The Railway Magazine Guide to Modelling - Issue 11 - November 2017

GUIDE TO

Modelling NOVEMBER 2017, FREE

DCC: MODELS OF CHRISTMAS PAST

P18

TWO SCOTTISH 'BLACK FIVES'

P22

PART TWO OF OUR WEATHERING SPECIAL P14

HORNBY JUNIOR REVIEW

P16

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November 2017

EDITORIAL | 3

November 2017

From the editor

GUIDE TO

Modelling

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Staff

Editor Sarah Palmer RMModellingeditor@mortons.co.uk Contributors Tony Stratford, Lucian Doyle, Nigel Burkin, Ian Lamb, Graeme Simmonds Production editor Pauline Hawkins Designer Tracey Barton Picture desk Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield Advertising manager Sue Keily Publisher Tim Hartley Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole Subscription manager Paul Deacon Circulation manager Steve O'Hara Marketing manager Charlotte Park

To advertise, contact: Lynsey Young 01507 529454 lyoung@mortons.co.uk Fiona Leak 01507 529573 fleak@mortons.co.uk

Where to find us

Editorial, advertising and administration Mortons Media Group Ltd, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR Tel 01507 529529

Copyright

© Copyright Mortons Media Group Ltd. Reproduction in any manner, in whole or part, without prior approval in writing is prohibited. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in articles or advertisements, or for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations.

Printing

Mortons Print, Horncastle, Lincs.

Tel 01507 523456

Next edition

Find stockists online at

www.railwaymagazinemodelling.co.uk.

December's RMM is out on November 24, 2017.

Sarah Palmer Editor

ell, it’s November again. Season of bangers, fireworks, dark nights and, of course, Warley exhibition. It doesn’t seem like a year since we tentatively launched RMM and were giving away our first copies to visitors at last year’s show. I was nervous. Would the new publication be well received? Would we be able to offer readers something that they didn’t already have? Twelve months on and I can say that the answer to both of those questions has been a resounding ‘yes’. Every month I still receive letters and emails from people saying that they’ve only just found a copy of RMM and write in to say how much they like it. So this year, I’m looking forward to returning to Warley on November 25-26, a year on, after having seen some incredible layouts in 2017 and learned so much about the history of the hobby.

One thing that people always talk about when I go to visit layouts is whether they use DC or DCC? It’s a modelling hot potato and something that Lucian Doyle talked about in his Letting Off Steam column in October’s issue. We’ve got great letters from readers who have written in staunch defence of the reasons they use DC on page 32. On the other side of the fence in Ask A Daft Question on page 28 Nigel Burkin goes back to basics on DCC for those who are thinking of dipping their

Often the beginning of a love affair with rail... the Hornby Junior Express Train Set. Will you be buying one for a young relative this Christmas?

toes in the water. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on the DC/DCC debate.

In this month’s Past and Present on page 22, we have a really interesting piece from Ian Lamb – to tie up with Hornby releasing 45025 as a model in its Railroad series, and the Strathspey Railway putting the final stages to the real engine’s rebuilding at Aviemore as LMS 5025, Ian talks to the engine’s former driver. We also have the second part of Graeme Simmonds’ feature on airbrushing with him giving advice on weathering on page 14.

We’ve also got Layouts We Love, diary dates and Nigel Burkin’s selection of reviews as well as Tony Stratford’s Blasts from the Past looking at Mainline Railways. See you at Warley!

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November 2017

News

Have you got a story for us? Email: RMModellingeditor@mortons.co.uk

Warley celebrates 50 shows N ovember is the month for Warley show, this year marking 25 years at the NEC and the organiser, Warley Model Railway Club, celebrating its 50th show.

There will be more than 90 model railway layouts as well as trade stands and demonstrations of techniques used in the hobby by experts in their field.

Other things to look forward to include a representation of all the popular scale and gauge combinations, as well as 18 layouts of overseas prototypes including eight layouts from Europe.

For those modellers short on space a number of layouts will be grouped to form a micro-layout display of inspirational layouts in small spaces.

Prototype inspiration this year celebrates 50 years of Warley shows with GWR No. 1450 visiting from the Severn Valley Railway. Narrow gauge will be represented by John Sutton’s newbuild Decauville locomotive. Statfold Engineering Limited is exhibiting this

year and will be showing its 2ft gauge colonial sugar plantation loco Fiji.

For younger enthusiasts, Junior Modellers’ corner will include a number of layouts built with younger modellers in mind, including the Warley MRC ‘Awdry St Nicolas’ children’s layout, ‘Watney and Worsted’, the Warley MRC juniors’ layout, together with ‘Bill and Ben’ from Rodney Hodge.

In terms of trade, Warley is the largest model railway trade gathering in the UK. A ‘1967’ shop complete with examples of model railway items on sale in that era will be complemented by wide-ranging demonstrations of skills and techniques available to the railway modeller today. As well as ‘shows you how’ there are also ‘handson’ modelling demonstrations and an opportunity to explore new techniques and processes.

A multi-gauge test track will again be available for use by visitors to try out their new acquisitions and kit-built

Purchases may be made from the Ticket Factory at the NEC on telephone number 0844 5810737, or www. theticketfactory.com.

For those living in the Midlands area, the Ian Allan Bookshop in Birmingham is selling advance tickets.

Those who have visited the show before will know that Saturday is a very busy day. If you want to visit the show without such large crowds, it is

New releases from Oxford Rail

Mallard gifts for steam fans The NRM has launched a new collection of Mallard items to celebrate the world speed record holder for steam locomotives. Items include hats, gloves, tablecloths, mugs, pint glasses, bottle openers and Great Gathering prints. Visit https://www. nrmshop.co.uk/mallard Also at the NRM the Future Engineers workshops will run from October 21 to November 5 with a theme of Conquering Forces and hands-on activities for families to enjoy over half term.

locomotives and stock.

Advance ticket holders will be allowed entry to the exhibition from 9.15am on both the Saturday and Sunday. Advance adult tickets for one day are £14.50 each, a two-day ticket is £26. One-day admission for each child is £8, with two-day admission at £13.

An advance family ticket (two adults and three children) for one day is £43.

The admission price on the door on the day is £16 for a one-day adult ticket and £29 for a two-day admission. Oneday child tickets are £9.50 each with two-day child admission costing £16.

A family ticket (two adults and three children) is £50.50.

Advance tickets can be purchased by enclosing your remittance (payable to Warley MRC Exhibitions Limited) with a stamped, self-addressed DL envelope, to arrive no later than November 11, to: Warley National Model Railway Exhibition Advance Ticket Sales, 86 Gospel End Road, Sedgley, Dudley, West Midlands. DY3 3YU.

recommended to attend on Sunday as the exhibition is more comfortable on that day.

Updated details of the exhibition are available through www.thewarleyshow. co.uk.

The exhibition is open to the public on Saturday, November 25 from 9.45am to 6pm and on Sunday, November 26 from 9.45am to 5pm. Advance ticket holders will be allowed entry from 9.15am.

One Model Railway Club closes its doors After One Model Railway Club held its 10th anniversary show at Needham Market in September it has sadly wound up, after ending on a successful note.

Fancy being a signalman?

The Great Central Railway is offering free training to would-be volunteer signalmen over a seven-month course next year. Anyone interested is invited to email Adrian Harston at adrianharston@blueyonder.co.uk

Brunel museum opens in March

EKR 4-4-2T Class 0415 Adams Radial No. 5 (weathered).

Oxford Rail’s selection continues to develop with new variants on its Adams Radial and Dean Goods locomotives.

During the First and Second World Wars numerous Dean Goods locomotives were seconded by the War Office and placed into war service.

Dean Goods No. 2533 was one such locomotive and had at the start of the Second World War been requisitioned by the War Department and shipped over to

France. The Oxford Rail model is representative of WD 101 as it was first outshopped for service in France and will be available early next year.

The first model that Oxford Rail produced more than three years ago was the private owner sevenplank wagon and in that time there has been a steady demand for additional liveries to be applied on this very popular wagon. Not to disappoint, a further six liveries will become available early in 2018.

Among the new names to

appear on the sides of the sevenplank wagon will be NCB, both in a pristine finish as well as weathered. The other new wagons will carry the liveries of Napsbury Hospital, Horlicks and Bass.

There will also be two additional weathered wagons that are currently only available with a pristine finish. These wagons, Wigan Coal & Iron Co and Fulton Coal, will see their weathering applied in Wales and each pack will carry a ‘Weathered in Wales’ label.

Brassmasters' three-link couplings BRASSMASTERS has introduced a range of 4mm-scale three-link and screw couplings. The three-link sets are available with either blackened soft or blackened copper links with etched brass hooks and pockets, and cost £8 for six pairs. The links are available separately at £6 for 38 links, and the coupling hooks at £2.50 for six pairs. The screw couplings for locomotives are in lost wax and cost £6 per pair. All prices exclude p&p.

The London Model Engineering Exhibition will be held at London’s Alexandra Palace from January 19-21.

It will again feature traditional model engineering, steam locomotives and traction engines, through to the more modern toys, including trucks, boats, aeroplanes, helicopters and robots. There will also be an indoor 5in-gauge steam line giving passenger rides.

A new transport festival is set to take place in Welshpool next year, with the town’s light railway playing a major role. The Welshpool Festival of Transport, organised by the town council, will take place over the weekend of June 23-24. It will feature all forms of transport – from boats to balloons, horses to iron horses – in the form of the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway and classic, vintage, commercial and agricultural vehicles.

The final batch of the Martin Finney designed 4mm scale kits for the LSWR/SR prototypes is now in production.

Full details of these and all of the other products can be obtained by sending an sae to Brassmasters at PO Box 1137 Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B76 1FU or visiting www.brassmasters.co.uk.

Product updates from Protocol

RIGHT: Three-link coupling assembled and fitted.

lived up to expectations.

Lyndon Davies is the chairman of Oxford Diecast, and is also the majority shareholder of LCD Enterprises, Oxford Diecast’s owner.

Speculation of a merger between the two companies arose after Hornby said it would explore the opportunity to invest in LCD Enterprises.

London Model Engineering Exhibition

Welshpool Festival of Transport

New CEO and other new appointments for Hornby MODEL manufacturer Hornby has named ‘rival’ Lyndon Charles Davies as its new chief executive.

He replaces Steve Cooke, who stepped down as chief executive in August after a year in charge, soon after the company warned that trading for the financial year to date had not

Bristol’s new museum dedicated to GWR engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel will open in March next year, it has been announced.

Being Brunel, located next to his great liner the SS Great Britain, has been built with £7.2 million of grant-aid funding.

It will tell the ground-breaking engineer’s extraordinary story through never-seen-before personal possessions, as well as interactive exhibits and audio-visual experiences.

The new centre will link directly to the historic dock office and Brunel’s drawing office along a first-floor walkway.

Exhibits will include an 1821 report from Brunel’s schooldays.

Matthew Tanner, chief executive of the SS Great Britain Trust, said: “This is a major milestone in the creation of a national centre of Brunel knowledge and expertise, the first of its kind in the UK.”

Lyndon has appointed two ‘operational consultants’ to assist in Hornby’s turnaround.

Simon Kohler previously worked with Hornby for 35 years, and was credited with much of its success in recent decades, while Tim Mulhall was involved in international distribution of its products.

Protocol is a system whereby each locomotive or powered train contains a rechargeable battery to provide power for the motor and other functions for several hours’ running.

This removes completely the need for wheel pickups and any wiring to the track and having to keep the track and wheels spotlessly clean. Also in the locomotive is a computer circuit known as the Acc+Ess Protocab Locomotive Control Unit – or LCU – and a device to charge the battery without having to take it out of the loco.

Locomotives are controlled wirelessly from the Protocab controller and can be selected to drive simply by the press of the respective button. For more information visit www.protocab.com

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in What's the shops

Simple diorama baseboards Simple assembly and time saving are two of the benefits of the laser-cut diorama baseboards offered by Scale Model Scenery, writes Nigel Burkin.

Small layout designs will fit a combination of three or four of the diorama baseboard units offered by Scale Model Scenery.

Three units is sufficient length for a small station and a multiple unit or a steam locomotive and auto-coach train. The Bachmann ‘Capital Commuter’ train pack (30-430) (and Wickham trolley) is used to illustrate how much could fit on the baseboards with the use of low-relief buildings.

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Two baseboard units are available at the time of writing: An end unit (BB001) for both left- and right-hand units together with a centre unit (BB002).

cale Model Scenery now offers a small range of attractively priced diorama baseboard kits that can be used to build a small compact model railway or a diorama for the display of favourite models and indeed to photograph them in a scenic setting. I was interested in having a look at the baseboard units for diorama building and my first impressions are of a well presented and neatly manufactured product which was easy to assemble and perfect for use in small homes where traditional baseboard making would be impracticable.

Two sizes of baseboard unit are offered at the time of writing. An end board (BB001) which may be

constructed either as a right- or a left-hand unit with back and side boards. Two BB001 boards put together would provide a neat foundation for a diorama with an overall display length of 800mm between the side boards. A centre board (BB002) is also offered, which can be used to make up any length of layout you wish. The overall length of the centre unit for display is 405mm. All of the units have a depth of 290mm available for display and the back and side boards are 280mm tall.

The surface of each baseboard unit sits on a plinth of 40mm, which provides room for under-layout turnout motors, servos, wiring and electrical circuitry. Holes are cut in

the end plinths to allow wiring to pass through and spacer units are included together with M5 size fixings to join units together.

Simple assembly Building baseboards from sheet material is time consuming and one that many newcomers to the hobby are not keen to try. Kits such as the diorama baseboards simplify matters considerably and the Scale Model Scenery units are easy to put together with minimal tools and a small amount of adhesive. It is possible to be ready for track laying in a matter of an hour or two if a fast-setting adhesive such as Velo-Set or Deluxe Materials’ Super ’Phatic are used.

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Product details: Manufacturer: Scale Model Scenery.

Scale: Any small scale modelling.

Prices: BB001: £12 per unit.

BB002: £12 per unit.

This is one of the end-unit packs. It has sufficient parts to construct and end unit with back and side boards. Two front plinths are supplied, allowing a board for either end of a layout to be assembled.

Each of the units is manufactured from high-quality MDF, which has been laser cut to size including a very accurate dove-tail joint system. The components are ready to use straight from the packet and require no filing, cutting or sanding to use. I started the test build by assembling the front and side plinth strips together before adding the baseboard top. The dove-tail joins are an interference fit and a light tap with my hand was required to seat some of them – a small mallet and a piece of wood would also suffice. Despite this, the instructions advise the use of a quality wood glue and for the long term, assembly with glue is a must.

With the tops in place, the back and sides can be fitted to the end units and to the rear of the centre unit. End units may be constructed either left- or righthanded: chose the correct front plinth strip for the one you wish to assemble – both are supplied in kit BB001. A long oval strip with three holes is located in the end of the plinth to pack out the join between baseboard units. The M5 fixing screws and washers fit the holes neatly and the larger hole matches the one in the plinth, allowing wiring to be fed through from unit to unit.

A multitude of uses Having a quick-to-assemble diorama baseboard system such as this brings that small layout project closer – a small project to give a break from a larger project or to try new techniques in layout and scenery construction.

Military and scale modellers have the perfect platform for displaying finished plastic kits and in N gauge, three units should be long enough to create a reasonably involved layout.

There are many options as to what could be done with the units. Two end units and two centre ones offers, a good length of layout and to save baseboard joins, one each of a centre and one end unit could be permanently secured together, reducing the number of separate boards from four to two.

Boards can be mounted back to back too for double-sided layouts and an end unit reversed to create a staging area

All of the parts are laser cut from sheet MDF and to a very high standard. Nothing has to be trimmed, filed or cut to fit together.

Assembly starts by fitting the plinth pieces together.

A fast-setting wood glue is used to secure the parts together. Glue is being applied ready for assembly of the baseboard to the plinths.

for train storage. The opportunities are pretty numerous – all it takes is a little imagination in your compact layout and diorama design.

Save mess and time There is a more serious side to the diorama baseboards and that is helping new modellers and those with limited space to at least have something where a train or two can be run. A lack of space may involve having somewhere to do the really messy work of layout construction and that includes the building of baseboards. The Scale Model Scenery diorama baseboards could be assembled on a kitchen table, with suitable protection for the top. There is no mess from cutting and drilling unless a small hole is to be made in an end board for a line to leave the scenic area of the layout to reach staging. Here is a summary of the benefits: • Low cost per unit – a small layout can be assembled for very little cash outlay.

• Simple and quick to assemble – each board unit takes about 10 minutes.

• Minimal tools required and very little adhesive.

• Suitable for assembly in a small home.

• Get track laid and trains running quicker than with conventional baseboard construction.

• Several units may be joined together to create longer dioramas and layouts.

• Ideal for micro and compact layout themes.

• Build something different on a small board to test new modelling techniques, materials and skills.

The pricing, simple and fast assembly makes the Scale Model Scenery diorama baseboard units an attractive choice for micro-layout and diorama construction – perfect for the spacestarved modeller and those just starting out in the hobby who want to build a first layout. Our verdict is that they are excellent value for money and they were found to fit together very well indeed. They may be the solution to many modellers’ need for neat and durable baseboards.

Twin packs are £20.

Web: www.scalemodelscenery.co.uk Contact details: Scale Model Scenery 62 Station Road Hugglescote Leicestershire LE67 2GB Tel: 01530 456952.

An end baseboard assembled ready for the addition of back and side boards. The boards are secured together with M5 fixings and packing strips, which are supplied in the kits.

This view shows the back board fitted to an end unit and glue being applied to the indents of the dove-tail joins ready for the side board, completing an end unit.

Simple screw fixings and packing units are used to securely join baseboard units together to create various lengths of layout or diorama. The system is neat, easy to use and attractively priced.

Careful choice of trains and equipment can result in an interesting railway theme, even in such a small space. The three-unit baseboard assembly featured in this review is 1205mm long between the side boards and can be adapted for use with simple cassette staging units. The typically small locomotives together with short freight and passenger trains associated with steam-era branch operations will fit the diorama baseboard concept well.

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November 2017

in What's the shops

A popular model in the Bachmann range is the GC ‘improved Director’ 4-4-0 locomotive, classified as a Class 11F by the GC and Class D11 by the LNER.

Bachmann GCR/LNER ‘improved Director’ Taking a close look at the graceful Robinson Class D11 ‘improved Director’ OO-gauge model with Nigel Burkin.

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riginally classified as a Class 11F by the Great Central Railway (GC), the first of 35 ‘improved Director’ locomotives were introduced by the GC for express passenger duties on its main line between London Marylebone and Sheffield Victoria. A further batch was built by the LNER (after Grouping) in 1924 for use on

Two sub-classes of D11 were built, with the LNER-built D11/2 constructed in 1924 for use on NBR routes in Scotland. The review model, shown here with its smokebox door open, represents the D11/2 version of the locomotive (31-137A).

North British Railway (NBR) routes in Scotland. They were introduced between 1919 and 1924, numbered 501-511 by the GC and given Nos. 1378-1401 by the LNER. The LNER-built locomotives for use in Scotland were modified to suit a more restricted loading gauge which included lower boiler fittings, chimney and a different cab design. To distinguish between the two sub-classes, the LNER classified the GC-built locomotives as Class D11/1 and the larger Scottish NBR contingent as Class D11/2.

This locomotive has a 4-4-0 wheel arrangement with tall driving wheels making it an excellent locomotive for fast passenger duties, but unsuitable for freight trains. D11s are quite large locomotives for the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement, being almost as large as some 4-6-0 locomotives and as powerful too. Enthusiasts and modellers are quite fond of the class and little wonder – the locomotives are nicely proportioned with a long parallel boiler, long driving wheel splashers and wide

The model captures the long elegant lines of the type perfectly and with a wealth of fine detail and standalone parts applied to both body and tender.

wheelbase including the leading bogie.

The motion was located between the frames, adding to the clean exterior appearance of the locomotives. Add the elegant GC livery to the mix (D11/1) and they are impressive-looking machines indeed.

All 35 locomotives were named, with the GC locomotives bearing the names of famous battles, company directors (those that did not make the D10 class naming list) and royalty. The NBR locomotives were named differently in contrast to their GC sisters, with evocative names such as Luckie Mucklebackit, Bailie MacWheeble and Haystoun of Bucklaw; names adopted from Sir Walter Scott’s poems and novels.

Eventually, the D11/1 sub-class was cascaded from express passenger duties to shorter-distance trains before finding work under BR on the Cheshire Lines routes and semi-fast services in the North West. Withdrawals of the GCR locomotives took place between 1959 and 1960, with the Scottish NBR contingent being taken out of traffic between September 1958 and January 1962 as dieselisation took hold of their core duties.

Only one Class D11 locomotive survived the cutting torch: GC No. 506 Butler Henderson (LNER No. 5506/2660, BR No. 62660) which was withdrawn from traffic in November 1960. It is now part of the National Collection and restored in exhibition condition – the

only GC passenger locomotive to be preserved. For more information on locomotive allocations and rebuilding (very little in reality) during their lifetimes, it is worth reading the excellent article published on the ‘LNER Info’ web site at https://www.lner.info/locos/D/ d11.php

The model The latest batch of Class D11 locomotives released by Bachmann this autumn includes GC No. 501 Mons (31-147) and LNER No. 6401 James Fitzjames (31-137A), the latter being a D11/2 built for the NBR. It is this latter model that is described here and it is finished in lined LNER black with the locomotive number and name applied in shaded gold lettering.

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Model features: Motor installed in the engine, not the tender.

21-pin DCC interface socket located in the tender.

NEM coupling pockets.

Detailed and glazed cab interior.

Opening smokebox door for shed scenes.

Sprung front bogie.

Tenders are subject to the same high level of attention by those who develop new models.

It conceals the model’s electronics and DCC-interface socket.

Correctly proportioned body shell.

Fine wire handrails and handrail knobs.

Subtle tooling of small details such as rivets.

The front bogie is sprung and equipped with spoked wheels, which have a fine appearance.

The distinctive plates fitted to the bogie of the full-size locomotives are supplied as add-on parts for the modeller to fit bearing in mind that they may interfere with operation on sharp curves.

Adjustable engine to tender drawbar.

Current collection from both tender and engine wheels.

Electrical connections between the tender and engine.

Small printed details such as shed numberplates and builder’s plate.

Weight: 360g.

Bachmann released OO-gauge models of the GC 11F D11/1 locomotive first which included a limited-edition model of preserved GC No. 506 Butler Henderson limited for NRM in late 2012. Scottish modellers had to wait until 2013 for the LNER/NBR D11/2 models to appear. Both have received a great deal of praise from the modelling community for crisp tooling and some lovely livery finishes.

Modellers agreed that the model was an excellent representation of the full-size locomotives, both in terms of accuracy and character.

Engine Gone are the days of single-body mouldings – technology allows manufacturers to develop models composed of individual sub-assemblies using different materials to create a composite structure with both strength and weight applied where it is needed most – over the driving wheels. High-technology moulding allows locomotive-specific features to be represented, and accurately too. This is the case with the Class D11 model where the differences in the two sub-classes are accurately modelled, including different chimneys and cab mouldings.

All of the major parts such as the boiler, smokebox, cab and frame detail are superbly tooled with crisp detail and neatly assembled. The cab too is a lovely piece of work with interior detailing picked out in relevant colours and some neatly applied flush glazing.

The plastic mouldings are fitted to a heavy die-cast footplate moulding, which ensures weight is distributed over the driving wheels and the model is balanced, often a challenge to achieve with 4-4-0 type locomotives. There is a

hint of the motion fitted between the frames and a prototypical space between the frames and bottom of the boiler.

Tender A full load of coal is fitted to the tender as a separate moulding which may be removed to allow modellers to load the model with varying amounts of coal to suit the operation of the layout. The tender tooling is as equally crisp as the locomotive and finished with a variety of small details. It is coupled to the locomotive using an adjustable coupling bar and pin, which allows close coupling of the two if curves allow it.

Hidden inside the tender are the main electronics for the model including DCC interface socket and provision to fit a digital sound speaker.

Fine details The level of fine detail is one of the first things that strikes you when first removing the model from the box. The accurately shaped hand rails, tiny hand rail knobs, vacuum pipes, the opening smokebox door with its separately applied dart and wheel – there is a huge amount of individually applied small details to be enjoyed.

As if that was not enough, a packet of locomotive tools, screw couplings and other small details are supplied for the modeller to use if so desired, including the infill plates for the leading bogie which should only be fitted if the model is not to be used on sharp curves.

Electronics Electronics are concentrated in the tender where there is space for a speaker and the 21-pin DCC interface socket.

Four cross-head screws hold the tender body in place but are easy to remove and replace, making decoder installation a straightforward job. The wiring within the tender allows for the fitting of a 21pin digital sound decoder and fitting of a speaker with minimal soldering.

Current collection pick-ups are fitted to all of the tender wheels and also the four driving wheels. Both tender and engine are linked with wires for current supply from the track to be made along the length of the engine and to supply power from the circuit board to the motor. Should it be necessary to separate the engine from its tender, there is a small plug and socket located on the underside of the tender.

Drive mechanism and performance The motor is fitted to the engine, located behind the firebox area where it drives both axles through spur gearing resulting in smooth, quiet and controllable operation. My findings concur with those of other modellers who have been impressed with its performance.

Externally, the model has simple coupling rods and with no exterior motion making the chance of binding very remote. No traction types are employed and the balanced weight distribution of the engine gives it excellent haulage capability.

Fine detailing includes separate wire hand rails, an impression of the inside frame motion, moulded rivets, detailed smokebox door darts – the list is pretty long!

Fine lining, flush glazed cab and detailed back head all add to the model’s high level of sophistication.

The lining and lettering applied to LNER No. 6401 is as good as it gets: crisp, opaque and of even width. Note how it is applied around the cab windows and around the footplate to cab area.

Model details: LNER Class D11/2 4-4-0 locomotive is featured.

Manufacturer: Bachmann Europe Plc. Catalogue number: 31-137A Scale: British OO gauge, 1:76 scale to run on 16.5mm gauge track.

Era: 1919-1962.

Web: www.bachmann.co.uk Suggested retail price: £169.95.

Paint colours and finish Finishing of the model is to a very high standard, with crisp and level lettering and lining applied to many areas of the model. Particularly impressive is the fineness of the lining applied to the cab front and sides – look at the lining around the cab side windows. Lettering has the correct level of shading and is of the right colour when compared to reliable references. The overall finish has a slight sheen to it – the model being finished in pristine condition. Overall, with the nicely picked out cab details to the tiny works plates on the smokebox, the overall impression is of a quality model that captures the character of the full-size locomotives well, and with smooth powerful performance to match the good looks.

Both sub-classes of Class D11 locomotives are particularly well proportioned and this character is well captured by the Bachmann models, which have a high degree of finish, accurate fittings for each of the two sub-classes and excellent performance on the layout.

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November 2017

Ticket to ride Ian Lamb visited the Bachmann Collectors’ Club Members Day 2017 on the Mid Hants Railway.

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A big event needs a big engine, and they don’t come much bigger than 9F 2-10-0 No. 92212 entering Ropley Station with ‘The Bachmann Express’. WENDY BAYFORD

t is no mean feat to organise such an event, and for the 150 members who were fortunate enough to obtain a ticket, it is an annual venture very much looked forward to. It’s an opportunity that brings modeller and manufacturer together to collectively create models and accessories representing these special personal moments in one’s lifetime.

Very much the brainchild of Dennis Lovett, Bachmann’s public relations manager, and well arranged at the time

by Katie Hines (now responsible for the William Brittain’s Collectors’ Club within Bachmann), the organising mantle has been passed on to Richard Proudman, Bachmann Collectors’ Club manager, who was supported on this occasion by six other Bachmann staff members.

The entrance to Alton Station in exceptional weather compared with the ‘wash-out’ conditions of last year on the East Lancs Railway. At first sight one could be forgiven for assuming that this scene was a picture from the mid-1950s, but in reality it is September 2017. IAN LAMB

A preliminary gathering for the idea of a ‘members' day’ was held at the Ribble Valley Railway (Preston) in June 2008, organised around the presentation of a cheque to the owners of Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 locomotive No. 46441, which had been released as a club model in late 2007.

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway was the first formal annual event, being held in 2011. It included group visits to the shed (not normally available), escorted photographic opportunities, plus trips on the narrow gauge and miniature railways on site.

The second event was rather more ambitious, but proved to be the catalyst for all future ventures, in being very successfully established, at the Great Central Railway in 2012.

Behind-the-scenes tours of the carriage and wagon restoration facilities at Rothley were carried out on a group

The opportunity to view the Bachmann showcase stand is not only an essential part of the day’s programme but a vital source for Bachmann staff to show current models and discuss future plans with a captive audience. WENDY BAYFORD

Through the annual Members Day venture it is possible for group visits – such as this party in the boiler shop at Ropley Shed – something that is not always available to visitors. DENNIS LOVETT

basis, and members also had the opportunity to explore the engine shed at Loughborough, plus viewing the Bachmann showcase display located in the Post Office sorting vans at Quorn & Woodhouse.

Utilising the same format, the third event saw Bachmann Collectors’ Club

Southern ‘Schools’ Class No. 925 Cheltenham lies dead in the loco yard. IAN LAMB

members descend on the Bluebell Line between East Grinstead and Sheffield Park during 2013. On this occasion, members had the chance to see a Marsh designed LBSCR H2 Atlantic locomotive under construction at Horsted Keynes, eventually modelled by Bachmann.

Appreciating that most of the members present are male and middleaged, the fourth Members Day was at the home of the ‘Railway Children’, officially known as The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, in 2014. It was followed in 2015 with a visit to the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway.

Last year the group held their gathering on the East Lancs Railway.

Where to next year, I wonder?

For many members, the highlight of the day is the visit to the engine shed, and Ropley was no exception.

Personally, my favourite class of 4-4-0 has always been the Southern Schools and I was only too sorry that No. 925 Cheltenham was not in steam at the head of one of the trains.

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November 2017

Christmas Gift Guide

Even when we stop hearing the tinkle of the bell as we grow older, there is still something about Christmas that takes us back to childhood, when we recall pre-sunrise awakening on December 25th, creeping down creaking staircases and peeking round the living room door to see if He has been, and then ripping open wrapping paper if he had.

Years ago, if you were lucky, you would have unwrapped a trainset and spent the rest of the day setting it up, watching it whizz round and round the tracks, with, usually dad or grandad being as excited about seeing it run round as you.

That is one of the things that make this time of year so special; we remember our Christmases past, the people we shared them with and the presents we received that bring back happy memories.

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November 2017

in What's the shops

Drummond LSWR D15

Class 4-4-0 in OO gauge OO Works is now taking orders for its Drummond D15 Class model, writes Nigel Burkin.

OO Works is now taking orders for its Drummond LSWR D15 Class locomotive, a hand assembled and finished model composed primarily of etched and cast metal components.

D

rummond D15 Class locomotives are an interesting choice for a ready-to-run model – a design dating back to London & South Western Railway (LSWR) days, surviving into BR ownership before being withdrawn in the mid-1950s.

Only 10 D15 Class locomotives were built in 1912 at Eastleigh; they were intended for main line expresses on the South Western main line.

The D15 Class is a 4-4-0, a reliable design of locomotive and relatively inexpensive to build, a particularly important point following the poor results from Drummond’s 4-6-0 designs. It was to be the last locomotive to be designed by Drummond and it was a success, working the LSWR main line from Waterloo through to Bournemouth and latterly, dominating Portsmouth line express trains until electrification in 1937. From that point, the D15 Class was used on secondary duties including south-coast services such as Brighton-Plymouth trains.

Numbered as No. 463-472 by the LSWR, the same numbers were carried Model details: Drummond LSWR D15 4-4-0 locomotive.

Review model finished as BR No. 30465.

Manufacturer: OO Works.

Scale: 4mm (1:76) scale, OO gauge.

in SR ownership. BR renumbered the 10 locomotives by adding 30XXX to their numbers: 30463-30472.

The locomotives were equipped with inside motion, located between the frames, which could be seen in the space between the boiler and frames, resulting in a clean external appearance.

The design appeared austere compared to other locomotive classes, coupled to eight-wheel tenders from new, which gave way in 1923 to a six-wheel Drummond design recovered from other locomotive types. When dressed in LSWR sage green with brown panels and lining, they were very handsome-looking locomotives indeed. Upon Grouping, the locomotives transferred to the Southern Railway, which finished the locomotives in its attractive olive green with yellow markings together with lining. Some were painted in its minimalist black theme with ‘sunshine’ lettering and numbers, but without lining.

BR, after Nationalisation, painted all 10 locomotives black with limited lining applied to the cab side, splashers and tender. Standard BR typeface was used for numbering which was applied to the cab side (together with number boards to the smokebox door). The 10 locomotives were all withdrawn in the mid-1950s, with BR No. 30465 being documented as the last to remain in traffic. None survived the cutting torch to see preservation.

The model Modellers accustomed to injectionmoulded plastic models produced by the mainstream manufacturers will find that the OO Works models are quite different in concept and construction.

OO Works primarily focuses on locomotive classes which were small, featuring a handful of locomotives such as the 10-strong Drummond D15 Class – some small locomotive classes are not always considered to be a viable proposition by the mainstream manufacturers. Furthermore, each run of models is effectively a limited edition with usually 300 being produced of each model. They are, in effect, hand-built using metal components for everything, including the locomotive body, tender, bogies, chassis frames and other fittings.

OO Works very kindly loaned BR No. 30465 for review, a model finished in BR black with cab side lining and red buffer beams. My first impression is of a model, while fitted with a state-

of-the-art motor and drive, that will appeal to those modellers who look back to the days of kit-built locomotives and those of simpler, more durable construction. The heavy die-cast body and tender coupled with metal fittings and the use of etched metal for many parts of both the locomotive and tender sets the model apart from injection-moulded plastic.

Body and tender The metal die-cast body of the D15 Class model is heavy and provides a great deal of weight for the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement, resulting in good haulage capability. It is well assembled and fitted out with individual hand rails, hand rail knobs and time-specific details such as different chimneys. One feature of diecast metal is the lack of tiny details and the body does not have the numerous small rivets applied to the smokebox, bufferbeam and running plate area.

Individual smokebox darts are fitted to the smokebox door.

The review model represents one of the 10-strong D15 Class in BR condition as No. 30465, documented as the last of the class to be withdrawn from service in 1956.

Era: 1912-1956.

Web: www.ooworks.co.uk/ Contact: OO Works “Brendon”, Langham Road, Robertsbridge, East Sussex. TN32 5DT. Suggested retail price: £275 The model is neatly assembled and with a pleasing dull-black finish. Sadly, none of the full-size locomotives survived to see preservation.