Felixstowe Area N Gauge Group
DECEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER


NEWS FROM MEMBERS

OCTOBER OPEN DAY by Kevin
I forgot to send in pics from the open day for the last issue, but here they are now:








































SANDITE TRAIN (or lack of...) by Chris
I'm quite annoyed with myself as I thought this would be a quick turnround project, but after being around for 59 years, I should know better by now!!
I have all the bits I need - the tanks, the two bogie wagons, the blue paint, the transfers, but I've just not had the time.
So next month I hope to have it completed and will be able to provide photographic evidence that I've actually got my act together on this!
I do like a quick project, I find it spurs me on to do more complex models - as an exercise, I'll time how many hours this takes me...

With two boards to complete by February, which will take priority, my bet is that you won’t get this done…..Ed

LAYOUT PROGRESS by Mike
Progress has continued slowly on the lifeboat station, which is now finished as per the kit, but will have to be modified slightly to go on the layout.
I was a bit worried that it might not actually fit and look right, but John from Scalescenes made a suggestion that sounded promising, which was to locate the boathouse in the corner of the quay so that the slipway aimed directly at the opening in the big viaduct. When Kevin came round this week we set the board up and tried it in place, and we think it works perfectly…


The quay will be cut away to sink the boathouse down to water level, and I’ll have to add new doors and steps in the right places.
In the meantime, work has started on the lifeboat itself. It is a pig of a build, by far the hardest Scalescenes kit that I have ever built! It is definitely not one for beginners! It’s starting to look good though. At least it will be seen - where I was going to place the boathouse previously, it would have been invisible to spectators.



LAYOUT PROGRESS by Chris
So last month, I banged on about being a layout dreamer, and my options for which layout to build next - well, I've started on two new boards, both of which weren't in last month’s plans!
These are planned to be two stand-alone layouts that can also be used as one larger layout when required.


They are both planned to be automated running operation, but as simple as possible.
Oh, and the final criteria is that they need to be ready for an event on Saturday 24th February 2024 so I need to get cracking!!
The frames are complete, but the board tops with elevated trackbed is the next part to get on with.
I have the whole plan in my head - being the 'dreamer' that I described myself as in last month’s newsletter, this comes easy to me - the taxing bit is getting it all together on the board!
So, more details next time and I hope to be a little more (or a lot more) progressed than I am at the moment.


WARLEY SHOW by John
The Warley exhibition was chaotic and frustrating, very busy and hard work. However, my layout was well received and worth the time spent there. I was very well assisted by Kevin Waterson from our club and my son Michael and grandson Ben. They worked very hard and I appreciate their help.
The following are a few photos. of N gauge exhibits. I apologise for the poor quality of the pictures but in the limited time that I had it was very difficult getting anywhere near the exhibits.
The layouts are; Solent Summit, Dawlish Warren, Whartson Hall, Copenhagen Fields, Westwick, Kinlochlaggen, Barnwood and The viaduct. Plus of course, Obertonberg.



















NEW TOYS
A selection of our member's latest acquisitions.....

A corporate collection first - I've acquired a previously enjoyed, Farish Freightliner class 66 which runs like silk and I have added a rake of new Dapol MJA wagons which came from Hattons of Liverpool at almost half price - it was an offer just too good to turn down!


A new release class 47 has joined the Colas fleet here, and also a previously enjoyed Union Mills 0-8-0 G2, these were both from Smiths of Sheringham.





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Well, there aren’t any………but…
I’ve managed to not buy anything for a couple of months, which means I’ve been able to clear up my credit card bill from all the stuff I bought earlier.
Whilst the end of the year has been quiet, I can see the start of next year is going to be expensive!
I’ve had the GWR HST “Castle” set on order for a year or so, and whilst it keeps getting bumped back on the calendar, I think it’s getting close.
Perusing the NGS newsletter, I see that there are two more “must haves” coming out in the new year as well…


I absolutely love my Kato 800, it runs perfectly all the time. It didn’t fit my (then) modelling era, but I just had to have one. Now they are bringing out another set commemorating the Paddington Bear train.
It’s a complete no brainer, I’m having it!


Secondly Dapol have announced new releases of their class 142 Pacers in various liveries. Now I knew that these were widespread, but I hadn’t realised that they got onto the GWR network.
A completely new loco, in my (now) modelled era? Of course I’m going to have one!
Both of these new releases are new liveries of existing models, so should probably be out fairly quickly.


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Kato Re 620 “Linthal” SBB-Cargo X-Rail Ep VI



Fleischmann SBB flatbed with “Holcim” containers



Fleischmann Swiss silowagons “Holcim”



Fleischmann SBB Getriede-silowagons