Showcase

The ‘R’ 4-4-0T (designed by Drummond before he saw the light and came south to the LSWR) comes from an early Riceworks kit. It has Sharman wheels and a Mashima 1224 motor with Ultrascale 50:1 gears. Colin Gibbard made a new set of coupling rods for me in steel after I made a mess of the kit ones. I think LSWR Goods Green is a lovely colour for an engine, and so I moved the engine south and painted it thus, with help from the late Chris Kedgley. Robin Arkinstall made the plates for me with my mother’s name and the brass no 4 is her birthday. I had taken so many liberties with the livery and it seemed a nice idea. Philip Hall

‘The Bug’ is one of the late Bernard Baker’s beautiful scratchbuilt engines. It has Ultrascale wheels and (I think) a small Portescap motor. It’s quite beautifully painted and reminds us of a true gentleman and craftsman. I photographed it a few years ago on ‘Southwark Bridge’ where it continues to earn its keep at the regular running sessions. See the 'Miscellany' page for a literal 'back of an envelope' drawing of 'The Bug' Philip Hall

This is my first foray into P4. I thought the Sentinel (Kernow I think) would be just right for my P76 engineering works layout but needed something to make it stand out from the rest and converting it to a crane engine did just that. A plasticard jib and some gearwheels from the junk box, a coat of baby blue and it turned out to be just what I needed. Brian Harrap

The T3 is a Jidenco kit with a High Level gearbox. It awaits fitting of number plates. The loco is in Adams livery during the 1890s which I applied myself. Paul Skinner

The 460 class (Engine No 461) is a Falcon Brass kit also with a High Level gearbox and Mashima motor. The loco is in Adams livery during the 1890s which I applied myself. Paul Skinner

SR Bulleid 2 Set built using Comet etched sides over Southern Pride plastic kits. Plastic under framing replaced with brass L sections. Interiors from modified Peco /Kitmaster BR MK 1 card sheets. Running on Brassmaster bogies with thinned down Southern Pride castings. Brian Pearce

I started my challenge at the beginning of April las year, the day after I retired and 1 week into the first lockdown. I am building a LSWR T3 loco, in original condition, from a Martin Finney (now Brassmasters) kit, including inside Stephenson’s motion. I completed the basic build by the end of July. Like all of Martins kits, it is not for the faint hearted but goes together really well. I found it relatively straightforward other than intermittent shorting problems - I chose to use the American method of current collection as there is is precious little space for wipers without them looking obvious. I eventually sorted this with help from the Society forum. The bogie splashers do not help and clearances are very tight all round. Simon Thorne

I started my challenge at the beginning of April las year, the day after I retired and 1 week into the first lockdown. I am building a LSWR T3 loco, in original condition, from a Martin Finney (now Brassmasters) kit, including inside Stephenson’s motion. Simon Thorn

This project was an experiment to see how much room there was underfloor for weight when using a Bill Bedford chassis fitted to a Bachmann PO wagon body. The only criteria I had was that all the weight had to be underneath as this wagon has bottom doors which meant internal weight was out of the question without scribing a new floor (which was not part of this experiment). Also, the wagon had to be fitted with a Palatine Models Mark 2 3D printed baseplate ready for hinged Alex Jackson couplings. The wagon came out at 48g, which was virtually on the required 50g target. It was finished with Lifecolor, Tamiya and Vallejo acrylics, 2 coats of Alclad 2 Matt Varnish and Modelmaster transfers. Tony Williams

This project was an experiment to see how much room there was underfloor for weight when using a Bill Bedford chassis fitted to a Bachmann PO wagon body. The only criteria I had was that all the weight had to be underneath as this wagon has bottom doors which meant internal weight was out of the question without scribing a new floor (which was not part of this experiment). Also, the wagon had to be fitted with a Palatine Models Mark 2 3D printed baseplate ready for hinged Alex Jackson couplings. The wagon came out at 48g, which was virtually on the required 50g target. It was finished with Lifecolor, Tamiya and Vallejo acrylics, 2 coats of Alclad 2 Matt Varnish and Modelmaster transfers. Tony Williams

This project was an experiment to see how much room there was underfloor for weight when using a Bill Bedford chassis fitted to a Bachmann PO wagon body. The only criteria I had was that all the weight had to be underneath as this wagon has bottom doors which meant internal weight was out of the question without scribing a new floor (which was not part of this experiment). Also, the wagon had to be fitted with a Palatine Models Mark 2 3D printed baseplate ready for hinged Alex Jackson couplings. The wagon came out at 48g, which was virtually on the required 50g target. It was finished with Lifecolor, Tamiya and Vallejo acrylics, 2 coats of Alclad 2 Matt Varnish and Modelmaster transfers. Tony Williams

Activity at Lower Rose Goods. Steve Howe, photo by Trevor Jones courtesy Hornby Magazine

Activity at Lower Rose Goods. Steve Howe, photo by Trevor Jones courtesy Hornby Magazine

Activity at Lower Rose Goods. Steve Howe, photo by Trevor Jones courtesy Hornby Magazine

Activity at Lower Rose Goods. Steve Howe, photo by Trevor Jones courtesy Hornby Magazine

Highland Railway Carriage wagon and Open Fish Wagon. Both are Lochgorm Models kits but with spring suspension (Bill Bedford). Paul Bannerman

Highland Railway Dia 51 Full Brake. Miscellany Models kit (Mark Tatlow). Second photo shows the finished model broken down into it’s constituent parts which makes painting a lot easier. There bogies are sprung and were produced by Mark in collaboration with Rumney Models (Justin Newett). Paul Bannerman

Highland Railway Diagram 17 Luggage Composite. The base of this model is the original Model Rail kit from the 1980’s (later Alan Gibson). New roof and fittings/castings and Fox bogies from Bill Bedford. Paul Bannerman

Highland Railway Diagram 9 6 wheel composite. Lochgorm Models with sprung suspension. Paul Bannerman

Highland Railway Diagram 34 6 wheel Passenger Brake Van. Lochgorm Models with sprung suspension. Paul Bannerman

A number of wagons from several sources. Paul Bannerman

“Old trees never die . . . . they just get re-cycled”. The group of trees modelled here started life on Kyle of Sutherland as 6 sparsely-modelled background trees and a couple of two hundred and forty degree-modelled foreground trees, which have been re-worked, re-foliated and combined into a new “Tree Module”. The inspiration came from a group of trees close by the Upper Aire Valley in North Yorkshire. These were photographed from several angles to show how their proximity allows some trunks to stand out individually and then, as the angle is adjusted, merge with other trunks. The trunks are spread out more on the module base than appears in real life, and they were collectively pruned and shaped until the desired overall effect was achieved. The whole was then completed by the application of static grass around the edges. Stuart Holt

Drighlington Scenes. This shows the Railway public house, including roof and Tetley Pub sign. The building is constructed from Slaters embossed stone plasticard, painted with Tamiya acrylics “Buff” and “Sea Blue”. I used York Modelmaking self-adhesive slates to cover the roof. Steve Hall

Drighlington Scenes. Mrs Grayshon in conversation with Miss Drake over the garden fence at No. 2 Lord Street. The figures are from the Modelu Pendon range which although aimed at an earlier period, still work OK for the 1960’s and are excellently detailed and proportioned. Steve Hall

Drighlington Scenes. A bit more of Lord Street, this time from the back showing a couple of gardens. The shrubs are all cobbled together from coloured scatter. The washing hanging on the line is from Rizla cigarette paper. Steve Hall

Drighlington Scenes. Another Modelu figure, this time to represent off duty signalman Cyril Briggs, tending his veg patch in his front garden. The vegetables are from Busch, the greenhouse and cold frame are Wills Kits. Steve Hall

Drighlington Scenes. This time we have the end of a rhubarb forcing shed with a corner of the rhubarb field in the front left corner. Forcing sheds were very common in the 1960’s in this part of the West Riding, known as the Rhubarb Triangle. Rhubarb was “force grown” in the dark and was then transported by train. At it’s peak in the 1930’s, rhubarb specials would run overnight to London, such was the volume of traffic. The model rhubarb is by Busch, the Fordson Major tractor is Springside kit and the forcing shed is Slater’s embossed brick plasticard, the roof covering is from strips of parcel tape, cut and painted to represent roofing felt. Steve Hall

M7. Built by Richard Harper in 2020. Painted and lined by Ian Rathbone. Constructed from a Martin Finney kit, the engine is as it was when shedded at Exmouth Jct in April 1960. It appears on my ’Sidmouth’ layout, that itself appeared at Scaleforum 2016. Photo by Ian Rathbone

BR Standard 3 2-6-2 Tank 82019 Built by Richard Harper. Constructed using a modified DJH body and the Branchlines chassis designed for the BR Std 76xxx. Portescap motor/gearbox. Seen at rest in Platform 2 in Sidmouth Station, a layout that appeared at Scaleforum in 2016. Photo by Barry Norman

One of two GWR Collett C70 coaches built for Pendon by Richard Harper from Comet Coach kits. They are EM, of course, but have been placed on P4 track for the photo shoot. They have extra underframe detailing, compensated bogies, Masokits corridor connections and detailing to the interior. Richard Harper

The LNWR had a quite distinctive covered wooden footbridge design. This scratch-built model on London Road is based on the one at Cheddington near Tring, with detail dimensions from LNWR Portrayed by Jack Nelson. I designed the laminated walls, roof trusses, stair stringers and column brackets in CorelDraw and these were then laser-cut in Rowmark by Jonathan Buckie of Clockwork Ideas. Other parts were made from Plasticard strip, sheet and rod. The roofs were made removable to avoid damage when transporting the layout, painting the interior, etc. The footbridge is painted in LNWR station building colours in the earlier style. Later and in LMS/BR days, lower sections were painted in the brown used for the columns. Jolyon Wilkinson

The LNWR had a quite distinctive covered wooden footbridge design. This scratch built model on London Road is based on the one at Cheddington near Tring, with detail dimensions from LNWR Portrayed by Jack Nelson. I designed the laminated walls, roof trusses, stair stringers and column brackets in CorelDraw and these were then laser cut in Rowmark by Jonathan Buckie of Clockwork Ideas. Other parts were made from Plasticard strip, sheet and rod. The roofs were made removable to avoid damage when transporting the layout, painting the interior, etc. The footbridge is painted in LNWR station building colours in the earlier style. Later and in LMS/BR days, lower sections were painted in the brown used for the columns. Jolyon Wilkinson

Known on the Somerset & Dorset as a 'Bulldog', 3F 43194 stands in the Excursion Platform at Burnham-on-Sea. Also in view is Burnham's Down Starting signal, typical of the S&D design made from two closely-bolted rails and surmounted by a cruciform pinnacle of the style unique to the S&D. Adjacent to the signal is one of the switches for the crossover road. Note that these running line points are ground-worked, stretcher and lever being released from the signal box by the midway bolt in the housing adjacent to the lever. The same rodding run also serves to operate the FPL on the switch, the bolt for which normally stands 'in'. 43194 was built from an Alan Gibson kit, substantially as designed. The starting signal is the handiwork of Steve Carr. The pinnacle was commissioned from Modelu and based on drawings of one of the actual pinnacles at Burnham! John Palmer

The driver's hand is poised to open 58047's regulator to first valve and initiate departure of a Down Passenger from Burnham-on-Sea to Evercreech Junction. This locomotive started a second spell of duty on the Somerset & Dorset in February 1948, remaining resident at Highbridge until withdrawal in August 1952. A Craftsman kit provided the basic elements of all components from the running plate upwards. New frames and bogie components were united by stretchers cut from gapped double-sided pcb. The weight of the rear part of the locomotive is transmitted to the uncompensated bogie, whilst the driving wheelsets are mounted on plain bearings set in centrally-pivoted compensating beams. Wheelsets are Mike Sharman's mounted on split axles to provide current collection from all wheels. Power comes from an Anchoridge D11, with shaft connected by flexible coupling to a two-stage reduction box mounted on the leading axle. John Palmer

A view of the interior of Burnham-on-Sea's trainshed that became unobtainable once the building was attached to its underlying baseboard. Trusses were assembled from laminations of styrene strip. To make them uniformly, a truss outline was scribed onto acrylic sheet and brass dowels to locate and hold the strip were let into the acrylic at strategic points adjacent to the outline. Purlins were similarly formed from laminations of styrene strip and attached to the trusses before application of the close-boarded underside of the roof. The spacing between the two intermediate purlins was determined by the apertures for the skylights. Windows were also constructed as multi-layer laminated units that could be slid into slotted recesses behind each window reveal, greatly simplfying the painting process. The vitreous enamelled 'Ladies Room' sign was generated in a graphics package and re-sized to scale within a wordprocessor application prior to printing. John Palmer

In something of a throwback image, Neilson Mineral Engine No 4 simmers in one of the sidings complete with her crew who are hoping the weather will stay fine. She is coupled to a most unlikely but attractive ex- LBSCR Stroudley birdcage brake. In the background a rather more appropriate 16” Barclay shunts pipe wagons into the works. The Neilson is built from the superb High Level kit, originally half built in “OO” when the kit was first released, and completed last year in P4. The Stroudley brake has been cobbled together from a set of Roxey etches I acquired many years ago: how it made its way from Brighton to Fife remains unexplained! Ray Nolton

A wider view of the works yard: The Neilson Mineral Engine awaits her next duty whilst the 16” Barclay (on loan from the NCB: goodness knows why, as the management has more than enough locos to choose from!) shunts pipe wagons into the works. The Neilson as previously described is a High Level product. The Barclay is a regauged Hattons product: I thought the livery was attractive enough not to need a repaint, so she remains in her factory NCB (Ayrshire) colours rather than United Mills Blue. The LNER brake van is a much-travelled Parkside product, and the pipe wagons both rewheeled Bachmanns. Ray Nolton

Hawthorn Leslie 2-4-0T “STRATHISLA” takes sustenance at the makeshift coaling stage whilst Big Tam waits to pass the water hose to the driver. The loco is of course one of the KESR tanks made famous as “GLADSTONE” in the film Oh Mr Porter and in my opinion, one of the most attractive wee locos ever built, hence its appearance in Fife. Built from the Roxey kit, this is another of my locos which were built in “OO “ several years ago and converted to P4 as a lockdown project. The grounded wagon is a Caledonian cupboard door resin body from the Caledonian Railway Association’s “True line” range. Ray Nolton

I decided to have a go at two unusual wagons and expected challenges in metal working, making a few unusual shapes and the suspensions. One is a wagon with iron boxes for carrying coal as used on the Taff Vale Railway (drawing dated 1851). This required not only using very thin metal (2 thou for the boxes) but also dealing with a narrow underframe, the distance between the solebars being less than the width over the faces of P4 wheels. So I ended up with CSB suspension, 3D printed wheel centres (7 spoke!) and narrow tyres. Having at present only a bit of straight track, I’ll have to wait for the end of social distancing to try it on a layout and see how good the suspensions is. Andrew Nummelin

A North Eastern Railway Diagram 77 5 compartment clerestory brake 3rd built from a D&S kit. Paul Cram

A North Eastern Railway Diagram 7 clerestory luggage composite built from a D&S kit. Paul Cram

A North Eastern Railway Diagram 14 clerestory third built from a D&S kit. Paul Cram

A North Eastern Railway Diagram Dia 18 Clerestory brake third built from a D&S kit. Paul Cram

A start has been made on two main 4’9” x 3’ 6” scenic baseboards for my new project, Rospeath Lane MPD. This is a fictional model located east of Marazion in Cornwall. Though fictional my intention is to create a model of a Churchwood Standard Straight Road Engine Shed that might have been built under the ‘Loan Act’ of the 1930s. The hope is to portray a semi-rural setting with terrain justifying different track levels with a rising gradient on the main line. The photo shows the final pieces of 6mm plywood glued and clamped in position after checking the fit of the turntable. Ian Johnson

A start has been made on two main 4’9” x 3’ 6” scenic baseboards for my new project, Rospeath Lane MPD. This is a fictional model located east of Marazion in Cornwall. Though fictional my intention is to create a model of a Churchwood Standard Straight Road Engine Shed that might have been built under the ‘Loan Act’ of the 1930s. The hope is to portray a semi-rural setting with terrain justifying different track levels with a rising gradient on the main line. The photo shows the two main baseboards being checked for alignment horizontally and for each track level. Ian Johnson

A start has been made on two main 4’9” x 3’ 6” scenic baseboards for my new project, Rospeath Lane MPD. This is a fictional model located east of Marazion in Cornwall. Though fictional my intention is to create a model of a Churchwood Standard Straight Road Engine Shed that might have been built under the ‘Loan Act’ of the 1930s. The hope is to portray a semi-rural setting with terrain justifying different track levels with a rising gradient on the main line. The photo is checking the position of all the inspection pits, along with the boards that will support the mainline and head-shunt to the coal stack sidings. Ian Johnson

From left to right we have: LMS Sand wagon, LMS 13T 7 plank mineral wagon, Ex Private Owner13T 8-Plank mineral wagon. All three wagons were built 30 odd years ago using 1mm plywood for the bodies and sit on Omega etched underframes. The two mineral wagons have working brake levers. Steve Hall

North Eastern Railway Diagram 171 Van. There are a few bits I am not totally happy with, namely the foot boards and under frame detail, plus it needs weathering and a bit of fettling to the roof. Geoffrey Allen

C12s like this one were built by the Great Northern for suburban services out of Kings Cross. When displaced by larger locos (Gresley’s N2s) they got distributed around much of the LNER. They were not much liked once they got off GNR territory, being considered a bit gutless. 7470 ended up at Trafford Park and for a couple of years was a regular on Cheshire Lines services. Throughout their lives the fire irons lived on the fireman side tank tops. Keeping the coal hammer hooked into the hand hold behind the cab window was a GNR crew habit. I’m not sure the CLC crews did that but I couldn’t resist. Here seen leaving Knutsford, Manchester bound, she is in wartime livery with the post 1946 number. Built from a Craftsman etched brass kit she ran as an 00 loco on a previous layout. For service on Knutsford East she was fully refurbished and acquired a lot of additional plumbing. She now runs on a Bill Bedford CSB based chassis Kit and demonstrates the CSB chassis and weight bearing bogies can and do work well together. The big tanks enable a heavy loco and unlike the prototype she has significant pulling power. Will Litchfield

The second photo shows O4’s chassis and the innate simplicity of a CSB design. Only the 2nd and 4th axle have some side play and the chassis is good for 3’6” curves. The leading truck takes no body weight but has sufficient lead on board to keep it honest. Pickups are on the wheel tops where I prefer them, but there are none on the leading wheels as there is very limited clearance between them and the footplate. However, as the wires leading out of shot indicate, there are pickups on the tender too. Will Litchfield

An LNER 04/3, built to a GCR design by Robinson for the war department during WWI, this ex ROD loco was purchased by the LNER in the twenties. Like all O4/3s it is running with a war department tender (no water scoop and an extra ton of coal capacity). In wartime livery, 3862 is the post 1946 number. She is pulling away from Knutsford station on the Cheshire Lines Committee Chester to Manchester line. The loco is from an Anchorage etched brass kit and owes nothing to the more recent RTR product. After a number of years in the unbuilt kit pile, it was constructed for service on Knutsford East. It was thinking through how to compensate it for P4 use that lead me to consider adopting Continuous Springy Beam (CSB) suspension as potentially a simpler solution. The result exceeded my expectations and convinced me that CSBs were both better and easier than any other suspension method. Will Litchfield

3 North Eastern horse boxes from D&S kits. Paul Cram

LNWR horse box fro D&S kit with spring suspension. Paul Cram

North Eastern Milk Van from D&S kit. Paul Cram

One of two Black 5's by Steve Hall. One is a Hornby conversion and the other a Brassmasters kit but, can you tell which is which? Answers on the Miscellany Page...

One of two Black 5's by Steve Hall. One is a Hornby conversion and the other a Brassmasters kit but, can you tell which is which? Answers on the Miscellany Page...

The M.S.L.R. wagon was scratch built from plastic sheet. The "Railway Modeller" published drawings of this type in the November edition of 1974. The M.S.L.R. andthe G.C.R. ordered many of these wagons from Cravens of Darnall, Sheffield. Construction calls for few comments, but I have added false ends and sides to the wagon's interior using 0.020" ply. These had been detailed with plastic strip to represent the ironwork, but the use of ply eliminates the need to make plastic sheet look like wood. John Quick

G.C.R. diagram 25, 20 tons steel locomotive coal wagon, No 3516, enabled me to convert an Ian Kirk kit into this model. G.C.R. and L.N.E.R. wagons of this type were very similar which means little work was required. This consists mainly of altering the doors, adding my usual compensation system and a vacuum brake cylinder. Small details are some old Kenline castings and 0.010" copper/brass sheet. The "G" and "C"are much larger than those on other wagons and are not available as transfers. I made stencils in brass sheet and this allowed a consistent shape and height to these very distinctive letters. Using a very fine lead pencil to establish the outline, then filling in with white water colour produces a satisfactory finish. Matt varnish completes the process. John Quick

Scratch-built G.C.R. Class 15 2-6-0. At the turn of the 20th century British locomotive builders' order books were full. The G.C.R., with both the M.R. and the G.N.R, ordered engines from America and this model is an example of a Mogul built at Baldwin's works. The model was built by a member of the G.C.R.S. to OO gauge about 30 years ago and I was fortunate to purchase it from his estate. Considering the shortage of information that was available to the builder it's a nice model, but I replaced the tender with a rather more accurate one from scratch. I knocked the mainframes apart and remade them to P4 standards and I was able to retain the eccentrics' drive to the valve rods. There's much work to do on the locomotive, but it will take my coal trains around Brackley without too many problems. John Quick

Stratford-on-Avon Gasworks, No 3. I regularly manage to find wagons fit for purchase and conversion on exhibition second-hand stalls and these models are examples. I usually have to return them to kit form, then rebuild to P4 standards. Once again, there are few comments to make. When making open wagons, such as this, I fit a false floor of about 0.015" sheet metal on to the kit floor. Then a proper floor of scribed 0.020" ply is added, the metal floor giving some useful additional weight to the model. The Sherwood wagon is an example of a scratch-built chassis beneath a commercial body and is a work in progress. John Quick

Ivatt 2MT tank 41243. Another Bachmann body renumbered from 41250 atop another Comet chassis, Alan Gibson wheels, and powered by one of High Level’s small coreless motors, which sits in the bunker and drives the middle axle via a cardan shaft. High Level gearbox. The prototype was a long term resident on the S & D in the 1950’s/60’s. Richard Dunning

Ivatt 2MT tank 41243. Another Bachmann body renumbered from 41250 atop another Comet chassis, Alan Gibson wheels, and powered by one of High Level’s small coreless motors, which sits in the bunker and drives the middle axle via a cardan shaft. High Level gearbox. The prototype was a long term resident on the S & D in the 1950’s/60’s. Richard Dunning

BR 5MT 73074. A Bachmann RTR body on a Comet chassis, Alan Gibson wheels, motor in the loco this time. Whitemetal kitbuilt tender bought on Ebay with an OO gauge chassis which has been replaced by a Lanarkshire Model Supplies BR1 chassis kit. This one is a BR1C type. The prototype of this engine, together with 73073, was loaned to Bath Green Park for a few summers in the1950s by Patricroft, their home shed at the time. Dave Holt has done 73073 so I chose the next one up! Also good for “Slattocks” as well as my “Frome North”. Richard Dunning

BR 5MT 73074. A Bachmann RTR body on a Comet chassis, Alan Gibson wheels, motor in the loco this time. Whitemetal kitbuilt tender bought on Ebay with an OO gauge chassis which has been replaced by a Lanarkshire Model Supplies BR1 chassis kit. This one is a BR1C type. The prototype of this engine, together with 73073, was loaned to Bath Green Park for a few summers in the1950s by Patricroft, their home shed at the time. Dave Holt has done 73073 so I chose the next one up! Also good for “Slattocks” as well as my “Frome North”. Richard Dunning

BR 9F 92233. A recycled Hornby “Evening Star” body on a Dave Bradwell chassis, Sharman wheels and driven from a motor in the tender via a cardan shaft to a High Level gearbox on the rear axle. Alan Gibson etched brass kit for the BR1G tender. Loco number chosen for my SDJR 1960’s layout as the prototype was shedded at Bath Green Park briefly for a summer, having been transferred from Cardiff Canton, whose shed plate it still carries. Later it was transferred to Newton Heath so the model is also suitable to run on the MMRS layout “Slattocks Junction”, which should have been exhibited last March at Wakefield. Richard Dunning

My current project is finishing a Bachmann LNER B1 4-6-0 conversion using a Bradwell sprung chassis and Gibson wheels. A reasonably straightforward job, except that it was started back in the early 1990s when I was relatively new to loco building. The specification included a motor in the loco and DCC power, and I also removed the moulded boiler bands. Things started to go wrong when used too much heat when attempting to re-solder a loose spring retainer in situ, which deformed a wheel centre, and didn’t improve when the tender sides bowed after using too much Mek when forming the coal space and fire iron tunnel. Into a box it went. After unearthing the remains late last year, it has been reconfigured for tender drive and will have DCC sound. Luckily, I was able to salvage all the cosmetic tender components for use on a new body, with greater care... Bob Howe

My current project is finishing a Bachmann LNER B1 4-6-0 conversion using a Bradwell sprung chassis and Gibson wheels. A reasonably straightforward job, except that it was started back in the early 1990s when I was relatively new to loco building. The specification included a motor in the loco and DCC power, and I also removed the moulded boiler bands. Things started to go wrong when used too much heat when attempting to re-solder a loose spring retainer in situ, which deformed a wheel centre, and didn’t improve when the tender sides bowed after using too much Mek when forming the coal space and fire iron tunnel. Into a box it went. After unearthing the remains late last year, it has been reconfigured for tender drive and will have DCC sound. Luckily, I was able to salvage all the cosmetic tender components for use on a new body, with greater care... Bob Howe

My current project is finishing a Bachmann LNER B1 4-6-0 conversion using a Bradwell sprung chassis and Gibson wheels. A reasonably straightforward job, except that it was started back in the early 1990s when I was relatively new to loco building. The specification included a motor in the loco and DCC power, and I also removed the moulded boiler bands. Things started to go wrong when used too much heat when attempting to re-solder a loose spring retainer in situ, which deformed a wheel centre, and didn’t improve when the tender sides bowed after using too much Mek when forming the coal space and fire iron tunnel. Into a box it went. After unearthing the remains late last year, it has been reconfigured for tender drive and will have DCC sound. Luckily, I was able to salvage all the cosmetic tender components for use on a new body, with greater care... Bob Howe

My current project is finishing a Bachmann LNER B1 4-6-0 conversion using a Bradwell sprung chassis and Gibson wheels. A reasonably straightforward job, except that it was started back in the early 1990s when I was relatively new to loco building. The specification included a motor in the loco and DCC power, and I also removed the moulded boiler bands. Things started to go wrong when used too much heat when attempting to re-solder a loose spring retainer in situ, which deformed a wheel centre, and didn’t improve when the tender sides bowed after using too much Mek when forming the coal space and fire iron tunnel. Into a box it went. After unearthing the remains late last year, it has been reconfigured for tender drive and will have DCC sound. Luckily, I was able to salvage all the cosmetic tender components for use on a new body, with greater care... Bob Howe

Hornby 08 with Ultrascale Wheels, Brassmaster's coupling rods, all new pickups (thanks to Rick Hunt), DCC Sound Fitted. Repainted and heavily weathered to represent 08671, a one time Gateshead-based engine. John Donnelly

Heljan Class 26, 26006, in Railfreight livery. Fitted with Ultrascale wheels, lighty weathered to represent a loco not long out of works. SPA wagon is a Cambrian kit, taken on my old layout, a first attempt at P4. John Donnelly

Caley Coaches. These are kits from “Caley Coaches” of the two Caledonian corridor coaches that are preserved by the SRPS at Bo’ness. They are kits CC08, a 57’ Brake Third and CC03, a 57' Corridor Third. Both are built as is but with Brassmasters compensated bogies and a close coupling unit. While transfers have been applied, as yet lining has not been attempted! They are to run on my layout with a BR Standard 2, 78046, to replicate the “Scottish Rambler” that ran on the Balerno Branch (near Edinburgh) on the 19th April 1965. Alistair Dickson

ICI Caustic Tank Wagon. This is predominately a scratch built model based on a dimensional drawing I was given. The underframe is a Cambrian skeletal frame with the W irons removed and replaced by Bill Bedford W iron units without their underfloor spacer plate, thus providing compensation. Whitemetal sprung buffers were fitted along with brakegear, tiebars and MJT axle box & spring units. The tank barrel is a laboratory plastic sample bottle of nearly the correct diameter cut to the tank length with a couple of wraps of 5 thou’ plastic sheet and thicker plastic circles chamfered to shape to replicate the tank ends. The barrel was filled with lead for weighting. Heating coil connections are fabricated from wire. Ladders are Alan Gibson signal ladders modified to fit the tank curvature. Cambridge Custom Transfers provided the ICI logos with other detail selected from various transfer sources. Alistair Dickson

Ex LNE 13T Steel Opens with wooden doors. These are Bachmann wagons, bought as BR ex LNE unfitted wagons. On looking at photographs, there was the option to modify them to represent BR upgraded vacuum fitted wagons, while doing the conversion to P4. Brakegear was modified, a vacuum cylinder added, buffers replaced with Lanarkshire Model Supplies LNE Steel Open collared type with raised lugs for holding the body and swan neck vac pipes fitted. With a full repaint and weathering, transfers were applied to reflect the prototype wagons referred to. Alistair Dickson

NBR 10T Brake Van. This is a NBR 4mm Developments kit of the NBR Diag 34B Brake Van. The kit was built as supplied and fitted with Bill Bedford 1907 W irons. Weight was added. One or two Brake vans did just survive into BR days so this is finished in LNE bauxite livery, weathered. While not likely to have ever been on the Balerno branch it was an attractive proposition and a joy to build. Alistair Dickson

BR Plywood Vent Van of LMS design. This is a Parkside kit PC42, BR Fruit Van, plywood bodied, which has been modified to represent the ex LMS Plywood Vent Van with clasp brakes as built by BR. The kit was built with Bill Bedford BR compensated W irons, Mainly trains clasp brakegear components, Rumney axlebox & spring castings, whitemetal buffers and vertical vac pipes. The ventilation scoops on the BR Fruit van sides were removed. Alistair Dickson

15 Tenby Street left with Lawrence Hill Junction signal box. The Engine Shed yard, Viaduct, and Roundhouse are in the background. Robin Whittle

Front Elevation 15 Tenby Street, Easton, Bristol. Robin Whittle

Rear Elevation 15 and 16 Tenby Street, Easton. Robin Whittle

15 Tenby Street and Lawrence Hill Junction signal box. Robin Whittle

LSWR Horsebox and L & Y CCT from London Road Model kits. The only alteration was to fit Bill Bedford sprung axles. I have yet to fit the sprung buffers and some weathering to tone the paint work down a bit. Andy Westcott

Hornby Peckett 0-4-0 ST. I rather like these locos, several of my friends have done a P4 conversion and as it's a loco that was produced in my home town of Bristol l just thought l have to have one. Though l have no immediate use for this loco it will make guest appearances on both my layouts. One of our group members, Gordon Ashton, has produced a chassis kit for this specifically for the Hornby 0-4-0 Peckett and it was thus that fully persuaded my to build one. I built the Chassis kit as per instructions but noticing how tight the clearance was between the crosshead and the front coupling rod l extended the width of the cylinders by 1mm. It has Gibson wheels, High Level gearbox and a Mashima 1220 motor. I also fitted WT models cast brass dome, safety valves and whistle. I am very pleased with it's running. Robin Gay

Hornby Peckett 0-4-0 ST. I rather like these locos, several of my friends have done a P4 conversion and as it's a loco that was produced in my home town of Bristol l just thought l have to have one. Though l have no immediate use for this loco it will make guest appearances on both my layouts. One of our group members, Gordon Ashton, has produced a chassis kit for this specifically for the Hornby 0-4-0 Peckett and it was thus that fully persuaded my to build one. I built the Chassis kit as per instructions but noticing how tight the clearance was between the crosshead and the front coupling rod l extended the width of the cylinders by 1mm. It has Gibson wheels, High Level gearbox and a Mashima 1220 motor. I also fitted WT models cast brass dome, safety valves and whistle. I am very pleased with it's running. Robin Gay

Hornby Peckett 0-4-0 ST. I rather like these locos, several of my friends have done a P4 conversion and as it's a loco that was produced in my home town of Bristol l just thought l have to have one. Though l have no immediate use for this loco it will make guest appearances on both my layouts. One of our group members, Gordon Ashton, has produced a chassis kit for this specifically for the Hornby 0-4-0 Peckett and it was thus that fully persuaded my to build one. I built the Chassis kit as per instructions but noticing how tight the clearance was between the crosshead and the front coupling rod l extended the width of the cylinders by 1mm. It has Gibson wheels, High Level gearbox and a Mashima 1220 motor. I also fitted WT models cast brass dome, safety valves and whistle. I am very pleased with it's running. Robin Gay

Wantage Tramway 0-4-0 WT No 5 Jane. The original was built by George England in 1857 for the Sandy and Pots railway. This is a loco l really needed to make for my Wantage Tramway layout. I used a set of etches produced by a friend, Dave Sutton. He was producing them for himself as he needed to build the loco in its original Sandy form. I managed to help him with some of the research so he also produced the Wantage version for me. He also produced the art work to get the chimney and dome 3D printed. I used Gibson 3ft 12 spoke wheels, with a highlevel gearbox and a Mashima 1220 motor. I am pleased with the way it runs. Robin Gay

Wantage Tramway 0-4-0 WT No 5 Jane. The original was built by George England in 1857 for the Sandy and Pots railway. This is a loco l really needed to make for my Wantage Tramway layout. I used a set of etches produced by a friend, Dave Sutton. He was producing them for himself as he needed to build the loco in its original Sandy form. I managed to help him with some of the research so he also produced the Wantage version for me. He also produced the art work to get the chimney and dome 3D printed. I used Gibson 3ft 12 spoke wheels, with a highlevel gearbox and a Mashima 1220 motor. I am pleased with the way it runs. Robin Gay

The three Barclay locomotives under construction in their metal finish. Still some little details to be added and before the locomotives were painted. These engines were built specifically for the Wemyss Private Railway and were the largest tank locomotives built by Barclays of Kilmarnock for a British industrial railway. They were very capable machines able to handle 40 wagons on the main line of the system. A very attractive and well-balanced design they were the mainstay of the system. Allan Goodwillie

Two of the completed chassis ready to be fitted to the bodies. Each chassis was slightly different to observe any variation of behaviour comparing compensated, sprung and springy beams. Allan Goodwillie

Photograph showing the cab interior being fitted after painting. Allan Goodwillie

No. 16 was the original Barclay locomotive and differed visually somewhat in its detailing, the length of tanks and placing of fillers as well as inspection hole in the lower tank area. Allan Goodwillie

No.17 one of the two Wemyss Private Railway locomotives running with the fully lined out livery which looked very smart on these engines. Allan Goodwillie

No.18 was the only black liveried version, and this contrasts well with the other engines. Allan Goodwillie

The motorbikes are Clynos. Resin and etched brass from WD Models. David Brandreth

GWR Siphon from a D&S kit. David Brandreth

From the left, a Perseverance etched kit of a W3 small cattle wagon; a David Geen white metal kit of an X4 Mica meat van; a David Geen white metal kit of a DD5 gas tank wagon. David Brandreth

Connoisseur kit (4mm) of a Great Eastern G15 tram loco painted by Tim Shackleton. David Brandreth

Iron Ore Hopper as used on the Tyne Dock to Consett line from 1954 to 1974 built from the Dave Alexander kit, painted with acrylics and weathered with pastels. John Donnelly

RT Models 'Manchester Ship Canal' tipper wagons modified with solid buffer beams rather than dumb buffers. John Donnelly

Scratch built GWR armour plate and girder wagon with three bogies. Andrew Nummelin

This picture has its roots in Scalefour North in 2018, when the West of Scotland team exhibited Kettlewell. On the way home we travelled via Wharfedale to give my Scottish friends a chance to see the setting for Kettlewell. First stop was Ilkley to see the beautifully restored Midland-style joint railway station. Our late colleague David Stevenson, whose passion was railways in the urban landscape, spent some time figuring out just where the railway crossed what initially appears to be a seamless Brook Street streetscape. Next up was Embsay, where I spotted this weighbridge building tucked away in a corner. It became one of my lockdown projects! Last stop was Kettlewell for a walk around that part of the village where I imagine the station might have been, a model of which forms part of the layout. An excellent soup and sandwich lunch in the Racehorses followed and then over the tops to Hawes and back to Scotland. John Stocks