Today marked a minor but significant achievement for my collection – the last working model was DCC chipped. This does not mean that all of my models are chipped – there are various projects that will require DCC chips (not to mention working motors, chassis etc!) The last to be chipped was my Hornby A4 4468 Mallard.…
On one of my previous posts, I reviewed the Hornby T9 class, concluding that it looked fantastic but performance was poor. Well, to re-balance the review of that Hornby model I wanted to add one where Hornby managed to get almost everything right! The first King Arthur N15 prototype, was built way back in 1918…
Before I continue with todays locoyard developments, I’d just like to say thank you for all the positive comments I received from my last entry on the Watercress Line’s steam gala and of the pictures published on steam tube. They’re all very much appreciated! Today was a working from home day for me, which means…
What a fantastic weekend we have had, perfect weather for steam gala’s; perhaps in hindsight a bit too perfect leading to very dry conditions… Gala season has well and truly started, with the Watercress Line, West Somerset Railway and Severn Valley Railway all holding their Spring gala’s on 23-25th March. It might have been for…
Todays post is a piece my favourite model (in terms of looks) in my collection. Making a decent model of such an elegant prototype was always going to equal a nice model, but the lengths that Hornby went to, to made this look absolutely fantastic are incredible. It’s difficult to know where to start in…
I’ve spent a frustrating 30 minutes trying to get a decent panned shot of a model train going around the yard. My aim was to get an “action” shot for a change from my usual (attempt) of getting a pin-sharp result. The locomotive, M7 tank 42 (shown more clearly below) was my subject, pulling a…
Just a quick post to say congratulations to Kernow Model Rail Centre and Dapol in winning the coveted 00 scale Model of the Year Award for their Beattie Well-Tank. The award is thoroughly deserved and goes to show that even quirky and less-mainstream prototypes can be made into excellent models these days.
By now I’m sure that most of the readers of this blog are well aware of Bachmann’s 2012/13 new models. The announcements can be found on Bachmann’s website. Graham Muz has detailed the southern items expertly. Looking at the forthcoming Hornby/Bachmann/Dapol (Kernow Model Centre) there are some items of interest for the 00 scale Southern…
Good Evening, Locoyard followers! As mentioned before in a previous post; my Hornby Railroad 9F class Evening Star has been the subject of an ongoing detailing project. Highlighting the copper pipes was done before, as was adding the lamp brackets, smokebox door and the replacement of the recessed glazing. However, I was not happy with…
As mentioned in my post yesterday, I visited the Watercress Line (or Mid-Hants Railway) on Saturday. It is the closest preserved line from where I live and I visit when I can. Although not the longest preserved line (7 miles long), it is a pleasant railway journey. The towns at either end of the line…
Loco Yard 