News from your model shop - 27th February 2022
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Modellings tips and answers - Unusual items in OO gauge from Auhagen - Videos

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This week in history

On the 28th February 1947, Illinois Central 121 was withdrawn from operating the Green Diamond (a named Chicago to St. Louis passenger services in the USA) because of its popularity. The streamlined, five-car, permanent set could not be lengthened and demand for the service saw regular locomotives with lightweight coaches take over the route.




Tools for thought

This week's tool of the week is a stainless steel 4mm scale ruler and handrail jig by DCC Concepts. This dual purpose tool acts as a OO gauge scale ruler for scratch builders as well as a jig for bending wires with a diameter of 0.3mm. Measurements on the ruler range from 1 scale foot to 63 scale feet and the jig will accurately measure and shape handrails between 6 scale inches and 48 scale feet.



Auhagen's surprising models

Auhagen is a German manufacturer of scale plastic kits for use on model railways. They have a significant following both in Mainland Europe and here in the UK, but not all of their models are well known to everybody. And that's a bit of a shame because their kits tend to be very well received by the modellers who use them. While they offer items in N and HO/OO, we will focus here on their HO/OO products.

Undoubtedly, some of Auhagen's models remain undiscovered because their name gets lost in translation, other models may be of prototypes with very technical names to begin with so never get searched for either. Whatever the reason, Auhagen is always worth a closer look for models that are a little bit different and provide that uniqueness desired by so many modellers today.

A great example of an often missed model is Auhagen's High Voltage Masts kit. It is a great product and one that many modellers desire on their layouts, but it is also one that many would refer to as an electricity pylon, meaning Auhagen's offering doesn't always show up in an Internet search. The same could be said for their Rope Pull Holders and Pressing Wheel Boxes kit, a bit of a mouth full for anybody but especially missed by those looking for signal box cable brackets or posts. The list goes on with their Cover and Drawback Boxes kit (trunking), Electrical Boxes and Turnout Activators kit (manual turnout levers), Signal Point Indicators kit (point direction signals) and Roof Top Aerials kit (TV antennas).

There is nothing wrong with either way of describing any of the above models, different people from different regions or countries will naturally use different terminology. So the advice is to always search for a model using different synonyms or phrases to ensure that you don't miss out on that perfect model, especially if it comes from a German manufacturer!



Another area in which Auhagen surprises, is their attention to models that you would not necessarily expect there to be a model of. Such models are typically only of use to modellers of very specific dioramas or details, but for those that are, these models can really make a difference.

A good example is their tram track sleepers kit, very useful, but only if you happen to have a tramline running through your town. Their prefabricated garages kit will add an all too often missed feature to a housing estate. Their decorative garden walls kit is a welcome break from the usual style of model fences and walling available. Their kerbs and gutters kit comes with a decent selection of drains, grates and dropped kerbs for an ultra-realistic roadway. Their forester's observation tower kit is again something a little different which very few would actively seek to include on a layout, but for those that do, makes for an incredibly interesting focal point. And finally, a roof vents kit that's a must for modellers of industrial scenes.




Auhagen may well be a model manufacturer better known in Germany, they may even give some of their products names that make us scratch our heads, but they certainly speak our language when it comes to models!


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.

Events and exhibitions

Find all the latest events and exhibitions for the model railway world, on the UK Model Shop Events directory. Hopefully, 2022 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.

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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