Hornby London Toy Fair 2018

Posted on January 25, 2018 by bawdsey

NBR/LNER/BR J36

Hornby J36 R3600TTS R3621 R3622

On the Hornby stand one of the EP’s for the new J36 was available to have a good look at. The Prototype is definitely a Scottish model, so those of you who have been after a widely spread ‘Northern’ locomotive have landed on your feet! It’ll be available in three color schemes initially, North British DCC with sound, LNER, and BR early crest, the last two DCC ready. The pricing is interesting with the DCC sound version (£164.00) only being around £35.00 more than a DCC ready version. I can foresee buyers swapping bodies to get sound and vice versa! The EP looked pretty much ready to go, the weight seemed appropriate and I’d guess of similar value to the J15 which pulls well for its size.

Hornby J36 R3600TTS R3621 R3622

Hornby J36 R3600TTS R3621 R3622

Hornby J36 R3600TTS R3621 R3622

Hornby J36 R3600TTS R3621 R3622

Drive is via the rear axle and the cab area look clear of any compromises to achieve the rear wheel drive leaving daylight under the boiler and a representation of some of the inside valve gear. Tender pickups look to be on all axles, with the tender ‘permanently’ coupled. I couldn’t see on the quick look I had if there was a facility to close couple the tender, even if not, it won’t be a big job for those so inclined.

Hornby J36 R3600TTS R3621 R3622

NE Toads

LNER Toad Dia.064 R6834 R6834a R6833 R6833a

Well I seem to be followed around by Toads at the moment. Recently I’ve made four of them, two in 7mm and two in 4mm scale from the Parkside kits.
The Hornby model will cover two variants, the early (dia.034)as shown in this EP, wooden boarded ducket version, and the later steel ducket version (Dia.064). Overall it looks a really good effort. I originally wrote one characteristic of the type was a single large circular roof vent, neither version (to date), appears tooled for this common fitting. That was incorrect. The vans had paired vents which were larger than typical van roof vents, rather than the singular vent which I originally stated. My apologies for any confusion caused!

LNER Toad Dia.064 R6834 R6834a R6833 R6833a

It does unfortunately duplicate the Parkside kit which has only recently been released, I’m more than happy with the three I have (one to be built), and may indulge in one of the Dia.034’s. Then again I could do some modelling, and convert the unbuilt kit to an .034!

LNER Toad Dia.064 R6834 R6834a R6833 R6833a

So two very useful additions to Hornby’s range which look to be up to their current standard of quality releases. The Toads will be suitable for NE/LNER/Eastern Region generally across the board with the opportunity for cross region workings too. It’ll be interesting to see how the J36 is received sales wise, I hope it does well being specific to north of the border, and opens up possibilities for other northern region types.

Posted in 3d, 3d printing, Airfix, blog, blogger, Branch Line, British Rail, DCC, dcc sound, Eastern Region, flying scotsman, history, HO, hobbies, Hornby, Ian Futers, Inspiration, Layout, LNER, media, Midland Region, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Model Railway Journal, modeling, Modelling, n gauge, Nevard, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, Oxford rail, R3600TTS, R3621, research, Scotland, Scottish Region, social media, throwback thursday, toy fair, toy train, Toy trains, toytrainset, train set, trainset, Uncategorized, wagon | 2 Comments

London ToyFair 2018 Airfix

Posted on January 25, 2018 by bawdsey

Airfix 1/48 Bristol Blenheim A09186

Here’s some aviation content, the new releases from Airfix for 2018 seen at the London Toyfair.

Airfix 1/48 Bristol Blenheim A09186

Airfix 1/48 Hawker Hunter F6
A09185

Airfix 1/48 Hawker Hunter F6
A09185

The Hunter is one of the releases that interests me, it’s a classic 50’s and 60’s jet and reminds me of kicking the tyres on a batch of them (mainly T7’s) at RAF Cosford on behalf of a client prior to their sale. Our client in the end didn’t bid, the only single sweater in the batch wasn’t of sufficient interest. This EP to me catches the look of the Hunter nothing immediately standing out.

Airfix 1/72 Vickers Wellington MK1C A08019

Airfix 1/72 Vickers Wellington MK1C A08019

All three of the kits from the EP’s shown, look like they’re continuing the rich seam that Airfix are mining, with pretty accurate kits at competitive pricing.

Posted in Airfix, aviation, blogger, flight, history, hobbies, Hornby, modeling, Modelling, remembrance, toy fair, Uncategorized, world war two | Leave a comment

Wordless Wednesday

Posted on January 17, 2018 by bawdsey

Posted in Bachmann, blog, Branch Line, British Rail, Cameo, Cameo layout, DCC, dcc sound, Eastern Region, finescale, Forest of Dean, HO, hobbies, Hornby, Industrial, Layout, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Model Railway Journal, modeling, Modelling, Modelu, n gauge, Narrow Gauge, Nevard, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, Oxford rail, Rapido Trains, social media, toy train, Toy trains, toytrainset, train set, trainset, wordless wednesday | 3 Comments

Chiltern MRA 2018 Exhibition

Posted on January 13, 2018 by bawdsey

This weekend it’s the Stevenage Chiltern Model Railway Association at the Stevenage leisure centre. First show of the year and always a good one, (see above).

Well worth the effort of getting there.

http://www.cmra.org.uk/exhibition.html

https://www.modelu3d.co.uk

Posted in 3d, 3d printing, Award, Bachmann, blog, blogger, Branch Line, British Rail, dapol, DCC, dcc sound, Exhibition, finescale, Friends, HO, hobbies, Hornby, Inspiration, Kalmbach, Layout, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Model Railway Journal, modeling, Modelling, Modelu, n gauge, Narrow Gauge, Nevard, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, Oxford rail, Railex, research, Sky arts, social media, television, toy train, Toy trains, toytrainset, train set, trainset, Wales, Xtc | 4 Comments

Showtime, ‘This is Pop’ 7pm ET

Posted on January 11, 2018 by bawdsey

For fans of pre Brit-Pop music, and that crossover from MOR music to the punk era, tonight on ‘Showtime’ 7pm ET there a unique documentary regarding the British band XTC, called ‘This is Pop’.

http://xtcbumperbookoffunforboysandgirls.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/showtime-xtc-documentary-charlie-thomas.html?m=1

The connection with the hobby is the use of 3D printed figures in 4mm scale (1/76th) as part of the narrative linking the documentary together.

http://www.sho.com/video/59571/xtc-this-is-pop

For UK fans Modelu will be at the Chiltern Model Railway Exhibition at Stevenage this weekend.

http://www.cmra.org.uk/exhibition.html

If you’re in North America, watch it, if you’re in the UK, be there…

Posted in 3d, 3d printing, Award, blog, Cameo, film, finescale, Friends, HO, hobbies, Hornby, Inspiration, Interweb, Kalmbach, life, media, Model Railroad, Model Railway, modeling, Modelling, Modelu, n gauge, Narrow Gauge, O Gauge, o scale, Photography, skill, skillset, Sky, Sky arts, social media, television, throwback thursday, toy train, Toy trains, toytrainset, train set, trainset, tv, Uncategorized, Xtc | Leave a comment

First one in..

Posted on January 1, 2018 by bawdsey

First of all, have a good new year, and thanks for stopping by. So what will the new year bring? Recharging the batteries in the depths of the heart of Wales always does some good, and brings the opportunity to just sit back and think. The rain this past week has been biblical on occasion, meaning time inside just watching and listening to the rain.

So what does this mean for my world of toy trains? Basically getting back to the big project, the Forest Of Dean, do I still want to do it? Easy answer, yes. How do I want to do it? That’s a bit harder, and the break has made me think do I need to rationalise my ‘big’ idea. Partly I think yes, maybe some simplification will help, a maximum of three locations instead of my preferred four. DCC is beginning to gain some ground with me, historically I’ve worked in DC, so a bit of DCC playtime may be on the cards. The decider may be how much time I have to spend configuring the locos to run as well as they do on DC, because I really don’t like ‘working’ with computers!

Lighting and display again come to the forefront whilst watching the weather here, they make such a play in and on the landscape, even in the depth of winter. Tree structure and woodland environments are really noticeable too, again giving real food for thought regarding making them convincingly, a particular challenge for the Forest of Dean.

Shelfie2 is a key player in how I decide to take the FoD project forward, next couple of weeks will concentrate on the fiddle Yard/staging and the lighting and backscene. This past week will help push that forwards. I hope. It being new year and all that shite..

Posted in blog, blogger, Branch Line, British Rail, Cameo, Cameo layout, DCC, dcc sound, Eastern Region, Exhibition, finescale, Forest of Dean, Great Western, history, hobbies, Hornby, iain rice, Ian Futers, Inspiration, Kalmbach, Layout, life, media, Midland Region, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Model Railway Journal, modeling, Modelling, Modelu, n gauge, Narrow Gauge, Nevard, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, Oxford rail, Photography, Railex, Rapido Trains, research, Scottish Region, shelfie, social media, Southern Region, toy train, Toy trains, toytrainset, train set, trainset, travel, Uncategorized, Wales, Welsh Marches, Western Region | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Merry Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2017 by bawdsey

Another year flown past! A quick note to thank all you readers whom have dropped in over the past year. It’s been a bit quiet over the past month on here, but don’t worry we’ll pick up in the new year perhaps with something very different.

Finally a thank you to the modellers, manufacturers and fellow bloggers, who provide acres of inspiration and good company every year!

See you soon!

Posted in 2017, Bachmann, blog, blogger, blogging, brassmasters, Cameo layout, canada, Chris Nevard, christmas, dapol, DCC, dcc sound, Eastern Region, EM, Exhibition, finescale, flying scotsman, Forest of Dean, Friends, Hattons, HO, hobbies, Hornby, iain rice, Ian Futers, Inspiration, Kalmbach, Layout, life, LMS, LNER, media, Midland Region, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Model Railway Journal, modeling, Modelling, Modelu, n gauge, Narrow Gauge, Nevard, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, Oxford rail, Railex, Rapido Trains, shelfie, social media, Southern, Southern Region, toy fair, toy train, Toy trains, toytrainset, train set, trainset, usa, Wales, Welsh Marches, Western Region | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Modelu Award

Posted on November 26, 2017 by bawdsey

Alan Buttler owner of Modelu receives the 2017 Gwyn Humphreys award at Warley 2017, for innovation in the hobby!

https://www.modelu3d.co.uk

Posted in 2017, 3d, 3d printing, Award, blog, British Rail, Cameo, Cameo layout, Eastern Region, Eighties, EM, Exhibition, finescale, Great Western, Hattons, hero, HO, hobbies, Hornby, Inspiration, Interweb, Layout, life, LMS, LNER, media, Midland Region, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Model Railway Journal, modeling, Modelling, Modelu, n gauge, Nevard, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, Oxford rail, review, shopping, skill, social media, Southern, Southern Electrics, Southern Region, television, toy train, Toy trains, toytrainset, train set, trainset, Uncategorized, Wales, Western Region, Xtc | 3 Comments

Rapido Warley 2017 (new product announcement)

Posted on November 25, 2017 by bawdsey


Warley 2017 is upon us, and whilst delivering some commissioned stock I dropped past the Rapido stand. On the stand were three of the items I’m currently looking forward to, Model Rail magazines J70 tram locomotive and these two above the SW1200’s and the 3800 Cubic Ft cylindrical hopper. Both looked up to the standard we’ve come to expect from Rapido and are imminent in terms of release, hoppers by the end of the year, and the 1200’s early 2018. 

As a surprise for the UK market there is also a U.K. rolling stock item, very well chosen and will be available in grey and brown, with the possibility of earlier liveries too.

It’s going to be announced later today, so I suppose this is an announcement about an announcement, (start the foamathon now), but there are also hard copy 3D prints which will be available to see too. No prices yet though.

They look excellent and the underframe detail is ‘Rapido’ though and through, the UK market is in for a pleasant surprise.

Posted in 2017, blog, blogger, British Rail, canada, Exhibition, finescale, Forest of Dean, Great Western, Hornby, Layout, LMS, LNER, media, Midland Region, Model Railroad, Model Railway, modeling, Modelling, Modelu, n gauge, Nevard, O Gauge, o scale, Ontario, OO Gauge, Rapido Trains, research, Scottish Region, social media, toy train, Toy trains, toytrainset, train set, trainset, True North, wagon, Western Region | Leave a comment

Wordless Wednesday (Shelfie2 08)

Posted on November 22, 2017 by bawdsey

Posted in 2017, Bachmann, blog, Branch Line, brassmasters, British Rail, Cameo, Cameo layout, DCC, Eastern Region, Exhibition, finescale, Great Western, HO, hobbies, Hornby, iain rice, Ian Futers, Industrial, Layout, LMS, LNER, media, Midland Region, Model Railroad, Model Railway, Model Railway Journal, modeling, Modelling, Modelu, n gauge, Narrow Gauge, Nevard, O Gauge, o scale, OO Gauge, Oxford rail, Photography, Rapido Trains, Scottish Region, shelfie, social media, Southern, Southern Electrics, Southern Region, toy train, Toy trains, toytrainset, train set, trainset, Western Region, wordless wednesday | 2 Comments