I could not believe the venality and sheer evil of the ‘youths’ who broke into the school at Welland Academy in Stamford, Lincolnshire, on Saturday 18th May 2019, where the Market Deeping Model Railway Club were holding their annual model railway exhibition. In a matter of minutes four ‘feral’ teenagers, who at 3am were away […]
I can offer a ESU Loksound sound programming/mapping service to customers in the U.K. at an economical rate. I am able to program ESU decoders from V2 to V5 (but not the Loksound Select Direct decoders as these are not reprogrammable with a new soundscape). I can program any of the locomotive sound profiles available for download […]
I recently bought a ‘surplus to requirements’ model of the Class 2095 narrow gauge diesel locomotive as used on the ÖBB line, amongst others, from a member of the Narrow Gauge Railway Modellers Online forum (www.ngrm-online.co.uk). This was an impulse buy, but the price asked and the wow-factor and reviews of this loco were irresistible. […]
I wanted to use some DCC Concepts 2-aspect ground signals that I had bought. They came with two DCC Concepts Alpha Mimic LED controllers but at 50 UKP each, and capable of operating 24 LEDs each, they are too expensive to use on Die Keinnamebahn where only a few signals are on each board and […]
I decided that it was taking too long to unpack and pack my rolling stock at exhibitions by having to use the manufacturers packaging. I have therefore started to make stock boxes by adding an inner liner of foamcore board with partitions to keep the stock safe. Ryman, in the U.K., sell various sizes of […]
I made my H0e exhibition layout “Die Keinnamebahn” using the laser cut MDF scenic baseboards manufactured by Tim Horn (https://timhorn.co.uk). Tim’s original 400x250x50 mm scenic baseboards were made using 3mm MDF but his new style boards now use 6mm thick moisture resistant MDF with 3mm ordinary MDF sides and ends. The ends are accurately cut […]
The Aldi Alarm Padlock is, in my opinion, a total waste of money. Publicised by Aldi as suitable for protecting your shed or garage it has a fatal flaw, one night of rain destroys the electronic alarm circuitry! The padlock has upward facing loudspeaker holes which have no effective sealing. One night of rain filled […]
I will be using the 4 litre plastic storage boxes from Rymans to hold my unboxed rolling stock that I will be taking to the exhibitions I will be attending with my H0e Narrow Gauge exhibition layout Die Keinnamebahn. I will fit out the storage boxes with foam board partitions to protect the stock. To […]
This layout, De Graafstroom by Vincent de Bode, was filmed by Ted Polet at the Model Train Expo, Ontraxs! 2019 at the Dutch Railway Museum (Het Spoorwemuseum) Utrecht, 15/16/17 March 2019. Watch the beautiful scene develop as the swan floats down the river and the sailing barge slowly heads up river to pass under the […]
I have been developing a JMRI (Java Model Railway Interface) DCC (Digital Command Control) system for my exhibition layout “Die Keinnamebahn” that uses mobile smart phones as WiFi connected hand throttles connected to the JMRI software running on a Raspberry Pi Model 3B+ microcomputer set up as a WiFi access point. I got the […]
With Narrow Gauge North at Pudsey fast approaching on Saturday 9th March I decided to add some signalling to Die Keinnamebahn. To this end the first light I fitted is to protect the coaling station crossover. I fitted a Viessmann 4011 stop signal and used a Train-Tech SC1 DCC signal light controller to automatically change […]
A short video of my Brawa br199 ‘Harzkamel’ running on Die Keinnamebahn at the NMDRM exhibition at Chapel-en-le-Frith on 23/24 February 2019
Ever since I saw this loco by Brawa in the modelling press several years I have wanted one. This H0e or H0m gauge model (wheelsets for both 9mm and 12mm versions are provided) of the massive BR 199 locomotive used in the Harz region of northern Germany. The massive shape gave it the nickname “Harzkamel”. My […]
Because we will be using a computerised, Raspberry Pi based, DCC control system with wireless hand controllers to control Die Keinnamebahn at exhibitions I wanted to protect the system from induced spikes or drop outs in the mains electricity supply. Dropouts can occur if someone accidentally, or inadvertently, unplugs a mains supply lead to the layout […]
Two weeks to go to my first exhibition of 2019 at Chapel-en-le-Frith on 23/24 February and I am testing Die Keinnamebahn, my H0e exhibition layout. The point at the station throat was not polarising the frog properly and so I changed the Seep PM4 switching latched solenoid point motor. Testing showed it was now OK […]
As we progress getting ready for the first of our 2019 exhibitions at Chapel-en-le-Frith I have now fitted the Raspberry Pi microcomputer into a £10 fan cooled case that fits onto the back of the TV and connects to the DVI video connection on the TV. The case, complete with fan and all fitting screws, […]
Well, it is another year gone by and I have taken Die Keinnamebahn out of its storage crates to test it, and fix any problems on it, so that it can show at the first of this year’s exhibitions, Chapel-en-le Frith on 23/24 February. Last year we had a minor problem with the track lifting at a […]
it never ceases to amaze me what you can buy via a certain internet auction site. For £4.42 inclusive of postage you get a brass handled precision cutter with easily replaceable snap-off blades for less than you would expect to pay for a flimsy plastic component. Sold as a “Leather Craft Tools DIY Incision Cutter […]
As a little whimsy I designed, and had made, some mugs for myself and my wife for use at exhibitions. They are aluminium heat retaining travel mugs with sealed lids. Labelled “Zugfürer” (Driver) and “Zugwache” (Guard) they, along with our banner and custom Die Keinnamebahn sweatshirts will, hopefully, add a little extra professionalism to our […]
Die Keinnamebahn was invited, and we have now confirmed, to show at the 009 Society’s premier show, Narrow Gauge North, at the Civic Centre, Pudsey, Yorkshire on Saturday 9th March 2019. My wife and I are honoured to be invited to this show which will exhibit some of the UK’s finest narrow gauge model railways.
As part of getting ready for our 2019 exhibition outings at (Chapel-en-le-Frith on 23rd & 24th February, Narrow Gauge North at Pudsey (9th March) , Chesterfield Model Railway Society show at Bakewell (8th & 9th June) and the North Wales N Gauge Society show at Conwy 6th & 7th July) I have designed and had […]
Christmas is coming early for me this year. My wife, forever trying to buy me a useful present, is buying me a model makers’ belt sander for Christmas. It is only 175mm x 110mm x 140mm/6.88” x 4.33” x 5.51” in size and uses 330x10mm belts as used in some electric files/sanders. I should be useful […]
This conversion was made by Andy V8, a narrow gauge modeller. He has given me permission to post this article on his conversion. It used a cheap plastic souvenir model of the Garratt locomotive “ H.R.Zubieta” on the 600mm gauge Ferrocarril Austral Fueguino (FCAF) line in Uraguay. Andy used 2 Koppel locomotive chassis by […]
Many commercially produced locos have bulbs or LEDs to illuminate the headlamps and tail lamps. Modern LED equipped locos usually now have bicolour LEDs to change between red and white depending upon the direction of the loco, but many don’t and just have a single colour LED or lamp that shows white only in the […]
I recently obtained some lovely 1/87 scale models of French road vehicles. They include these two models of Renault Galion trucks. They are not cheap at but in my opinion are well worth the money for the rarity and quality of these models. They would grace any Continental H0 scale model railway.
You can now follow Narrow Gauge Railway Modelling on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Narrow-Gauge-Railway-Modelling-1926030680780061/
I bought a supposedly 1/87 scale cherry picker (lift platform) off of eBay from a Chinese seller. The box clearly states 1/87 as the scale and so I am not complaining against the seller, but the item is clearly not 1/87 in scale and I estimate it to be at least 1/48, 1/43 or even 1/35 […]
If any club wishes to be listed here please provide your club name, website address and/or contact details to narrowgaugenews@retiarius.com and you will be added as soon as possible. International 009 Society, dedicated to promoting the modelling of narrow gauge railways in many scales. www.009society.com England Bedfordshire & Buckinghampshire Beds and Bucks Narrow […]
This is a list of UK models shops that have a physical shop rather than just an on-line sales service. Please visit their websites or telephone the company for details of their opening times. If any model shop wishes to be listed here please provide your shop name, address, website address and telephone number to […]
This idea is not mine, I picked up the idea from reading the forums on ngrm-online.com. Dispensing superglue (cyanoacrylate adhesive) to stick small components can be difficult because the thin superglues are very runny and you can easily flood the item if trying to dispense it from the nozzle on the bottle or tube. You […]
The Resistance Soldering Unit (RSU) that I bought was a second-hand unit and appears to be a home-made unit. It was nicely finished but I wanted to check it out for safety as potential mains voltages and hand held probes do not go together! I therefore opened the box and checked that all the wiring […]
I recently bought a resistance soldering unit (RSU) to help me construct etched nickel silver and brass models. My first project is to build the RT Models 4mm scale 009 gauge Shotton Steel Works/SBR Hudswell Badger Loco body kit. To make the ground connection for the RSU I use a piece of 2mm galvanised steel to […]
You can now follow this blog on Apple News if you have an iOS or MacOS device such as an iPhone, iPad or Apple computer. The Apple News articles will automatically synchronise with posts on this blog. The Apple News channel is called “Narrow Gauge Railway Modelling”. To see this channel, open this link on […]
I built a turntable for Die Keinnamebahn and electrified it using Peco NB-55 n-gauge turntable kit and a 10rpm geared motor, worm and gear obtained from China, via eBay. I had to build my own gearbox frame from strip brass, no easy task for this amateur metalworker! The installation worked but I wondered if there was […]
I needed to make a relatively large expanse of station yard and road on Valdieu-Lutran. I decided that chinchilla dust, a form of powdered clay, would be a good base. I initially tried to stick the dust to the baseboard using diluted PVA but this was unsuccessful because the clay did not stick well. After […]
I was going to be using the European Station models by Bachman for Valdieu-Lutran but, when I tried them in real life rather than as appearing on the track plan, they appeared far too big for such a narrow baseboard, especially against a train. The goods shed especially was too wide and needed to be […]
Welsh Highland Railway South African Garratt articulated NG16 locomotives crossing at Beddgelert, Noth Wales in July 2018. [ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”19″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_thumbnails” override_thumbnail_settings=”0″ thumbnail_width=”120″ thumbnail_height=”90″ thumbnail_crop=”1″ images_per_page=”20″ number_of_columns=”0″ ajax_pagination=”0″ show_all_in_lightbox=”0″ use_imagebrowser_effect=”0″ show_slideshow_link=”1″ slideshow_link_text=”[Show as slideshow]” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]
Today I started the level crossing for the goods yard for Valdieu-Lutran. The methods is the same as for the embedded track using copper-clad PCB onto which sections of Code 80 track are soldered for the rails and catch-rails. The PCB copper is gapped between the rails and between the tracks using my Dremel and […]
The Liliput 2095 diesel in H0e is still a much-wanted model even after being out of production for nearly 20 years. The loco is usually very reliable but has an Achilles heel in that the plastic counterweights go brittle with age and split at the point the connecting rod pin is pressed into the counterweight. […]
All modellers have experienced that dreaded moment when a small part goes ‘ping’ from a pair of tweezers or when using a scalpel to cut them from the spruce. Dropped parts, screws and other tiny bits are promptly eaten by the carpet monster only to be found when you have finished or binned the project […]
My copy of the 009 Society News (Volume 45 Number 10, July 2018) dropped through my letterbox this morning and my article on Die Keinnamebahn has been published as the lead article. It is over 20 years since I last had an article published, and that was in my capacity as a Member of the […]
When laying track on a curve using copper clad sleepers or onto copper clad sheet for embedded track the track needs to be eased in gauge slightly for good running. To do this on Peco Code 80 rail then you need a 3-point track gauge. I have been unable to find a commercially produced 3-point […]
I have been busy working on the embedded track on Valdieu-Lutran station yard. Any of the cobbles that rose above the rail height have been cut down to below rail height and painted with a granite grey paint, with some cobbles having a slightly browner colour. The cobbles have then been coated with Games Workshop […]
Today has been spent checking that the embedded track was usable by a selection of locos. One, a Roco 0-6-0 tank caused problems by being tight on the track. After checking and resetting the back-to-back measurement on the loco all is now well. The copper clad pcb material was trimmed to 1/8″ outside of the […]
It has been a busy day. I now have a name for my new layout. It will be called Valdieu-Lutran. Valdieu-Lutran is a small town in France near the German and Swiss borders and sits on the Canal du Rhone du Rhin, so allowing me a small quayside and, if it is a heritage railway, […]
I came across these boards on eBay. They are listed as “1Pcs Bridge Rectifier IN4007 Ac To Dc Converter Wave Rectifier Circuit Board” at 99p each but the seller was accepting offers so I have managed to order 12 for £9 inclusive of postage. The boards will easily power a few LEDs on each baseboard. […]
It never rains but it pours rocking horse droppings, or rather rare Atlas Editions autorail (automotrice) models. In this case a 3 piece set of L’Automotrice du Train Jaune Z-105 + 2 Remorques (ZR-20001 and ZR-20033) – 1909. The set will join my collection of these lovely models. The Little Yellow Train of the Pyrenees […]
I have for sometime been buying autorail models by Atlas Editions with the intention of converting some of them into narrow gauge models using n-gauge chassis. The other day I saw what, to me, is the rare as a rocking horse dropping, L’autorail Floirat et sa remorque autorail with trailer. I had never seen this […]
I am using 1” wide 2mm thick N-gauge track underlay which I am sticking down using 3M spray mount adhesive. The cork can be carefully bent to fit a 12” radius curve. I used low-tack masking tape to hold it in place whilst the glue dried.
On my new layout I am again are using the brass pattern makers’ dowels that align the boards to transfer the DCC power and control signals between the boards. 2mm bare solid copper wire is used to create a power/signal busbar between the dowels. The electrical contact between the male and female pattern maker’s dowels […]
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