Category Archives: Western Region

Merry Christmas 2025 and a little plan…

Firstly, to all readers, have a good Christmas and best wishes for the season, especially if Christmas isn’t your thing for whatever reason! In the usual carnage and chaos that is the run up to Christmas Day, tidying is done. … Continue reading

Posted in accurascale, Albion Yard, Bachmann, barmouth junction, blog, British Rail, cambrian, Cameo layout, christmas, DC, DCC, dcc sound, finescale, Forest of Dean, Great Western, heljan, ho scale, Hobby, Hornby, Industrial, Inspiration, journey, Layout, layout design, life, man cave, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, n gauge, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, peco, railroad, railway, realism, research, scale modelling, shelf layout, shelfie, shelfie1, shelfie2, shelfie3, shelfie4, throwback thursday, thursday throwback, toy train, track plans, train set, TT120, Uncategorized, Western Region | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

57xx, Out! First Look

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

Accurascale’s 57xx converts Shelfie 2 to DCC

Having been loaned an Accurascale 57xx which is DCC sound fitted, it made sense to reconfigure Shelfie2 to run in DCC.

Posted in accurascale, Albion Yard, Bachmann, blog, Branch Line, British Rail, Cameo, Cameo layout, Conversion, dapol, DC, DCC, dcc sound, Exhibition, finescale, first look, gwr, heljan, ho scale, Hobby, Hornby, Industrial, Layout, man cave, model, Model Railroad, Model Railway, n gauge, NEC, new release, O Gauge, OO Gauge, Oxford rail, peco, product news, railroad, railway, Rapido Trains, realism, scale modelling, shelfie, shelfie2, throwback thursday, toy train, train set, Uncategorized, Wales, Western Region, woodland scenics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

#FEF The Greatest Gathering

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

The Background Balance, Start at the end..

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

Throwback to Accurascale’s GWR 57xx (Warley 2023)

Over the past few weeks I’ve been revisiting my layout building plans and aspirations, having worked over a Bachmann 3F ‘Jinty’ for a future bookazine article. That tasking took me back to the makeovers I’ve done in the past on … Continue reading

Posted in accurascale, Bachmann, blogging, British Rail, cambrian, Cameo layout, DC, DCC, dcc sound, EM, Exhibition, finescale, first look, Forest of Dean, Great Western, gwr, heljan, HO, ho scale, hobbies, Hobby, Inspiration, man cave, model, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, n gauge, Narrow Gauge, new release, news, O Gauge, o scale, OO, OO Gauge, pannier, peco, product news, railroad, railway, scale, scale modelling, shelf layout, shelfie, Swindon, throwback thursday, thursday throwback, toy train, train set, TT Gauge, Uncategorized, Wales, Welsh Marches, Western Region | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wordless Wednesday Hymek

Posted in accurascale, b&w, Bachmann, black and white, blog, BR Blue, British Rail, Cameo layout, Conversion, D&E, DC, DCC, dcc sound, finescale, heljan, ho scale, Hobby, Hornby, Layout, man cave, model, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Modelling, Modelu, n gauge, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, peco, peco bullhead, railroad, railway, Rapido Trains, realism, scale modelling, shelf layout, shelfie3, toy train, train set, TT120, Western Region, wordless wednesday | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wordless Wednesday, Getting to the Point..

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

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

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