tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79216874498638468082024-09-06T06:33:15.320+01:00...in which Mike returns to railway modelling after almost four decades, with A Plan (and a teenager).Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-31293269186669262342018-12-05T15:45:00.000+00:002018-12-05T15:45:56.225+00:00

I know I'm a little behind the times, but I note with sadness the passing of model-maker extra-ordinaire, Allan Downes, in August (having only just noticed a passing mention now I've renewed my Railway Modeller subscription). For both my dad and I, he was one of the main reasons to race to grab the copy of Railway Modeller when it turned up in the mid/late 70s. His scenery making talents were

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-87475735930062619552018-12-04T11:36:00.001+00:002018-12-04T15:03:20.208+00:00

After a conversation on RMWeb, there's also this alternative.... Marshbrook, as it was in the '30s. Yes, yes. I know. Make your %^&*()ing mind up, Mike :D In other news,. just scored a Millholme Models LNWR 4-6-2T kit on eBay.

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-83480325498116703832018-11-28T17:41:00.000+00:002018-12-04T11:47:40.008+00:00

Having had a bit of a trawl around various shed lists, photo archives etc, it's plain to be seen that there's a lot of potentially interesting locos to be seen... Here's a by no means complete list: GWR: Shrewsbury shed   Saints   Stars   43xx (lots)   56xx   ROD 2-8-0   Dean Goods (lots)   1016, 2021, 57xx class Pannier   Bulldog Wellington/Wenlock

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-44253679568115419272018-11-11T14:47:00.000+00:002018-11-11T14:47:01.572+00:00

Subject to a bit of fiddling in the area of the passing loop, of course. Designed for the new Peco code 75 bullhead, assuming they do eventually produce a single slip!

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-60423837830601106742018-11-10T21:45:00.000+00:002018-11-10T21:47:52.891+00:00

Might as well get this down somewhere as plans start to solidify :D After discussion with my likely partner in crime, we're shooting for the original (wow, how far back was that?) idea I had. Onnybrook Junction will be set between Craven Arms and Marsh Farm Junction: it's a smallish through station on the LMS/GWR joint line from Hereford to Shrewsbury: the date is late summer 1934 (with a tiny

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-35609856958334781042018-10-17T18:27:00.000+01:002018-10-17T18:27:03.566+01:00

Largely, to be honest, because despite the supposed extra space that having the workshop converted and the spare garage turned into a storeroom generates, we still have Too Much Stuff, compounded by being in a band with all the attendant stuff that entails. Still, after much juggling, changing jobs, and other fun, I now have a clear shelf onto which I can move all the model railway stuff

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-6512652086847772402018-01-19T13:33:00.001+00:002018-01-19T13:33:26.769+00:00

Been trawling YouTube a bit for inspiration: lovely to see how many folks are getting cameras on to their layouts and documenting the build process. Two I'm particularly taken by: Everard Junction: entirely NOT my period (1980s Network South-East) but some beautiful, and detail-obsessed scenic work; Lakeside: again, not quite my period, but he demonstrates (especially in the village) how every

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-56636277730212494612018-01-14T12:31:00.000+00:002018-01-14T12:31:03.603+00:00

*sigh* No love for the GWR this year from Bachmann or Hornby, and Dapol are releasing their own versions of things that already exist and I already have (61xx, Churchward Mogul). Ah well, still got some catching up to do on LMS stock - the Webb coal tank from Bachmann is lovely, new since I took a break and ubiquitous on the area I like. Now if someone would make a Cauliflower.... Picked up

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-72238055731426348342018-01-07T17:10:00.000+00:002018-01-07T17:10:02.426+00:00

Yes, that does mean I last posted 7 years ago. :D Railway modelling has been a bit on hold for a number of reasons - first off, I'm also a wargamer, and have been quite (publicly) active in the hobby which has been taking up a fair amount of my time. Secondly, due to that and being in a couple of bands, available space for a layout has dropped to almost nothing. And thirdly, James is now 18,

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-68500630973430092412011-01-25T12:42:00.000+00:002011-01-25T12:42:11.770+00:00

Haven't gone away, honest! Christmas saw some more track purchases for James' half of the layout, as well as some Woodland Scenics foam risers and trackbed. I need to scare up an 8'x4' sheet of foamboard from one of the DIY sheds, and then I think we'll start serious tracklaying. Also note with some joy that Hornby have resurrected a few very useable things in the Railroad range, namely the

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-42714375954063564372010-05-04T06:42:00.000+01:002010-05-04T06:42:14.225+01:00

Not that I got anything done that actually involved railway building, but... The back corner of the music room is now cleared to the point where I can get at the workbench, which has light, heat and power. Also sorted out a batch of donated tools, including corner clamps, clamps, a metal set-square and loads of sandpaper. Scored some replacement batteries and a sander/jigsaw/screwdriver set to

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-28551076981404569582010-05-02T10:05:00.000+01:002010-05-02T10:05:43.905+01:00

Went to the excellent small show in Deeping St. James (just up the road) last week. Several nice layouts, including Woodcroft. which was using aluminium-angle based cassettes in its fiddle yards. I've just acquired, from a friend who's clearing out, a couple of 5'x18" or so papering tables. which are a touch wobbly to lay track on, but DO look as though they could be reasonable supports for

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-44369421132564304252010-04-19T07:11:00.000+01:002010-04-19T07:11:30.466+01:00

Finally got James' piece of 8'x4' down from upstairs, with much cursing and wondering how we ever got it up there in the first place. It now has some 3/4" x 1 1/2" underframing, from which I have learned several things: the problem with 8'x4' baseboards is they're 8'x4' :D 8' lengths of 1 1/2" x 3/4" have a lot of flex about the thinner axis Liquid Nails is no substitute for a drill and a bunch

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-19008022300929747822010-04-05T22:45:00.000+01:002010-04-05T22:45:08.265+01:00

...and my feet are killing me. High spots: definitely Long Line (67' of GWR branch line in N - even better (and longer) than when we saw it at St. Albans) - James' favourite too, which shows I must be doing something right. Also got to chat with Aidan Campbell, who makes and paints some really nice figures. Figures on railway layouts always intrigue me - it seems that a lot of folks just

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-58206850695469212322010-03-17T21:41:00.000+00:002010-03-18T06:16:06.688+00:00

...helped by having no broadband, and having to be in home for the solar heating engineers.I’ve removed the original Bachmann “G W R” lettering from the tank sides of my 56xx, with a cotton bud, some enamel thinners and the end of a cocktail stick, and replaced it with HRMS Pressfix “GREAT WESTERN” lettering. For a moment or two it looked as if one side was going to read “GREA|- WESTERN” due to

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-81583963659952708682010-03-15T06:51:00.004+00:002010-03-15T08:02:07.541+00:00

My copy of "The Wenlock Branch" finally showed up, tucked between two veterinary medicine books (I blame the wife) on the bottom shelf in the library. Lots of useful pics and a full 1928 WTT, as well as lots of operational detail. This should be fun. Initial useful discoveries are that there are nice scene-breaking bridges at both ends of Much Wenlock station (only requiring a little tweaking

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-17219307159806653012010-03-12T15:01:00.000+00:002010-03-12T15:01:57.293+00:00

... I wonder if I could fit Much Wenlock in 10' or 12' of scenic baseboard? The main problem is it would restrict the number of rooms in this house I could built it in. Longville would fit along one wall of one of the (several) 12'x12' rooms here including its fiddle yards. Much Wenlock is markedly longer - it's actually two stations separated by a couple of hundred yards, for all practical

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-50711635996417379332010-03-10T17:59:00.004+00:002010-03-10T20:06:32.873+00:00

Today’s post brought James’ Bachmann 4575 small Prairie, which went straight to Trains4U for chipping - nice purchase, seems to be pretty much brand new except for a missing set of cabside steps, which doesn’t look as if it should be beyond me to knock up in plasticard. It also brought a couple of books from Transport Diversions, specifically the Country Railway Routes book on the Wenlock branch

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-60247345763794207402010-03-08T17:24:00.000+00:002010-03-08T17:49:37.131+00:00

An interesting few contrasts this year between the Bachmann and Hornby new releases, at least from my point of view.Hornby are ‘celebrating’ the GWR 175: one reworking of the 28xx, ditto for 61xx (in shirtbutton livery only), and a set of Hawkesworth coaches that actually (as far as I can tell) never actually ran on the GWR qua GWR. To be fair, I will be buying the 28xx, but... by contrast, let’s

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-7861581698994125952010-03-08T09:43:00.000+00:002010-03-08T09:43:49.812+00:00

Johnson 3F 0-60? Yes please, I'll probably take 2. Now if Hornby would re-tool the 4F.... S&DJR 7F 2-8-0? Tempting, but I shall probably resist. Some of the new scenery items look cool. A little disappointed there are no new non-BR coaches.

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-52005700332368898912010-03-08T08:59:00.005+00:002010-03-08T17:10:00.875+00:00

To James' great delight, we managed to score a Bachman 4575 Prairie in Great Western livery yesterday morning. For £15 or so less than the average eBay price. Why? I strongly suspect because no-one's up and actively using eBay at 11am on a Sunday. Sunday evening is generally held to be the best time to sell stuff, as most folks are active. Sunday morning? Bit daft if you ask me. And as to how I

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-27020837890248662602010-02-27T20:03:00.003+00:002010-02-27T20:11:13.862+00:00

Walked back into work on Jan 6th to find I'd been promoted. Along with a music convention and a church panto to organize, life has been a bit busy.Still:Scored a Hornby Collet restaurant car on eBay. James has £65 burning a hole in his pocket and lamenting the lack of GWR RTR Prairies and similar - we're watching eBay like a pair of hawks.As for the master plan? It's too cold to do anything out

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-52783735783151921822010-01-02T16:43:00.003+00:002010-01-02T16:48:02.397+00:00

Picked up a second-hand Dapol/Airfix B-set from Trains4U along with a pack of Bachmann couplings+pockets. just in case I have any more accidents (while James' unofficial Aunty R was buying him some more track).Also scored a Slaters' Toplight brake 3rd kit on eBay.Tonight I'll be eBaying a few Wrenn wagons, some Super 4 /and/ HornbyDublo track, and assorted tatty Triang/Hornby stuff, and seriously

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-71246023960043975182010-01-01T19:45:00.005+00:002010-01-01T19:56:28.525+00:00

I'm sure there's a reader or two out there :DLast couple of days small achievements:Body swap on the Bachmann Pannier - amusing how all the guides just assume you can get the couplings off. In fact, the mounts have to come off with, and it's surprisingly easy to break one, which I did. Trip to Trains4U tomorrow - Gareth reckons he has one in his spares box. Finished the weathering on the

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7921687449863846808.post-78825156381109199192009-12-30T10:56:00.002+00:002009-12-30T10:58:48.826+00:00

Hornby Jinty in LMS black (not arrived yet)Two Hornby LMS 20T brake vans (ditto)Replacement body for 57xx (Great Western lettering)This evening's job, once I've acquired the necessary small tweezers to get the NEM couplings out so I can get at the body screw (being married to a vet may help here!), is to re-body the 57xx.

Mike Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02165272678144625943noreply@blogger.com0