This coming weekend, 10th / 11th October 2015, Fisherton Sarum will be at the Great Electric Train Show organised by the Hornby Magazine at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon 

Fisherton Sarum’s last outing at the excellent Worthing MRC annual exhibition two weeks ago proved that the relocation of the main control panel from the rear of the layout to the front left hand corner worked really well and it will be retained in this position for future shows. It certainly, as hoped, made interaction with the audience easier and more pleasant, whilst keeping things in the shed area moving.

T14 No. 30461 is turned on the turntable as Merchant Navy 21C14 heads East.

Unfortunately towards the very end of the weekend at Worthing the turntable operating mechanism failed, which upon further inspection was due to a fairly catastrophic failure of the plastic boss that connects to the operating shaft on the underside of the Peco deck itself. This has now been drilled out and replaced with a new turned steel boss and refitted. Limited time available has meant that it will have to be tested and the MERG indexing system reprogrammed for the first time tomorrow evening once set up at the GETS show, so fingers crossed it all works properly again!

1848 catches late evening sunlight as she rounds the curve leaving the station on Rob’s South Brent

Hopefully on Sunday a guest engine will be making an appearance on Fisherton Sarum, in the form of the Bachmann N Class No.1848 that I repainted and numbered into post war SR black livery for friend and fellow post war period modeller Robin Sweet (Gwrrob on RMweb) for use on his excellent, albeit GWR,  layout‘Brent’ based on South Brent in Devon. 1848 will in a way be coming home as she was in fact a Salisbury allocated locomotive during this period.

This is the third year that Hornby Magazine have organised this show which already has a reputation for being a quality show with a great line up of layouts and traders, with the added bonus of visitors also being able to also wonder around the Heritage Motor Centre (Banbury Road, Gaydon, Warwickshire, CV35 0BJ). The show is open to the public between 9.30am  and 5pm on the Saturday and 9.30am and 4pm on the Sunday.

Once again I will be kindly and ably supported by fellow members of the High Wycombe and District MRS to operate the layout over the weekend and on the Sunday there will be four generations of my family involved (if you count the model of my Grandfather as a Ganger on the layout) as my Dad and teenage Nephew will also be helping!
I hope some you are able to attend and I look forward to seeing you there.

I have now just about recovered from three enjoyable consecutive weekends exhibiting Fisherton Sarum twice and, in between, assisting fellow High Wycombe and District MRS member Alan Paley with is exquisite pre-grouping Loughborough Road layout.

Firstly I must extend my thanks once again to my family and members of the aforementioned High Wycombe and District MRS for assiting me with the exhibiting of Fisherton Sarum as without them it would not be possible to exhibit at all!

The first show was the excellent Worthing MRC exhibition which by all accounts was a great success for the Worthing MRC with visitor numbers up on previous years, which is always good to hear, and the fact that they had taken to step to utilise more space within the venue which afforded us plenty of room. As I reported last week it was the first time that we had operated the layout following the relocation of the main control panel from the rear of the layout to the front left hand corner and it certainly, as hoped, made interaction with the audience easier and more pleasant, whilst keeping things in the shed area moving.

The Bulleid Leader on shed once again attracted much interest

As I have said before each show tends to be memorable for one reason or another and this was no exception.  My model of  the Bulleid Leader as usual provoked much interest and discussion and one visitor in particular was notable in being only the second person I have ever spoken to that saw the  actual Leader in operation, as he worked at Brighton Works during its development and initial trials, a hugely interesting conversation indeed!
The failure of the turntable mechanical drive system towards the end of Sunday afternoon was the only negative aspect from the show.

Last weekends visit of Fisherton Sarum to the Great Electric Train Show organised by the Hornby Magazine was another great weekend and once again visitor numbers have steadily increased in the three years the show has been run. This is I am certain due to the number of quality exhibits and traders on show, if you have not managed to get along to this show I can very much recommend it.

A view from the newly relocated control panel during the busy show

Being located pretty near to the main entrance meant we were crowded around the layout within literally seconds of the show opening. In places throughout the venue the aisles were a little narrow and I was pleased that I had been able to set the layout back from its intended location to widen the aisle by a few feet. The crowds remained for most of the weekend with only a slight thinning of onlookers very late on in the afternoons.
The Friday evening set was a bit fraught due to finding out the turntable fix deployed after Worthing had not gone totally to plan and some glue seepage had occurred locking everything up. However after some hope and brute force being applied and careful reapplication of glue, followed by waiting overnight and reprogramming the indexing on the Saturday morning all appeared to work well for the rest of the weekend, phew!

N Class 1848 makes a guest appearance on shed.

The Sunday saw as promised a guest engine make an appearance, in the form of the Bachmann N Class No.1848 that I repainted and numbered into post war SR black livery for friend and fellow post war period modeller Robin Sweet (Gwrrob on RMweb) as can be seen from the picture she looked quite at home on shed,  No. 1848 having been a Salisbury allocated engine.

I did have a slight issue with one of the fiddle yard cassettes on the Sunday morning where the screws holding down the aluminum angle had come loose causing a few derailments on the exit to the fiddle, but once the cause was found it was duly fixed and more reliable operation continued for the rest of the day, I apologise if you were watching during this period of time (and also possibly to my operators at the time whom were initially getting the blame!). The use of cassettes in the fiddle yard is always a talking point at shows and will be the subject of a future post.

Three shows in three weekends whilst fun was a bit tiring and I might have to think hard about repeating such in the future. It is always a pleasure to meet and chat to readers of my little corner of the blogosphere at shows and I thank you for taking an interest and also your kind comments about this blog and Fiosherton Sarum itself.

The observant among you will notice that I currently have no confirmed future bookings for Fisherton Sarum, but have no fear I am in discussion with a number of show organisers for appearances of Fisherton Sarum in 2016 and beyond so watch this space!

I have posted before about the S15 class firstly in my Talking Stock #16, blog post titled, The S15 Goods Arthurs and covered the announcement made by Hornby in December last year that they were to produce the S15 in ready to run form during 2015. The first of the variants being produced have now arrived in the shops in the shape of R3328. For this post I have taken a look at this version of the model before I backdate her to suit my own 1946-49 modelling period.

R3328 S15 No. 30843 in BR early emblem livery. Note I have not fitted any of the accessory details pack yet as I will do this once I have backdated the model

A right hand rear 3/4 view of 30843

The all important ‘front face’ captures the look of the S15

An accessory bag is included that include the front foot steps, cylinder drain pipes, dummy screw link couplings, steam heating pipes, loco and tender brake rigging for the owner to fit, and supplied with the late crest version is an AWS protector plate to mount under the front buffer beam. Also included is a front tension lock coupling to be fitted if required (although mine arrived missing the rear tender tension lock coupling).

A front right 3/4 view. The blanking plate on the smokebox where the snifting valve was removed can be seen

A left hand rear 3/4 view space is included within the tender for speaker and an 8 pin DCC decoder

A view from the rear also showing the fine cab detail

Although I am not in the DCC camp there is space in the tender for both an 8 pin decoder and and also a cut out in the weight ready for a 28mm round sound speaker located over cut outs in the chassis for the sound to escape. It is however a bit of a shame that design is such that to access the two screws holding the tender body to the chassis require the bogies to be removed first (although these are not totally removable as the wired pickup connections are soldered).

The other two releases on the way this year are as follows:

R3327 in SR Maunsell lined olive green as number 824 paired with a Urie Bogie tender and smoke deflectors representing the condition she was in from September 1932 when renumbered without the ‘E’ prefix. Number 824 was one of the first batch of the Maunsell S15s built in March 1927 and an Exmouth Junction allocated locomotive during all her Southern Railway days. 824 remained in this livery until April 1940 when under wartime conditions she was repainted in unlined olive green with Bullied style lettering. She also has the additonal detail of the crosshead driven vacuum pump fitted correctly on the left hand side only and snifting valves on the smokebox.

R3329 in BR late emblem livery as 30830, with AWS fitted, paired to a Urie Bogie tender c/w auxiliary vacuum reservoirs. 30830 was a from the second batch of Maunsell S15s built in August 1927. 30830 ran in this livery, with a 72B Salisbury shed plate between May 1960, when AWS equipment was fitted, and December 1963 when she was transferred to Feltham.

It is good to see that Hornby have very much returned to form over the last 12 to 18 months or so with releases such as the Drummond 700 class and meeting the intended delivery schedule for the S15 as being a 2015 release. Long may it continue, mine will now go in the queue for backdating and renumbering, (thankfully the smokebox door is quite easily removed to assist with the removal of the BR number plate) and suitable weathering, so keep an eye on my Workbench Witterings pages for further details.

This months picture…

A quiet period on shed with Bulleid pacific 21C102 “Salisbury” being cleaned, a modified Hornby fitted with original style cab and short smoke deflectors. A Drummond 4-4-0 L11 “Large Hopper” No 405 is being coaled  She has been built from Lodden etched brass kit. An Adams 0-4-4T O2 No 213 also simmers on shed, while Bulleid Merchant Navy Pacific 35023 is turned.

Wear your poppy with pride today, pause respectfully for two minutes at 11 am this Remembrance Sunday morning, and again on Wednesday 11th, remembering those who have given their lives for the freedom that we all enjoy today and support the sterling work of the Royal British Legion.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Locomotive 333 was built originally by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway, designed by Billinton, as an L class 4-6-4 ‘Baltic’ tank. She was given the name Remembrance and became the companies War Memorial engine and carried a plaque with the inscription:

“In grateful remembrance of the 532 men of the L.B.& S.C.Rly. who gave their lives for their country, 1914-1919″

In 1934, under the auspices of Maunsell they were rebuilt as Class N15x (an appropriate Brighton-style suffix) 4-6-0s, and fitted with standard Urie LSWR tenders along with smoke deflectors. Now number 2333 ‘Remembrance’ retained its name, plaque and status within the Southern Railway.

Railway companies across the country and indeed the world lost many staff; not only those drafted into the military services, but also those lost whom continued their duties on the railways keeping the networks up and running, we should honour and remember them all.

And just to end this post – Remember me – A voice for the dead by Harry Riley

Remember me
Duty called and I went to war
Though I’d never fired a gun before
I paid the price for your new day
As all my dreams were blown away

Remember me
Once we, like you, would laugh and talk
And run and walk and do the things that you all do
But now we lie in rows so neat
Beneath the soil, beneath your feet

Remember me
In mud and gore and the blood of war
We fought and fell and move no more
Remember me, I am not dead
I’m just a voice within your head

Oxford Rail, the new brand of The 4mm scale road vehicle manufacturer Oxford Diecast, announced last November their intention to enter the UK 4mm 00 scale ready to run market, with initial an ex London & South Western Railway (LSWR) Adams 0415 class 4-4-2T Adams Radial Tank and a range of 1923 PO wagons (which perhaps would have been better being the 1907 version not currently already produced in RTR form). Within weeks of their announcement Hornby also announced that they were already producing such a model and theirs is currently due in January 2016.  Oxford Rail have this week released images and samples of the first version of the locomotive in their range reference number OR76AR001 as number 30583 in British Railways Late Crest livery and stated that they are due to be available from Monday 23/11 next week.

I have not yet seen a physical model in the flesh and fully accept that judging such a model from only the pictures released by Oxford Rail here along with the image below, that is courtesy of Tony Wright / BRM Magazine / Andy York / RMweb / (although their sample does appear to have a bent piston rod and one of the tool boxes is not sat square on the running plate), does not possibly give the full story, so this post is not a review just a few initial thoughts.

The Oxford Adams radial 30583 picture courtesy and copyright of Tony Wright / BRM Magazine

The first thing that struck me is that the front face of the model does not appear to be quite right, which might be due to what seems to me to be a lack of taper on the chimney, slightly high positioning of the smokebox number plate and the silver painted possibly slightly overscale appearance of the handrails, stanchions and also the smokebox dart (perhaps if they had been left unpainted they might have looked finer?).  But I would have to reserve final judgement once I have had a chance to see the actual model in the flesh. From a construction / tooling perspective there appears to be some prominent mould lines along both the boiler, chimney and also the cylinders and the dome does not appear to sit as flush to the boiler as perhaps it should. Also the motor assembly (including a flywheel),  that drives the rear axle,  is located forward within the smokebox end of the boiler resulting in the motor casing being visible under the boiler at the front which should really be daylight above the frames.
Other details such as cab backhead, pipework, underframe brake gear etc. look to be to the fine standard we have come to expect from recent Ready to Run models.

There were a number of detail difference between the last surviving three locomotives such as front frames, slide bars, Adams / Drummond boilers (with differing domes and safety vales) which were swapped betweenthe three locomotives over time, and rear radial wheel diameters etc. Oxford Rail have stated that they are tooling for all this differences and from my initial check the combination of the variations appears to be correct for 30583 in the livery being produced.

We shall have to wait and see how these models look and perform in the flesh and compare with the albeit slightly more expensive Hornby model in due course.  We will of course be able to pay our money and make our own choice.

As has been evident over the last 12 months Hornby have changed the way in which they are announcing new produces to market, moving away from a single announcement around Christmas time, and have already made headline announcements of some of the new models for 2016 during the year. These from a Southern Railway perspective had included Bullied Merchant Navy Pacifics in original air smoothed form (February 2015) and ex LSWR 58ft non corridor coaching stock (June 2015). Hornby have today (26/11) just prior to this weekends Warley National Model Railway exhibition announced here the full details of their entire 2016 which has included a number of previously unannounced items including a SR diagrams 1529 and 1530 cattle wagons from new tooling, the latter being the Bulleid version with all steel ends.  The aim of this post is to round up the announcements that are of a Southern Railway / Southern Region interest, although some details are still to be confirmed and I will update this post once further information becomes available. Also two new models will be further announced at 1.30pm direct from the Warley National Model Railway exhibition this Saturday.

[Updated: 27/11/15, with clarification of the cattle wagon releases]

Locomotives and train packs

• The S15 is being released as No.827 in SR Bulleid Post Black. Picture courtesy Hornby

  R4311 – SR 4-6-0 ‘827’ Maunsell S15 Class, Urie style tender – Post war Bulleid black

• R3412 – BR 4-6-0 ‘30842’ Maunsell S15 Class, flat sided tender – Early BR
• R3413 – BR 4-6-0 ‘30831’ Maunsell S15 Class, Urie style tender – Late BR
  (The S15 variants are due Feb 2016)
• R3419 – SR 0-6-0 ‘693’ 700 Class – Post 1931 SR Black (14′ WB tender)
• R3420 – BR 0-6-0 ‘30346’ 700 Class – Late BR (13′ WB tender)
• R3421 – BR 0-6-0 ‘30698’ 700 Class – Early BR (14′ WB tender)
  The 700 class variants are due April 2016)
• R3422- SR 4-4-2T ‘3125’ Adams Radial 0415 Class – SR Olive Green
• R3423 – BR 4-4-2T ‘30583’ Adams Radial 0415 Class – Late BR
  (The Adams 0415 variants are due Sept 2016)

• 21c1 ‘Channel Packet’ in as introduced 19414 condition. Picture courtesy Hornby

  R3434 – SR 4-6-2 ‘Channel Packet’ ’21C1′ Merchant Navy Class (Original Air Smoothed) in as introduced 1941 condition with widows peak (new tooling due due Sept 2016)

• R3435 – SR 4-6-2 ‘Royal Mail’ ’21C3′ Merchant Navy Class (Original Air Smoothed) in as introduced 1941 condition with widows peak (new tooling due Sept 2016)
• R3436 – BR 4-6-2 ‘Clan Line’ ‘35028’ Merchant Navy Class (Original Air Smoothed) – Early BR (new tooling due Sept 2016)
• R3445 – BR 4-6-2 ‘Camelford’ ‘34032’ West Country Class – BR Early – Air Smoothed
• R3456 – BR 4-6-0 ‘Sir Hervis de Revel’ N15 King Arthur Class – Early BR
• R3457 – SR 4-4-0 ‘116’ Class T9 – Post 1931 lined olive green
• R3458 – SR 4-4-0 ‘Shrewsbury’ Schools Class-  livery tbc
• R3468 – BR 4-6-2 ‘603 Squadron’ ‘34077’ Battle of Britain Class – Rebuilt – livery tbc
• R3467 – SE&CR liveried 0-6-0T ‘751’ A1X Terrier
• R3341A – BR 2-HAL ‘2623’ 2 Car Electric Multiple Unit Train Pack – BR Blue
• R3373 – BR Class 71 ‘E5001’ NRM – BR Green
• R3374 – BR Class 71 ‘71012’ – BR Blue
• R3376 – BR Class 71 ‘E5022’ BR Green
  (The class 71s are new tooling and due May 2016)

• The Series 3 Merchant navy Pacific as 35028 or 35023 with TTS sound. Picture courtesy Hornby

  R3382TTS- BR 4-6-2 ‘Holland-Afrika Line’ ‘35023’ Merchant Navy (Original Air Smoothed) – BR Early with TTS Sound (new tooling due Sept 2016)

• R3386TTS – BR 4-4-0 ‘King’s Canterbury’ ‘30933’ Schools Class – BR Late
• R3398 – Lyme Regis Branch Line Train Pack – Limited Edition, full details tbc,  (Due August 2016)
• R3400 – Golden Arrow Last Steam Run Train Pack – Limited Edition (should be locomotive 34100 ‘Appledore’ but technically the Pullman coaches should be the 1951 ‘square window’ type not yet produced RTR) (Due October 2016)

Coaches

• R4717 – SR 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Eight Compartment Brake Third Class Non-Corridor, SR Olive Green
• R4718 – S R 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Six Compartment Lavatory Composite Coach, SR Olive Green
• R4719 – SR 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Six Compartment Lavatory Third Class Coach, SR Olive Green
• R4720 – SR 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Nine Compartment Lavatory Third Class Coach, SR Olive Green
• R4745 BR ‘2-Set W’ Coach Pack, Maunsell BCK + SO (Diagrams 2401 & 2005) Set number tbc, although should be from sets 100, 102 to 110, (due July 2016)
• R4746 – BR 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Eight Compartment Brake Third Class Non-Corridor, BR Green
• R4747 – BR 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Six Compartment Lavatory Composite Coach, BR Green
• R4748 – BR 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Six Compartment Lavatory Third Class Coach, BR Green
• R4749 – BR 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Nine Compartment Lavatory Third Class Coach, BR Green
  (The 58′ Maunsell Rebuilt (Ex-LSWR 48’) Stock is from new tooling and due August 2016)
• R4734 – SR Maunsell Corridor First Class Coach – Lined Olive Green (window style tbc)
• R4735 – SR Maunsell Corridor Third Class Coach – Lined Olive Green (window style tbc)
• R4736 – SR Maunsell 6 Compartment Third Class Brake Coach – Lined Olive Green (window style tbc)
  (The re-liveried Maunsell Stock is July July 2016)
• R4534D – BR Pull Push Coach Pack – set number tbc (Due July 2016)
• R4699 – BR Mk1 Parcels Coach, BR Green
• R4711 – BR Mk1 Coach Corridor 2nd Class, BR Green
• R4712 – BR Mk1 Coach Corridor Composite, BR Green
• R4713 – BR Mk1 Coach Corridor Brake 2nd Class, BR Green

Wagons

• Hornby’s new diagram 1529 SR cattle wagon. Picture courtesy Hornby

  R6735 – SR Cattle Wagon – Bulleid SR diagram 1530

• R6735A – SR Cattle Wagon – Bulleid SR diagram 1530
• R6737 – BR ex SR Cattle Wagon – Maunsell SR Diagram 1529
• R6737A – BR ex SR Cattle Wagon – Maunsell SR Diagram 1529

  The later diagram 1530 cattle wagon, note the steel ends. Picture courtesy Hornby

  Note: now confirmed as both the diagram 1529 (Maunsell) and later diagram 1530 (Bulleid) wagons have been tooled, just a shame there is not one of each type listed against both SR and BR liveries.

(These cattle wagons are from new tooling and are due August 2016)

Also new tooling announced for a BR 20t Coke wagon.

As per the opening text I will update this post with some illustrations and updated information as it becomes available.

Last weekend saw the annual Warley National Model railway Exhibition at the NEC, this post rounds up some of the the news and items of interest from mainly a Southern / BR(s) perspective.  It is usual for many of the manufacturers to use the event to make announcements of new items or showcase updates to new products under development. This year was no exception although Hornby  of course announced their plans for 2016 last week but held over two items to be announced at the show.
Many thanks to those of you who read this blog for popping by the Topley Dale layout on the Hornby Magazine stand, where I was playing trains during the weekend, and saying hello it was good to see you.

Hornby

In addition to the announced plans for their 2016 range last week, which I have also recently updated, so check back again for the additional information. Hornby also announced two further models in the shape of NER / LNER Raven Q6 0-8-0 and Holden B12 4-6-0.

Hornby Adams Radial No. 30852 with Drummond boiler

The Hornby Class 71

3D prints of the two SR cattle wagons dias 1529 (front) & 1530 (rear)

Bachmann / Graham Farish

The Graham Farish PLV/PMV in N Gauge

Model Rail Magazine

The Model Rail EP of the USA tank (SR version)

Model Rail USA tanks a line up of the variations, see if you can spot the differences!

Dapol 

Dapol Class 73

Dapol SR Rail Post signals

The first livery sample of the Dapol N Gauge Schools class

AYJAY Models

AYJAY models whom have been producing a range of 4mm scale resin bodied and etch brass Southern / Southern Region EMU kits (with some also available Ready to Run) launched a 4mm version of the Class 508 EMU in both kit and Ready made versions and in ‘N’ Gauge a version of their 4Cor EMU kit at the show. Many thanks to Grahame Hedges for the heads up.

I think that just about covers it for now, if there is anything that I have missed and am advised of I will update this post accordingly.

This months picture…

Adams 0-6-0 0395 class number 3441 sits awaiting its next shed pilot turn. 3441 is built from a DJH kit. In the background N1 class 1822 is at the coaling stage. 1822 has been converted from a Bachmann N Class. Drummond 0-4-4T M7 No. 242 is one of the 6 painted in Malachite Green after the war but is one of those that were unlined, she is a repainted Hornby model.

This weekend I finished changing the identity of one of Hornby’s excellent S15 Class 4-6-0 models to represent 30847 one of the locomotives preserved by the Maunsell Locomotive Society. I carried out the work on behalf the Company Secretary of the Society and it was a pleasure to assist him in getting a model of 30847, that has been lovingly restored by members of the Society, and has seen frequent service on the Bluebell Railway.
Further details on the actual 847 / 30847 can be found on the Maunsell Locomotive Society’s website here, in addition to 847 they also have U class 2-60’s Nos. 1618 & 1638, Q class 0-6-0 No. 541 and Schools Class V 4-4-0 No. 928. If you are interested in joining and supporting the Society click here. 

Carrying her new identity as 30847 just prior to the cabsides gaining a coat of satin varnish.

The donor locomotive was a Hornby R3328 No. 30843,  although I have detailed my method of changing model identities on this site before and I generally followed my usual processes, I detail them again here for reference. In this instance I did not require to repaint the model and for a change I would be giving the locomotive a BR identity.

Another view of 30847, the replacement smokebox door number can just be seen.

I actually removed the entire number on each cabside rather than just try and change the last digit (as generally the available transfers never quite exactly match the factory applied numbers) using good quality enamel thinners on a cotton bud, this also leaves the are where the numerals have been removed as a shiny surface finish which is good for the application of the replacement transfers. I took care not remove the existing small 6F power classification printing. I then replaced the numbers starting with the centre digit ‘8’ and working outwards on both cabsides, as this I find it easier to keep the numerals level, using HMRS Pressfic transfers sheet 14 BR steam era loco and coach insignia.   To seal the number transfers and retrun the cabsides to an ex-factory finish I masked off the model just leaving the cabsides exposed and sprayed with a light coat of Railmatch satin varnish.
The smokebox door number plate was changed using transfers from the Fox Transfers FRH4099/003 – Southern Region Smokebox Numbersets 30726-31059 set which simply and neatly covers the existing printed number plate.
To complete the identity change I fitted one of the very fine (and small!) etched shed code plates for 72B (Salisbury) also from Fox Transfers. Finally I finished the model by adding its detail pack of brake rigging on both loco and tender, front steps and cylinder drain pipes, although it should be noted that the packing does require some trimming to allow the model to fit back in once these items have been fitted.

I hope the owner will be pleased with his S15, now 30847, and if readers are able to support the Maunsell Locomotive Society in anyway, I am sure you will be more than welcome.

With a break from real work planned over the Christmas period I hope to be able complete a number of outstanding projects so watch the space for further ‘Workbench Witterings’.

For this post I am indebted to friend and fellow Southern Railway modeller Tony Teague for providing the pictures and text about his models of these two unusual engines. The prototypes for these three interesting but diminutive tank locos were originally built by Messrs Hawthorn Leslie for the Colonel Stephens engineered Plymouth Devonport & South Western Junction Railway (PD&SWJR). The line ran between Lydford and Devonport and they also adopted the East Cornwall Mineral Railway between Kelly Bray and Calstock, which was later connected it to the main line at Bere Alston and eventually became the Callington branch. The PD&SWJR was later absorbed into the London & South Western Railway (LSWR) and subsequently the Southern Railway. Locomotive No.756, an 0-6-0T named ‘A S Harris’, was never renumbered by BR and lasted until withdrawal in 1951, spending many of its later years at Nine Elms and Stewarts Lane, whilst both 757 and 758 named ‘Earl of Mount Edgecumbe’ and ‘Lord St Leven’ respectively were 0-6-2T’s, received their BR numbers and ran until withdrawn in 1957 and 1956 respectively; spending many of their later years in the Plymouth area and finally at Eastleigh.

The two PD&SWJR locomotives Nos. 756 and 757 built from CSP kits

The two 4mm models now available from CSP Models www.cspmodels.com are part of the former Agenoria range and have been reduced from 7mm kits. The kits are complete, minus motors and gears, including nameplates although a separate motorising kit is available as an option which was used in the construction of the kits forming the subject of this review.

As Tony chooses not to build loco kits personally, both were built, painted and lined by an experienced professional builder, Chris Phillips http://www.crphillips-models.co.uk/. Chris has built numerous other kits for Tony and for many other customers and he comments that, as etched-bodied kits, he felt them to be very well designed and manufactured. Whilst the bodies went together remarkably well, especially when compared to some kits of this genre from other manufacturers,  the chassis did however cause some problems.

PD&SWJR 0-6-0T No. 756 A S Harris

In particular Chris found it necessary to rebuild No.756 with a centre axle drive, whereas the instructions suggest a rear axle drive. In addition there were problems with clearances, possibly caused through the reduction from 7mm to 4mm and then to 00 gauge. As a result it was necessary to fit spacers between the chassis and cylinders in order to give more clearance in this area. This in turn meant having to modify the motion brackets, to allow the slidebars to stay in parallel to the frames.

PD&SWJR 0-6-2T No. 757 ‘Earl of Mount Edgecumbe’

The instructions provided with the kits suggest filling the side tanks with lead sheet, which was done, but Chris also added weight to the front half of the boilers, using weights from curtain-weighting strips. Ultimately it seems that the bodies of the two kits were well designed but that the clearance issues with the chassis might render them difficult to construct by a less experienced builder.

Another view of the PD&SWJR locomotives Nos. 757 and 756

Tony’s layout is set in the period 1938 to 1948 and so the models are finished in SR Maunsell lined olive, and as the end user, I find that each of the two models are good looking locomotives which appear to be a pretty strong representation of the original; after running-in, each performs well and the additional weight means that if required, they should pull trains equal and probably greater than their prototype.

Once again thanks to Tony for his input into my blog, it is much appreciated to be able to bring wider subject material, also see his comments on the ’00’ Works Ready to Run ex LBSC I3 class here.

Merry Christmas to you all, fill up your life with love, compassion, tolerance, peace, happiness and perhaps hopefully some time for modelling.

OK so it’s Photoshop trickery…my Milholme model of 21C14 is in slightly unfamiliar surroundings, but Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

As the festive season and New Year break is upon us, I just wanted to say many thanks to all of you whom have taken the time to read my ramblings over the past 12 months. I hope you have found such ramblings interesting and informative. I have also enjoyed corresponding with many of you that have made contact me either directly at shows, email or via the comments field on my various posts. I look forward to corresponding with you again in the New Year.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the various manufacturers, publications and retailers whom have allowed me privileged access to some of their plans and developments and often taken on board feedback, suggestions and advice, with the sole aim of promoting and furthering modelling of the Southern Railway / Southern Region.

Seasons greetings, whatever your faith or beliefs, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

In previous years the model of the year poll was jointly run between RMweb, Model Rail Magazine and the online MREmag.com. This year Model Rail Magazine have decided to run their own awards and so the established process and poll will now be promoted on RMweb, through British Railways Modelling Magazine and on the online MREmag.com as the British Model Railway Awards.

As well as giving you the chance to vote for your favourite models and manufacturers of the year as before, the categories have been broadened to celebrate excellence and innovation in the wider British model railway scene. New awards cover retailers, websites, exhibitions and layouts, acknowledging the huge contributions they make to our hobby.

The voting is now open, running from Saturday 26th December to Saturday 9th January and the results will be published at the end of January to tie in with the magazine sale dates.

There have of course been a number of Southern / Southern Region related models released during 2015 so I urge you to support the production of these models by choosing your best in the relevant category and voting accordingly. These Southern models are as follows:

N Gauge:

• Graham Farish – Air Smoothed Merchant Navy Pacific 4-6-2
• Graham Farish –  N Class 2-6-0
• Graham Farish – Bogie Van B
• Dapol – SR Maunsell Coaches
• Dapol – Van C

00 Gauge

• Bachmann E4 class 0-6-2T
• Hornby 700 class 0-6-0
• Hornby S15 class 4-6-0
• Kernow Model Centre O2 class 0-4-4T
• 00 Works I3 class 4-4-2T
• Oxford Rail Adams Radial 0415 class 4-4-2T
• Dapol Class 73 Bo-Bo
• Bachmann PLV/PMV vans

0 Gauge

• Dapol A1x ‘Terrier’ 0-6-0T

I am also very humbled to see that this little corner of the blogosphere of mine has been nominated within the website of the year category, so and this is a bit of a, well a big, shameless plug, please feel free to vote for it, if you have enjoyed my ramblings over the last twelve months.

Regular readers will also know that I am member of the High Wycoombe and District Model Railway Society and our annual Wycrail exhibition is one of those that has been nominated in the Exhibition of the year category, so again if you attended it, enjoyed it and think it deserves your vote…

Please make sure you vote counts to support the Southern / Southern Region models that have been produced by voting here before the 9th January. 

Here endeth the shameless plug….

Happy New Year, the first picture of the month for 2016 is…

A Drummond T14 4-6-0 “Paddlebox” 461 a NuCast kit heads towards London with a Meldon Quarry Ballast train. The SR Diagram 1774 40T hoppers are modified Lima wagons on new bogies and other details added.

Danish manufacturer Heljan have made a new year announcement that they are to produce a Class 07 Diesel electric shunter in 00 gauge with a release anticipated in 2017.

Introduced in 1962 this class of 14 locomotives was designed specifically for use in the Southampton Docks complex, replacing the SR USA class of 0-6-0T steam locomotives (which are being produced as Model Rail magazine commission by Bachmann). The locomotives were a modified version of a standard Ruston and Hornsby design. They had a wheelbase of only 8′ 7½” and were powered by a Paxman 6RPHL Mk III six-cylinder diesel engine, rated at 275 hp at 1,360 rpm., compared with 11′ 6″ in for the larger 350hp English Electric powered 08 class, which made them ideally suited for use within the docks and its associated tightly curved trackwork.

Class 07 number 07012 in its later BR blue guise. Picture courtesy of Heljan

They were originally numbered D2985 – D2998 and became 07001 to 07014 under the TOPS numbering scheme. Initially, the locomotives were finished in dark green livery and carried British Railways badges of the type use on coaching stock. All were later painted in the standard BR blue.

With the decline of traffic within the docks the class was re-assigned to duties in the Eastleigh area before withdrawal, that commenced in 1973 with many finding work with a number of industrial companies, including 07009 that ended up in Italy. Six examples are preserved.

Two versions will be produced reflecting ‘as-built’ condition and later modified locos with waist height air brake connections.

Rumours of Heljan producing this model have been around for a while now so it is nice to have it finally confirmed. Heljan have made a bit of a niche for themselves producing some of the smaller and slightly obscure classes of locomotives and this is a welcome addition to the range.  Further details of liveries and numbers etc. will be announced as the project develops.

With Dapol having announced the ex LSWR Adams B4 0-4-0 tanks and the SR USA tanks already mentioned above, the Class 07 completes yet another era of Southampton Dock locomotives that will be available in 4mm scale.

As regular readers of my blog will I know I often assist a number of the model manufacturers and commissioners with support, advice and research in conjunction to models that they are in the process of developing. This post is a ‘comment piece’ and my own opinions on aspects of the process to producing a Ready-To-Run (RTR) model and I apologise in advanced for it ending up a little longer than I initially intended…

My own involvement varies from sometimes providing the initial idea, research and concepts, providing information from my own collection of drawings, documents and other reference material, checking drawings / CADs and perhaps checking livery samples etc. My involvement also varies depending on the manufacturer or commissioner involved as each has their own resources either full time employed, sub contract (sometimes off shore) or part time as they endeavour to run their own business.

I am not always at liberty or indeed willing to divulge or publish such intent, discussions, details and or CADs etc. as this is often of course commercially sensitive information; also with some manufacturers I have formal non-disclosure agreements in place.

This is not a full time occupation for me as I as I have a full time proper job and so is carried out in what little spare time I have. I should also make it clear that I do not get directly paid for my involvement, as my main interest is support the production of Southern Railway / Region related models (even in scales in which I have no direct interest), however my involvement does sometimes lead to a benefit in kind to which I am of course grateful.

Often I will speak to others whom I know and trust, that are experts in a particular field, or put them in direct contact with the manufacturer concerned, to obtain further information and advice. Others often assist with constructive comments and advice once a project in the public domain and on the whole this is welcome.
Sometimes however certain individuals decide to be: less than constructive, cryptic, verging on the rude and insulting; and often this has led to them being ignored or even blocked from communicating (including by a number of the manufacturers / commissioners), as their sometimes combative style does not encourage further dialogue (which is often a shame as their direct input could perhaps be useful if they were prepared to be involved on sensible and civil terms), although in some cases this does not stop them from trying to voice their often cryptic opinions elsewhere.

The overall process includes some or all of these steps, all within the constraints of scale, gauge and mass production techniques, of which I may or may not be involved in one or more:
Initial research » concepts / proposal for costings » additional research » collation of available information » laser scanning of any available prototype »
initial basic design of the model (such as chassis, PCBs etc.) »
production of full design and CADs – 3D printed samples (to check initial designs for fit etc.) »
tooling » Engineering Prototype(s) (EPs) – tooling changes / modifications / corrections »
2^nd or more EPs » testing » livery artwork » livery samples » packaging design »
production » and finally of course sale to the general public.
Manufacturers and commissioners must be expected at the end of the day make a return on the not insignificant investment. This hopefully will then encourage more such investment in the future.

Differences, sometimes mistakes, can occasionally creep into the process due to a number of reasons such as:
Changes and/or variations in the prototype from available drawings, mistakes in available drawings, alterations made during lifetime and also preservation (which needs to be noted when scanning is used), and/or variations within the same prototype(s) even with only a small number of original prototypes, and during different periods in their life. 
All of which have to be accounted for and sometimes compromises will have to be made to make producing a model costs effective. The collaborative approach hopefully limits the number of these items that go unnoticed or misinterpreted by any one individual.

This process can take anytime between 18 months or so to even four or more years depending on the particular manufacturer / commissioner concerned, the available resources (either in house or sub-contract, full or part time), the information available and/or due to unforeseen circumstances that can sometimes crop up along the way.

Whilst I agree that often the process does appear to take too long this is sometimes beyond the control of the manufacturer for a variety of reasons, some of which have been well documented over the last 5 years or so. In some case s however such intent to produce a certain model can be seen to be announced to early, although often a market force at the time dictates such a decision whether right or wrong. Such a stake in the ground, as we have seen in the last 12 months or so,  does not of course prevent possible duplication, especially where one party is already well down the development process detailed above. Any form of behind the scenes collusion between manufacturers would of course be illegal as being a restrictive practice under completion law. I would however prefer such announcements to be made in a timely manner when the initial work undertaken is at such a place to backed up with a realistic delivery intent.

I hope this comment piece gives an indication of the processes involved in getting a RTR model to market and long may we continue to see Southern related models being produced as accurately as possible. I certainly believe that it is a positive step taken by many of the manufacturers and commissioners over the last few to involve members of the wider modelling community. We cannot expect all those involved at such companies to be experts in everything, especially the larger manufactures that are producing a range of RTR models over a wide range genres and eras. I therefore maintain that the constructive involvement of any subject experts in the wider community should be a benefit to us all.

I realise that some of the content of this comment piece, and it just that, a comment piece and my own opinion and views, might not be welcome in some quarters but if the cap fits…

Following on from their release last year of the ex London South Western Railway (LSWR) Adams Radial 0415 class 4-4-2T and 7 plank 1923 Private Owner wagons (albeit with some spurious details and liveries) Oxford Rail have announced at the London Toy Fair three new liveries for the Adams Radial, and new models including a GWR Dean Goods 0-6-0 locomotive, 4 and 6 plank open wagons, an LNER cattle wagon and the development of BR Mk3 coaches (which might be seen as a surprise by some as they do not really fit in with the rest of the range). In addition two further liveries of their 7 plank wagon have also been announced for release this year.

Oxford Rail 3520 in Olive Green livery, as will be likely with the yet to be released 488 version the green livery highlights the lack of daylight under the boiler due to the motor/gearbox arrangement. 

The three new Adams Radial liveries are as follows:
OR76AR004 number 30582 in BR Late crest livery she gained in June 1960, with double slide bars Drummond boiler
OR76AR005 East Kent Railway number 5 (ex LSWR 0488) in green livery with single slide bars and Adams boiler as running on the line post WW1 and 1939 after which she was laid derelict until being purchased by the SR in 1946 (when she was overhauled, fitted with a Drummond boiler and entered service as 3488.
OR76AR006 number 3520 in the Southern Railway Lined Olive Green  livery with double slide bars and Drummond boiler as between January 1934 and January 1940. Note the version pictured is a pre-production sample and subject to change (perhaps the green is a little light?).

The GWR Dean Goods 2301 class 0-6-0 will be released as three versions, GWR Lined livery as number 2309, BR Early Emblem livery as 2409 and GWR plain green livery as 2475. Four version of the 4 plank wagon, based on a Scottish prototype, will be North British and three Private owner versions, Two versions of the 6 plank wagon will be produced in NE and BR(E) liveries.  The LNER Cattle wagon will be released in NE and BR(E) liveries.

Tooling for the Dean Goods is in development whilst the wagons are fully tooled for release during this year.

What was previously known as the ‘Model of the Year’ awards have this year been promoted on RMweb, through British Railways Modelling Magazine and on the online MREmag.com as the British Model Railway Awards. As part of the evolution the categories were broadened to celebrate excellence and innovation in the wider British model railway scene. New awards now also cover retailers, websites, exhibitions and layouts, acknowledging the huge contributions they make to our hobby.

The winners of the first British Model Railway Awards for 2015 have been announced today and can be read here.

Kernow Models K2105 number 225 as mainland pull push fitted sits awaiting coaling on Fisherton Sarum

Congratulations to all the winners; and in particular the Kernow Model Rail Centre  for winning the best 00 gauge steam locomotive for their  ex London and South Western Railway Adams O2 class 0-4-4T , Graham Farish for winning the N gauge steam locomotive of the year with their original Bulleid Merchant Navy 4-6-2 and also Dapol for winning the best 0 Gauge steam locomotive with their ex London Brighton and South Coast A1 / A1X Terrier 0-6-0T, therefore ensuring that the Southern Railway is well represented in the awards, which is always good news.

Also well done to the UK Model Shops website for justifiably winning the website of the year award, in which I was surprised and honoured for this humble web blog to have been nominated and came 4th, so many thanks to all who did take the time to vote.

This months picture…

Z Class number 957, built from a Millholme kit, pushes loaded coal wagons up the coal stage ramp, whilst S15 No. 846, built from a DJH kit, passes by on a local stopping passenger.