DECEMBER 2019
TOP MODEL PICKS OF 2019: PART 1
HORNBY’S GWR COLLETT COACHES REVIEWED P8
RAILS/HELJAN ‘OO’ GAS TURBINE PLAN
P10
MORE SECRETS OF AIRBRUSH SPRAYING
P36
P20
December 2019
| 3
From the editor
Modelling GUIDE TO
E
Staff
Editor Pete Kelly RMModellingeditor@mortons.co.uk Contributors Nigel Burkin, Ian Lamb, Jon Longman Production editors Pauline Hawkins, Sarah Spencer Designers Holly Furness and Tracey Markham Picture desk Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield Group advertising manager Sue Keily Publisher Tim Hartley Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole Subscription manager Paul Deacon Circulation manager Steve O'Hara Marketing manager Charlotte Park
To advertise, contact:
Lynsey Young 01507 529454 lyoung@mortons.co.uk Fiona Leak 01507 529573 fleak@mortons.co.uk
Where to find us
Editorial, advertising and administration Mortons Media Group Ltd, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR Tel 01507 529529
Do you want to stock RMM? Then please contact: Derek Wright 01507 529428 dwright@mortons.co.uk
Copyright
© Copyright Mortons Media Group Ltd. Reproduction in any manner, in whole or part, without prior approval in writing is prohibited. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in articles or advertisements, or for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations.
Printing
Mortons Print, Horncastle, Lincs. Tel 01507 523456
Next edition
Find stockists online at
www.railwaymagazinemodelling.co.uk January 2020 issue of RMM is out on Friday, December 20, 2019.
Pete Kelly Editor
ver since I was a young boy in the late 1940s, Christmas Day has always reminded me of train sets – primarily Hornby O-gauge tinplate – and to find myself writing about the subject of railway modelling 70 years later is something I would never have predicted in the wildest of dreams. The amazing thing is that, despite the massive strides forward in accuracy, detail and sophistication in all scales that modellers enjoy today (see part one of Nigel Burkin’s ‘Top model choices from 2019’ feature on pages 20-21), tinplate trains like the simple wind-up Hornby and its two stumpy carriages that I woke up to, wide-eyed, in 1949 have never lost their appeal, and the well-used, carefully stored or simply forgotten about remnants from that golden age remain eagerly sought-after at toy fairs and swapmeets all over the country to this day. Wherever I have found tinplate train layouts at model railway exhibitions, the attention they have received often equals or even exceeds that of even the most sophisticated high-tech displays of this modern age. Of course simple nostalgia, whether it be for early childhood in general or the real-life railways we might have known in particular, is the driving force behind so much of this, which is why I have chosen Trevor Mitchell’s painting ‘Grandad’s Attic’ for our December cover this year. I introduced readers to this painting when I tucked it away somewhere inside the second issue of RMM that I became responsible for about 18 months ago, but I’m sure many of you will not have seen it before. Fuelled by his own fond memories of Hornby Dublo trains, lineside accessories and Dinky Toys, the painting was a
complete ‘one-off’ for Trevor, who for much of the time concentrates on rural and agricultural paintings, among other subjects. What I loved about it from the moment I first saw it in his Bradford studio was the simple message of family togetherness, along with the portrayal of how railway modelling can so easily span the generations. From the accuracy of the Hornby Dublo and Dinky Toy boxes, the model trains, the distinctive track and lineside accessories, it is obvious how much research Trevor put into this picture of pure happiness. Seeing how much I was taken by ‘Grandad’s Attic’ during that visit of almost eight years ago – at around the time I was just starting to build my very first OO-scale model railway layout, ‘Slagdyke’, as a so-called ‘retirement hobby’ – Trevor kindly took out print 19 of a limitededition of 250 and scribbled on it the words: “Good luck with the layout, Pete!” The painting itself, which was first commissioned as the subject of a Gibson’s jigsaw puzzle, shows Grandad, whose face is crinkled into a beaming smile, with his right hand on the controller as his grandson holds a Hornby Dublo model of an N2 0-6-2 tank locomotive. Colourful tinplate accessories abound as an LMS ‘Duchess’ Pacific draws into the station close to the engine shed where LNER A4 Pacific No. 7 Sir Nigel Gresley (renumbered as such from No. 4497 in 1947, the year before nationalisation) sits on the turntable. There’s simply so much going on, from the blue model aeroplane hanging from the attic roof to the tunnel, with its lovely landscaping; the station buildings and platforms, one of them boasting a newspaper kiosk; the water column and
signalbox; the Dinky Toy taxis and Morris Minor Post Office van by the station entrance and so much more. On the far wall can be seen carriage compartment paintings and other railway memorabilia including Southern Railway warning signs, builders’ plates, lamps, wagon plates and a railway map of the South West. In true jigsaw style, every corner is crammed with interest – even beneath the bench on the left are carefully bound lengths of three-rail track, levelcrossing gates and more Dinky and Hornby Dublo boxes. Only nine of the limited-edition 32 x 45cm prints of ‘Grandad’s Attic’ are now left, at £25 each including postage. To snap them up, visit rothburypublishing.com, email sales@rothburypublishing.com or phone 01963 250530. The joy of railway modelling remains the same whichever generation we come from, or whichever aspect of railways appeals to us. Some of the keenest and most able modellers of today are creating modern-image layouts that simply take the breath away, utilising every amazing advance of the modern modelling age. Not only are the models themselves more accurate than they have ever been, but we also have DCC, ever-more-sophisticated lighting and signalling, and every surrounding sound imaginable, not to mention those of the trains themselves. I hope ‘Grandad’s Attic’ lifts you in spirit whichever generation you belong to, and wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas.
12
|
NEW MODEL ANNOUNCEMENT
December 2019
Rails enters the Jet Age!
Three OO-scale model versions of the 1949 Brown Boveri gas-turbine locomotive No. 18000 are under development by Rails of Sheffield and Heljan, and should be ready to buy at the end of 2020.
J
ust two days before we went to press with this issue, and in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the building of the unique Brown Boveri gas-turbine prototype No. 18000 in 1949, Rails of Sheffield and Heljan have announced the development of a museum-quality OO-gauge model of the locomotive, which worked on the Western Region of British Railways and was nicknamed, perhaps predictably, ‘Kerosene Castle’. Due for release at the end of 2020, the low production run models have been priced at £199.99 with pre-orders available from www.railsofsheffield.com for a deposit of £30. Design work was completed over the summer, and tooling is now well underway on what should be a highly-popular model of this famous experimental locomotive. The model has been developed with the assistance of the National Railway Museum using original documentation from Brown Boveri and BR Western Region, including works drawings dating from the late 1940s. Differences between the locomotive as built and as modified during the 1950s have been incorporated into the tooling to ensure absolute accuracy for each livery and period. Roof, cab front and grille details will vary between the BR black and
BR green versions. First tooling samples are expected to be ready in early 2020, followed by decorated samples in mid-year and then production. Three variants will be produced – BR gloss black with silver trim (1949-56), BR lined green with orange/black waistband lining and early BR crest (1956-57) and the same with late BR crest (1957-60). Specification will include a 21-pin DCC socket with easy access; room to easily install a speaker for DCC sound; directional LED lighting; a heavy die-cast metal chassis with central motor and flywheels for powerful performance; separatelyfitted hand rails and sand pipes; spoked wheels; etched grilles; sprung buffers and flush glazing. An optional Western Region-style train reporting number frame and numerals will also be included in the package to allow modellers to add this distinctive WR feature to the front of the locomotive. History Although diesel power was beginning to prove itself as a viable alternative to steam traction before the Second World War, no single-unit locomotive of the time could match the power of large main line steam locomotives. Rather than developing its own diesels, the Great Western Railway looked to gas-turbine power, ordering a 2500hp
The Brown Boveri gas-turbine locomotive No. 18000 stands in the Swindon Works yard after withdrawal from service on September 25 1960. M J Norman/Mortons Railway Magazine Archive photo.
prototype locomotive from Swiss company Brown Boveri in 1946. Delays in construction, and foreign currency shortages, meant that the locomotive was not delivered until after nationalisation, so it was the fledgling British Railways that inherited the project from the GWR. After tests on the Swiss Federal Railways network in late 1949, No. 18000 was hauled across Europe and arrived in the UK on the Harwich train ferry in February 1950. Running on six-axle bogies with four traction motors arranged as an A1A-A1A, the 115-ton gas-turbine locomotive had a maximum speed of 90mph, and for lowspeed shunting and light-engine moves, an auxiliary diesel engine was fitted – particularly useful in and around London
Paddington, where the noise and fumes of the main engine brought complaints from passengers and residents alike. Although No. 18000 experienced many problems and failures in service, in its day it was capable of meeting the WR’s expectations. As well as undertaking test runs, it was used on revenue-earning trains between Paddington, Bristol and the West of England, but a combination of heavy fuel consumption, poor reliability and a lack of suitable operations to achieve the necessary efficiency led eventually to the locomotive being set aside after long periods out of traffic. No. 18000 was eventually withdrawn in 1960 and stored at Swindon Works until 1964, when it was acquired by the International Union of Railways (UIC) and modified for wheel/rail interface
experiments in Switzerland and Austria. No longer gas turbine-powered, it became a hauled vehicle, working with various types of electric locomotives. By 1975 it was on display outside the Mechanical Engineering test building of the UIC’s Arsenal Test Centre in Vienna, where it remained until the early 1990s. Because so many British enthusiasts recognised No. 18000’s significance, however, it returned to the UK in 1994 sponsored by BR’s Railfreight Distribution sector, and went to Sheffield’s Tinsley depot for external restoration. Since then this tenacious survivor, now largely empty inside, has been resident at Crewe Heritage Centre, Barrow Hill and Didcot Railway Centre, where it is currently on display, now owned by the Pete Waterman Trust.
14 |
GUARANTEE
December 2019
YOUR COPY OF
GUIDE TO
Modelling
12 £15 FOR ONLY
ISSUES
*
• SUPERB CONTENT EVERY MONTH • NEVER MISS AN ISSUE • DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR DOOR
VISIT - www.classicmagazines.co.uk /rmm4 CALL - 01507 529529 QUOTE: RMM4 LINES OPEN 8.30am-5pm Mon-Fri
EXPIRES: 31/12/19 * FOLLOWED BY £15 EVERY 12 MONTHS BY CONTINUOUS DIRECT DEBIT
20 |
December 2019
Model review of the year
Top model choices from 2019 Making a choice from the diverse range of models released during 2019, all of which were produced to a high standard, is not an easy task, but Nigel Burkin rises to the challenge to make his own top picks for 2019. We begin with the steam locomotive models, followed by diesel, electric, rolling stock and a rail head treatment train in the January issue.
T
raditional norms in the hobby are being challenged by the rise of small and emerging manufacturers which are also raising standards in accuracy and technical innovation. During 2019 they grew alongside more traditional manufacturers, with some interesting releases arriving in the shops or being made available through dedicated channels. Accurascale and Irish Railway Models successfully introduced the concept of runner packs for OO-gauge wagon models with packs of two, three and five models being made the norm, all with individual running numbers and bespoke markings in some cases. Cavalex showed what can be done with care and enthusiasm with the release of its Redland hopper wagons, the second release of which is imminent. O gauge continues to grow in popularity, and manufacturer support is keeping pace, with Dapol and Heljan producing some exemplary models at attractive prices. From exquisite steam locomotives to rolling stock, both companies have models in the 2019 top picks. As we went to press, Dapol released its O-scale lower quadrant signals which would be included in the cut for 2019 for layout accessories (see page 45). Technological developments are allso beiing ad dvanced d, wiith h ever-moresophisticated electronics being built into models for lighting effects, digital sound
and control. The Bachmann OO-gauge Class 90 stands out, with its dedicated decoder for operation of the pantograph and advanced locomotive lighting. Dapol’s N-gauge Class 50 has electronics for advanced lighting effects when fitted with the appropriate NEXT18 decoder. Its Version 2 OO-gauge Class 73 also featured more advanced lighting circuitry for cab and running lights, exploring what can be done with multiple-pole plug and play decoders and circuit board switching. Rolling stock is increasing steadily in price, with a single OO-gauge coach priced between £35 and £75 and wagons typically £30 to £55 each, which could be a factor in pushing some modellers towards O gauge when the cost of the O-gauge Dapol HAA wagon came in at £55 and its new 9ft wheelbase salt wagons were priced at £50, with other models based on the same underframe being attractively priced. Hornby has been one of the most prolific manufacturers in 2019, with a host of new coaches for GWR and BR modellers including the Collett GWR main line stock reviewed in this issue alongside the Maunsell suburban coaches and BR Mk.2f stock. Its 2019 release programme is far from complete, but the delightful Peckett B2 0-6-0ST locomotive arrived in time to makke th he cut. Most of the diesel and electric model releases for 2019 consisted of reissues
of the Class 31, HST and Class 60 locomotives, and Hornby won a lot of friends by producing some interesting versions of the Class 66 in various liveries using the former Lima tooling as a basis for the budget models. Its TTS digital sound package was included in these models and many others, including a DB Schenker Class 60, at competitive prices. There is no doubt that wallets and payment cards took a little beating this year. The following is the final cut of models that have done much to enrich the hobby and inspire layouts and dioramas. Some of the models represent progress made in the hobby, while others are included for the simple pleasure they have given. Here are some of my top steam locomotive choices for the year.
One of the more useful accessories is the KPF-Zeller rolling road that was used to test the superb Heljan O-gauge 43XX 2-6-0 locomotive.
Its features include:
• Brake details fitted in line with the driving wheels. • Length: 410mm over the buffers. • Weight fully assembled including tender: 1540g.
Heljan O-gauge 43XX In O gauge, the Heljan GWR/BR 43xx class 2-6-0 finished in lined BR green livery romps in with its amazing likeness to the full-sized locomotives. A masterpiece in injection-moulded plastic, it is detailed to a very high standard including cab backhead and a wealth of detail on the engine itself, and photographing it was a real pleasure. When its £779 price tag is considered for th he levell off detaiil and d fi fine runniing, it is good value for money and difficult to have one built for that price.
• Finely tooled body shell assembly with subtle detail for rivets and boiler bands. • A detail-rich moulding for the tender. • Tender fitted with brake rodding and water chute detail. • Sprung plastic buffers. • Separately applied wire hand rails and hand rail knobs. • Five-pole motor with brass flywheel. • Designed to accept an ESU Loksound L4.0 digital sound decoder. • Illuminated firebox with fire glow. • Detailed cab with separately fitted pipes and controls to the backhead. • Cab interior details painted with appropriate colours. • Adjustable sprung screw link couplings and coupling guards. • Separate footplate to tender fall plate. • Separately moulded number plate. • Separate whistle and safety valve detail.
From tender to smokebox, the Heljan 43XX is beautifully and comprehensively detailed, including the cab backhead.
Hornby’s main line steam locomotive models continue to impress, and its ‘defrocked’ ‘Du uche ess’ Pa acific cs is ssued this s year willl ha ave e been we elcome e addittio ons s to LMS S/BR transition and BR eras. The brand new ‘Princess Royal’ locomotives were still to be released at the time of writing.
Hornby ‘Princess Coronation’ Pacifics Hornby is particularly good at large main line steam locomotives, and its ‘defrocked’ LMS ‘Duchesses’ made a good impression on the team at RMM. The two review models are a great representation of what the company is capable of. Both models, blue-liveried BR No. 46225 Duchess of Gloucester (R3682) and LMS lined black No. 6241 City of Edinburgh (R3681), were featured this year and are reissued models following the successful introduction of the model in 2017, which included a new mechanism which performed well.
ENJOYED THIS PREVIEW? THE BEST ACTION IN TRIALS AND MOTOCROSS
DIRTb bike ke
VELO MAC MA S SPECIAL PECIAL NORTON RT RTON INTER AJS SCEPTRE SCEP E SPORTS! SCEPTR SPORTS POR ! PORTS
CLASSIC
#48
ISSUE
Forty-eight Autumn 2018
OCTOBER 2018
No. 330 October 2018 £4.30 UK Off-sale date 31/10/2018
MOTO MEMORIES // TECH TALK // MONTESA COTA 200 // BULTACO MATADOR
3.60
Running, Riding & Rebuilding Running, Rebuilding Real RealClassi RealC Classic C lassi Motorcycles
BOXER CKS TRIC
HOW THE LEGEEND BEGAN
SUPERMAC’S TRIUMPH DRAYTON
PRINTED IN THE UK
PLUS MOTO MEMORIES TECH TALK MONTESA COTA 200 BULTACO MATADOR AN HOUR WITH: GERRIT WOLSINK
£3.60 US$9.99 C$10.99 Aus$8.50 NZ$9.99 PRINTED IN THE UK
HOME, JAMES!
UNIVERSITY GRADUATE
#48
001 Cover_OCT.indd 1
AT THE CASTLE
DRUMLANRIG 2018 D 20
WINNER
SUPER PROFILE: ARIEL’S HT3
GREEVES ESSEX TWIN BUYING GUIDE // STRIP YOUR TWOSTROKE // BSA B31 RESTORATION // MALLE MILE // CAFE RACER CUP // SHETLAND CLASSIC // THE CLASSIC TT // MIKE HAILWOOD REPLICA
CLASSICS
65 PRE65 PRE
PRINTED IN THE UK
R 2018 ISSUE 174 OCTOBER
N48 2018 US$15.99 Aus$14.99 NZ$18.99 UK£5.50 UK Off-sale date 15/11/18
BUY SELL RIDE RESTORE
13/09/2018 10:34:50
001 CDB Cover_048.indd 1
02/08/2018 14:53:55
001 Cover_174.indd 1
03/09/2018 10:18:26
•SINGLE ISSUES •SUBSCRIPTIONS
CLICK HERE
www.classicmagazines.co.uk
ENDOFPREVI EW
I fy oul i k ewhaty ou’ v e r eads of ar ,whynot s ubs c r i be,ort r ya s i ngl ei s s uef r om:
www. c l as s i c magaz i nes . c o. uk