sendNewsletterForm.php (GIF Image, 3 × 3 pixels)

Hello

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.

Railway song of the week

Jerry, Go Oil That Car is a humorous American folk song performed by Harry McClintock, better known as “Haywire Mac”, whose lively storytelling style captured the spirit of early 20th-century working-class life. The song playfully reflects the unreliable nature of railways, using catchy repetition and comic lyrics to describe the constant need for maintenance and repairs, something audiences of the time would have found instantly familiar. Blending folk, vaudeville and early country influences, the track (pub intended) offers a charming snapshot of McClintock’s distinctive wit and energetic performance style.

This week in history

On the 12th of May 1945, the Thomas The Tank Engine story began when Reverend Awdry published 'The Three Railway Engines' which was to become the first in a successful series of railway stories. Interestingly, earlier books were not solely focused on Thomas who gradually took a bigger role as the stories developed.

Picks of the week

The Hornby Class 58 in Mainline livery comes complete with four matching wagons, all in excellent condition and fully serviced. These "Bones" as they were affectionately known, were designed for heavy freight work and this set captures that perfectly. If you fancy something with a bit more passenger pedigree, the Lima Network Southeast Class 50 "Tiger" comes with two matching Mk2a coaches, all in really good condition. These "Hoovers" – so nicknamed for the distinctive sound of their clean air plant – were stalwarts of express passenger services. Rounding out this trio is the Hornby Class 47 'County Of Norfolk' in BR Blue with large logo, fully serviced and running beautifully in both directions. The Class 47s were the most numerous class of British mainline diesel, and this example shows exactly why they were so popular.

Staying in OO gauge, you might also be interested in the Lima Class 47'Freightliner Bulk' in Freightliner Triple Grey. This one's in reasonable condition with only minor wear to one set of numbers, and it's been fully serviced so it runs very well indeed. Now, if you're looking to venture into larger scales, there's something rather special on offer – a John Kennerley O gauge scratch-built seven plank coal wagon. John Kennerley was a master modeller whose work is highly sought after by collectors and this piece from 1972 shows exactly why. It's beautifully detailed with sprung hook and chain couplings, though it does need some minor repairs. For those of you working in the smallest scale, there's the Märklin Mini-Club set in Z gauge, featuring three covered goods wagons in H.F. WIEBE livery, all in excellent condition with their couplers intact.

Sporting scenes

Filling space on a baseboard is seldom a problem, the reality is that most modellers would love more space not less to fill with sidings, towns or rolling countryside, but, an option less considered is a sporting venue or playing field. These are great for adding interest to a layout and can take many shapes or forms making them ideal for use as a focal point or as background scenery that fits well with an awkwardly shaped or sized space. There are numerous models in 00 gauge that can help you to construct convincing sporting themes on your layout, like card or wooden cricket pavilions. You can also get readymade sports pitches.

Once you have decided on a suitable sporting venue or location, you will be wanting to populate it with some players. If your venue didn't come with any sporting figures or you have made your own sports ground, help is at hand. Just about every sport is covered with action posed figures portraying the games of cricket, golf, football, basketball, tennis and baseball to name just a few.

Modelling tips

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

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.

You can access all the unboxing videos by visiting this page or simply click on the link called "videos" on our websit e.

Events and exhibitions

Find all the latest events and exhibitions for the model railway world, on the UK Model Shop Events directory. Hopefully, 2026 will 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