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Don't forget to read our latest modelling tips located at the bottom of the newsletter.

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Railway song of the week

Following a technical error, the link to last week's song of the week was broken. Here it is again with our apologies.

What better way to wake up on a Sunday morning than a bit of James Brown? This version of Night Train was recorded in 1964 with an audience consisting mostly of students who had been given free tickets. Is it a song? Is it an instrumental? Is it a dance routine? We don’t really know, but it’s brilliant and the energy is infectious! Click on the picture to watch the video:

This week in history - On the 11th of February 1956 – Rock Island's GM Aerotrain (the Jet-Rocket) commenced operations between Chicago and Illinois.

If you're a collector of TT gauge models or perhaps looking to venture into this fascinating scale, there are some vintage pieces available. The collection of three static display models features continental trains including a Reading Camelback, the Crampton and a CFF A 3/5 Class, all presented on display plinths, perfect if you're after something a bit different for the display cabinet. For those wanting to run trains rather than just admire them, there's a rake of four Tri-ang TT box wagons plus a brake van, comprising three goods vans in grey, a horse box and a brake van. If passenger services are more your cup of tea, you'll find a set of four Tri-ang TT gauge coaches in maroon livery, all with glazing and couplings intact. Click on any picture for more details.

Moving up in scale to HO and OO gauges, there are some brilliant ready-to-run items that would suit both operators and collectors. The Spectrum Streetcar is an absolute gem: it's DCC-equipped, features working trolley poles, LED lighting and a detailed painted interior, and looks virtually unrun. For those of you modelling British railways, the Lima Class 50 diesel "Glorious" comes with three Hornby Intercity Mk2 coaches, making a complete train set in OO gauge. If you're working on a town scene or creating a backscene, the bundle of four low-relief plastic town houses would be just the ticket. They're pre-wired for lighting with grain of wheat bulbs included, representing red brick construction, though one does have a crack and missing window, so they'd benefit from a bit of TLC.

The topic is best approached from the same perspective as modelling a railway. Firstly you need some rolling stock (or in this case boats), you will also need some lineside buildings (or water's edge equivalent) and then you can finish it all off with some figures going about their business (people doing boaty things). The best way to research what kinds of buildings, vehicles and figures to model is the same way that modellers have been researching railways for years, by looking at pictures or even better the real thing!

There are many models available to help you achieve a realistic diorama, from wooden kits of horse-drawn covered narrowboats, holiday cruisers and even canal maintenance boats to plastic kits of modern tourist or fishing boats. If kits aren't your cup of tea then why not use a ready-to-plant resin boat like the one from Bachmann with a removable hull so that you can set it into your water feature or place it on top.

Many of the buildings that you can find at the side of a waterway are similar to the ones that we see all of the time adjacent to railways. There are pubs, car parks, houses and farms, so these kinds of models will look very much at home at the side of your canal or river too, but there are also some models designed specifically for a river scene such as the special river/canal bridge by Wills, or you could try using their toilet block to make a facilities station. Other models designed for a watery diorama include a lift bridge, fisherman (in and out of the boat) and for a more touristy feel some boaters bobbing around in their boats.

 

• What is a TPWS grid?
• What is static grass?
• What is the colour of rust?
• What is the British Rail double arrow logo?
• Can I use WD-40 on my model railway locomotive?

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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