Indholdsfortegnelse for OCTOBER / NOVEMBER / DECEMBER - 123 i Voie Libre international

You were looking forward to it, here it comes! BD Concept's latest creation is a driving chassis with a 28mm wheelbase, and 7mm diam. wheels. This should enable modellers to power a wide range of 9mm gauge stock. Like earlier models, the centrally-located coreless motor drives two gears, via two worms. Total height is 12.65mm, and length is 42.6mm. BD CONCEPT AVAILABLE FROM THE LR MODÉLISME ONLINE STORE HTTPS://TRAINS.LRPRESSE.COM/ PRICE: €69.90…

The Preiser sets that represent scenes of daily life are truly delightful! You are a rural railway fan, you model an era ranging from the 1930s to the 1970s? If so, this scene will be perfectly plausible on your layout! It's all there, from a cart to a parasol, not forgetting the scales, the sacks of potatoes, and naturally, the two peasants selling their wares. As always, the painting and weathering are remarkable. The price is forgotten, quality remains*! PREISER 10742 €39.99…

THE MODEL ESU Mobile Control Pro Scale: universal Ref. 50115 Price: €339,90 Ref. 50116 Price: €319,00 Since 2015, ESU has offered users of its ECOS the possibility of adding to it a wireless hand-held controller. The Mobil Control II was based on a small Android tablet fitted with a large wheel controlling the speed and direction of the locomotives. Communication was via Wi-Fi through an adaptor connected to the ECOS. The connection protocol was entirely proprietary, meaning that only ESU products could communicate with one another. With the new version of its hand-held controller, ESU has opened up its system. The recently released Mobile Control Pro can now communicate with almost all central units, irrespective of the Wi-Fi protocol they use. A DIAL PHONE? The reference 50115 we received contains…

Part of the oval is decorated, from the fiddleyard exit to the inside of the boat. The smart bit consists in an Arduino card, connected to an infrared sensor, which controls the departure of a train from the fiddleyard, when the previous train leaves the scene by entering the boat. Naturally, the latter can be removed, giving access to a blocked or derailed train. Luc insists that it is always in the most awkward corners that trouble occurs. That is when it is helpful for the modeller's God-like hand to easily intervene. And as we are mentioning the Creator, let's ask Luc to show us around his layout. François Fontana: Hallo Luc, your layout is named “Noah's Ark”! Some explanation is needed… Luc de Martelaère: Listen, its fairly simple, I…

To save time, the construction of the various stretches of the line linking Le Blanc to Argentsur-Sauldre was entrusted to several public works companies. This explains the architectural variations on both the Sologne and Berry stretches. Even in our day and age, these variations help to identify the various lots allotted to the different companies. The low population density of the area served by the southern stretch of the line explains the variety in the types of buildings. This factor will give birth to Subtray halt, a level crossing that accommodated enough passengers to require a waiting room, but not enough to justify building even a small station building such as Lingé or Chaventon. THE BUILDING The level crossing is located at km post 299,435, in a curve between the…

On the right-hand side of the micro layout, there is a loading chute inspired by the prototype that used to stand at the sand wharf at Fromontville-Moncourt, and which disappeared in 1915. My model is smaller and the deck stands on masonry supports made out of Wills Kits polystyrene sheets. The chute is cut out of plastic sheet. Documentation relating to the line is in very short supply and does not show how the deck is arranged. One can just work out that there was a turntable allowing for Decauville wagons to be turned, of the P and 26G type with two tipper skips, and a wheelbase longer than 1.50m. THE DECK THE HAULAGE TRACTOR To haul the laden barges to the processing plant, a small haulage tractor is used.…

Alongside its Militaria range, the Model Kit Shop artisan firm has also released railway stock such as locomotive accessories and scenic items, but above all plenty of 60cm gauge static stock: a Decauville “Progrès” 0-6-0 tank locomotive, locotractors (Billard T 75D and T 50, Simplex, Jung) as well as wagons (WDLR, Péchot, Decauville), in 1/43.5 scale on 14mm gauge track. Sectional track is also available. All these items are 3D printed. For instance, the Decauville 0-6-0 consists of 36 parts printed in very fine photopolymer and is quickly assembled without unpleasant surprises. Denis Gomez, who runs Model Kit Shop, also produces his range in 1/35 scale, the Billard T 75D and the Decauville tipper skip are already available. Perfect for furnishing a depot or modelling a works site. On my…

This is a welcome product for replacing loop couplings, profi couplings, harpoon couplings, Kadee couplings… in summary, all those things that spoil our consists that are increasingly realistic. Régions & Compagnies has released a shank that fits into the standardized housing and features a double screw coupling (in coupled position, therefore) that simply fits into the top of the shanks. True, you will need tweezers to couple and uncouple, but this system brings buffers almost into contact, while the elongation boxes will allow stock to run through curves. The couplings are sold by sets of five with 10 standardized shanks, enough to outfit 5 wagons. All we are missing is a coupling on its supporting hook for the last wagon in the train, but it is very likely that such…

Well-known for its range of highly popular analogue controllers, Gaugemaster has just added a string to its bow by releasing cordless controls under the Infinity brand. A starter set consists of a hand-held controller and a base, connected via Bluetooth. The choice of this connection mode is justified by its very low consumption. The autonomy announced is at least two months with just two AA batteries! But the system's major attraction lies elsewhere. This controller is available in two versions: digital or analogue. The digital model looks like a standard central unit, the lever being very reminiscent of the Roco Multimaus by the cascade organization of its menus. It allows for the operation of 20 locomotives simultaneously, for 68 functions for each as well as for 100 accessories. The analogue…

It's a story of friendship, a story of passion, a story of tramways. But it's also a layout, with a view to talking about… history! This is a foursome, with two main actors and two others in the background, but very much involved all the same. The basic drive is steeped in a passion for local history, the determination to share this passion, followed by the discovery of railway modelling practice. Another element consists in meeting other like-minded people, in sharing ideas, and finally the hunch that the planned layout can be displayed and used as a starting point to discover an almost forgotten heritage. A green valley Imagine that a gigantic glacier, on an almost fully North-South line, eroded the mountains, limestone rock on one side, granite rock on…

LARGE SCALE PETER BINNIE SM32 Glyn Valley Tramway granite wagon 13,50 £ peterbinnie.com The kit consists of two sub-assemblies, the body and chassis parts in one package; the couplings and axles in a second one. All the parts are ABS, except the steel axles. The engraving is sharp and the assemblies well designed. A set of instructions in English shows how to proceed for a smooth job. As garden railway tracks are sometimes uneven, one of the axles can take an angle, thanks to a mock chassis that allows for a few degrees of swivelling in the longitudinal axis. On the other hand, the markings are not supplied, as is clearly spelt out on the website. ASSEMBLY Simply follow the instructions, which can also be downloaded from the peterbinnie.com website,…

In Issue 120 of Voie Libre, we had left the Central Store at Quittancourt free of any markings, whereas the prototype, set up in Lens in 1920, proudly displayed its trading name: shaded white and yellow lettering surmounted by a fleur-de-lys. My reproduction of this building deserved to have its scale sign. AND WHY NOT STENCILS? In the early XXth century, painted shop signs were created by signwriters, true craftsmen whose work was highly accurate. Obtaining such a neat result in a small scale is no easy task. I therefore sought out a way of making my own sign. And as this was an opportunity for testing a new technique, I opted for stencils. The principle of stencils is fairly simple. It consists in applying paint onto a support, through…

Restoring vintage tramways means understanding how they are assembled and mastering the techniques used to build them. Reproducing them in 1/22.5 scale with the same materials, on a one-off basis or in very small series, requires adequate means. Enthusiasts know how to laser-cut card and wood using domestic machines or by calling on a subcontractor, but dealing with metal is a whole new world. Milling, even if digitally controlled, cannot produce sharp inside right angles, and even less so acute angles. Chemical etching remains a good solution, but depending on the materials, it does not produce a neat cut and requires some finishing work. Laser cutting, with a 0.1mm wide line, is ideal for metals whose thickness ranges from 0.3 to 3mm, of the type used by modellers. I will…

The range of French 60cm gauge military railway stock produced by the Model Kit Shop artisan firm consists of many 3D printed models. I chose a Billard T 75D, motorized with a variable wheelbase Halling chassis. The motor housing is a tad too high and requires some milling into the floor of the T75 locotractor, a job made easier by the quality of the photopolymer used. The remainder of the assembly is carried out smoothly in accordance with the instructions. I painted my model green, because it joined my sugar mill fleet. Compared to the P'tits Kits T50 type, the large difference in the height of the cab is very obvious! MODEL KIT SHOP HTTP://MODELKIT.FR/FR/ BILLARD T 75D €89.99 HALLING CHASSIS: CA. €30…

Anew range is under production at l'Atelier du Tacot. Pascal Boivin has taken an interest in vintage agricultural machinery, from the days when hauling power was still shared between steam and animals. The first model is a portable engine from the Gargan workshops. The kit was drawn on the basis of an original diagram available online from the Gallica website. It consists of some 15 very sharply 3D printed parts. The quality of the photopolymer used is such that the chains of the drawbar were printed as one single part, while the links remain articulated… The model, in H0 scale, will be at home on a threshing scene or loaded onto a flat wagon. Other machines, such as a thresher, can be expected if the portable engine is successful. ATELIER…

Pascal Boivin's catalogue now features decals for the Pershing wagons from the Meridian Models range. The original graphic design was by Cyril Ducrocq for his Pershing wagons in 1/43.5 scale. Moving down to 1/76 scale has not affected the sharpness of the smaller markings. Each reference is sufficient for the markings of a single wagon, with a choice of four numbers. The marking diagrams were published in Richard Dunn's book: «Narrow gauge to no man's land» (Benchmark Publishing). For those keen on accuracy, these wagons were painted in a denser grey-blue than the French Artillery units. ATELIER DU TACOT HTTPS://ATELIERDUTACOT.FR PERSHING WAGON MARKINGS PRICE: €6.00 PLUS POSTAGE…

“What on earth are we to do with all this?”. This was a sentence that must have been heard often within the offices of the public body in charge of managing public property when the time came to finally dispose of the surplus 60cm gauge military stock. Just imagine! Hundreds of locomotives, thousands of wagons, not to mention portable track… The answer to this question was pretty obvious: sell to the highest bidder. The public body was familiar with such a procedure. First of all, however, some sorting out was required. WHERE HONOUR IS DUE… Unlilke the pre-1914 situation, 60cm gauge track was now in the hands of the Engineer Corps, with a permanent regiment established. Based in Toul, the 15th Engineers Regiment (ER) was, among other peacetime duties, in…

Idesigned, drew and printed a passenger halt in 1/22.5 scale, based on the drawings of Faubourg d'Orléans halt produced by Vincent Lepais (see VL nº 116). Because my LGB layout is only assembled during the Christmas period, the halt was named “Santa”. I decided to make the doors functional, the hinges are drilled out to 0.7mm and are articulated on black pins driven into to baseplate and the crossbeam. The glazing, made out of 1mm thick Rhodoïd, is glued inside the woodwork. Rules In your workshop, on your workbench, there are models and kits that you have designed, built, modified, decorated…These models deserve to be shown, deserve that you insist on a way of doing things, an individual touch. Send us a short text, a few high-definition and well-lit photographs,…

A NEW BLADE IS ESSENTIAL! An assembly of parallelograms, that's true, but parallelograms with broken angles all the same. The parts are cut out of 1mm thick plastic sheet, and the joints reinforced by gluing a square strip on the inside. This will also make it easier to curve the angles by sanding. On such a small model, with apertures that are very close to the angles, cutting out the windows will be the trickiest job. The front and side apertures are circled by a half-round seam, reproduced by gluing a flat strip inside the apertures and giving it a very gentle sanding to smooth the angles. Now, all this is theoretical, at least as I imagined it. Because, in fact, the model is tiny… How could I possibly have…

This is a large layout, visible on both its sides, and replicating a stretch of the vicinal tramway metre gauge line between Malines and Louvain, in the Flemish Brabant region. That area is served by such a railway, a topic that our gifted Spoor-0-Team modellers have already worked on several times. This group of 8 mates swear only by 1/43.5 scale, preferably on 22.5mm gauge track. Their sources of inspiration are mainly local, based on small bits of vernacular history that sometimes blend with the real thing, and generate a sensitive picture. The tramway is the focal point, but each segment of the layout says something about that part of the land. On one side, the “chicons” (chickory, for non-Northerners) growing area with its auction market. Did you know there…