org.uk
SUBMISSION NOTES
Garden Rail welcomes articles submitted via posted disc, e-mail, Dropbox (or
other large file sending system on-line). Please ensure that your name, e-mail
address, telephone number and postal address for payment on publication are
included. Send to phil.parker@warnersgroup.co.uk or to the contact address on
the Contents page.
Articles should be submitted in MS Word or other word processing format.
Please do not use fancy formatting or embed photos in the piece, these should be
sent separately at the highest resolution possible and in JPEG format. Printed photos
of a historic nature will be accepted. Captions for all photos should be included as
London Model Engineering Exhibition, Alexandra Palace
part of the submission. You must own copyright to any material submitted.
17th-19th January 2020

CONSTRUCTION
1:19
Winter Working
Dave Skertchly attempts to find the joy in chilly winter running and almost succeeds
I
am writing this at the end of Specials. There are still opportunities Most preserved railways indulge in winter
September with happy memories of a for fun, even if the winter running track maintenance and maybe we can do the
glorious summer still current. I have problems are substantial. same. The PW gang were spotted fixing the
embankments up on Mount Bluddifrisin.
enjoyed the summer with both my real The PW gang were spotted only
and my virtual garden railway friends. yesterday fixing the embankments up on
Alas, by the time you read this the Mount Bluddifrisin. The track cleaning Stik Weatherproof Wood Adhesive.
festive sprouts will be starting their two wagon is useful for removing the grime This is not PVA, it is apparently
week boil and the garden will look like from rarely used winter tracks and is 1.2 Benziothiazol-3(2H)-ONE and
a battlefield, but all is not lost. Most described in GR 290 October 2018 and Methylisothiazol-3(2H)-ONE, but Evo
narrow-gauge railways were built for the low loader with its JCB for effect Stick in the blue bottle will do for the
industrial purposes and ran all year were described in GR 288 August 2018. chemically challenged. The ballast seems
round so they looked grey and dull like In the past, I’ve described my track to work well and looks good against
this all the time. setting gauge and now is the time a platform edge and when carefully
Modern preserved railways will to level the track with coffee stirrers tamped between the sleepers.
indulge in winter maintenance before I stabilise the it with RHS grade Autumn sets in the trees shed
programmes, track upgrades and Santa horticultural grit mixed with Evo their leaves and the garden takes on
Left: The track setting gauge comes in useful for

winter maintenance. This wagon appeared in GR
287 July 2018.
Dave levels up his track with coffee stirrers.

CONSTRUCTION
1:32
RHS grade potting The bare grey rockeries

grit looks good and is at this time of year can
stabilised with Evo Stik form the background for
exterior adhesive. industrial trains.
depressing look which lasts until the

first flowers of spring. As I looked at
the leaf fall I started to wonder why the
pesky things are so difficult to clear.
In the illustrations there are shown a
leaf next to a 16mm/ft scale rule. A leaf
doesn’t seem to be very substantial, but
at full scale it would measure about 10ft
(3 metres) and have a trunk of 1.5 inches
(4cm). There is surely no automated
equipment that would clear such a
monstrosity from a full size track and the
rail operators would no doubt resort to a
gang with chain saws and a crane.
Ponds too need special protection
from leaves. The rotting leaves poison
the pond by increasing the fertility of
the water encouraging the growth of
blanket weed and duck weed which will A real leaf against a Heavier falls of snow can be quite
certainly spoil the effect of the water 16mm/ft scale rule. exciting but a 2 inch fall of snow
lilies next spring. is over 3ft (1
A light dusting of snow can be most metre) of snow
attractive and easily removed from the locomotives at 16mm scale,
tracks by a piece of plywood or gloved to slip and and in England
hand. Usually this snowfall will melt it takes such a fall
quickly but if not, ice may form and months would bring the
become a serious problem causing to clear. The answer is to ensure that nation to a halt. Readers in Canada,
wheels to slip and points to jam up. the points are set to a circuit which America or Europe may find this
I hesitate to use de-icer on the points does not require point changes for laughable but on the other hand friends
since any track contamination will continuous running well before the first in Sydney Australia will never see snow
cause my lightweight two wheel drive fall of snow. at all.
Miniature Dave with his shovel as ever trying to A light dusting of snow can
keep his railway clean and tidy but to no avail. be most attractive and easily
moved by a small simple
piece of plywood or gloved
hand.

47
CONSTRUCTION
1:19
In a heavy snow
fall the small
snowplough was
overwhelmed.
A small snowplough
Those heavier falls of snow can was bolted to the front
be quite exciting and potentially of a wagon.
picturesque.
The conceptual articulated snow plough was

made quickly and cheaply using commercial
grade 4mm plywood.
The effort taken to clear the tracks

can result in some charming overhang on the tight radius corners
opportunities for scale like running.
on my line which, is based on a typical
Welsh 2ft gauge railway, tended to cause
The bits of the snow plough The daily temperature cycle the cleared area to be offset from the
are the blade, partially thaws the snow during middle of the track. Wider carriages
locomotive, chassis the daytime and then refreezes would tend to jam up in the cleared
from my diesel,
engine cowling and
it at night. If not cleared early cutting. I came up with the concept of
roof. The blade has during the fresh powdery an articulated snow plough to ensure
a narrow stage the snow may well freeze that the clearances were maintained.
incidence into solid ice and be impossible The Bendy Snow Plough was made
angle to the to clear. quickly and cheaply using commercial
track and
matches
My first small grade 4mm plywood since it will be
the Vale snowplough used at most for 1 hour a year.
of Weedol was a blade To save me the effort of making a
Tramway bolted to chassis from scratch I used the simple
loading the front of chassis from the Diesel. I could not
gauge.
a wagon but in resist the temptation to add some detail
a heavy snow fall it using rattle can paint and a marker
was overwhelmed pen. It looks quite good and may well
and needed be parked at the back of Lost’n Bodge
pushing with a works during summer steam ups purely
stick. When for effect.
clearing The key part of the snow plough is
the tracks the blade which has to have a narrow
I noticed incidence angle to the track to shear
that the large the snow. The blade matches the Vale
CONSTRUCTION
1:32
A pair of free running wheels are

positioned as close as possible to the blade to For a project which would probably be used for just 1 hour Dave could not
guide it around bends. resist the temptation to add some detail using a marker pen.
of Weedol Tramway loading gauge.

The blade is hollow so that it can be
filled with ballast such as sand or grit to
maintain contact with the rails. A pair
of free running wheels are positioned as
close as possible to the leading edge of
the blade to make it twist to match the
curve of the rails.
The locomotive part of the snow
plough is unlikely to be powerful
enough to clear the tracks on its own
and a shove from one of my heavy
haulers or even a poke with a bamboo
Looking from
garden cane should overcome the power overhead, you can
problem. see how the bendy
The completed bendy snow plough plough handles even
looks very functional. The story goes the tightest of curves.
that it is a Bodgeit and Run locomotive
works type 0263 Snow Plough ordered
by British Rail as a panic response to the It’s Dave with his
“Big Freeze” of 1963. Boris the Bodgeit shovel again showing
the size of Bendy
and Run Bendy Snowplough is named
Snow Plough.
in honour of my nephew’s dog, a rather
entertaining but dimwitted Labradoodle
I do believe.
As I pass by my snow-covered rustic
park bench outside the Sheep Shearers
Arms I wrap my scarf even tighter
around me as the chill wind whips
the snow into flurries and drifts. In
the distance I can make out Boris the
Bendy Snow Plough clearing the way
for the coal trains feeding fuel to the
steel-works furnaces. I slip into the
snug bar and order my pint of fine
Auld Phagbutt and snuggle up to the
blazing fire of best welsh steaming coal,
probably pilfered from the yard, but for
now I am warm and snug and it doesn’t
get better than that. ■
The inhabitants of LLatiregub are most

impressed by the hefty snow plough and are
clearly expecting improved winter services 340.
Boris the Bodgeit and Run Bendy Snowplough
at Lost’n Bodge Works.

49
PRODUCT NEWS
From the Trade information on new products for

the garden railway modeller...
If you are a trader with any new product,
Works
then contact phil.parker@warnersgroup.co.uk
when contacting suppliers
THE TRAIN DEPARTMENT The prototype is the very first Heisler

Heisler locomotive built by Mr Charles Heisler of Dunkirk
The Train Department have announced Engineering, subsequent examples were
their first joint project with Regner built under Baldwin in Erie PA, later
which has been in development since known as Heisler Loco works after
2018 and completes the line of geared the untimely death of the president of
locomotives as Regner have previously Dunkirk Loco works.
built a Climax and a Shay.
Featuring a completely new V twin Specification
motor along with a new reverser • Length mm Width 6mm
with Teflon seals, it can be either run Height 62mm
manually or via radio control with the • Butane red boiler
optional RC kit. The coupler is link and • 2 min runtime
pin but with a Regner style coupler • Boiler with 6mm sight glass and
included. goodall valve
• Fuel tank, reverser and
RC ready compartment
inside rear bunker
• 2 twin cylinder
with 10mm bore Optional parts:
• 4 mm Chassis Diamond stack 0 00 SD
• R C control Brass pilot 0 00 SD
ready with Headlamp 4 00 SD
optional kit Whistle kit 00 SD
• inimum RC kit 0 00 SD
radius 24
Price
Heisler it 20 0 00 SD
Heisler RTR 2 2 00 SD
PRODUCT NEWS
16mm Talyllyn in Furness Red

Jason Kovac has also sent over photos of ROUNDHOUSE ENGINEERING 16mm scale Mix ‘n’ match diesels
the Train Department Talyllyn in lined Based on the proven Hercules chassis
Furness Red livery – this is in addition but with a Bulldog body, Roundhouse
to the green shown last month and a now o er a mix and match service to
lined black version. customers.
You can have any Bulldog, Little
We also have an updated specification: John or Hercules body with any of the
• Scale 2mm 4 mm xed gauges aforementioned chassis Contact the
• odel has a Ceramic butane boiler firm to discuss the options.
with all TTD valve profiles and 6mm
sightglass Roundhouse Engineering Co.Ltd.
• Standard run fuel tank 0min nits 6- 0, Churchill Business
estimated ark, Churchill Road, Wheatley,
• Slide valve cylinders with Stephenson Doncaster, DN 2TF
valve gear www.roundhouse-eng.com
• Full open cab for RC or gures
• oodall valve hidden under the tank
filler hatch under a working hinged
lid.
• Highly detailed etched body
with every rivet accounted
for.
• Fully sprung and bushed
chassis rods
• lass spectacles included
Locomotives and North America Engineering Department along with

and worldwide through The Train artin Fuller who has proofed much of
Department. With all service and the design for accuracy. A donation will
support made through your selling be made from the sales of this model to
dealer. A stock of spares will be held for the Talyllyn Railway.
service and repairs. All models will be
In the UK, models should be test run before shipping. The Train Department
ordered from Bowande Live Steam Jason would like to thank everyone www.thetraindepartment.com
UK. Australia is through Wilson at the Talyllyn Railway and the

51
PRODUCT NEWS
MAMOD
16mm Quarry Hunslet
Brand new from the Birmingham
based modelmaker, an 0-4-0 Quarry
Hunslet.
Speci cation
• Internal red boiler
• 4mm diameter pistons
• 6mm diameter wheels
• Large boiler
• Inline lubricator
• Internal framed, reguageable
wheels
• Stainless steel steam pipe
• Bayonet smoke box door
• Butane propane gas red
• oker type burner
Price £640
Mamod Ltd
Summit Crescent Industrial Estate,
Summit Crescent, Smethwick, Warley,
West idlands, B66 BT
www.mamod.co.uk
COACH AND WAGON WORKS THE AIRBRUSH COMPANY LC-XS12 Set Three. Late Period
Multi-surface exterior paint British Railway livery paints 0 0
Suitable for use on plywood, DF, Satin gloss water soluble acrylic • Rail Blue
wood, metals and most plastics. colours suitable for paint brushing or • 6 Rail rey
Supplied in 40ml tins. airbrushing (thinned with Lifecolor • 2 Warning anel ellow Late
thinner) on plastic, resin, metal, vinyl, • 2 Coach Roof Blue rey
Colours available: wood, cloth and ceramic. Each pack • 2 Railfreight Red
Satin -White, contains six 22mml pots. • 0 Railfreight rey
Cream, Rail
reen, LC-XS10 Set One. Early Period rice per set
Custard, 1948/59
Blood, • Fitted Freight Bauxite The Airbrush Company Ltd
Chocolate. • n tted Freight rey arlborough Road East , Lancing
Talyllyn • Loco reen Early Business ark, Lancing, West Sussex
Red, • 20 Signal Red BN F
Talyllyn Brown, Railway Blue , Light • 2 Coach Crimson www.airbrushes.com
Rail Blue, Corris Brown, Wagon rey • 22 Coach Cream
att- Light rey, Dark rey, Black
LC- S Set Two id eriod 60 0
Price: £4.50 • 4 Loco reen Late
• BR aroon
Coach and Wagon Works • 2 Sherwood reen
2 Dobles Terrace, Dobles Lane,, • 24 Diesel Loco Roof
Holsworthy, Devon, E 22 6HW rey
www.coachandwagonworks.uk • 2 D reen Late
• 26 Warning anel
Yellow (Early)
PRODUCT NEWS
ACCUCRAFT UK
Gauge 1 L&SWR Radial Tank and B1
roduction models of the B and Radial
tank have arrived in the country – and
landed in front of the editorial camera
at Warley model railway show. Visitors
to the Exeter show will have seen the
Radial running on the layout
Full specifications can be found on
the manufacturers website.
Accucraft (UK) Ltd

Unit 4 Long Meadow Industrial Estate,
ontrilas, Herefordshire, HR2 0
www.accucraft.uk.com
DYLCOM MODELS SWIFT SIXTEEN rice 20

1/32 scale Terraced house kit 32 and 45mm gauge turntables
Laser cut in MDF by Magnetic Racing, Rotating, resin-cast, wagon turntables Swift Sixteen
the new terraced house range features with full bolt and plank detail. Rails are 0 Waun Road, St Dials, Cwmbran,
easy to follow instructions and several cast so aren’t suitable for track power. Gwent, NP44 7JN
door options. www swiftsixteen co uk
The model can be built with or Specification:
without dormer window and multiple 32mm gauge turntable:
kits can be joined together to make a • ax table length mm
full run of two up two down houses. • verall width 2 mm
They are also available • verall height
in half relief if you are mm
pushed for
space. The table is
mm higher
than S 2
track, so the
track will need
to be lifted,
or the table will
need to be sunk into the
ground or baseboard.
Price 4 mm gauge turntable ELSTOW ENGINEERING

it 2 • ax table length 2 mm 16mm scale DHR Pacific C Class
Assembled and • verall width 6 mm Last month we said that the C
painted as per the pictures from • verall height mm Class would be delivered in the
2nd uarter of 2020, the makers
Dylcom Models e table is about mm lower than have updated us that the model is
www.dylcommodels.co.uk 4 mm track, so the table will need to be expected in the third uarter
raised by about mm
53
3 3Laurel
LaurelDrive,
Drive,Rugexley
Rugeley Road,
Road,
Burntwood,
Burntwood, Staffordshire,
Staffordshire, WS7
WS7 9BL
9BL
Tel: 01543 683122 • Email: sales@strikalite.co.uk

Web: www.strikalite.co.uk

AirFramed
Bespoke Glass Display Cases Stockist of:
www.airframed.co.uk ACCUCRAFT • ARISTOCRAFT
BACHMANN • SPECTRUM • LGB
LILLIPUT • PIKO • SCENECRAFT
OO gauge, O gauge, Gauge

1 and Gauge 3 cases with
mirrored or clear back wall. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
Prices start from Closed Weds & Sun
£35 plus P&P 2-4 Pelham Street,
Please call Nigel Julian on Ilkeston, DE7 8AR
07971 741478 or 01332 781795 Tel: 07786 896807
Email: nigel@airframed.co.uk www.malcsmodels.co.uk
malcolmgrubey@btinternet.com
FOR SALE reduced to £695,000
4 bedroom bungalow, Ifold near Petworth, Sussex. ⅓ of an acre plot,

allowing sufficient room to lay a narrow gauge track around it!
More details and photos can be found online
www.jackson-stops.co.uk • 01730 812357
ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
16MM NARROW GAUGE MODELLERS........45
ACCUCRAFT UK LTD ..................................13
AIRFRAMED GLASS DISPLAY CASES..........55
ANORAKS ANONYMOUS ............................12
ANYTHING NARROW GAUGE ......................11
Sign up to our BARRETT STEAM MODELS LTD .................54
BOLE LASER CRAFT ..................................54
monthly e-newsletter BRUNEL MODELS .....................................12
CAMBRIAN MODEL RAIL LTD .....................55
COACH & WAGON WORKS .........................42
• EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES DREAM STEAM LTD ....................................2
• COMPETITIONS & ELLIS CLARK TRAINS ................................21
FROME MODEL CENTRE............................55
OFFERS GARDEN RAILWAY SPECIALISTS ..........61, 64
GAUGE 1 MODEL RAIL ASSOCIATION .........40
GAUGEMASTER COM ................................27
www.brmm.ag/ GSCALE.CO.UK .........................................54
woreshotsignup HATTON’S MODEL RAILWAYS ..............56, 57
I P ENGINEERING.......................................14
JACKSON’S MINIATURES...........................14
JOHN SUTTON MODELS ............................45
KENT GARDEN RAILWAYS ..........................15
KM1 MODELLBAU .......................................5
LISIACRAFT...............................................54
MALC’S MODELS ......................................55
MAXITRAK LTD ..........................................42
MBV SCHUG..............................................29
MERIDIENNE EXHIBITIONS LTD ..................45
MICRON RADIO CONTROL .........................55
MIKE’S MODELS .......................................54
MY LOCO SOUND ......................................42
NORTH PILTON WORKS .............................42
P & S HOBBIES & MODELS........................42
POLLY MODEL ENGINEERING LTD ..............45
RAILS OF SHEFFIELD ................................41
ROUNDHOUSE...........................................11
STRIKALITE ...............................................54
THE G SCALE SOCIETY ..............................29
TONY GREEN ............................................29
TRACKSHACK ...........................................63
VECTIS......................................................14
WOOD VALLEY WORKS ..............................55

55
Trade in with Hatton’s for immediate payment on the day that we receive your goods!*
*Same day payments apply for collections received Monday to Friday before 2pm. Any collections received after 2pm will be paid on the next working day.
Please note: In the unlikely event that we revise our ofer price for your collection, you will be paid after responding to our ofer.
For full Terms and Conditions, visit hattons.co.uk/preownedterms
TECHNOLOGY
ALL SCALES
Making steam
There’s no smoke without fire? Chris New proves this isn’t true.
THE INSPIRATION. the vaping fluid and produce the smoke • n electronic switch to power the unit
Stuck in traffic behind white van man which is blown into the air by the on Channel 3.
one Monday morning, the railway smoker. So, to create the same effect you • step down board to reduce the
crossing barriers were down and I faced need some basic parts: voltage from 6v to v
yet another delay. Don’t get me wrong, I • vaping coil ese come in di erent • power switch for the 6v battery pack
like trains, just not when they make me powers, I used a 1.80 ohms Protank • Rechargable batteries and a holder
late. But, inspiration can come at any 3/ Evo D2/ T3D Kanger.
time and from the strangest things, and • battery v Li o not needed if THE TRAIN
today was my turn. you use an r/c unit. I was in the process of building a model
From the van in front steady plumes • aping uid is is expensive for of the rail head treatment train not a
of smoke were coming out of the small amounts I used egetable true copy but something that looked a bit
passenger side window, not just a little, Organic Glycerine kosher food grade. similar and would be a bit different for
but huge cloud-like amounts akin • low voltage -6v air pump and G scale. I like British outline models but
to a small rolling fog bank. Was the some plastic tubing. there are not many available at a price I
van on fire? The door opened and a • n ob ect to hold the coil and retain can afford, so I tend to try and convert
builder stepped out and headed across the fluid such as a plastic block. and respray American and European
the path and into the paper shop with items to look a bit more English.
an e-cigarette in his hand and a small TIME TO GO SHOPPING. As luck would have it two wagons
smokescreen following. Back to eBay with my list at hand came up on eBay of another modellers
How could something so small make and quite quickly the parts were on attempt at the treatment train, so
so much smoke, and could I somehow order. The vaping coils had a very fine with the wagons I was already making
use it in a model? screw thread for which a tap was a I would have a complete rake. After
After a few hours researching on the whopping £30.00. China came to the winning the auction now all I needed
Internet I had gathered enough details rescue at only 00 including postage, was to make one of the wagons smoke
on how these e-cigs worked and had the downside being up to six weeks for on command.
done a rough drawing of a mini smoke delivery.
generator that might fit into a model. I also wanted the unit to run by radio SMOKING IN THE BOYS ROOM.
THE SCIENCE BIT control so needed a few more items. I decided to make a unit to fit in the
E-cigs are powered by a coil that is • n extra R C receiver - these can be wagon with a removable battery pack
heated by electricity from a battery, the run on 6v as a separate unit when they for easy changing when the voltage got
heat produced is enough to almost boil have been bound to a TX. too low at running sessions.
Smoke unit The completed
components. smoke unit.

TECHNOLOGY
ALL SCALES
Smoke unit Radio control

underside detail components.
Work started with a block of plastic You can attach the pump and coil the coils get quite warm so it is best to
70mm long, 40mm wide and 20mm wires together now, make sure to go switch them on and off randomly.
thick. I used a flat wood bit (speedy positive to positive or your pump will I found an 8mm copper pipe elbow
bore) 30mm wide to drill down 9mm suck rather than blow! If you put some is a nice fit over the coil to bend the
to create the oil reservoir, then turned oil in the top tank, about 3mm deep smoke 90 degrees. Adding a 3mm
the plastic over and went down the hole and attach a 3.7v battery you should get flashing LED under the wagon
with a 20mm bit 6mm deep to form smoke – lots of smoke! highlights the smoke coming out.
the air tank. The hole left in the middle I put the slide switch into the side My next challenge will be to see how
had to be 6mm for the vape coil tap to of a Lego block and a short wire to a small I can make the unit to fit into
cut a thread. PP3 connector, it is only the positive other rolling stock or buildings – maybe
Next I soldered a wire to the bottom that needs cutting and soldering to a house or vehicle on fire or smoke
of the coil making sure not to obstruct the switch, a longer wire was soldered wafting out of a tunnel mouth.
the hole that goes through the middle to the switch to continue the circuit. I am pleased with the results and the
of it, this was my positive wire. The Power sorted. These two wires are fitted total cost of the prototype unit and
negative wire was soldered to the to power your receiver (make sure you radio set up was very reasonable as I
main body of the coil but clear of the get + and – correct). You should have a already had the transmitter unit for
threaded part. I then fed the wires spare slot marked “vcc” or S + - , this is my loco. If you read the forums on
through the 6mm tapped hole and your power slot which takes 6v. radio control they all tell you that you
screwed the coil into the plastic block. The receiver needs binding to your cannot run two receivers at the same
A 2mm hole needs drilling into the air transmitter. When this is complete plug time – I tried it on the off-chance and
tank to pass the wires into the outside in the electronic switch into a channel it works perfectly well in a railway
of the block, this can then be sealed slot (I used Ch3) and attach the exit environment!
with a glue gun. Next a hole the size of wires to the power side of the step down If there is enough interest I might put
the air tube needs drilling into the same unit, again, make sure you get + and – together some complete units that just
bottom chamber. correct. Set the exit voltage to 3.7v and need batteries and fluid to finish. These
Push the tube into this – the other solder the wires from the coil and pump would probably cost around £25.00
end goes to your air pump. To finish to the output terminals. plus postage, please let me know by
the unit, fit some 2mm plastic over the e-mail - chrisnovadesigns@aol.com
bottom of the plastic block with some WILL IT WORK? Watch out for the Rail Head
strong double sided tape to make an air On my first test run the unit produced Treatment Train at an open day near
tight seal. That’s it, smoke unit done. smoke for about 30 mins before the you, now I just need a nice big blue
Next we need air – I attached the voltage dropped too low to function – diesel or a class 66 to pull the train! ■
pump to the opposite end of the block
and held it secure with two cable ties Left: The train in
that passed through two holes I drilled action.
across the block. Solder two wires to the
pump and cut your tube to fit onto the Below: Smoke unit
end of the pump. complete in wagon.

59
MAILBOX
Letters are welcomed on any aspect of large scale

railway modelling. Please e-mail the Editor:
Mailbox phil.parker@warnersgroup.co.uk
or post to The Editor, Garden Rail Magazine,
Warners Group Publications, West Street,
Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9PH
MINI ISSUES Of course BMW now owns Mini and I

Chris Dowlen made a good spot in guess my German model engineers had
GR303 commenting on my model not yet been fully trained on the vintage
mechanics seeking out the battery for models! Isn't it funny how we spend so
the diecast Mini car. It is indeed located long in the pursuit of excellence in this
in the boot (not under the bonnet) hobby and yet are tripped up by the
and I should have known this as I once smallest of detail?
owned a Mini.
My only excuse is that the figures Mark Thatcher
I purchased to add to the Thorley Buildings & Kits Columnist
Miniatures garage came from Germany. Garden Rail
WATER CRANES
I wondered if readers would be interested to find out how I built 2 water
cranes for less than £2.
A visit to my local charity shop produced a pair of size 8 plastic
knitting needles, a small packet of shower curtain hooks and some large
press studs. Following my recent flu jab I also had some of the little
rubber covers that protect the needles before use which my pharmacy
would otherwise throw away.
So, the first thing is to cut a curtain hook in half followed by cutting
a couple of suitable lengths from a knitting needle and carefully drilling
a hole down one end so the straight end of the curtain hook fits
in snugly. I hope the pictures make sense of all this.
The next stage is to push the rubber cover into the other end
of the hook. Almost there now, split open a press stud an stick
the outer bit onto your water crane in a suitable position
with a dab of super glue. The length of chain was from an
old necklace in my bits box. Paint as you wish!
They will soon be installed on either my Snalespace and
Wyerush Light Railway (in my shed) or The Pear Tree Crossing
and Henrun garden line.
Ian Maunders
HEALTH BENEFITS OF MODELLING

I was interested to read your editorial in December’s GR.
It echoes a piece in RM a couple of years ago that extolled
those virtues of railway modelling in keeping the mind active
and engaged helps with general wellbeing – in fact model
making is used by Combat Stress and Help for Heroes to
help Veterans with PTSD on the long road to recovery. They
welcome donations of modelling tools and unmade kits to
help with this work.
I love making models whether in card, wood, plastic or
milliput – mostly scratchbuilt over the last decade and I can
say that I think it helps keep me sane(ish). My only problem
is that I have way more ideas to make than the time to make
them – I’m sure it’s a common problem though.
Barbara Martin
Ian Allen There is light at the end of the tunnel ......
OUT AND ABOUT
Looking back at summer

As we shiver in the UK, Alan Poxon takes a look back at a few events from sunnier days
Above: A Ragleth-based tender engine heads the down goods at the West
Calderbank Railway in Yorkshire. The railway meanders around a mature
garden that overlooks a small wooded valley and has a steaming-up bay
on a wooden balcony overlooking the little stream. The locomotive has
scratch-built brass bodywork and a tender with a wood/plasticard laminate
body. West Calderbank Railway is one of the regular venues of the
Huddersfield Shed of the Yorkshire 16mm Group
Above: First World War little locos on parade

at Parkwood Railway in Yorkshire that hosted
a meeting of the 16mm Narrow Gauge Military
Modellers group in March. Clockwise from
the rear there is; a 3d printed Westinghouse
petrol electric, a PDF Models Baldwin gas
mechanical, a 3d printed bent-frame Simplex,
a Swift 16 protected tin turtle and a Swift 16
armoured tin turtle.
Above: A Roundhouse Billy with the morning

passenger service at Ellerslie Railway in
Merseyside. The railway occupies three sides
of a well-kept garden in an extended dog-bone
layout. The visiting locomotive Pegler, continues
the owners theme of motive power named
after people and places associated with narrow
gauge railways in North Wales. Ellerslie Railway
is one of the regular venues of the Merseyside &
West Lancashire 16mm Group.
Right: An elderly Roundhouse Russell rounds

the pond in the early Spring sunshine at the
Middlefield Light Railway in Merseyside. This
knee-height railway loops around several parts
of the colorful garden and passes a triangular
junction that leads to a temporary steaming-up
area on the lawn. Middlefield Railway is one of
the regular venues of the Merseyside & West
Lancashire 16mm Group.

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JANUARY 2020

9 770969 952092 >

NEW LOCOS FROM

Model Trade – Warners Trade Sales

Overseas Agents – Japan

Garden-Rail.co.uk | 305 January 2020

VIEW FROM THE END

4 Garden Rail 305 | January 2020

The Highlands Hill and

Per Leo indulges in

The Forestry Commission Cream teas and ice cream

6 Garden Rail 305 | January 2020

Kirsten watched by a driver of

Garden-Rail.co.uk | 305 January 2020

Simplex No.8 approaches the road crossing.

8 Garden Rail 305 | January 2020

An overall view of the shed

Bagnalls on shed. Red diesel on tap.

Garden-Rail.co.uk | 305 January 2020

10 Garden Rail 305 | January 2020

Telephone: 01302 371623

I.O.M. 4 Wheel Coaches L&B Howard Van

1:13.7 KS Wren 0-4-0ST 1:19 ‘Dolgoch’ 0-4-0T

TEL: 01981 241380

Building The Lineside Hut’s

Greg Oehm lights up his line with a new rake of coaches.

16 Garden Rail 305 | January 2020

Fitting the first side

Lighting Stage 1. The

I wanted the clerestory lit as well

Lighting Stage 2. The

Garden-Rail.co.uk | 305 January 2020

Forming the roof. The LEDs seen here are

needed a bit of sanding to fit, I elected

AND TO CAP IT ALL….

to trying lining something, I can really

Garden-Rail.co.uk | 305 January 2020

The lights are on, but no-one’s home. Yet. But

20 Garden Rail 305 | January 2020

A completed 2P in SDJR Railway colours.

The key parts ready for assembly.

22 Garden Rail 305 | January 2020

on. Whilst instructions were good, we

Garden-Rail.co.uk | 305 January 2020

David Anderson fancied a

The battery was originally intended for a

An aerosol cap improves the sound. Simple and

an experiment. To The motor is an MFA Como 12/24

storage and charging. Follow the makers Both coupling

The original model that

26 Garden Rail 305 | January 2020

WE ALSO STOCK BOOKS COVERING:

FRIDAY 17th to SUNDAY 19th

AND NOW FOR

As you can see, this is a very comprehensive kit

30 Garden Rail 305 | January 2020

The plastic roof sections

The brick-effect pattern works surprisingly well

Garden-Rail.co.uk | 305 January 2020

Using wood off-cuts as spacers to help align the

are visible where they overhang the

32 Garden Rail 305 | January 2020

Left: The A frames have now been added. As

Below: The vestibule with the added