Category Archives: Midland Region

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

Heljan 02 Review

Posted on March 12, 2025 by bawdsey

Heljan have a good record of producing interesting OO gauge diesel shunters and the 02 production sample seen here seamlessly fits into that range. The 02’s were made by the Yorkshire Engine Company of Sheffield as a batch of twenty … Continue reading →

Posted in accurascale, Bachmann, blog, BR Blue, British Rail, Cameo layout, D&E, dapol, DC, DCC, dcc sound, EM, finescale, first look, heljan, ho scale, Hobby, Hornby, Industrial, inglenook, Inspiration, LED Lighting, man cave, Midland Region, model, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, n gauge, new release, news, O Gauge, OO Gauge, peco bullhead, product news, prototype, railroad, railway, Rapido Trains, review, shelf layout, toy train, Uncategorized, woodland scenics, Yorkshire | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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

Wordless Wednesday, Accurascale Class 31

Posted on October 16, 2024 by bawdsey
Posted in accurascale, b&w, black and white, blog, BR Blue, British Rail, Cameo layout, DC, DCC, dcc sound, Eastern Region, finescale, heljan, ho scale, Hobby, Hornby, iphoneography, layout design, man cave, Midland Region, model, model photography, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, Modelu, n gauge, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, Oxford rail, peco, peco bullhead, railroad, railway, Rapido Trains, realism, scale modelling, shelf layout, shelfie, shelfie2, toy train, train set, trainspotting, TT120, wordless wednesday | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Time After Time, Shelfie 3

Posted on June 22, 2024 by bawdsey

It’s been a bit quiet of late on the blog and ‘socials’ as the hip dudes so refer! So here’s a quick look at a previous You Tube video of Shelfie3. Some of you may have been wondering what happened … Continue reading →

Posted in accurascale, Bachmann, baseboards, blog, BR Blue, British Rail, Cameo, Cameo layout, D&E, DC, DCC, dcc sound, DMU, Exhibition, finescale, Guyzance, heljan, ho scale, hobbies, Hornby, Layout, layout design, LED Lighting, man cave, maple river, media, Midland Region, model rail, Model Railway, Modelling, Modelu, n gauge, Narrow Gauge, news, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, peco, peco bullhead, railroad, railway, realism, saturday, scale modelling, shelfie, shelfie1, shelfie2, shelfie3, shelfie4, toy train, train set, trainspotting, TT Gauge, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wordless Wednesday, Getting to the Point..

Posted on April 17, 2024 by bawdsey
Posted in accurascale, Bachmann, blog, BR Blue, Branch Line, british finescale, British Rail, Cameo, Cameo layout, DC, DCC, dcc sound, DMU, finescale, first look, HO, ho scale, hobbies, Hobby, Hornby, iain rice, Ian Futers, Inspiration, Layout, layout design, life, man cave, mancave, media, Midland Region, model photography, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, Modelu, n gauge, Narrow Gauge, O Gauge, o scale, OO, OO Gauge, railroad, railway, realism, scale, scale modelling, Scottish Region, seventies, shelf layout, shelfie, social media, toy fair, train set, trainset, TT Gauge, Western Region, wordless wednesday | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Feel Good Friday Improving Bachmann’s Standard Class 5

Posted on February 23, 2024 by bawdsey

This is the most recent part of the improvement package I’m doing on the Bachmann Standard Class 5, and as this covers the improvements made to the front bogie wheels and the chimney, sort of comes under the #fef banner! … Continue reading →

Posted in Bachmann, blog, British Rail, Cameo layout, Conversion, DC, DCC, dcc sound, Eastern Region, EM, feelgoodfriday, fef, finescale, HO, ho scale, hobbies, Hobby, justdoit, life, makeover, man cave, Midland Region, model, model rail, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, n gauge, O Gauge, o scale, OO, OO Gauge, railroad, railway, realism, repair, scale modelling, Scottish Region, shelf queen, shelfie, skill, Southern Region, toy train, trainspotting, Uncategorized, Western Region | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A noughties Bachmann Makeover

Posted on December 23, 2023 by bawdsey

An introduction to a makeover I’m giving to a Bachmann BR Standard Class 5. The model dates from the early noughties, and still holds its own today. The overall accuracy is excellent, the shape and core dimensions are all there … Continue reading →

Posted in Bachmann, blog, British Rail, Conversion, DC, DCC, dcc sound, Eastern Region, finescale, heljan, HO, ho scale, hobbies, Hobby, Inspiration, journey, justdoit, life, man cave, mansplaining, Midland Region, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, OO, OO Gauge, planning, railroad, railway, realism, repair, research, scale modelling, Scottish Region, shelfie, skill, Southern Region, toy train, train set, Uncategorized, Western Region, youtube | 2 Comments

Heljan O Gauge Class 24 Warley News 2023

Posted on November 25, 2023 by bawdsey

In recent years Heljan has received more requests for an ‘O’ gauge Class 24 than anything else. So they’ve gone ‘all out’ to bring you not just a Class 24/0, but also the later Class 24/1s AND Scottish Region ‘24/1s’ … Continue reading →

Posted in blog, BR Blue, Branch Line, British Rail, cambrian, Cameo layout, DC, DCC, dcc sound, Eastern Region, finescale, first look, Hattons, Heaton Lodge, heljan, HO, ho scale, Hobby, Ian Futers, Inspiration, layout design, man cave, Midland Region, model, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, n gauge, Narrow Gauge, new release, news, O Gauge, o scale, OO, OO Gauge, peco, product news, railroad, railway, realism, scale modelling, Scottish Region, shelf layout, Southern Region, toy train, Uncategorized, Western Region | Leave a comment

Peco Quality Line N Gauge Wagons Review

Posted on November 10, 2022 by bawdsey

New into the man cave are a batch of N gauge wagons from Peco as part of a collection of new tooling. For many many years N gauge modellers have had a staple diet of Peco Wonderful Wagons, with tooling … Continue reading →

Posted in accurascale, Bachmann, blogger, British Rail, Cameo layout, DC, DCC, gwr, Hattons, HO, ho scale, Hobby, Hornby, iphoneography, Layout, LMS, LNER, man cave, media, Midland Region, model, model photography, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, n gauge, new release, news, O Gauge, o scale, OO, OO Gauge, peco, product news, prototype, railroad, railway, Rapido Trains, realism, review, scale, scale modelling, shelf layout, Southern, toy train, train set, Uncategorized, wagon | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment