Hello

A shorter newsletter than usual but fear not, the usual sections "this week in history" and "Railway song of the week" will be back next week!

The shop in Sandown is open this week apart from New Years's Day on Thursday and it is closing at 2.30pm on New Year's Eve. 

We are dispatching mail orders as usual this week, apart from New Year's Day.

Lots of bargains are still available on our website in the bargains section. Second hand items are a great way to extend your collection with unusual and hard to find items. From N gauge to OO to HO and even O gauge and G scale, from locomotives to wagons to coaches and scenery, there is likely to be something exciting. See them all by clicking here.

Newly arrived items can easily be found on the website: click here to see them all.

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.

Feel free to send this newsletter to your friends, family and club members if you think they will benefit from it. They can subscribe for free.

When you're building your model railway, there's something rather satisfying about finding a well-cared-for pre-owned model that's been given a new lease of life. These aren't just second-hand items, they're pieces with history, often enhanced by previous owners who've added their own touches. Take the Mainline Prairie Tank locomotive in OO gauge, for instance. This charming engine has been renumbered to 5151 and features some thoughtful upgrades including Kadee whisker couplings, extra pickups on the front bogie, weathered wheels and connecting rods and real coal in the bunker. It's been fully serviced and tested, proving itself an excellent runner. Moving to the modern traction era, the Hornby Class 47 "Resilient" in Virgin Red livery is another OO gauge gem. This particular model has been fitted with new traction tyres and additional weight for improved performance and after a light service runs exceptionally well. 

Now, if you're a collector of vintage Tri-ang models, you'll appreciate these next items. The set of seven Tri-ang United Dairies wagons in OO gauge is a wonderful find for anyone recreating the milk train operations that were once such a familiar sight on British railways. All seven wagons retain their buffers, ladders and caps (though some ladder rungs may have succumbed to the passage of time) and three feature the very early Tri-ang coupling system, making them particularly interesting from a historical perspective. For those of you who model in the less common but utterly charming TT gauge , the Tri-ang "Jinty" Tank Engine is a real treat. Whilst the body retaining screw has gone walkabout over the years, the bodywork itself is in good order with all buffers and couplings present. For those of you modelling continental railways in HO gauge, the Roco Swing Roof Hopper is a cracking find. This self-unloading wagon features a tilting roof mechanism and comes in excellent "as new" condition with its original box, detailing set, and instructions.

Many modellers in 1/35 scale will choose to create a military setting for their dioramas, whereas others may choose to develop a workshop-based scenario. For those looking to create the latter, Miniart has much to offer. Perhaps the best place to start would be their 'Tool Set' which provides so many of the basic tools found in a workshop. The  'Construction Set' and 'Scaffoldings' kits offer some further tools to develop this theme but also provide sufficient variety for modellers who will wish to develop a building-site-themed diorama.

Further supporting infrastructure is provided by the 'High-Pressure Cylinders and Welding Equipment Set', the 'Field Workshop Tools and Accessories Set' and the '5 Ton Gantry Crane and Equipment' Set. These three sets would lend themselves especially well to modellers looking to create a field garage or forward support base as their subject matter.

Inevitably, workshops and maintenance areas become cluttered not only with the tools of the trade but the packing materials and other associated detritus of the job. The 'Wooden Pallets', 'Small Carts Collection' and 'Fuel and Oil Drums 1930-50s' sets allow a modeller to faithfully recreate much of this additional clutter that will add that extra level of depth and realism to any diorama.

After a busy day in the workshop, our hard-working mechanics may just be able to squeeze in some time for a quick beer, and with the 'Beer Bottles and Wooden Crates' set, they'll be spoilt for choice! The 'Railway Tools and Equipment' and 'Railroad Power Poles and Lamps' sets add further opportunities for the modeller to vary the range of supporting infrastructure within their diorama whilst offering tremendous opportunities to diversify into a wide range of subjects.

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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