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Don't forget to read our latest modelling tips and unboxing videos located at the bottom of the newsletter.
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Railway song of the week
Modeller Rob Watts sent us the following note: "As a subscriber to your newsletter each week, I like the new addition of the railway song of the week. Can I suggest a superb song about the the Navvies who built the railways of Britain ? Driving the Last Spike by Genesis from their We can't Dance album, not only contains incredible music, but extremely moving lyrics as told by a Navvy as he left his family to earn money to take back to them working in a hard and extremely dangerous environment. If you have never heard it, please take 10 minutes out to do so, its a musical masterpiece."
This week in history
On Friday 16th December 1977, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II opened Heathrow Central tube station in West London. The station was an extension of the Piccadilly Line from Hatton Cross. This effectively made London the world's first capital city to be directly linked to its international airport by means of underground or subway train services. The station was subsequently renamed Heathrow terminals 1, 2 & 3 tube station and continues to service Heathrow terminals 2 & 3 after the closure of terminal 1 in June 2015. In 2022 the station handled a little over 5.5 million passengers.
Tool for thought
This Week's Tool for Thought is the Plank Bending Tool by Expotools. This tool is ideal for any modeller or hobbyist who has a requirement to bend planks of hardwood and is especially favoured by those who build plank on frame wooden ship models. The tool has been optimised to take planks up to 2mm thick and 25mm wide. The tool is used to make an indent or shallow cut on one side of the wood. When a series of such cuts are made the wood will exhibit a noticeable curve. To tighten or deepen the curve simple ensure the cuts are closer together. Modellers who cut the wood at an angle can even introduce a spiral into the wood in addition to any curves created. For any hobbyist looking to bend and shape wooden planks, this tool will inevitably be of great use.
Down at the pumps
When it comes to adding scene elements and detail to a layout, it is often the most mundane and everyday touches that create the greatest sense of realism. Whether it be the inclusion of a wooden shelter at a bus stop on a quiet rural route or the simple yet dignified elegance of a village war memorial. It is these everyday constants of village and town communities that when included in a layout can really help it come to life. For many rural communities the local pub or corner shop will inevitably be one of the most important hubs of village life. That said, for many who travel, the humble petrol or service station can be one of the most significant links to the wider world, both near and far. Let's look at some of the options for integrating a petrol or service station into a OO/HO gauge layout.
For modellers looking for a small unit or those with economies of space, the station garage by Wills Kits offers a compact and tidy solution that would be ideal serving a rural community. For those looking for something a little bigger, the petrol service station kit by Dapol offers a straightforward and cost effective solution. Those modellers who are looking for greater visual impact would be well served by the service station card kit by Metcalfe. In addition to petrol pumps, all three kits include facilities for service stations or auto workshops, providing a useful and interesting second theme to the premises.
Another potential option for modellers to pursue, is to scratch build their own petrol or service station. This particular approach could be useful for those who are opting for a specific look or a particular chronological period. This is because there are a surprising number of options available when it comes to the inclusion of petrol pumps. For those looking to synchronise their scene elements to a pre-nationalisation themed layout, the 1940s/1960s petrol pumps unpainted set by Langley could be a useful option. Similarly, for those looking for a post-nationalisation look then the 1950s petrol pumps BP style by P&D Marsh, or the 1960s BP petrol pumps Island with base by Harburn Hamlet will both be worthy of consideration.
One interesting option on the subject of petrol pumps is that taken by Langley, with their illuminated petrol pump kit. This pack includes an LED head for the pump together with a resistor and connecting wires. Additionally included is a selection of transfers for ESSO/TEXACO/SHELL/BP, allowing the modeller to tailor the petrol station to one of their own choosing. This in itself is a realistic reflection of the times when many stations were independent operators. Similarly and also by Langley is the illuminated forecourt sign board set which will be a useful addition when positioned at the entry to the forecourt. The Tyred Man figure by Harburn Hamlet will be instantly recognisable as an iconic garage forecourt presence and will add an extra touch of originality and realism to the scene.
There is also a wide selection of figure and cameo sets available to add further realism and help bring the scene to life. The at the filling station exclusive figure set by Preiser will help those looking to populate a busy station forecourt. For those looking for an earlier time period, the refuelling please! action set by Busch may help create the ideal look as it harks back to the time of petrol pump attendants. Also by Busch is the visually dynamic oil Change action figure set. With an impressive set of vehicle ramps and a VW Beetle taking up residence, this set would be a good option to help emphasise the service station component of the business.
Petrol and service station buildings and premises can be a very useful theme element for modellers to develop on a layout. As we have seen there are a number of good kit-based options for those looking to quickly or simply populate their layouts. That said, there are also a number of other elements that can be used by modellers who are looking for a more nuanced or specific look via a bespoke solution. Regardless of the approach taken, there are a wide variety of options available to help integrate this essential aspect of community life into a layout. Why not explore the options for a petrol or service station for your next project?
Modelling tips
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Events and exhibitions
Find all the latest events and exhibitions for the model railway world, on the
UK Model Shop Events directory. Hopefully, 2023 will give us plenty of opportunities to attend events all over the country.
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