Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2025 i British Railway Modelling (BRM)

“I chose to build my first exhibition layout and include some items from my dad's former layout as a lasting memory.” I have been a modeller for many years, with interests in all aspects of railways, spending a I lot of time going out photographing the real thing and visiting numerous exhibitions. The layout came about after the loss of my father, John Warden, who had always had a passion for railways and had stimulated my interest in the hobby, as a child, after building multiple OO layouts together and enjoying spending countless hours running them over many years. At the point when I had to break down our last layout, it felt like a part of my life was about to disappear until a colleague suggested building a layout…

“I model the period I remember from my spotting/ photography days around 1990, when things on the railway were more interesting and colourful…” I started my spotting days around 1980 and, after losing interest for a while, it was rekindled when I bought a decent camera and started recording the railway of the time. Network SouthEast had been created in 1986, followed by all the subsectors, and the railway became more interesting and colourful with my modelling following suit. Both ‘Tidworth’ and my home layout are set ‘circa 1990’, the time I remember best. My photo library, plus the many books, layouts and other reference material that is out there, all helped with getting it to look ‘right’. The creation of RMweb is responsible for my building an exhibition layout…

YOU MIGHT be able to justify not weathering your locomotives as they were kept clean in many instances, but not your freight stock, as they never got cleaned and were always filthy. The good news is that, because of this, it is difficult to over-weather the latter. This makes them ideal subjects for the novice, but it also means you can relax a little bit, knowing that you have more leeway. Having said that, I would argue caution for the smaller scales, N and below, where the weathering needs to be more restrained because colour needs to be adjusted for the smaller size. I would recommend using slightly more muted colours and to leave out some of the finer weathering detail. So, fade/mute the paintwork more than usual and simplify…

This article will concentrate on the racing section from York to Darlington and vice-versa in the post-Deltic era on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). As mentioned in previous articles in TRACTION, this arena has always offered plenty of potential for good performance, and diesel loco performance over this route gradually got better as time passed on. For one thing, scheduling became more exacting as steam was phased out and subsequent infrastructure improvements on the ECML saw the line limit rise from 90mph in 1958 to 125mph two decades later. This latter limit only applied to the HSTs, of course, with speeds staying at the 95/90 for the Type 4 fleet. North of York, loco-haulage persisted long after it had disappeared south of this point, with a solitary Virgin 47…

I think it might be best to deal with the name of the layout from the outset, otherwise, you might not think this article is for you! ‘Shagbats’ is named after the aircraft that forms the centrepiece of the layout, essentially a diorama with trains moving into and off scene. The aircraft is a Supermarine Walrus amphibian used by the RAF for air-sea rescue operations during WW2. However, the Walrus actually entered service with the Royal Navy during the 1930s, equipping the cruiser and battleship fleet with a catapult-launched ‘eye in the sky’. They affectionately nicknamed it the ‘Shagbat’, referencing its somewhat ungainly and inelegant appearance (sometimes also the Steam Pigeon or Primus, due to the flames from the engine exhaust, particularly on take-off!). Unusually, this layout is set on…

Some time ago in BRM, I wrote some prototype notes describing photographs supplied by Rail-Online illustrating the LNER B1 Class, the LNER equivalent of the LMS Black Five. Thus, here follows some photographs with my captions describing that most-ubiquitous of LMS/ex-LMS/BR mixed traffic locos, the Black Five; ubiquitous, and probably the most-useful of all the mixed traffic types of steam locos across the whole country, especially as the final total built was 842! The Black Fives could handle almost any job, from express work to humble pick-ups, and their wide route availability meant they could be seen throughout the length and breadth of the country. Regarding express work, in some parts, they had the jobs exclusively – the Manchester-Llandudno turns and the Highland main line north of Perth spring to…

Lionheart Trains has released details of its forthcoming LMS Ivatt 2-6-2T in O gauge, which is available to pre-order now. The new model is planned to be available in eight different guises, plus unnumbered models will also be available. These will be made to order, so it is important that if you want an unnumbered version, you have your preferred Lionheart Trains stockist pre-order this for you prior to the deadline. The design team is currently reviewing the engineering prototype and Lionheart Trains anticipates these models to be in shops in by the end of the year, priced at £621.00 DCC-Ready, £656.00 DCC-Fitted and £739.00 DCC Sound.…

Following our full review of Rapido's Jones Goods in BRM February, we have also had a chance to cast our eyes upon the Locomotion Models and Rails of Sheffield exclusive edition for its Railway Icons range. 109 in Highland Railway Drummond II Green is a simplified livery, which was worn from 1916 to the grouping of 1923. This livery also marks the war service of these locomotives hauling heavy trains between Perth and Inverness and beyond, supplying the Royal Navy fleet at Scapa Flow during WW1 - the Jellicoe Specials. Exclusively available from Locomotion Models and Rails of Sheffield and priced at £219.95 DCC-Ready and £319.95 DCC Sound, the new OO model features some excellent detailing and decoration as well as sprung buffers, NEM coupler pockets and a firebox flicker.…

PECO HAS released a series of laser-cut plywood kits of various buildings, including a collection of 1960s-style semi-detached houses. Three kits are available: one for a complete pair of houses; and two low-relief kits for the front or back halves of the complete houses. My mum and dad's first house was like this, and I lived there until the age of two – not that I remember much about it. In this article, I will show how to assemble, paint, and add details to the kits, setting them in a small diorama of a typical 1960s estate. The Peco 1960s semi kits are simple and fun to build and, with pre-painting of the parts, can turn out to be an attractive addition to a model railway scene. The kits are…

SOME THINGS seem to have been around forever and are often synonymous with your first attempt to add more realism to your model railway by building your own, rather than relying on out-of-the-box accessories. Ratio signal kits fall into this category, but they are not the easiest of kits to start with. This can often lead to initial failures and disappointment. Hopefully, the next few pages will help in avoiding the more obvious pitfalls. 1 Ratio produces a wide range of semaphore signal kits. Pack No.466 – GWR Square Post Signals - is representative of what you get and comes with enough parts (as well as some you don't need) to make a range of configurations, plus ground signals. The first and one of the most difficult tasks is to…

The Drewry Car Co. first began building vehicles at Herne Hill in 1906, before production was then moved to Small Heath, Birmingham. Thereafter, Drewry became a sales organisation, with its railway locomotives being built under contract by other manufacturers, including Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Ltd. and the Vulcan Foundry Ltd. Drewry locomotives proved very popular being sold to numerous industrial customers, while British Railways purchased some 142 of their 204bhp 0-6-0 diesel mechanical (DM) design, many of which would later also find their way into industrial service. E.E. Baguley Ltd. of Burton-on-Trent also received several locomotive building contracts from Drewry, and in 1964 they purchased a controlling interest in the company, which was followed in 1967 by the formation of Baguley-Drewry Ltd. to continue the production of industrial locomotives and…

The backscene comprises two warehouse/factory laser-cut Scratch Aid Kits from Fair Price Models. These low-relief buildings are excellent value and I have converted them into two headquarters buildings, one for the 277 Sqn RAF and the other for the Senior Naval Officer, Shoreham. Both are furnished with wartime fittings and are lit when dusk descends on the scene. A lone Spitfire V performs a victory roll (1:144 scale for perspective). This, another 277 Sqn aircraft, had defended the rescuing Walrus aircraft from the unwelcome attention of the Luftwaffe.…

BOOK YOUR TICKETS TODAY! For more information and to book your ticket, visit: www.londonmodelrail.co.uk We'll see you there! Key information… Book online at: www.londonmodelrail.co.uk Dates: March 15-16th, 2025 Opening times: Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4:30pm Venue: Alexandra Palace, London, N22 7AY Book online & save! Adult: £16.00 (£17 on the door) Child (5-16): £8.00 Family (2 adults, 3 children): £40.00 Under 5: FREE Car parking: FREE Plus, advance ticket holders can get into the show 30 minutes early!…

The biggest news to come from the announcements is the arrival of the Saint Class, which interestingly topped the GWR section of the RMweb Wishlist poll this year, so it's going to be a welcome addition to the range. 77 locomotives were built between 1902 and 1913, most lasted into the 1950s, but were then all scrapped, although the Great Western Society has a project to rebuild a Hall to a Saint. Lady of Legend and Lord Palmer will be produced in GWR livery and will be available at the start of 2026, priced at £234.99. Other new steam locomotives • Dublo LNER Class A4 Dominion of New Zealand 4492 - £349.99 – out in March 2025 • BR Stanier 5MT Black 5 44748 (Late Caprotti) - £249.99 – out…

The final production samples of the Rails of Sheffield exclusive range of OO Gauge Class 88 bi-mode locomotives from Dapol have arrived. Four variations of this modern-era dual-mode locomotive are to be produced in a selection of Direct Rail Services guises - replicating the standard ‘compass’ livery as well as the one-off ‘Refrigerated Rail…’ wrap scheme used on 88010 Aurora. There are the usual high-specification features you would expect from a new locomotive - these will feature various advanced digital, sound and lighting options as well as DCC servo operable pantograph. The locomotives have now passed their testing phase and will be completed at the factory soon, expected to arrive between Q1 and Q2 2025. Priced at £199.95 DCC-Ready, £249.95 DCC-Fitted and £329.95 DCC Sound, pre-ordering is open with only…

EDITOR'S COMMENT For most, the start of a new year means looking ahead, but much of railway modelling is all about looking into the past, recreating a moment or memory and researching past lines in plans of recreating a part of history. And our three layouts this month are perfect examples of this, starting with our cover layout, ‘St John's’, which was built as a tribute to the builder's late father, remembering happy childhood holidays with the family in South Devon. It's a wonderful layout, which features some fantastic scenic modelling, plus is operated in two eras to entertain the viewing public at exhibitions. Our second layout, ‘Tidworth’, is inspired by trainspotting days and the colourful Network SouthEast of the ‘90s. There's plenty going on, with passenger trains, MoD sidings…

TOOL of the MONTH F clamps It's a simple truism that no modelmaker can have too many clamps, and some of the most useful are these ratchet devices. The ones in the photo helping me with a Gauge One coach are around 20cm long, but they can be bought in all sorts of sizes. Squeeze the grip to tighten, and push the button to slacken the clamp off again. Most tool-sellers stock them, but occasionally packs have been known to turn up in the middle aisle of a famous supermarket. Ask Phil Help! The screw-top lids on my paints have stuck! No matter how well I clean the screw threads on glass jars containing certain brands of paint, the lids still seem to stick. Holding them under the hot tap…

IF THERE'S one area that hasn't been overtaken by ready-to-use models, it's scenery. Yes, you can buy entire plastic layouts from the Continent, but they are posh train sets, and you still need to do quite a bit of modelling. No, the lumpy bits of greenery around our tracks still need the modeller to get their hands dirty – literally, in this case. While our NG7 layout is small, we still need to add some landscaping along the back edge to give the model character. All the techniques used are applicable to all the modelling scales, so once you have mastered them, and this is very much art, not science - if it looks right, it is right, then you will be all set for any project you take on…

On Monday June 8th, 1992, three of us had a three-day trip from the south coast to the South Humberside area. All the movements that I recorded are listed on the attached charts; the information on the trains was given to me by a friendly signalman. Barnetby was our first call as we knew it would be a busy freight location, and it certainly lived up to its reputation. During the morning, there were regular iron ore and MGR coal trains, carrying imported iron ore and coal from Immingham to Scunthorpe Steelworks and their respective returning empties. There appeared to be two sets of iron ore workings, one set was headed by 60049 and the other by a pair of Class 37/5s; these were 37504 with 37517. MGR trains were…

Get in touch Don't forget, if you have an idea for an article, why not get in touch by emailing the Editor at steverabone@hotmail.com and you could feature in TRACTION.…

Visit over 60 trader & society stands! • 73082 Camelot Locomotive Society • Absolute Aspects • Accurascale Ltd • Airframed Glass Display Cases • Anoraks Anonymous • Aspire Gifts & Models • B H Enterprises/Buzz Models • Bachmann Europe • Battle of Britain Locomotive Society • Battlefield Line • Bill Hudson Transport Books • Book Law/Santona Publications • Bratchell Models • British Railway Modelling • Brushes 4 Models • Buggleskelly Station • Cavalex Models • Cheltenham Model Centre • Chris Crafts & Model Railway • Class 47 Preservation Project • Connoisseur Wrenn • Culcheth Model Railways • Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society • Deluxe Materials • Digitrains • DMG Technical Limited • Doon Valley Models • Elaines Trains • Ellis Clark Trains • ESU • EXGLO UK • Footplate/Flangeway • Gaugemaster Controls…

Semi-detached Victorian Houses - coming soon in N gauge Following hot on the heels of the OO range, which was released last year, Peco's Victorian Semi-detached houses are soon to be on sale in N gauge. Available as either low-relief fronts, low-relief backs, or the full complete house, these laser-cut kits come with front and side pavements, depending on the kit. A semi-detached brick house typical of the Victorian period in Britain, and still very much around today, these new kits will be a welcomed addition for N gauge modellers and can easily be combined to create terrace houses for a town scene. The texture of the laser-cut surface replicates the brick courses and slate and the finished kit requires a footprint of 87mm x 87mm. Prices are yet to…

Following on from the success of the OO Gauge model, Sonic Models has revealed a newly-tooled N gauge version of the LNER Robinson Class A5 4-6-2T, with images of early engineering samples. This new A5 features a comprehensive specification list, including a firebox flicker glow, tooling variations for different domes, whistles, smokeboxes, coal bunkers, cab sides/ windows and sandbox wrappers, driving wheel pick-ups and rear pony truck pick-ups and NEM Standard N gauge couplings. Available to pre-order now priced at £139.95, eight variations will be launched with release currently slated for December 2025. Livery options include Great Central Railway green, LNER green, LNER black and BR black.…

May 8th, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day and the end of hostilities in Europe. To commemorate this occasion and to continue helping support the Royal British Legion, Dapol has announced a commemorative VE Day range of wagons. Each of the three military services will be represented with their own wagon in each of the three scales in which Dapol makes models – N, OO and O gauge and will be available in both weathered and pristine condition. A donation will be made by Dapol to the Royal British Legion for each model sold. Decorated samples and artworks have been prepared and are currently under review and the factory has these models scheduled to be in shops at the end of April, in time for the 80th anniversary…