Perfect Concepts by Phil Cooper

Perfect Concepts

by Phil Cooper

Here we go again. About 10 more minutes of life that you won’t get back so I hope you enjoy this blog and it enhances your lives! I’ve got details of the magnificent company, DCC Concepts and their upcoming Open Weekend on 16/17 July. Do yourselves a big favour and get along to this much-needed  (by the likes of me) initiative.

No Sean or David this week but I have photos from more REAL modellers so a warm welcome to Brad Joyce and Rupert Carss. I’m sure you’ll love their outstanding modelling photos.

First up we have Brad Joyce with his brilliant Jeffrey Lane TMD Layout :

Excellent stuff

Now we have Rupert Carss with Bevington Hill:

One of the reasons I do this blog is to inspire, inform and entertain people and I think it’s fair to say the above photos from Brad and Rupert will do that.

Regular readers will know that I love the Class68 especially in Transpennine livery. My grandson, Harrison, thinks it’s a spaceship and I agree. Judge for yourself:

Good news for Class 68 lovers is that Dapol have the new updated models in stock and they look fantastic, in DRS and Transpennine liveries ready for sale from £135.99

I’ve got the Transpennine 68 with sound and it is brilliant -1 of my better purchases on eBay where you can still pick up a bargain.

 Regulars will know that soldering is not one of my skills. (Ed Comment: Here we go yet again, stroke, stroke, tumour, tumour) so any help is welcome and I’m glad to tell you about something from DCC Concepts. They are hosting an Open Weekend on 16/17 July. They’ll be hosting classes in various subjects such as soldering (AAAAARRRRGHHHH), weathering (I still don’t understand this), control panel building (something I’d love to know about), DCC decoder fitting, ballasting, simplifying layout wiring at their workshop in Settle (isn’t there a famous viaduct near Settle).

Their showroom and offices are at The Sidings, Settle, North Yorkshire. Their Open Weekend is a great time to get to know them and learn about their gear and what it is capable of. DCC Concepts have a mailing list of 18000 people and issue newsletters 2 or 3 times a week.

Ribblehead Viaduct

You can book your courses via their fantastic website www.dccconcepts.com where you can also find out about the magnificent electrickery they produce. Also on their website you can download lots of helpful advice on just about everything to do with electrickery and railway modelling. My older brother, Rob, would love this place. When he was younger he took over our garden shed and filled it with electronics. Our dad was concerned that, one day, he might blow up the shed! Whenever I dared to enter I always heard a gentle hum of power and I could smell the electricity. Older readers will remember that electric smell from old style batteries and transformers.

I love their website. It’s full of great stuff and ideas. Here’s a list of just a few things on which they offer advice:

I’m sure you’ll agree that there’s something there no matter what experience you have. I wish I knew about it when I began my project. I get the feeling that this is a company more than happy to assist and advise modellers and I’m sure many of the employees have their own layouts. 

They are selling a new product which will assist those of you who can solder. It is Sapphire No-Clean Flux which will prevent your soldering being ruined by “blobbing” and “staining”. But you must have a look at their electrickery gadgets which are very very clever. I strongly advise you to book your place urgently. Those of you who attend the course will also receive a 10% discount in their shop which is a real treasure trove.

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The views and opinions expressed within the content are solely the author's and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of Trackside Signs or its affiliates.