Reports and Blog

20 made it to the March meeting (pic001).

Steve Mann brought along a new layout at the ‘bare boards with working track’ stage, built with Geoff Harper.  I managed not to get an overall shot but it did see a lot of traffic during the meeting, starting with Steve’s Bachmann ‘Rusty’ conversion (pic002).

Geoff had also been working on some of his own models.  His SRB 0-4-0 Peckett kit has been underway for some time, but after 8 years is now looking pretty much finished (pic003) and runs very nicely indeed!  It was joined by a modified Vale of Rheidol brake van (pic004).  Geoff has moved the duckett and modified the side and end to make a balcony for the guard.

Ben Powell had been busy at the workbench.  First up was a Fowler 4w diesel (pic005) built from the Noneministre ‘Peldon’ kit running on a Japanese Narrow Garage chassis in primer.  There was also a Backwoods Miniatures Hudswell Clarke diesel built for Ian Willetts at the bare brass stage (pic006).  These were joined by some less recent tar tankers (pic007) built on Chivers plastic Innisfail bogie chassis for his gasworks layout and some ex Banwy Models Chattenden & Upnor stock from Duckett Models (pic008).  Ben also had some of his older stock. His Kerr Stuart 0-4-2T Skylark ‘Ridcully’ (pic009) built from a Chivers body kit using a Farish 08 chassis with RT Models conversion parts was one.  The others were ‘Theakston’, his Hunslet style 0-6-2T and a Kerr Stuart 0-6-2T built from the Golden Arrow kit for Superior (pic010).  Both locos use Farish 08 chassis with RT Models parts for the steam conversion.

Charlie Forbes had finished the HOn3 snowplough he had brought to the December meeting (pic011).  He also had a bogie diesel running on a Life like SW1200 chassis made from Knightwing kit parts and hauling a coach made from an Oxford die cast Vienna Tram (pic012).  Continuing the tram theme was Charlie’s latest railcar, made from a Hadfield tram it and running on an unknown bogie chassis (pic014).

That covers the items run on Steve’s new layout, but we also had Neil Davis’ “Alfriston”.  This ran an selection of things, but I managed to photograph Neil’s Kerr Stuart diesel (pic016), a 60hp body running on a Farish 03 chassis.  Another recent purchase by Neil was a Rod Alcock Ruston LAT (pic017).  I managed to miss snapping the Sentinel articulated steam railcar, a purchase from 009 Sales from Garry Whiting’s estate and a few other things that took a turn on the rails.

Dick Johnson brought along ‘Tren Bach’ and a variety of stock ran on it.  ‘Spotted’ were Dick’s “Pioneer ” 0-4-0 tender loco (pic018) made from a Double M Models 3d print.  A Fourdees ‘Beddgelert’ with a Bachmann ‘Merddyn Emrys’ (pic019) were on the head shunt.  In the platform was Dick’s Fourdees Ker Stuart 0-6-2T with a train of Peco coaches (pic020).  Also visiting Tren Bach were some of David Churchill’s recent purchases.  First was a Paul Windle railcar based on a Drewry design for the West Clare railway (pic021) running on a Halling chassis.  The other was a Japanese railcar and trailer by Tsugawa (pic022).

Stuart Blackburn brought along a selection of buildings for a planned layout based on the Glyn Valley Tramway at Pontfadog (pic023).  These had been built using information from old photographs and site visits.  He hopes to be able to bring the layout on a future visit to a meeting.

Kevin Wright brought along his three shell case dioramas (pic024).  These depict a British WW1 trench (top), Postwar preserved UK line with war cemetery and a WW1 German trench (bottom).  The cemetery includes a memorial made from a bullet found on the Somme battlefield.

Paul Walton brought along his latest test track that is rapidly becoming a layout.  Paul ran a variety of stock that included a Peco Ffestiniog England with a rake of bug boxes (pic025) and a Vale of Ffestiniog Funkey diesel on some Liliput/Bachmann bogie coaches (pic026) occasionally double headed by a single Fairlie (pic027).  Paul also brought along a pair of back to back railcars made from Lledo Dennis buss bodies on Kato chassis (pic028) and a single railcar unit made from an MD Models 3d printed body, also on a Kato chassis (pic029).

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10 made it to the February meeting.

Trevor Street brought along Norton Heath after locating a Gaugemaster Model D. We very quickly had it up and running( Pic001) .  Trevor ran some of his own stock (Pic002). Paul Atkin ran his train of Airfix brake vans (Pic003). His tram loco conversion pulled 2 coaches and… a brake van!  One of Joseph Jack’s Rustons also had a run (Pic004).

As the electrics seem to be working there was a discussion about what scenic changes we might make.  The chief one being to improve the look of the road surfaces and add some road markings.

Joseph Jacks had also brought along a couple of other projects.  First was a railcar based on Dave Malton’s CAD for a ‘shorty’ BR 153 unit (Pic005).  Joseph had added length and an extra window and also modified the lights.  The chassis was a Bachmann N gauge Peterwitt tramcar.  The other was a single Fairlie (Pic007).  Joseph had removed the original skirts (designed to hide a Kato chassis).  The Chassis is a home brewed chassis made using a Kato ‘shorty’ bogie chassis motor and rear and an N-drive steam chassis (Pic008) .  This gives a fully articulated chassis.   Joseph had also brought along Dol-Fach (Pic009) that now has a new back scene and platform surface.

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12 made it to the January meeting (pic001).

Joseph Jacks had been busy with his 3d printer. He’d been making a selection of Ruston LA and LB bodies to fit small TOMA chassis from Japan (pic002). This chassis can be purchased for 9mm and 6.5mm gauges. With the variations in the body and gauge there was a possible 120 different possibilities.

Joseph has also fitted Kato chassis to a pair of Oxford Die-cast trams (pic003). A Bachmann Sir Handel (pic004) ran. He’d upgraded his 3d printed quarry Hunslet body on a Toma chassis with added fly cranks (pic005). The Jelly Models tram loco (pic006) was finished. Joseph had also built some track (pic007). The left hand was Peco code 80 track. In the middle, Peco code 55 rail with 3d printed sleepers. To the right the same code 55 rail with cut plastic card sleepers.

Steve Mann brought along a circuit of Kato set track and gave his latest things a run. First was a Minitrix 0-4-4-0 Mallet (pic008) destined for a freelance loco using a Fourdees ‘Little Isaac’ body. Next was a Narrow Planet 40hp Orenstein & Koppel 0-4-0 on a Bachmann Percy chassis (pic009). Steve also had a Fourdees ‘Bacillus’ 0-4-0T on a Bachmann Quarry Hunslet chassis that escaped the camera.

Ian Willetts brought along his scenic test track. He ran a Westcliff 3d printed Barclay E class on a Bachmann Percy chassis. It hauled one of Peter Hardy’s coaches (pic010)

Dick Johnson brought along some research material for a new layout set in the Forest of Dean. He also had a Lynton & Barnstaple 8 ton bogie break in Royal Mail livery from AGR (pic011).

Adrian Hall was working on an interurban trolley car. This is for the standard gauge section of his dual gage H0/H0n3 layout (pic012). Adrian was adding custom decals and a bit of light weathering.

Kevin Wright was continuing work his new diorama layout (Pic014). This continues the WW1 theme, but with a former trench railway serving a cemetery. Kevin was with making commemorative wreaths for the gravestones.

John Davies brought along his finished church (pic015) based on a Norman church in Herefordshire. John also had a selection of 12mm gauge stock from the West Clare and Isle of Man railways pic016.

Colin Capel brought along some H0e stock that I managed not to photograph. Trevor Street brought along Norton Heath. With the help of Joseph Jacks’ battery powered controller we managed to fathom out some of the layout’s wiring.

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14 made it to the December meeting (pic001).

Dick Johnson brought along a Christmas themed pizza layout complete with loco (built by the late Peter Hardy) with suitable headboard(Pic002).  Dick also had drawings and photos of the new observation carriage recently arrived on the Welshpool & Llanfair (pic003) from the Zillertalbahn in Austria.

Steve Mann brought along a set of baseboards and some photocopied track templates and set about designing a new layout (pic004).

Neil Davies brought along his portable test track and it got a lot of use during the meeting.

Neil brought along one of his handmade willow trees (pic005) so the test track had some greenery.  He had largely finished his latest brake van – this one with a ‘bird cage’ lookout for the guard (pic006).  This got a run behind a rake of Neil’s Welshpool stock and the train saw a variety of motive power.  David Churchill’s Darjeeling diesel was one caught by the lens (pic007).  This was a ready to run model David imported from India and is in the special livery applied to mark the 75th anniversary of Indian independence.  Later, one of Ben Powell’s Kerr Stuart 0-6-2T, built from the Golden Arrow ‘Superior’ kit with a Farish 08 chassis, took over (pic008).  I’m sure that other locos ran that I missed.

Charlie Forbes brought along a few things.  First was a snow plough, built from an American HOn3 wooden kit with the bogies narrowed from 10.5mm gauge (pic009).  Charlie also had a SAR hopper wagon, Baguley Drewry loco and Shell 4 wheel tank wagon (pic010).

Also seen on the test track (Pic011) was a selection of locos from Ben Powell that included a pair of (OO gauge) Port of Par Bagnall locos “Alfred” and “Judy” by Rapido.  Ben’s kit built ‘Old Hooky’, ‘Masham and Kerr Stuart 0-6-2s along with his scratch built Sena Estates Peckett were also on show.  These joined A DHR B class and Walford Diesel made by the late Gert Jensen, on loan to the DHRS and looked after by David Churchill.

Ian Willetts brought along Brandgeight (Pic012) in order to test and fettle the wiring alterations since taking the layout on from Pete Hardy’s estate.  This paid off as he managed to get both controllers working.  With some insight into how Peter had wired up the layout he was able to guide the group in what needed to happen to Norton Heath (Pic014).   Peter’s final layout has been given to the group by his family as a new group layout.  Trevor Street is currently storing the layout for us, but in the longer term we need someone to manage the project to resurrect the layout and exhibit it.

Paul Walton and Andrew Weaver brought along another test track (pic015).  I suspect I missed a few things running but managed to photograph Andrew’s ‘pug bash’ on an Arnold chassis and Lledo based railbus (Pic016).  I also managed to ‘snap’ Paul’s 3d printed Ffestiniog style Funkey diesel double heading with a similar Single Fairlie (pic017).

Finally Kevin Wright was working on a new diorama layout (Pic018).  This continues the WW1 theme, but will represent a preserved trench railway.

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11 made it  to the November group meeting.  Storm Claudia’s rain and wind  reducing the out turnout somewhat.

There was something of a diesel gala.  We had Neil Davies’ test track and  Joseph Jacks’ 4.5″ Kato test track and new drinks coaster layout.

Ian Willets provided Knightwing conversion on a Kato chassis.  This was ex-Garry Whiting via 009 Sales at Narrow Gauge NOW.  Also a Fowler – A1 model 3d print on a Farish class 14 chassis and an Upnor Castle (pic001).   A brace of Kerr Stuart 60hp locos (pic002) were also acquired at Narrow Gauge NOW.

Trevor Street brought along a WW1 10hp Baguley McEwan Pratt (Pic003).  Also a Clayton battery locomotive (Pic004) added to the party.  Joseph Jacks also added to the gala with a pair of Ruston 44/48 locos (pic005).  These were Westcliff Works prints on Toma chassis.  One even managed the coaster circuit with a selection of 4 wheel stock (pic006).

Joseph also brought a 3rd Ruston from Nigel Brooks (on a Tomix chassis).  A weathered Bachmann Nesta  along with a couple of extra Toma chassis (pic007) made the set.  His Toma chassis with fly cranks for outside frames generated much interest.  He too had been shopping at Narrow Gauge NOW.  Finding a cast resin Jelly Models kit for a freelance tram loco (pic008).

Neil had also brought some items to run on his layout.  A War Department Hunslet 4-6-0 from the Langley kit.  This pulled some Bachmann WD opens.  Unfortunately the train they managed to escape the photographer’s lens!

Bob Taylor brought along his latest models. These were a selection of Westcliff 3D printed Talyllyn stock (pic009). He also had a Bachmann Peter Sam and Percy. The chassis of these are destined for a Fourdees Corris and Westcliff Douglass 3D printed locos.

Adrian Hall brought along a circuit of Blackstone HOn3 set track.  This gave his now finished Climax a chance to run with some logging disconnects (Pic010).

Mike Bartleet did a little model making during the evening.  He was working on an On30 Banta Model works short caboose.  By the end of play he’d made up the flat chassis (pic 011).

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15 made it to the meeting (Pic001).

Dick Johnson brought along his latest finished loco (pic002).  This was a Double M Models 3d printed freelance 0-4-0 tender loco with a haystack firebox.  The body fits a Tsugawa Koppel chassis.  The design is based on the designs of Isaac Watt Boulton.  Dick also brought along his new test track to run the loco on.

Dick’s test track also saw Alec Matthews’ 3d printed Ruston 48DL ‘streamliner’ (pic003).  Also running was Alec’s Brian Clarke inspired 09 loco (that I failed to photograph!).

Joseph Jacks brought along Dol-Fach. He ran a variety of stock including the chassis of his Hudson Gogo tractor (Pic004).

Kevin Wright brought along his latest WW1 diorama (Pic005 & 6). This is a trench scene with a short length of 009 track.  A 40hp armoured Simplex runs on a timer circuit.  Lighting and sound effects simulate distant shellfire and machine guns.  All of this has been built into an 18″ shell casing dating from 1915.  It was recovered from the Somme.

Ben Powell brought along a selection of locos.  These included a pair of Golden Arrow Kerr Stuart ‘Superior’ locos.  RT Models Thomas Green ‘Masham”.  Kit-bashed Hunslet 0-6-2T.  All running on Farish 08 chassis.  He also had his scratch built Sena Estates 0-6-0ST Peckett and 0-4-2T Bagnall Isaac (Pic007).

Ian Willetts brought along his latest eBay purchase.  This was a Fourdees St. George freelance 0-6-0T Peckett.

Paul Atkin brought along his HOf diorama after its visit to the Stafford show (pic008).  Paul was also working on a second conversion of an Airfix OO brake van into an 009 coach.  This runs on using parts from the 009 Society RNAD chassis kit (pic009).

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My thanks to Neil Davies for writing this month’s report:

16 attended the meeting.

Julien Webb, with Jane, took a prime spot in the hall, overseeing a brisk trade in Peter Hardy’s locos and stock [Pic1]. Geoff Harper acquired Peter’s K1 [Pic2].  Several other members are now rehearsing their stories that a certain loco has been in their fleet for years… 

Matthew Tozer brought along a few projects [Pic3]. These including repainting a 7mm phone box, acquired from a layout donated to the Heart of England group’s layout. He then turned his attentions to repainting an Eggerbahn crane wagon into his fleet colours.  Finally,  another 3d print crane wagon mounted on an L&B bar bogie [Pic4] had a touch up.

Steve Mann’s test track allowed various of his fleet the chance to stretch their wheels. [Pic5]

Charlie Forbes brought a railcar and diesel. The railcar is a 3d printed body on a stretched Tomix chassis. The file was from Thingverse and is based on a French CFD prototype.  Details are still to be added [Pic6]. ‘The Thing’ is a Chivers Australian kit for a Queensland Railways loco [pic7a].  The kit includes the chassis, which has individual powered bogies. [Pic7b]

Ian Willetts was getting to grips with Brandgeight, having taken on its ownership from Peter Hardy’s family [Pic8]. Various items of Ian’s fleet were tested on the gradients.  These included a brace of mainline Hunslets heading a rake of Penrhyn quarrymen’s open coaches [Pic9]. Ian also bought a loco, vans and brake of Peter Hardy’s to keep with the layout. [Pic10]

John Davies brought along his in-progress 12 mm gauge inglenook.  He also had some 5.5mm scale rolling stock. The locos are elderly GEM kits whilst the rolling stock are mostly built from card and wood on Triang TT wagon chassis. The green coach is an original GEM kit whilst the FR brake coach is built from plywood. [Pic11]

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15 made it to the meeting.

Bob Taylor brought along a new layout in a box called “Dwy-Ochr”. One side has a station building with a platform has been made from individual matches and a farm house (pic001). The other side has a loco shed and water tank (pic002). The Loco shed is based on a downloadable card kit but cut out from Wills corrugated sheet.

Neil Davies brought along his backpack test track. He tested a Farish 08 bought for a Matt Ditch 3d printed Hudswell Clarke diesel and an 0-6-0ST “Sextus” (pic003). This was another Matt Ditch 3D printed body but running on an EFE Austerity chassis. Also getting a run on the rails was Julien Webb’s latest purchase from 009 sales (pic004). This was a white metal kit for the County Donegal railcars running on a 9mm gauge German Trix diesel chassis.

In between running trains Neil was also working on making parts for a weeping willow to go on Alfriston (pic005).

Alec Matthews had been busy again and displayed the results on his test track. First was a 2-4-2 (pic006) based on Baldwin designs for plantation railways. This ran on a Bachmann Peter Sam chassis. Next was a Forb model T based petrol ‘critter’ (pic007) running on a Tomix 4 wheel chassis. Going up a scale was an 09 0-4-0ST (pic008). This was based on Brian Clarke’s Vowchurch Slate company designs. Last was a Ruston ‘streamline’ 48DL (pic009) pulling a rake of Nigel Brooks Snailbeach hoppers from Joseph Jacks.

Joseph Jacks brought along ‘Snailbeach 2.0’ (pic010) where his Fiji got a run. He had also brought along a second smaller diorama (pic011) with more stock. This included the chassis for a Hudson ‘Gogo’ tractor. It used the motor and bogie from a Kato 11-105 chassis (seen front left).

Andrew Bizley brought along his layout “St Michael’s Town” (pic012) and ran a variety of stock. This included Andrew Weaver’s railcar (pic014) on a Kato 11-106 chassis.

Paul Walton brought along ‘Saint Marie’, his HOe layout made in a month in 2023 (pic 015). Set in France Paul ran a selection of stock including a rather nice Pechot Bourdon 0-4-4-0 (pic016).

Ian Willetts brought along his scenic test track. Running was a Fourdees Bagnall 0-4-0st running on a Bachmann Percy chassis. Also running was a Barclay E class from Westcliff Works. This was fitted with a Penrhyn style buffer beam running on the same chassis (pic017).

Adrain Hall had been continuing work on his HOn3 Climax loco (pic018) by fitting handrails. He also had a brass HO inter urban car (pic019).

Mike Bartleet again used the meeting to get some more model making done (pi020). Work was continuing on the On30 tool car and O-16.5 GVT brake van. They had been joined by a Mercian Penrhyn open coach (pic021)

Martin Smith brought along an O scale (1/4″) Mac bus (pic022). This had been built from an Italian REO model of a Fiat bus with a Corgi Mac bonnet.

Matthew Tozer was also using the meeting to get some model making done (pic023). This time he was working on a Peco laser cut plywood kit for a GVT brake van. This was to join his Harbourne China Clay Company fleet (pic024).

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17 made it to the meeting.

Dick Jonson brought along his latest purchases – a set of three of the Bachmann Ffestiniog break coaches (pic001).

Joseph Jacks brought along Dol-fach (pic002) after It has had a bit more scenic treatment. Running was a Kerr Stuart Corris No.4. this was a Fourdees body and Bachmann ‘Peter Sam’ chassis. Joseph also had a new Snailbeach diorama (pic003). This gave Ben Powell a chance to run a Tramfabriek ‘allrounder’ chassis he’d be sent as 009 Society TLO.

Dave Rowley brought along a small layout “Dilynwr Cynffon” (‘Tail-follower’). This featured a 3d printed bench by Ducket Models. Ruining a 3d printed saddle tank on a Kato chassis (pic004).

Continuing the theme of small layouts Trevor Street brought along an unnamed layout last shown at ExpoNG in 2012 (pic005). The years in storage hadn’t had any ill effects and it ran well at the meeting.

John Davies had been working on the GVT layout seen at the last meeting and had evicted the electrical gremlins. He ran a selection of 009 stock (pic006) and had some possible scenery.

Andrew Bizley brought along his layout “St Michael’s Town” (pic007). Scenic work on the layout has continued. It now looks practically finished – well, as ‘finished’ as any layout ever is!

Paul Walton brought along his HOn30 layout “Small Town USA” (Pic008). He ran a variety of stock but I was taken by a small articulated logging loco (pic009).

Adrain Hall had been working on a HOn3 Climax loco (pic010). The body had been built from a commercial kit. The chassis starting off at N gauge (9mm) before Adrian converted it to the 10.5mm gauge needed for HOn3.

Mike Bartleet used the meeting to get some more model making done (pi011). The current projects (pic012) were laser cut plywood kits for an On30 tool van an O-16.5 GVT brake van.

Like Dick Johnson, Andy Smyth had also succumbed to the Bachmann FR Brake coach. He had purchased the one with the curly roof (Pic014). Andy also brought along 2 books. One on the Maine 2′ gauge system and another called “A locomotive engineer”‘ full of weird and wonderful stuff. A Baldwin steam monorail loco was one example.

Martin Smith brought along some of his latest models (pic015). First was an NG7 (O-16.5) Quarry Hunslet “Margaret” from Bachmann. The other an On30 snowplough (or snowplow?) made from a Bachmann bogie gondola and a Dinky toy blade.

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23 made it to the meeting (pic001).

Dick Jonson brought along Tren Bach and ran a selection of stock, but managed to escape the camera.

Kevin Wright brought along his new layout (pic002). The BMLR (British Military Light Railway) is set ‘somewhere in France’ during World War 1.  A number of dioramas from the period incorporated into the layout.  It all seemed to be behaving itself on its first ever outing.

Steve Holland brought along an 0-14 layout as a work in progress (pic003). “Caldermine” had been recently uncovered after 14 years. It utilises a lot of Roy Link (now KB Scale) parts and kits.

John Walker brought along his oval test track.  John ran his selection of DCC sound equipped Ffestiniog locos and stock.  This was was another layout that escaped my camera.

Ian Willetts displayed his scenic test track with its classic car show (pic004). Running on the rails was a Fourdees Bagnall 0-4-0ST.  Ian also had a Westcliff works Barclay E class with Penrhyn style buffer beam.  Both locos were running on Bachmann Percy chassis.

Steve Mann had his test track set up.  This is built into a Really Useful Box, and he ran a Bachmann quarry Hunslet ‘Alice’.

Also using Steve’s test track was Charlie Forbes making a visit form the East Mids. He brought a trio of bogie diesels based on the Knightwing diesel shunter kits. These ran on Bachmann F7 and GP40 chassis. He also had some steel bogie vans made from Peco RoRailer bodies, and curtain-sided vans made from VGA bodies.  The latter had been cut down and fitted with Wills ends (pic005).

Another member making use of Steve’s layout was Paul Walton.  His latest loco was a 3D printed body for a Russian Tu4 bogie diesel running on a Tomytec chassis (pic006).

John Davies brought along an embryonic GVT layout.  This was a baseboard and track he had acquired (pic007). A few electrical gremlins were chased out, and by the end of the meeting it was almost running.

Neil Davies brought along Alfriston (pic008).  Scenic work on the layout has progressed significantly.  Neil was running a selection of stock.  A Bachmann quarry Hunslet repainted and detailed as Statfold’s ‘Jack Lane’ (pic009).  Also a Sentinel railcar with a Welshpool bogie coach (pic010) made a run.

Trevor Street brought a small display of Kato mini modules (pic011) and had a Dolgoch and some Talyllyn coaches running round (pic012).

Joseph Jacks brought along Dol-fach (pic014) with it’s LED lighting installed along with a selection of stock (pic015).

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