Category Archives: research

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

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

The Background Balance, Start at the end..

Posted on January 18, 2025 by bawdsey

A while back I wrote about trials I was undertaking, Throwback Paint with a mix of paint types. This was the result for Shelfie2 under natural lighting which I was quite pleased with. That then was used to fill in … Continue reading →

Posted in #saturday, accurascale, Bachmann, barmouth junction, blog, Branch Line, British Rail, Cameo, Cameo layout, dapol, DC, DCC, dcc sound, finescale, Forest of Dean, heljan, ho scale, Hobby, Hornby, Industrial, inglenook, Layout, layout design, life, man cave, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, n gauge, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, Oxford rail, pannier, peco bullhead, Peco TT, prototype, railroad, railway, Rapido Trains, realism, research, scale modelling, shelf layout, shelfie, shelfie2, toy train, train set, TT120, Uncategorized, Western Region | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Transformation Tuesday, Peco Bullhead, The List..

Posted on October 15, 2024 by bawdsey

I’m pretty certain I’m one of the few, apart from Peco, who has taken time out to try a large number of ready to run products through the Peco Code 75 bullhead track, points and crossings. At the time of … Continue reading →

Posted in accurascale, Airfix, Bachmann, blog, DC, DCC, djm, exactrail, Hattons, heljan, HO, ho scale, Hobby, Hornby, kr models, layout design, man cave, mancave, Model Railroad, Model Railway, OO, OO Gauge, Oxford rail, peco, peco bullhead, Peco SL-U1180, Peco SL-U1188, Peco SL-U1189, Peco SL-U1194, peco sl-U1295, peco sl-U1296, product news, Railway Modeller, Rapido Trains, research, samhongsa, shelfie, television, track, Uncategorized, wagon | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Motivation Monday, Manitoba Quays, Minories Inspiration

Posted on September 8, 2024 by bawdsey

One of the most recognisable layout designs most UK modellers are familiar with is Cyril Freezers ‘Minories’ layout. An inner London terminus based on the Metropolitan Line at Liverpool Street it is a very simple and effective design giving lots … Continue reading →

Posted in accurascale, Bachmann, blog, BR Blue, Branch Line, british finescale, British Rail, Cameo layout, canada, D&E, DC, DCC, dcc sound, finescale, heljan, ho scale, Hobby, Hornby, Inspiration, Layout, layout design, man cave, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, n gauge, O Gauge, o scale, OO, OO Gauge, peco, peco bullhead, Peco TT, planning, railroad, railway, Rapido Trains, realism, research, scale modelling, shelf layout, shelfie, Southern, Southern Electrics, Southern Region, toy train, track, track plans, train set, trainspotting, TT, TT120, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Motivation Monday, Accurascale J67, J68, J69, First Look

Posted on September 2, 2024 by bawdsey

If like me as a yoof you had an N gauge Graham Farish J69, the prototype may well hold a special place in your heart. Years later the late Iain Rice in MRJ treated us to tales of Buckjumpers and … Continue reading →

Posted in accurascale, Bachmann, blog, Branch Line, buckjumper, Cameo layout, DC, DCC, dcc sound, Eastern Region, EM, Exhibition, finescale, first look, heljan, HO, ho scale, hobbies, Hobby, Hornby, iain rice, Inspiration, j67, j68, j69, Layout, layout design, light railway, LNER, man cave, model, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Model Railway Journal, Modelling, monday motivation, motivation monday, n gauge, new release, O Gauge, o scale, OO, OO Gauge, peco, peco bullhead, product news, railroad, railway, Rapido Trains, realism, research, review, scale modelling, Scottish Region, shelf layout, shelfie, shelfie2, shelfie4, toy train, train set, Uncategorized, youtube | Leave a comment

Noughties Bachmann Makeover Part 2

Posted on January 10, 2024 by bawdsey

Continuing my makeover of Bachmann’s OO BR standard class five, I’ve now completed the tender conversion. The model as supplied comes with a BR1G tender and this needs converting to a BR1 type. So above is the vidjo of how … Continue reading →

Posted in artist, Bachmann, blogger, British Rail, Conversion, DC, DCC, dcc sound, Eastern Region, finescale, ho scale, hobbies, Hobby, justdoit, makeover, man cave, model, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, n gauge, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, peco, railroad, railway, realism, research, scale modelling, shelf layout, shelfie, toy train, TT Gauge, Uncategorized, youtube | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

2024, Motivation Monday, First One In, Fifteen Minute Heros

Posted on January 1, 2024 by bawdsey

With the festive season officially over, twelfth night and all that, it’s been quite a good couple of weeks of getting stuff done. Over the period I was able to do some short bursts, as well as lengthier sessions in … Continue reading →

Posted in accurascale, Bachmann, blog, blogging, British Rail, Cameo, Cameo layout, Conversion, DC, DCC, dcc sound, Eighties, ellis clark, Exhibition, Facebook, finescale, first look, Forest of Dean, Hattons, Heaton Lodge, heljan, hero, ho scale, hobbies, Hobby, Hornby, Inspiration, Layout, layout design, life, man cave, man-cave, model, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, Modelu, monday motivation, motivation monday, n gauge, Narrow Gauge, new year, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, OO9, peco, product news, railroad, railway, Rapido Trains, research, review, scale modelling, shelf layout, shelfie, social media, Tamiya, Toy trains, train show, TT Gauge, Uncategorized, woodland scenics | 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