The early motive power woes of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Line are often waxed lyrical in literature on that railways history. It is true to say with running an all-year round service with heavy goods and huge numbers of passengers in the season ‘La’al Ratty’ was short of motive power with the guts to do […]

The Haywards Estate Railway sort of just happened, and was the result of a bit of dabbling in Gn15 scale. It all started with the wagon, an 00 underframe with a scratchbuilt superstructure. This was followed by a Sidelines conversion of a Bachmann Gas Mechanical. Of course, that needed an Engine Shed to store it […]

While working on my entry for the Vertical Boiler Challenge, I encountered a problem that I found a rather easy solution to.
wcg1/The fixture block and quartered axle

The photo above shows the solution. The problem that I had, was that I needed a way to quarter the axles, as the locomotive was to have rods and […]

OK, so what have stockings and tights have to do with model railways?
I have a couple of uses for them and you could probably find some more!
Any lady in your life will more than likely at some point wear stockings or tights and inevitably they get a ladder in them then throw them away. Ask […]

Ralph Brammer (”Rockley Bottom” on the GnATTERbox) has sent in some tips for anyone who wants to try their hand at casting models.

“I was making the rounds at the chalk mine”, writes Michael Mott, “when I found Bertrand making a few oohs and ouches behind the shed. Upon investigation I had found him stuggling with this - it seems that someone had left an old roll of barbed wire some time ago.”

Barbed wire. Wonderfully versatile stuff, but how does one model it in Gn15? Richard Andrews found the answer and I can share his secret with you!

This is a paper by M. DECAUVILLE, Aîne, of Petit-Bourg (Seine and Oise), France which was read before the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and published in Scientific American Supplement No. 446 (July 1884). It offers a fascinating insight from one of the pioneers of minimum gauge railways.
Narrow gauge railways have been known for a […]

As requested, a quick how to on my methods for using balsawood for fencing. I’m not going to get into the debate over whether balsa or bass wood is better, simply to say that I prefer balsa, as it is quick to work, economical and extremely versatile, others will have their own preferences. I work almost always with sheets of balsa, which come in 10cm by 100cm sheets here in the UK, it may vary elsewhere. I have tried to photograph each step of the process, so those on slow connections, my apologies, this may take a while to load. OK, here we go.

Ever need a filler to quickly fill a hole or gap, here is a real quick one. Very simple, just a mixture of superglue/ACC/CA and either talc or a powdered plaster filler.

I find the gel type of superglue is easier to use and gives a little more time to work with. Just mix the […]