Workbench Witterings #27 – What a load of… well… loads

With the recent influx of excellent open wagons from the LBSC 5 plank D1369/64 from Kernow Model Rail Centre to the wide range of SECR / SR and other railway company wagons from Rapido Trains UK I have spent some time personalising them with some light weathering (using my usual techniques) and adding a variety of … Continue reading Workbench Witterings #27 – What a load of… well… loads

Rapido Trains UK LBSC E1 class 0-6-0T arrives and renumbered

The Rapido Trains UK ‘00’ gauge LBSC E1 0-6-0 tanks were originally announced way back in 2018 as being a commission by Model Rail magazine with Rapido Trains UK. Following the magazine's decision not to proceed the project was finally confirmed as going ahead, by Rapido Trains UK alone, in January 2022 and eventually 14 … Continue reading Rapido Trains UK LBSC E1 class 0-6-0T arrives and renumbered

Workbench Witterings #26 – A Friend in Hand – a West Wycombe pub

Now for something completely different... My local model railway Society, the High Wycombe and District MRS are currently building a new 00 gauge layout of West Wycombe station and its goods yard during the final years of steam haulage on the Great Western & Great Central (GW/GC) Joint line, 1955-66, when express trains from Marylebone … Continue reading Workbench Witterings #26 – A Friend in Hand – a West Wycombe pub

3D printed kits for LSWR 20t / 12t machinery wagons D1673 & D1674 from Dulais Valley Models in 4mm & 7mm scales

My friends at 247 Developments under their Dulais Valley Models brand have produced 3D printed kits for the Diagram 1673 LSWR 20t steel & Diagram 1674 12t timber underframe machinery wagons. They are available in either 4mm or 7mm scales priced at £15 for the 4mm and £40 for the 7mm versions, Brian at 247 … Continue reading 3D printed kits for LSWR 20t / 12t machinery wagons D1673 & D1674 from Dulais Valley Models in 4mm & 7mm scales

Controlling Interests #12 Uncoupling revisited – Canute Road Quay

One of the most asked questions when exhibiting Canute Road Quay is about how my remote hands free uncoupling works.  Quite some while ago now I started using modified tension lock coupling in combination with electromagnets on Fisherton Sarum, see my Controlling Interests #6 post here, but I thought I would revisit it now with more … Continue reading Controlling Interests #12 Uncoupling revisited – Canute Road Quay

Workbench Witterings #23 Bonnet tiles, roof plumbing and painting putting the finishing touches to Westhill Road’s station building

The station building for Westhill Road is now nearing completion, since my last Workbench Witterings#20 post here, with a little help from my friends I have added the bonnet tiles to the hipped ridges, the roof plumbing and details such as downpipes along with completing the painting. I believe it is important to get the … Continue reading Workbench Witterings #23 Bonnet tiles, roof plumbing and painting putting the finishing touches to Westhill Road’s station building

Workbench Witterings #22 Whether to Weather with Muz revisited

Weathering is quite often seen a bit of a black art and not for the faint hearted; especially when you have just forked out for a brand new item of rolling stock or spent hours building and finish painting a kit. The purpose of this article is to break the process down into a number … Continue reading Workbench Witterings #22 Whether to Weather with Muz revisited

Indexing modelling tips and techniques

Amazingly this corner of the web has been going since August 2011 and has grown to over 400 pages of varied Southern related content, I always wanted this blog to not only feature news, reviews and showcase some of my own modelling and interests, but also to hopefully share some of my ideas, hints tips … Continue reading Indexing modelling tips and techniques

Workbench Witterings #21 Individualising the EFE Rail ex LSWR Cross Country Sets

The EFE Rail ex LSWR Cross Country Sets were announced last November and as is usually the case with the Bachmann quarterly announcements arrived within a matter of weeks. This is not a full a review of the models as that would be a bit disingenuous of me, having been involved in my day job … Continue reading Workbench Witterings #21 Individualising the EFE Rail ex LSWR Cross Country Sets

Workbench Wittering#20 Out on the tiles and going potty with chimneys, Westhill Road’s station building continues to take shape

The build of the station building for Westhill Road continues, since my last Workbench Witterings#18 post here work on the hipped roof and the characteristic chimneys of the mirrored inspiration of Alverstone, for this build. Hipped roofs, and the gable windows, can be quite complex to work out the correct angles and lengths to cut roof … Continue reading Workbench Wittering#20 Out on the tiles and going potty with chimneys, Westhill Road’s station building continues to take shape