News from your model shop - 1st March 2020

Hello

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

The nights are getting lighter, the weather is getting warmer and spring is almost here. Well two out of three isn't bad!

Bachmann has just released their latest catalogue. This year they have decided to simplify things and made a combined catalogue with all their brands. It means you will get all products from Bachmann OO gauge, Graham Farish N gauge, EFE, Scenecraft, ModelMaker and their OO9 range in the same catalogue. Click on the picture for full details.

 

 

This week we are going to be getting you across the tracks safely as we take a look at some Level Crossings and Bridges.

First up are some 00 gauge level crossings. We start with the easiest way to incorporate a level crossing into your layout with the Peco Setrack crossings. These are great because you can get them with curved tracks of all radiuses running through them as well as a standard straight. You can even get add on sets to create a double track crossing. Assembly is very quick and easy with just a few parts to be clipped into place.

 

For those of you that love building your own scenery and kits you can get crossings to build yourself, the very convincing Wills level crossing plastic kit has a lot more detail than the click and go crossings. It looks superb and won't take you hours to build if you have reasonable kit building skills.

 

 

A level crossing scene can look a little desolate without all of the buildings, fences, signals, people and street furniture that you would expect to see in real life. A great space filler to add realism to your scene is a signal box. We have featured a Bachmann Scenecraft signal box which comes ready to use, just a little tip: try adding a tree next to your signal box to really bring it to life.

 

 

 

If you are modelling a modern scene you can get level crossings with barriers instead of crossing gates. For the ultimate in realism, use these ones from Train Tech which feature lights and sound:

 

We are staying with 00 gauge as we take a look at bridges. A lot of footbridges are modelled in plastic, but if a lot of the other buildings on your layout are card built then you might want to consider a card kit for your bridge too. The first of our bridges is a card kit by Metcalfe. It is detailed inside as well out. Covered footbridges look great as part of a station scene.

 

We have also sneaked in a picture of a plastic European kit which is great if you are modelling Koblenz, but don't dismiss these kits too prematurely especially if you are depicting a modern day traction scene, you can imagine this Auhagen kit in a West Coast Mainline scenario. Just don't forget to allow for your catenary though!

If you are looking for something a little different Bachmann do a covered but not enclosed footbridge. This type of bridge is quite rare to see and would help you depict a later period in history when functionality and cost took precedence over grandeur.

 

 

When passengers are about, the railway companies tend to get out the paint. The footbridges we have been looking at are all nicely painted and are really quite pleasing to the eye, however, venture just a few miles out of the station and things get a little grimier, bare steel and girders seem to be on the menu. Modelling this is often really good fun and we have chosen some bridges to look at that fit in with this scene, this time it's not people crossing though, it's the trains!

Take this Bachmann Scenecraft Railway Road Over Bridge for example, add an unloved embankment, a spot of weathering, a low bridge sign and a small industrial park, and this bridge could easily become a focal point on your layout, if you want to create your own abutments you can just get the girder bridge spans as with this Wills kit.

Finally we look at a double track Occupational Bridge again by Wills. It is up to you how you use it but just imagine this bridge with a canal running underneath. This type of model would look just as at home in a smartly kept village scenario as it would in the open countryside.

 

We keep on adding modelling tips to our website. Here are the latest ones: