News from your model shop - Plastic kits for model railways

Hello

Another busy week in Sandown: we have just received a large range of abrasives from Flex-I-Files and Albion Alloys, ranging from 150 grit to an incredibly smooth 12000 micro finishing pads and clothes. The Flex-I-File items are quite exciting as they include sanding frames, to help you smooth curved parts. Other items include sanding needles, sanding cones, files and sanding films.

We have also added to our stock DCC Concepts rail joiners, available in large packs of 50 at a sensible price.

You can discover all these new products (including a few we have not mentioned yet) by clicking here.

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

Most images in this newsletter are clickable for more details.

Feel free to send this newsletter to your friends, family and club members if you think they will benefit from it. They can subscribe for free.

Railway song of the week

This week we are happy to introduce you to Preston Reed's "Shinkansen". Preston Reed is an American guitarist now living in Scotland. Interestingly, about 25 years ago, he did an album with Laurence Juber who we featured here a few weeks ago. The word that comes to mind about Preston's guitar style is "unconventional" with lots of tapping and other percussive effects using the body of the instrument. This makes for a fully immersive experience, greatly enriched by the video.

Incidentally, the live recording of this song was taken at Quay Arts, on the Isle of Wight. Some of us were in the audience and have autographed CDs to prove it!

Regular readers of our newsletter will already be accustomed to Gaugemaster's Fordhampton offerings. This fictitious 1960s South Downs location features many models that would not have been, had the original brief concentrated more on the railway and less on a whole town and the goings-on there. But fortunately, that wasn't the case and models such as a modern petrol station, mock Georgian house, industrial pipeline, police station and a house under construction are all now out there for us to choose from.



Finally, there's the Wills Kits' Craftsman Series. Although houses, pubs and stations are not a new concept in the world of model railways, the way in which these kits are constructed does allow for plenty of creativity and individuality. The kits lie halfway between a scratch-build project and a regular kit whereby materials and detailed prototype schematics are supplied only as a reference, the idea being that confident modellers can then adapt the designs to suit their needs.



Wherever your layout is based, however big it is, and however accomplished you are as a modeller, there's always scope to add models that are a little bit different to give your layout a realistic appearance.

• How can I best create a revetment for a World War II aircraft dispersal diorama ?
• Where could I position a gantry hoist on my layout ?
• How can I easily create a canal system on my layout ?
• Why are most diesel locomotives double-ended whereas most steam locomotives were not?
• Where were first, second, and third class coaches typically located on a train?

• What are my options for creating roads?
• How do you remove decals?
• What are RLM colours?
• What is Route Availability?
• Where would I use a retaining wall on a layout?

• Ratio 215 Square Water Tower in N Gauge
• Preiser 17308 Beach Furniture Kit in HO Gauge
• Woodland Scenics TR3581 Bush & Tree Hedgerow Strip (1-2 in.)
• Ratio 209 Straight Platform Sections - N Gauge
• Noch 16201 Camping Accessory Figure Set - HO Gauge

You can access all the unboxing videos by visiting this page or simply click on the link called "videos" on our website.