Ten made it along to the first online meeting of 2021, including Mike Allen (attending his first online meeting and second group meeting) and Charlie Forbes from the East Mids group.
by Giles Barnabe from 30 to 40 years ago. Image © Blair Hobson
Blair Hobson had been working on a new HOe layout, a Central European fantasy based on a plan by Giles Barnabe published in Model Railways magazine 30 to 40 years ago. The track runs over 2 baseboards with an overall size of 6′ by 3′ 6″ and is a bit or a rabbit warren (whatever that is in the local dialect!). Most of the lower level tracks had been laid, but things had stalled as Blair was contemplating the best way to make reliable electrical connections between the 2 boards and demountable control panel(s).
Mac Strong had been modifying some Auhagen engine sheds to something more UK in outline with Slaters corrugated iron sheets, and had also finished painting his Hudswell Hunslet diesel featured last month.
Charlie Forbes showed us some coaches he was building using Worsley Works etches for Campbelltown & Macrihanish stock with some modifications (essentially arc roofs instead of the domes ends of the prototype) and a freelance 3-part railcar set using Hornby Pacer bodies with new home-cast resin ends and other parts.
Tim Williams had been working on his sheave incline on Bryn Tegid and some 3D printed Dinorwic wagons, with the Thomas train set he won at the virtual Warley show still packed and up in the loft!
Ben Powell’s latest loco, the Sena Estates Peckett 0-6-0ST was looking pretty much finished running on a rolling road, though ben said it needed a little fettling to get back to smooth running after he had replaced the pick up wires for thinner material.
Ben had also been cutting 5 mm foam board to make building shells for his new layout to be clad in Slaters English bond brickwork. He had began cutting holes for the windows and doors, but was still looking at options for these.
Julien Webb had been going through the box of lost projects and unearthed his second large 2-8-0 “Matilda” as a sibling to Victoria, and had also taken the opportunity to update and partly rework Victoria with a cast brass chimney and a North West Short Line re-gear set to match the modifications to the new loco. He also discussed his plans for a new Bachmann N-scale Percy (recently purchased from Ben Powell), with the front runners being the Oakhill Brewery’s Bagnall Mendip or the Fletcher Jennings 0-4-0 ‘Townsend Hook’.
David Churchill had not been doing any physical modelling but had been working on a set of drawings for some Howra-Amta 4 wheel coaches to go with his Fourdees loco. These were of the early 13′ long stock with under-hung springs, but David was unsure whether to make them to scale width (being narrow vehicles even for for 2′ gauge) or to make them wider and based on some similar 2′ 6″ gauge stock supplied to India which would make a better match to the Fourdees model that was wider than scale to accommodate its Kato chassis. Once the drawings were finished his plan is to build at least six, probably in either etched brass or laser cut plastic.
Mike Allen had been stocking up on Dundas GVT-style coaches but was in need of a Round Tuit (like many of us!) to get things started.
