Modellings tips and answers - Realistic textures and buildings

This week in history

On Saturday 5th September 1936, Beryl Markham becomes the first woman to complete a solo, transatlantic flight and the first aviator to complete a solo east-to-west transatlantic crossing. British-born Markham completes the feat in a little over 21 hours at an average speed of 121mph. Taking off from Abingdon in Oxfordshire in a Percival Vega Gull, engine failure necessitated a forced landing at Baleine Cove on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia after a 2,612 mile flight.

If you're looking to expand your collection with some pre-loved gems, you're in for a treat! Let's start our journey in OO gauge with a modern diesel workhorse. The Accurascale Class 37 in Colas Rail Freight livery is a stunning piece, featuring intricate details like toughened windscreens and a unique flush rebuilt nose. For those who prefer the charm of steam, the Wrenn LMS 7420 0-6-0T tank locomotive offers a taste of yesteryear. It's had a bit of detailing work done, with the LMS lettering replaced by numbers for historical accuracy. Fancy a trip across the pond? The set of four IHC MOPAC "Eagle" coaches in HO scale will add a touch of American railroading to your layout.

Continuing our continental adventure, we have a real gem for European modellers. The Roco BR E91 22503 of the DRG in HO scale is a rare find in its brown livery. It's been fully tested and runs like a dream, perfect for those German-themed layouts. If you're working in N scale, don't feel left out! We've got a lovely set of four Lima BR Maroon (Crimson Lake) coaches that would look splendid behind your favourite British outline locomotive. 

 

For those seeking to add industrial or rural buildings, Scale Model Scenery has you covered. Their Wright's Lock-Up kit is a versatile little structure perfect for industrial or harbourside scenes, featuring weathered brickwork and optional ghost signage. If you're after something more rustic, the Outbuilding/Workshop kit offers both stone and brick options, ideal for a farm or goods yard setting. For even more flexibility, the "Polsue" Barn/Stores & Workshop kit actually contains three buildings in one, allowing you to create a compact farmyard or industrial complex.



Perhaps you're looking to add some larger, more impressive structures to your layout? The Coach House & Stables kit offers a wealth of detail, including hinge overlays, glazed windows, and pre-weathered roof slates. For a bustling industrial area, consider Stoney's Workshops - a set of three configurable buildings with sliding doors and boarded-up window options. And what layout would be complete without a pub? The Victorian Ale House/Country Pub kit is a real showstopper, featuring three separate buildings that can be arranged to suit your space.



Of course, buildings are just part of the story. To really bring your scenes to life, you'll want to add realistic textures. Scale Model Scenery offers a range of texture papers that can transform simple surfaces into convincing scenery. Their Dry Stone Wall texture is perfect for creating authentic-looking walls and older lineside huts. For more industrial settings, the Rusty Corrugated Iron texture adds a gritty, weathered look to roofs and cladding. And don't forget about the ground beneath your buildings - the Cobblestones texture paper is ideal for creating streets and paved areas.



For those focusing on Victorian-era layouts, the Victorian Weathered Red Brick texture paper is a must-have. It's perfect for creating industrial buildings, walls, and chimneys with an authentic, slightly uneven finish. If you're modelling more modern scenes, the Concrete Hardstanding texture paper is excellent for creating realistic industrial yards or car parks. And for railway-specific structures, the English Bond Dirty Red Brick texture paper is ideal for creating convincing retaining walls and bridge piers.



With these building kits and texture papers from Scale Model Scenery, you'll have all the tools you need to create a truly immersive and realistic OO gauge layout.

Modelling tips

We keep on adding modelling tips to our website. Here are a few: 

• How can I safely use an airbrush?
• What painting options do I have for weathering a model aircraft cockpit?
• What are the best options for cutting tracks?
• Why do some couplings have different arm heights and lengths?
• Which paints are best used to paint OO/HO metal figures?

You can read all the articles sorted by categories or from the most recent published one on our website.

Unboxing videos

You want to know what is inside the boxes of modelling products? We open them for you! Subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified before everyone else or simply click on this selection. Please note that videos are at the bottom of each page.

Find all the latest events and exhibitions for the model railway world, on the UK Model Shop Events directory. Hopefully, 2025 will still give us plenty of opportunities to attend events all over the country.

Do you need to order?

Send us an email or give us a call to check availability or to reserve anything, whatever scale you model in. As usual, if we do not have in stock what you are looking for, we will order it for you and you will get it fast (usually within a week if the manufacturer has it in stock). We place weekly orders with most suppliers.

Remember, you can park for free for one hour on the High Street. So no excuse not to come and visit us!

Upstairs Downstairs is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am till 4.30pm. Obviously, our website is open 24h a day and we can post to most locations, including Europe, USA and Australia.

Upstairs Downstairs
3 Pier Street
Sandown, PO36 8JR
Isle of Wight
Tel: 01983 406 616
http://www.trainshop.co.uk or find us on Facebook

If for some reason you do not want to receive this newsletter anymore, click this link to unsubscribe