News from your model shop - 5th September 2021
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Modellings tips and answers - Inspiration - Modelling a workshop or garage - Videos

Hello

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

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This week in history

It was in September 1911 that the first Class 8K was completed at the Gorton locomotive works. The 8Ks were a 2-8-0 freight locomotive designed by John Robinson for the Great Central Railway. More than 650 of the class and its derivatives were eventually built, many of which were put to work overseas during WWI. When LNER took over GCR, they were renamed Class O4.




Tool of the week

This week's tool of the week is a pair of super sharp track cutters from DCC Concepts.
These super sharp cutters have a flat back for a perfect flush cut and have been hardened to the limits to stay sharp. They should be used with one jaw on the bottom of the rail so they cut vertically – doing this gives the cleanest and most stable cut and lessens stress on the tool, lengthening life. Use only for nickel silver, brass or mild steel rail.




Dressing your workshop

Many OO gauge model railway layouts have a high street or a small town to add interest or fill an awkward space on the baseboard, and in those towns, there is often a workshop, garage or service station of some description, but what can you do to make a feature of it?

Well as it happens, plenty. Once you have sourced a suitable model garage (and built it), the next step is to bring it to life by demonstrating all of the activities and goings-on that would happen in a real garage. You will need mechanics, staff and customers, and of course, the mechanics will need somewhere to inspect and fix the vehicles so don't forget some inspection ramps. You can get them to accommodate anything from a small family hatchback right up to ramps for HGV inspections so there's bound to be one to suit your garage's needs. Another feature of all but the most back and beyond garages is signage, from health and safety notices to customer service information, they are everywhere in a workshop environment and modelling them will make your garage look more realistic.




But you have not finished yet, real garages are very much functional places with tyres, junk, old engine parts and general clutter strewn everywhere. This too can be modelled either by fashioning your own junk or using custom made models, add an obligatory Michelin Man, a tow truck and maybe even a hand car wash to the scene and your garage should be starting to look like a realistic busy business in the town with lots to see and attract the viewer's eye.







However you decide to enhance your garage or service station, there are lots of things you can do to bring it to life and make it a real feature on your layout.


Modelling tips

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

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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