News from your model shop - 11th October 2020

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

Chris West sent us some pictures of the West Family layout. It is only 8x4ft but seems to have found a way to pack a whole world! Click on the images below to see more pictures of the layout.

 

 

This week in history - On October 4th 1976 the InterCity 125 (HST) started regular passenger duties between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads and South Wales.  Also on this day the branch line from Derby to Sinfin was opened to carry workers to and from Derby's Rolls-Royce factory site.

 

Developing an idea or a theme for a model railway is often the hardest part of getting a layout started. We all know that a railway should have stations, engine sheds, sidings and a goods yard. Most stations will be in some sort of town and have shops, roads, pubs and a church and in between all of this, there is usually countryside of some description whether it be farmland, forests, hills or mountains. But beyond this absolute knowledge, a new modeller can sometimes be left scratching their heads trying to imagine scenarios to model that will distinguish their layout from any other.

The Germans are particularly good at modelling scenes outside of the usual station and small-town scenario. They seem quite willing to give up baseboard space to model scenes such as a builders merchant, construction site or logging station etc. Their efforts really pay off too, and the scenes they create beyond the railway's boundaries go a long way towards adding realism to the railway itself!

Here are some great ideas for unusual scenes that you could try modelling to create uniqueness and add interest to your layout. Why not try a recycling centre (or tip as most of us still refer to it as) a timber merchant, building site or add a crane to a construction project to make it a focal point?

Below are some H0/00 gauge plastic kits by Kibri, Auhagen and Gaugemaster that can be used to create such scenes.

 

Once you have decided on a scene, don't forget to add figures to bring it to life. Here are some inspiring H0/00 gauge people by Woodland Scenics including some workers with a forklift, masonry workers, surveyors, roofers, city workers and a carpenter's crew.

 

 

• What is a railway shunter?
• What is a loading gauge?
• Can you mix and match various manufacturers paints?
• What is feedback on a DCC controller?
• What does "DCC Ready" mean?