News from your model shop - 31st January 2021

Hello

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

Last week, we mentioned the latest Peco catalogue in the newsletter. Please note we have now received more stock so if you have not got one yet, you can now order it by clicking on the picture below.

 

Rob Pearce sent us a picture of the ticket hut he scratchbuilt.

He explains "The hut is mostly Wills and Slaters plasticard, with some Wills windows (modified in places!) and door. The ticket officer is from the Dapol platform figures set and the sign was laser printed on heavy paper. The platform is built in MDF with Slaters plasticard for detailing, and Dapol fencing, though the tarmac is a sheet of wet & dry sandpaper. The steps were 3D printed by a friend and the handrails are 0.9mm copper wire."

 

 

This week in history - In February 1949, General Motors' Electro-Motive Division introduced the EMD F7 Diesel locomotive.

 

 

There has never been a better time to be a modeller, as models get more and more sophisticated it is becoming easier to create dioramas with unprecedented realism. Train Tech's Smart Light range is another way we can add a further dimension to our layouts. Train-Tech is already well known for their innovative coach lighting and sound capsules and now they have designed a range of lighting to add authenticity to models outside the railway's boundaries including lights to emulate TV flicker, disco lights, emergency vehicles, bin/bonfires, arc welding and a simple building light that turns on and off randomly to hint at life inside even if you can't see in.

The light capsules measure just 1cm square so are easily hidden and run from a power supply of 9-16v making them compatible with controllers or batteries. Simply connect the capsules to the power, stick it in place using the self adhesive pad and the job is done. They can be used with any gauge. Click on the pictures to access videos of each capsule.

 

 

 

 

For those that desire the realism of today's layouts without the hi-tech, you can't beat adding figures to your layout to add interest and situation to your diorama, but here's the good news, figures have come a long way too, and gone are the days of a generic man standing on a platform.

Preiser, Faller, Woodland Scenics and Busch all create fantastic figures and accessories in HO/OO gauge portraying situations we probably wouldn't have thought of adding to our layouts if left to our own devices, such as figures specifically designed for garden centres, supermarkets, school playgrounds, factories, churches and everyday street scenes, and that's just the tip of the iceberg there a thousands of figures to choose from, and the best bit is they all come ready painted!

• What is the difference between square and round signal posts?
• What is a push to break switch?
• What freight trains should I run?
• What is a bubble car?
• How to install a Dapol powered semaphore junction signal?