How about 1:35?

I got to wondering about whether the stuff I'd built for the SLR could be converted to a 2 foot gauge line. I did some simple maths and worked out that the HO/OO track would make the scale about 1:35.. so I knocked up some replacement FIMO characters in roughly that scale to see how they look..As it happens, I think they work quite well. But, I'm probably more likely to go with the easier option of trying out 0-16.5 or 7mm Narrow Gauge stuff and leave the SLR in Gn15!

Lucy or Darren? - A New Loco

A new scratchbuilt diesel has joined the SLR shed.. 'Lucy'.. based on a modelpower chassis picked up for under aten pounds from ebay. I decided to do away with the body altogether this time and completely scratch the body from plasticard. After some correspondence with the very helpful Steve Bennett of Sidelines, and much perusing of pictures of prototypes.. I ended up taking aspects I liked from various little locos I'd seen and create something new. I need to finish off the paint job and add a couple of details but overall I'm quite pleased.

As well as plastic card, I've used aluminium sheet I found in an art shop for much of the body, to give it a dented and beaten shape, some body repair fine aluminium mesh from Halfords for the engine grill.. and part of an old gas boiler for the exhaust. I saw a picture of an old Diema on the internet with an exhaust mounted on the body like this and thought it would make it look a little different.

As ever, my son Fred chose the name.. one of his friends from playgroup ( I'm sure she'd be flattered!).. only to change it to 'Darren' after it got a repaint (Seen here with Eric, didn't get on with the blue at all).. new driver is in construction as per the Next Generation, and who knows.. Lucy/Darren may be named for a third time!

009.. a test loop and a railbus

I wish I could stick with one scale / prototype!! Ah well... following on from the enjoyment of building my 009 shoebox..I picked up a few more 'bargains' from ebay and swapmeets and had a bit of a play. First up.. a test loop to run my new trains.. This is a spare bit of chipboard about 20"x30" with an oval of Peco N setrack. As well as more conventional HOe rolling stock, I couldn't resist having a play and  I dug out a dapol OO railbus kit to attack with stanley knife. I mounted the creation on a Fleischmann N gauge diesel shunter and really liked the result. This photo shows the unfinished railbus. I like the space-saving qualities and I do like narrow gauge stuff but maybe my experience with Gn15 has meant that I prefer a bit of weight :-)

The Next Generation?

No.4 - Desmond

Definitely a hard working industrial type, this loco. Basically card and heavy aluminium foil over a Hornby 040 chassis from a loco of the same name. I'm not sure if there's a prototype for such a loco, with the cab being orientated in this way? Anyway, an excuse to sculpt a new driver!

Pizza base architecture

In July 2005 Railway Modeller magazine is an article by Roger Merry which instantly grabbed my attention.. Roger describes his method of making buildings using the polystyrene from food trays such as frozen pizza bases. The results looked great - we had a pizza for tea that night, and I made a start on a little hut in roughly 1:48 scale.. The window was out of the spares box with a balsa frame and I made the roof by pressing aluminium foil onto a former made of cocktail sticks.. an idea I got from this excellent site. I'm really pleased with the detail you can scribe quite easily onto this material..I shall definitely be eating more pizza! See 'Zebulon Rocks' for more of this building.

Monster HOe diesel

I had an N scale US outline diesel which ran very well but had a poor body.. I also had a Roco diesel shunter body and a need for more dependable motive power on my new modules... like Frankenstein with a Funkey in mind I set to with scalpel and glue.. here are in progress shots. Still needs finishing off and a decent paint job.

Uranus - A Gn15 'Planet' inspired loco.

Latest build to join the Gn15 stable.. using a Sidelines chassis as a basis and bits of plastic card and a few 1:24 auto model bits..

Like Uranus.. this isn't quite a planet y'see?