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Don't forget to read our latest modelling tips and unboxing videos located at the bottom of the newsletter.
Most images in this newsletter are clickable for more details.
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Just arrived
We have just added lots of second hand items to our website including the limited edition "Railway Children" train pack, the rare Rapido APT-E set, lots of diesel engines (Class 57, 59, 66, 67, 86 and 92), several Silver Jubilee A4 and some 54mm figures for all painters waiting a new challenge. You can see them all by clicking here.
Brand new items include a range of N gauge transfers to renumber and improve wagons and engines (including BR crests, NCB, Blue Circle, Network Rail...), lots of motorbikes kits from Tamiya and numerous new sets of figures from Artitec.
All new products are on this page: https://www.trainshop.co.uk/new-products
This week in history
On the 1st of November 1908,
the most luxurious passenger train in the world (according to the
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway - LBSCR) was launched. It was
called the Southern Belle and operated between London Victoria and Brighton.
When you're building your railway empire, buying pre-owned stock can be a brilliant way to expand your collection whilst keeping an eye on the budget. The beauty of second-hand models is that many have barely turned a wheel and you'll find some absolute crackers if you know where to look. In N gauge, this Bachmann USA GP50 diesel locomotive finished in Norfolk and Suffolk black livery is excellentcondition with no marks or blemishes and working lights. It's been fully tested and serviced, running beautifully in both directions. If you fancy something truly special in N gauge, there's the Kato Swiss "Bernina Express" featuring those gorgeous panoramic glass windows, comprising a 3-car Allegra unit plus two additional coaches. It's in immaculate condition and looks like it's never been run, with all lights working perfectly. Moving to OO gauge, this set of three Oxford Rail wagons offers excellent value – you get a British Bitumen Colfix 12-ton tank wagon, a Busbys West Kensington five-plank mineral wagon and an R Taylor & Sons weathered four-plank mineral wagon, all in excellent condition with their original boxes.
If European railways are more your cup of tea, HO gauge offers some superb options here. The Roco freight car set features ÖBB (Austrian Railways) rolling stock, comprising one plank box van and two log carriers in excellent condition with original paperwork, boxes and coupling options. For motive power, there's the Roco SNCF Serie BB 22201 electric locomotive in French outline. It's been fully tested, running at great scale speed in both directions with working lights and the pantograph has been electrically tested and works properly. It comes in its original box with all paperwork and the small detailing pack. These Roco items would make a cracking start to a continental European layout.
Conquering the castle
Creating a tourist attraction on a model railway is never easy. They generally take up a lot of space
and are difficult to merge into a quiet village scene, but a castle is one attraction that is well worth considering. Castles look great either as part of a city landscape or in the middle
of the countryside, and that makes them a credible option for adding a
feature to your layout no matter where it is set.
Metcalfe's castle system
is impressive both in appearance and its ability to fit most layouts
thanks to its modular design. Castle sections are supplied as a variety
of OO gauge cardboard kits that represent a gatehouse, watch tower, curtain walls and the main hall allowing
you to include or omit as many features as you wish whilst keeping an
eye on the space available. They even produce a pack of compatible castle wall sheets should you wish to adapt or add to your model to fit a really awkward space.
To finish your model off, why not include a moat? Woodland Scenics' Murky Water Tint is ideal for giving model water a realistic stagnant effect and will really help bring your castle scene to life.
If you are modelling in N gauge, the news is good! The same kits are also produced in 1:148 scale and include the gatehouse, watch tower, curtain walls, main hall and wall sheets.
N gauge fans are also treated to an extra watch tower in their pack
giving even more design options. If you are considering installing a
roadway leading up to your castle, Vollmer's N gauge cobblestone card sheets are perfect for the job thanks to their embossed design delivering a textured and realistic surface.
With its modular design and purposeful realistic appearance, the castle is a long-awaited addition to the cardboard kit range, and now there is no excuse for you not to conquer your very own model castle.
Modelling tips
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.
You can access all the unboxing videos by
visiting this page or simply click on the
link called "videos" on
our website.
Events and exhibitions
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
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