I'm not a Modeller

by Phil Cooper

I write my blog in the hope it will entertain and inspire people to have a go. If I can do it anybody can do it. I am most definitely NOT a modeller. I don’t have any of the necessary skills although I’ve made a decent start with scenery (probably luckily). I started by using plaster cloth covering crunched up newspapers but have now moved onto Sculptamode. It is brilliant, less mucky and easy to do, and if I can use it, ANYBODY can. You just have to add water and mix with the Sculptamode. You can buy it on amazon.co.uk.

Since starting my layout I’ve joined several Facebook groups. They offer help. Just ask your question or ask for advice and you will soon get the information. One of the best is ”Model Railway Enthusiasts”. The expertise available from REAL modellers is vast. But I was very surprised and disappointed reading my Facebook this morning.  Usually responses and questions are treated with respect. But earlier I read this “chat”:

What is meant by the term 1st, 2nd, or 3rd radius curves?

The fixed radius track is for children to play trains , modeller's use peco flexible track or make their own.

I was very surprised at what I felt was a patronising, unwelcome response so I added a further comment.

I hope you were being flippant Graham XXXX because it came over as rather patronising. I'm NOT a modeller, I don't have the skills so probably I'm one of the "children to play trains". Whatever I am I take great pleasure in developing my layout which began as something to do with my grandsons who are very into trains. And yes I love to play trains with them. Hopefully they will take it on when I go to the great signalbox in the sky.

There was no response from Graham XXXX.

In truth I took on a massive learning curve beginning my layout about 4 or 5 years ago and I knew it would be difficult but I can be quite determined.  So I am NOT a modeller. Later in this blog you’ll see that I am not a MODELLER and not a PHOTOGRAPHER either!

What I can offer, though is a few suggestions of what-not-to-do! I want people to learn from my many mistakes.

Let’s start with ballasting. It’s horrible. My attempt was a major disaster. Here’s my excuse-I had a stroke back in 2018.  At the same time an MRI discovered that I had a tumour in my spine which is impossibly painful when I stand for more than 90 seconds. Walking is also a problem because of my balance which makes it easy for me to fall over. My board is 6’6” x 4’6” which has given me the room to build 2 ovals, one inside the other and also a long extension which gives space for a containerport, TMD and fuel depot.

To reach the depot and TMD I have a set of points off the outer oval. Off the inner oval I have points leading to a 4 road terminus and a separate branch line. So the thought of ballasting so much track was Hellish but I wanted to try. I’m stupid that way! Because of my balance problems and the back pain I was in too much of a hurry. Here’s a tip, don’t hurry any aspect of model-making. You’ll make a mess and I created a big mess. There was ballast everywhere it shouldn’t have been. I had to rip up a good 50% of my track and replace (buy) some more, Then I spent, literally, weeks, using a heat gun to melt the mess. The board almost caught light several times leading my partner instructing me to stop. NOW.

Eventually I got all the ballast off the board, smoothed it down and relaid my track. My problem was caused by my lack of patience. So, TAKE YOUR TIME. I still wanted to ballast the board but I knew I couldn’t do it in the same style of the many experts who have “how to” videos on Youtube. They make it look easy!

After my disaster I went with Hornby foam ballast which I thought would be easier. You can get almost 5 metres from Amazon for about £16. Using that took me 5 days to ballast all the track cutting strips of the foam and gluing it to the underside of the track. It IS easier. BUT I have to admit it doesn’t look as good as adding the ballast yourself.

Editor’s Note: The current (February) issue of British Railway Modelling (BRM) has a 3 page article, “Ballasting Techniques”. It is very basic but will be helpful if you are about to start ballasting. It suggests using a ballast spreader which I think would have helped me. They vary in price from £15.96 (proses.com).

OK on to model making. I am useless at this as well. Are you beginning to realise that it was madness to even get started in this project. It’s taken many months but I now realise that fitting windows to a building should be done by fitting them from inside the building and, once again you must take your time. I have major problems fitting roofs together and most of my attempts putting together walls usually lets large chinks of light through. I’ve found sticking black insulation tape can cover that.Luckily one of my neighbours is 11 year old Timeo. He is brilliant and I know now to ask him to do the modelling for me. Timeo is a very talented lad. He will go far.I once bought a Kibri container gantry. As usual I didn’t know where to start and found it baffling so passed it on to Timeo. Incredibly he put it together in under 30 minutes. As I said, he is brilliant. I should also mention his wee sister Amelie who likes to “help” by not interrupting her big brother!

Electrickery is another problem area for me. I just don’t understand it. Foolishly I bought a soldering iron but having shaky post-stroke hands this is a no-no. Luckily I discovered train-tech.com who sell some great stuff. I’ve invested in several of their signals. They are easily fitted (even by me) and can be connected to a sensor as well as being linked together so that as one train enters a block the light will change to red and further signals can be linked, each one changing from green to red as the train enters and leaves “blocks” They took pity on me and helped me enormously with advice. Unfortunately Tammy and David who begun the business have moved on and their business has been swallowed up by Gaugemaster.

My next discovery was Woodland Scenics’ Just Plug equipment. It is fantastic offering light hubs to which you connect lights to be placed inside your buildings. You can even obtain a light hub which will sequence lights on and off for a specific duration.

As usual though I mucked up and didn’t think about which lights were going to go where so I have “spaghetti” under my board. I am about to start refitting them correctly and logically. At the moment I have12 street lights. I use 4 of them to light my elevated platform. My other lights are all fitted inside buildings such as my station terminal, signal boxes, shops ,houses, pub and TMD. You can buy Just Plug extensions for when your light is a distance from the light hub. It’s not too expensive but obviously you can do it cheaper if you have the right skills and know your way round LEDs.

Here’s some of my lights. Please ignore the shafts of light shining between the walls. But the Just Plug lights look great. You can probably see my first attempt at adding snow.

2 of my Class 37s outside the TMD and another waiting for fuel

In model railways realism is important. But I’m not a great lover of weathering. Although I have to admit that I like a properly weathered Class 37. Who wouldn’t!

Tracksidedesigns.co.uk offer a lot of equipment to add realism to your layout. The detail on their accessories is wonderful and I have no idea how they can get so much detail onto such a small area. Have a look at these photos of their signs. By the way you can design your own sign. My layout is Harrison City so I’ll be ordering some custom made station names and totems for my layout. None of their stuff is overly expensive and the items I need are very favourably priced. You won’t get ripped off unlike some other disreputable organisations.

So you see, I cannot be termed a modeller- I cheat because I have to. If Train-Tech, Just Plug and Tracksidesigns didn’t exist my layout would be very boring.

Before I go, I want to thank my mum for her very positive remarks about the blogs.

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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.