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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.

Peco have just released their latest catalogue. With more than 240 pages, it contains all the products from Peco, Modelscene, Ratio, Wills, Parkside and Tracksetta, including TT:120 items with full colour pictures and description. They have also included pages of information and tips on scales and gauges, baseboard building, wiring kit building and scenic work. As a new catalogue is released only every 3 years on average, this is a well worth investment. Click on the picture for more details.

Railway song of the week

A standout track from his 1982 solo debut Lone Rhino, Adrian Belew’s "The Rail Song" is a deeply personal and atmospheric tribute to the bygone era of the American steam engine. Drawing on memories of his father, who worked on the railroad, Belew avoids cliché by using the same signature avant-garde techniques heard in his iconic work: from the "elephant impressions" on King Crimson’s "Elephant Talk" and the jagged solos on Talking Heads’ "Remain in Light", to the infectious riffs on Paul Simon’s "You Can Call Me Al" and Tom Tom Club’s "Genius of Love". Here, he replicates the visceral sounds of a locomotive: the hiss of escaping steam, the rhythmic clatter of wheels on iron and the mournful wail of a distant whistle. It is a poignant, sonically inventive piece of art-rock that feels both nostalgic and experimental, capturing the lonely majesty of a train journey through a landscape that is slowly fading into history. Click on the picture to listen to it:

Right, let's have a look at what's on offer from the second-hand shelves, shall we? There's quite a mixed bag here, covering everything from N gauge right through to OO, with a bit of TT and HO thrown in for good measure. If you're after something specific or just fancy a bargain, pre-owned models can be an absolute goldmine.

Starting with N gauge, you'll find the Bachmann Plasser EM80C in Union Pacific livery, which is a rather interesting piece of kit. This track maintenance vehicle is in excellent condition with all its markings intact, though it's worth noting it's best suited to fine track due to its low-profile flanges. Moving up to TT gauge, there's a box of Tri-ang track foundation pieces for curved small radius sections, many of which are in unused condition despite their age. These vintage track foundations are becoming increasingly sought after by TT gauge enthusiasts. Then we have a bundle of four low-relief plastic townhouses suitable for HO or OO gauge layouts. These have been previously wired for lighting and include grain of wheat bulbs, though one does have a crack to the front and a missing window.

For those of you modelling in OO gauge, there's a rather special treat in the form of the Hornby Tyseley Connection train pack. This limited edition set includes the Class 49xx  "Pitchford Hall" in GWR green along with three Mk1 coaches. . If you're looking at HO gauge American prototypes, there's a pair of Norfolk and Western wagons comprising a Bowser 50-foot round roof box car built from a kit and a Bachmann 40-foot flat car. Rounding off the OO gauge offerings is the Hornby LNER Class J83 0-6-0 locomotive, which is in excellent condition throughout. These NBR D Class tank engines were workhorses on the North British Railway, designed by Matthew Holmes for shunting and short-distance freight work, and this model has been fully serviced and tested.

We talk plenty about 00 gauge which we all know is the most popular gauge, and N gauge, commonly used to fit more in, but what is 0 gauge all about?

Many years ago, before 00 came along, 0 gauge was the mainstay for many modellers, but nowadays it is chosen rather than the norm. And it's not for the faint-hearted either, although there are numerous locomotives and rolling stock available that are ready-to-run, much of an 0 gauge world will need to be created from scratch, making it perfect for modellers that are ready for a challenge.

Luckily, some of the more complicated essentials such as track, points and signals have been manufactured for us, along with some smaller buildings like signal boxes and intricate models such as cranes and level crossings, but as far as larger buildings are concerned, it's pretty much down to your scratch building skills.

0 gauge also has a good offering of models used to dress scenes like figures, telephone boxes, fences and street lamps, and a good selection of details such as doors and windows to help with the models you do have to scratch-build so you are not completely on your own.

To summarise, although you will have to scratch-build a lot of an 0 gauge layout, there are plenty of models available to help with the essentials and the fine details, so 0 gauge can be challenging but achievable.

 

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• Can I use WD-40 on my model railway locomotive?
• What are the parts of a train wheel called?

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
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