Another weekend, another model railway exhibition - although it did nearly get a miss, as one of my syndicate horses was running at Ascot! The last time I went to this show was 2018 and I think there have only been 2 since due to the pandemic. How good it was for the club to be on again and celebrating their 40th show. The show was incredibly busy, with a large number of families, as well as individuals enjoying the quality layouts on show. So, here are the layouts that can be seen in this, part 1:
Gare St. Christophe - A French minor railway of the 1950's and 1960's. Narrow gauge trains served the rural countryside, meeting up with standard gauge mainlines at urban stations. The layout is modelled in 3.5mm scale.
Habbaniya, Iraq, 1941 - this amazing diorama / layout features no less than 10 moving features - 2 railways and a roadway amongst these. If you look carefully you may spot some of the others! The display is deeper, rather than wider and as you peer in - the viewpoint is as though you are inside a sand bagged defensive position - the modeller has excelled in using forced perspective to make a scene that stretches back 1 mile. Habbaniya itself, was an RAF base - my own late Father was stationed there in the early 1950's, so this was a very poignant exhibit for me.
New Walmington Pier - a 4mm scale model of a narrow gauge pier railway in Edwardian times. The "toast rack" car carries its passengers along the pier, to a carousel at the end.
River Crane Mill - A 4mm scale OO9 narrow gauge railway, inspired by "The Darling Buds of May" tv programme. Ma Larkin can be seen feeding the chickens, whilst trains move agricultural equipment around the property.
Railway Rock - a large, whimsical railway in GN15. With much scratch built stock and buildings, this exhibit is very colourful and musical. Superb and very different. I couldnt help but notice, plenty of youngsters having pictures taken in front of it.
Railroad Crossing - a 3.5mm Ho scale American railroad shunting layout. The centrepiece of the layout is the road crossing, which runs right across the scene. The layout is controlled by dcc and features sound fitted locomotives and ambient sounds.
Leonard - a 2mm N gauge modern image layout, featuring a NSE terminus station at the end of a branchline. Differing types of passenger stock from DMU's and EMU's to loco hauled services feature, as well as departmental freight trains.
Lambourn - A 4mm Scale , OO gauge, model of the Berkshire branchline terminus. The layout operates within the 1938 to 1953 period and, unsurprisingly, features plenty of horse traffic as well as human passengers.
The layout is operated by dcc control with more ambient sounds piped around the layout.
Compass Point - a 4mm scale OO9 narrow gauge branchline, set on a shingle spit, in the South East of England. The line meanders along the spit, in and out of various buildings, which house appropriate businesses. Some fascinating observation and modelling.
Wittenden - This 7mm scale layout features a 2ft 3in railway serving the town, but also a 15in gauge railway, running through the grounds of the local manor. Much of the modelling is scratch built, with many buildings being modelled on local examples, from around Tonbridge.
Feltham Road - a 4mm scale, OO gauge steam shed, based on the building at Feltham itself, although this version is a single ended shed, whereas Feltham was a through shed. It also has 4 roads rather than 6 and the repair shed has been switched to the right hand side of the building, as opposed to the left side. The layout is dcc controlled by Raspberry Pi meaning it can be controlled by iphone or ipad.
Last and by no means least - Copper Wort - a 4mm scale, hexagonal shaped layout. Based on the breweries of Burton on Trent, the railways deliver raw materials and distribute the products upon production. Set in the 1900's this layout features rolling stock from the breweries own fleets as well as that from the Midland and Great Northern Railway companies. The architectural modelling is fantastic, with some buildings featuring internal detail also.
I hope you enjoy this first film of my visit. Dont forget to watch part 2. Please feel free to comment, share and like. Subscribe to my channel, for more model and garden railway action.
stay safe and best wishes, Iain
30 сен 2024
