Buy British!

by Phil Cooper

Hello and MERRY CHRISTMAS to you both. I’m pulling your leg. Since the very first blog, reader numbers have being increasing and the PoY poll has increased the readership even more.  So, thank you.

The results are in for our Modeller of the Year poll and it’s been a very close count. 7 year old, Harrison and I (67) have been counting the votes with help from 1 year old, Nate.

So, let’s get to the votes.

Phil Cooper 12 Recount please (Ed Comments: NO)

Alister Ritchie 94

Nigel Locke 94

Rupert Carrs 99

Derek Scott 99

Ian Mundy 100

Iain Paton 105

Stephen Cunningham 110

Mark Foster 114

 Lewis Davey 115

Brad Joyce 125

Ian Burns 135

Les Bryant 139

I’m going to keep you waiting for the Top 5

FIRST THOUGH WE HAVE MORE FROM DCC CONCEPTS

 DCC Concepts are throwing down the gauntlet to the American Woodland Scenes Just Plug system with their own lighting system which will run well with their buildings lights system

So come on boys and girls

BUY BRITISH

MODELLER of THE YEAR Part 2

THE TOP 5

Marcus Pick 140

Sean Selley-West 142

I’m in a playful mood so you’ll have to wait for the Top3

HORNBY

Continuing BUY BRITISH theme let’s see what Simon Kohler and the boys and girls from Margate my are up to and it’s very exciting.

Hornby's forthcoming Class 755 models for OO gauge of Greater Anglia’s Stadler bi-mode trains have reached a step further, after sounds for the model were recorded in October.

The manufacturer is creating both three- and four carriage variants of the trains which can run on diesel and electric power and run on Greater Anglia’s regional routes in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.

Hornby started work on its models in 2021, when it obtained blueprints of the full-size trains from Swiss train manufacturer, Stadler. The model manufacturer visited Greater Anglia’s Crown Point depot in Norwich in June 2021 to photograph and take measurements of the Class 755 trains, looking at roof details, underneath and inside it.

Steve Merry, senior product designer at Hornby Hobbies, set to work designing a 1:76 scale model of the trains at Hornby HQ in Margate using CAD (Computer Aided Design) and spent months working on details – from the arrangements on the roof such as fans, exhausts, GSM aerials, electric cabling and the pantograph, to the toilet tanks on the undercarriage of the train.

The train’s large windows – ideal for views of the East Anglian countryside in the full-size version – presented design challenges, not only for its interior, adding seating, tables and passenger information screens, but also making it more difficult to hide the motors which power it.

A 3D print was made of the train so that Steve could run it on a test track at Hornby HQ to check his design worked. During the testing phase, he discovered problems with the small motor and the articulated bogie, and so modified the design, testing his modifications until he was happy that the model would be reliable. This included designing a new bigger motor and trying to hide it from people looking through the windows.

Chris Reilly, sound and electronics engineer at Hornby Hobbies, visited Greater Anglia in October 2022 to record the sound for the project at the depot and by riding a few trains. The horn, diesel engine, and automated announcements on board were recorded, including a conductor going through the train asking for  tickets.

A pair of Stadler-built Class 755s in Greater Anglia livery await their next services at Norwich.

The train is ready to be made by Hornby’s manufacturer in China and should be in the shops in 2023, with models available to pre-order, with prices starting from £362.99.

Martin Beable, Greater Anglia engineering director, said: “It’s fascinating to see how much work goes into producing a scale model of our new trains. Just as we have worked hard and taken time to make sure the new trains are reliable and the highest possible standard – the team at Hornby has obviously approached their project with the same level of dedication and determination to produce fantastic new trains, as we have.”

Simon Kohler, marketing and product development director at Hornby Hobbies, said: “Greater Anglia’s Stadler Class 755 trains are a radical design for the UK railway which we understand have caused a lot of excitement among rail passengers in East Anglia.

“It’s a radical design for us too and one we were very excited to reproduce in 1:76 scale. We take great care with every model we produce. Railway model enthusiasts are an exacting community who expect our models to be exact scale reproductions of trains – down to the number of fans on top of a train and rivets on the bodywork.”

When I started this blog I wasn’t really interested in “weathering” and neither was Harrison, “Grand dad Phil they all look mucky!” But I am slowly changing my opinion, mainly because of the work of Neil Stanley and his chums  Of course, I haven’t got the talent or skill to do it myself and I can’t really afford an airbrush “thing”  At least not while I’m buying things for Harrison and my second grandsprog, Nate! It’s Christmas and like all grandparents I like to spoil them.

MODELLER of THE YEAR PART 3

THE TOP 3

Amazingly the Top 3 couldn’t be separated. I was staggered to see how much this little bit of fun really caught the imagination of modellers from all over the world. NannyBarb was giving me suspicious looks as my phone dinged repeatedly with votes. Literally hundreds joined in and I hope you all stay with my blog.

So in alphabetical order, the TOP 3:

John Batley 155

Neil Stanley 155

Neil was shy and didn’t send me a photo. I suspect Neil is a robot making wonderful creations

David Styles 155

I received over 2000 votes, 2036 to be exact. All of our modellers are winners, well, except for me, you bxstaxds.  However I did receive votes from my mum, Ann-Marie Gladwell (NannyBarb’s niece) and XXXXXXX@hotmail.com who have all shown great taste! The standard of modelling was very high. I’ve checked the numbers several times because it was such a close call. I accepted votes right up to 19 December and there were only 144 more votes received after that date – all for me, which would have seen me equal top but I am a fair minded person and disallowed these extra votes.

(Ed Comments-no, you’re not, you begged for those disallowed votes to be included)

Ignore him!

I’ve learned a couple of things though. It was clear that the modeller photos I posted at the start got the most photos although Mark Foster scored well despite his photos being entered in the final fortnight. For the next competition  (Easter) I’m going to include all the photos in one blog so each competitor gets a fair chance and I’ll be asking them to choose their own photos to be judged Anyway, it was a lot of fun and, hopefully, it has inspired you to build your own layout. I begun this blog to inspire others to join the hobby and help  them by telling my many mistakes and trying to amuse with my sledge-hammer wit Railway modelling is great fun, I assure you.

NANNYBARB, A WORRYING DEVELOPMENT

I had a wee worry this week when I received my 11^th Class 37 in the post (you can never have too many 37s Neil Stanley has126 of them!!!) I thought I was smuggling them in to the house easily but when this one arrived I foolishly showed it to NannyBarb who then said, “you’ve got quite a few of them ” So now I live in fear of one of her searches for evidence against me and my love of wee trains and Greggs’ jam donuts-they are great and one of their large Cappaccinos goes very well with a pack of 4 jam donuts The 37s and ALL the empty packs of donuts are stashed away very close together! Time to move them before it’s too late!

I got rid of them last Saturday when NannyBarb was shopping! Phew!!!!

LET’S POP BACK TO MARGATE FOR SOME MORE NEWS FROM

HORNBY

Hobby Rewards is the new loyalty program that rewards you for the hobbies you love. Join for free to start collecting points on hornby.com and other Hornby Hobbies websites

HORNBY.COM

To become a member, sign up in the account area and discover the unique rewards and attractions that enhance your hobby experience.

 Earn points for shopping on all Hornby Hobbies websites – earn 10% back for every £1 spent

Early access to selected new product launches

Exclusive rewards and benefits negotiated with our partners

Members-only offers and competitions

WEATHERING

When I started my project to build a model railway for my, now 2, grandsons I wasn’t interested in the art of weathering but I’ve changed my mind and next year I’m going to have a go and I’m glad to say that one of our modellers, Neil Stanley, has agreed to help and he will feature in upcoming blogs with advice and tips.

SO WITH THAT IN MIND LET’S SEE IF I CAN FIND SOME HELP

airbrushes.com

Lifecolor's latest weathering packs for model-makers have arrived in stock with UK retailer, The Airbrush Company. Compact Dust (SPG08) and Compact Rust (SPG09) packs each contain a set of six 22ml colours, washes and pigments to create their desired effects. Packs are available to purchase from its website at £18.98 each.

Compact Dust contains: (UA705) Dust Type 1, (UA738) Deposited Dust, (LPW12) Road Dust, (LPW13) Light Earth, (LPW15) Soot and (PG105) Dry Dust.

Meanwhile, its Compact Rust set contains: (UA703) Rust Light Shadow 1, (UA704) Rust Light Shadow 2, (LPW06) Deep Rust, (LPW08) Eroding Light Rust, (LPW10) Yellow Marks, and (PG107) Eroding Burned Rust.

The acrylic-based sets can be used individually, mixed with other paints from its growing range and be applied by brush, airbrush or a combination of techniques, from cotton buds, to lining pens.

Lifecolor recommends diluting its colours with water, and applying to the model with a paintbrush or airbrush. When the paint is dry, the surface can be wetted, to apply the liquid pigments to achieve the desired result. Each application should be left to dry before repeating. Washes can be removed or changed using its remover, even days after the application.

The dry powders included can be used to texture the paint, creating a more realistic surface appearance, and it is recommended to use a fixative, keeping them in place, if the model is to be handled.

Further details of these products can be found on The Airbrush Company website:

airbrushes.com

Lifecolor recommends diluting its colours with water, and applying to the model with a paintbrush or airbrush. When the paint is dry, the surface can be wetted, to apply the liquid pigments to achieve the desired result. Each application should be left to dry before repeating. Washes can be removed or changed using its remover, even days after the application.

The dry powders included can be used to texture the paint, creating a more realistic surface appearance, and it is recommended to use a fixative, keeping them in place, if the model is to be handled.

Further details of these products can be found on The Airbrush Company website.

ANOTHER EXCITING NEW ACCURASCALE MODEL

Accurascale produced something wonderful with their Class 55 Deltic and they’ve got another winner on the way with their new Class 50 which I predict will be another winner at the end-of year-  best-of competitions just like the amazing Class 55 Deltic.

They have made public their plans to manufacture 1:76 scale / 4mm:1ft scale models of the English Electric Class 50. The models are to be the third and final member of its English Electric (EE) six-axle trio that began with the Class 55 in 2018 and the Class 37 in 2019.

Tooling is almost complete but due to a local COVID shutdown in China the first sample has been delayed for the 2022 Warley show. This first sample will follow early in the new year.

Six locomotives make up the first announcement, with some Accurascale Exclusives to follow soon. Prices range from £189.99 for the DC/DCC ready examples to £299.99 for the DCC 'Accurathras' sound-fitted models. Delivery is expected late Q4 2023.

The Accurascale Class 50 model began with a 3D laser scan of 50017 at the Great Central Railway in 2019. Building on its growing range of diesel and electric locomotives, the EE Type 4 features its most impressive specification yet, with its twin-speaker set up, working radiator fan, flange squeal sensor, and full lighting package that includes preservation-era oddballs, engine room and cab lighting with auto off feature, and eight cab configurations with illuminated driver’s control desk.

The Class 50 Alliance also allowed Accurascale to visit its fleet based at Kidderminster Diesel Depot on the Severn Valley Railway on several occasions, even raising 50044 on jacks to allow the Accurascale research team unprecedented access to the underframe. The "full gamut of changes" experienced by this class has been included on its extensive tooling suite to create "the definitive Class 50", including optional multiple-working equipment, missing handrails on D400, original headcode or plated with marker lights or sealed beam lights, no headlight, blanked headlight and headlight, wind deflectors, sandbox fillers, ‘grilled’ windows on refurbished locomotives (including the first pair which retained the window grommet for several years), early or late cast bogies, dynamic brakes, roof scavenger port, NRN or GSM-R radio equipment/fittings, seven- or 12-blade radiator fan and roof walkways.
 

JSModels.co.uk

JS Models says it has made a "significant expansion" to its 7mm:1ft scale / O gauge range. Following customer requests, many of its 4mm:1ft scale kits are now available in 7mm:1ft scale either as standard kits from stock, or as special order items.

Jonathan Scott, proprietor of JS Models said, "These 7mm:1ft scale kits have all the great features of our 4mm:1ft scale kits, plus the addition of guttering & corbels on the Canal Warehouse kits."

Items not readily stocked are cut to order, with a lead time of around four weeks, subject to workload. Cut to order items are too large to send via post, but can be sent by carrier or collected from exhibitions by prior arrangement.

02 series kits (7mm:1ft scale)

(JSM70202B) ‘Low-Relief Warehouse’ (brick) £70 cut to order

(JSM70202S) ‘Low-Relief Warehouse’ (stone) £65 cut to order

(JSM70212B) ‘Low-Relief Factory Back’ (brick) £65 cut to order

(JSM70212S) ‘Low-Relief Factory Back’ (stone) £60 cut to order

(JSM70222B) ‘Extra-Low-Relief Factory Back’ (brick) £45 cut to order

(JSM70222S) ‘Extra Low-Relief Factory Back’ (stone) £40 cut to order

Its Waterside kits, in 4mm or 7mm:1ft scales, can be ordered in a brick finish, too, upon request. The range is as follows:

Waterside series kits (7mm:1ft scale)

(JSM70313S) ‘Canal Warehouse Front’ £75 cut to order

(JSM70323S) ‘Canal Warehouse Back 1’ £65 cut to order

(JSM70333S) ‘Canal Warehouse Back 2’ £65 cut to order

(JSM70343S) ‘Canal Warehouse End 1’ (was JSM743) £45 from stock

(JSM70353S) ‘Canal Warehouse End 2’ (was JSM753) £45 from stock

(JSM70399S) ‘Canal Warehouse (Full Building)’ £190 cut to order

(JSM70311S) ‘Small Chimney’ £20 from stock

(JSM70361S) ‘Pump / Boiler House’ £60 from stock

Further details can be found on the JS Models website.

jsmodels.couk

LET’S POP BACK UP TO MARGATE FOR THE LAST TIME THIS YEAR

Hornby has revealed a new model exclusive for members of its Collectors Club. In the lead up to what will be a globally momentous occasion, being the Coronation of HM King Charles lll, the manufacturer is to produce 500 models of BR Coronation Class 4-6-2, 46220 Coronation (R30283).

The limited-edition model in BR standard blue is DCC ready with a 21-pin socket, includes sprung metal buffers, NEM tension lock couplings and a five-pole skew-wound motor.

LMS 46220 Coronation was the first of the Class to be built, rolling out of the shed at Crewe works in June 1937 in streamlined form.

The locomotive would have its casing removed in November, 1946 at the same time that the replacement smoke deflectors were fitted.

Being withdrawn in April 1963, it was scrapped shortly after. Over its lifetime the locomotive would wear five liveries, briefly swap identities with classmate 6229 Duchess of Hamilton and hold the then locomotive speed record of 114 miles per hour with Driver TJ Clarke and Engineer Robert Riddles (of locomotive design fame) on the footplate

For details on how to join Hornby's Collector Club, to order your model, visit the

Hornby website: hornby.com

This might help some of you!

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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.