Southampton Model Railway Exhibition 2015.

 First up is Peter Whites Masham.
An excellent rendition of the North Yorkshire market town station.
Following North Eastern Railway practice, the layout is modelled in 3mm finescale 14.2mm gauge.
All rolling stock is from kits available to 3mm Society members, the track is the correct scale rail laid on plywood sleepers in moulded chairs.
The buildings were mostly constructed by the late Peter Gentle, a superb modeller and a much missed friend- a lasting tribute.

Mixed Traffic-198- January 2015.

Starting the fiftieth year of the 3mm Society, the January edition of Mixed Traffic has arrived.
The editor, John Sutton reminisces about his trip to the first 3mm Society meeting, the day before Valentines Day 1965 and continues suggesting the intended published words in this years editions.
In a varied edition Roger Pells describes the first installment of a 3mm layout from the sixties whilst Nigel Brown adapts a couple of Society wagon kits from drawings of Rhymney Railway prototypes.
Richard Osborne guides us through the creation of transfer lettering for PO wagons using computer software and Crafty Paper.

Photographs include some classic shots of models and some not so classic of young members!
Hoath Hill Mark 3 is a reduced version of Peter Bossums celebrated layout whilst Chris Ellis looks back at the early days of TT3.
As usual there are a couple of Eric Bruton's classic photos, this time the subjects being a Jubilee on a goods train and a Black Five near Eden Valley Junction on the northern climb to Shap Summit.
An informative Blast Pipe, Bits & Pieces and Tail Lamp wrap up another credit to the editor- but the best bit is kept for the back cover-a photo of Siddington North Signal Box made by Peter Gentle. Peter was one of the most loyal and accomplished members and I had the pleasure to spend time with him on several occasions.

It was Fifty Years ago.

that the Three Millimeter Society was formed.
As part of this year of celebration, many events around the country have invited 3MM layouts to be exhibited.
The Southampton MRE was one of the first with four layouts- Masham from Peter White, Hollow Fosse by John Thomas, Modbury Torr by Paul Hopkins and Teignford.
Several commented about seeing Teignford in Railway Modeller- one kind chap even said that the photos didn't do it justice- just got my head in the
door after that one!

Also attending was the 3mm Society stand- kept busy over the weekend by interested modellers and manned by John O'Dell amongst others of the Solent Group.

50 something challenge.

 Nigel is really cracking on with his entry for the 3mm Society 50th AGM.
Track laid and buildings placed, the character is starting to emerge.
50 inches long, it is designed to be viewed at eye level and has a front to cater for this.
I really must try and get some time to produce something!

Teignford at Southampton Model Railway Exhibition.

Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th January sees Teignford at Barton Peveril College for the 2015 Southampton Model Railway Exhibition.
Peter White's Masham, together with Hollow Fosse and Modbury Torr will be exhibited as part of the 3mm Society 50th Anniversary.
Do make yourselves known and see what can be done in 3mm.
Just discovered that this is the 800th post on this blog- how time flies.

Teignford in Railway Modeller. February 2015.

 Teignford appears in  the February 2015 edition of Railway Modeller.
Little disappointed that the barn didn't make it into the article, also the forge.
Opportunity missed also to plug Nathan of Yeoman Models other 100:1 items.
There was also no exhibition announcements including the 3mm Modellers Weekend Exhibition.
Well- Teignford is at Southampton next weekend so some small pieces of repairs are being carried out plus the long awaited replacement of the plug for control of the Goods Yard!

Oh-by the way this is the 800th post!

Coming together nicely!

 Posed on Nigels new layout- this does look like a Class 33 I think.
A long way to go yet but the basics are there.
Bruces resin casting is very good and the chassis runs well after a few tweaks.
So next to undercoat and then fit the two together before painting proper.

A chassis for a Class 33.

 I received the chassis for my Class 33 just before Christmas.
Bruce Smetham made up the 3mm Society chassis for me and here it is.
Driving all axles (and therefore wheels) it shows how the kit goes together  and has the bonus of correct wheelbase .
Cruelly enlarged below, I will post some pictures of the body astride the chassis another time.

Class 33 from Bruce Smetham.

 As laying of track for the3mm version of East Boldre approaches, I am slowly making a start on motive power.
The M7 is under way as are various others but there are to be some Diesel interlopers.
There will be a Hymek and a Class 03 to add to available motive power.
As can be seen, the Class 33 is well on the way with the windows opened out- a coat of undercoat will show areas that need improving- the reason for all this industry? See next time!

Ballast.

This couple of pictures were taken in late December 2014 at Starcross. I thought it was a good example of modern ballasting- the sleepers are nearly covered- not as I remember at other times I have visited this location.
The ballast is heaped up in the cess- a result of the misfortunes in Devon earlier in the year?

South Devon December 2014.

Between Christmas and New Year I took a trip down to Devon. Several reasons, to visit my mate Pete and catch up  on a few pints, for a quick visit to Trago and to get a new car sticker for my new car. OK it's new to me- another Focus but this time an all singing / dancing one.
The sticker- what else than a South Devon Railway one.
The old one disappeared with the old car so had to be replaced. This was an excuse to see real trains.
In steam that day was a Pannier dressed up in London Transport colours- more photos on the South Devon page.

Swanage- track assembly begins.

 A New Year and a new start!
The January meeting of the Dorset Group saw the track we purchased at West Byfleet finally assembled.
The basic track plan has been drawn onto the new baseboards and plans made to accomodate the road bridge and Engine Shed/ Turntable.
These were on the missing board, so an educated guess has been made to get this part onto the board which is also 4x2.
Next meeting will see progress made so if anyone would like to join in- look into the group page for meeting dates.