Category Archives: hobbies

57xx, Out! First Look

Posted on December 6, 2025 by bawdsey

Well it’s here, the Accurascale 57xx, and spoiler alert, its definitely been worth the wait. This release really brings the Pannier family up to date with a contemporary high quality and detailed model of this iconic and promiscuous family, nearly … Continue reading →

Posted in 57xx, accurascale, Albion Yard, Bachmann, British Rail, Cameo layout, dapol, DC, DCC, dcc sound, Exhibition, finescale, first look, Forest of Dean, Great Western, gwr, heljan, ho scale, hobbies, Hornby, Industrial, Layout, man cave, Midland Region, model, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, Modelu, n gauge, NEC, new release, O Gauge, o scale, OO, OO Gauge, pannier, peco, product news, railroad, railway, Rapido Trains, realism, scale modelling, shelf layout, shelfie, shelfie2, Swindon, toy train, TT120, Uncategorized, Wales, Western Region | Tagged | Leave a comment

Seven Sleeps to go! NEC 2025

Posted on November 15, 2025 by bawdsey

This time next Saturday I’ll hopefully be anticipating a cool one, it being the NEC model railway show hosted by Warners Publications. I’ll be taking Shelfie 2 there, Guyzance disposal point, and I’m thinking its only its fourth exhibition appearance, … Continue reading →

Posted in #saturday, accurascale, Albion Yard, Bachmann, black and white, blog, British Rail, Cameo layout, D&E, dapol, DC, DCC, Exhibition, finescale, heljan, ho scale, hobbies, Layout, Modelling, NEC, OO Gauge, railroad, railway, saturday, scale modelling, scenery, shelf layout, shelfie, shelfie2, trees, Uncategorized, woodland scenics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How it Started Bachmann’s 08..

Posted on August 23, 2025 by bawdsey

This, ^^ this ^^ is how it started. A chance find on Facebook, advertised fairly as damaged and a poor runner. I wasn’t looking for one but the price vs condition made me think this is worth a punt. The … Continue reading →

Posted in accurascale, Albion Yard, Bachmann, blog, BR Blue, brassmasters, British Rail, D&E, dapol, DC, DCC, dingham, Eighties, Facebook, heljan, hobbies, Hobby, Hornby, Industrial, Layout, makeover, man cave, model, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, Modelu, n gauge, O Gauge, o scale, OO, OO Gauge, peco, railroad, railway, repair, shelf layout, shelfie, toy train, train, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

#FEF The Greatest Gathering

Posted on August 1, 2025 by bawdsey

This weekend I’m helping out on a friends trade stand at the greatest gathering in Derby. These rail open days and events really aren’t my thing, but having the opportunity to wander round some classic British first generation traction has … Continue reading →

Posted in #FEF, accurascale, Bachmann, black and white, blog, BR Blue, British Rail, Cavalex, D&E, dapol, Eighties, ellis clark, Exhibition, fef, flying scotsman, friday flashback, fridayfunday, Great Western, heljan, ho scale, hobbies, Hornby, Inspiration, life, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, Modelu, n gauge, Narrow Gauge, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, OO9, peco, Photography, prototype, railroad, Rails of Sheffield, railway, Rapido Trains, realism, seventies, train, train show, travel, TT120, Uncategorized, Western Region | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Snailbeach Sunday, 009

Posted on June 29, 2025 by bawdsey

A couple of days back I wrote about Red Wharf Bay, memories of an Iain Rice plan, jogged by standing on a beach watching the tide roll in. The beach features in this post too, but of an entirely different … Continue reading →

Posted in 009, 1914, accurascale, Bachmann, baldwin, Branch Line, Cameo, Cameo layout, dapol, DC, DCC, dcc sound, finescale, freelance, Hattons, heljan, hobbies, Hobby, iain rice, Industrial, Inspiration, Layout, light railway, model, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, n gauge, Narrow Gauge, new release, news, O Gauge, o scale, OO, OO Gauge, OO9, peco, product news, prototype, railroad, railway, realism, research, review, scale modelling, shelfie, Snailbeach, toy train, transformation tuesday, tuesday transformation, Uncategorized, wagon, Wales | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Throwback Thursday, Anglesey

Posted on June 26, 2025 by bawdsey

Why’s this a throwback? Well, standing on this beach took me back to 1991 and Iain Rice’s Light Railway Layout Designs book. These two books, a year apart, really caught my imagination. I love the way they draw you in … Continue reading →

Posted in accurascale, Albion Yard, Bachmann, blog, book, cambrian, Cameo layout, DC, DCC, finescale, freelance, heljan, ho scale, hobbies, Hornby, iain rice, Influencer, Inspiration, Layout, layout design, light railway, LMS, man cave, Maps, mindfulness, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, n gauge, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, peco, prototype, railroad, railway, Rapido Trains, realism, research, scale modelling, shelf layout, shelfie, snowdonia, throwback thursday, thursday throwback, toy train, track plans, TT120, Uncategorized, Wales | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Are US Tariffs a threat to the UK model railway hobby?

Posted on May 1, 2025 by bawdsey

Below is a Facebook post from the Hobby Industry Coalition, a group of North American hobby companies whom in the main supply ‘US’ outline products for their market. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1L1txjXbEn/?mibextid=wwXIfr The US Tariffs are recognised above, as a potential threat to … Continue reading →

Posted in accurascale, Airfix, america, americana, Bachmann, blog, canada, Cavalex, china, clark rail works, commission, dapol, DC, DCC, dcc sound, Eighties, europe, exactrail, Facebook, heljan, ho scale, hobbies, Hobby, Hornby, kadee, Kalmbach, life, man cave, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, n gauge, Narrow Gauge, news, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, OO9, Oxford rail, peco, product news, railroad, railroad model craftsman, Rails of Sheffield, railway, Rapido Trains, Tamiya, throwback thursday, Toy trains, TT120, Uncategorized, united kingdom, usa, woodland scenics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Wordless Wednesday RiP Andy York

Posted on March 26, 2025 by bawdsey
Posted in artist, b&w, black and white, blog, BR Blue, British Rail, Cameo layout, Eighties, finescale, Friends, hero, hobbies, Influencer, Inspiration, layout design, life, media, model, Modelling, OO Gauge, realism | Leave a comment

Accurascale’s Diagram 1/108 and 1/109 16T Mineral Wagon Review

Posted on February 16, 2025 by bawdsey

Into the man cave this past week or two Accurascale’s 16Ton minerals have rattled across the doorstep. Two varieties have arrived a set of Diagram 108 re-body, and a set of Diagram 109 riveted body vehicles. They are packaged in … Continue reading →

Posted in accurascale, Bachmann, blog, British Rail, Cameo layout, D&E, DC, DCC, Eastern Region, Eighties, finescale, first look, Forest of Dean, heljan, ho scale, hobbies, Hobby, Hornby, Inspiration, man cave, Midland Region, model, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, monday motivation, motivation monday, n gauge, new release, OO, OO Gauge, peco, peco bullhead, product news, prototype, railroad, railway, Rapido Trains, realism, scale modelling, seventies, shades of grey, shelf layout, Southern Region, toy train, train set, Uncategorized, wagon | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Aberystwyth To Carmarthen Book Review

Posted on January 27, 2025 by bawdsey

A recent publication that immediately found its way to my book case is: Aberystwyth to Carmarthen by Geraint Roberts. Published by the Lightmoor Press it weighs in with 304 pages and a price tag of £40.00. Put like that it … Continue reading →

Posted in accurascale, Bachmann, bachmann 74xx, book, book review, British Rail, dapol, DC, DCC, first look, Great Western, heljan, ho scale, hobbies, Hornby, Inspiration, library, man cave, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, monday motivation, motivation monday, n gauge, new release, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, pannier, prototype, railroad, railway, reading, reference, research, TT120, Uncategorized, Wales, wild swan | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments