Felixstowe Area N Gauge Group
NOVEBER 2023 NEWSLETTER
NEWS FROM MEMBERS
OCTOBER OPEN DAY by Chris
I was lucky enough to be invited to the October Open Day by Kevin, with 'The Coalyard' , so turned up bright and early.
Once I was shown my space in the hall, setting up was pretty rapid, giving me time to peruse the other layouts in the hall, all of which looked beautifully built.
'The Coalyard' had been extensively tested before the day and ran faultlessly I'm pleased to say - not that pre-testing alleviates all problems as we all know, an issue can strike at any time!
I ran trains as much as I could (as you all know, one of my pet peeves is a layout with no trains running) and all the other layouts seemed to be in constant motion too.
With five layouts in the hall, as well as Orwell Models stand, and also the secondhand stand, it was a wonderful day, a big thank you to all those involved with the organising.
LAYOUT PROGRESS by Mike
I can’t do much on the actual layout as I’m not able to move the boards around, but the new Scalescenes lifeboat station kit has finally come out, and I want it for my harbour. I can just about manage a couple of hours a day on it.
Today I’ve been building the steps that run right down the side of the boathouse.
For the next picture I’ve roughly stood the walls beside the slipway to get an idea of size – it’s quite big!
And finally, in the best Blue Peter tradition, here’s one I made earlier
The winch at the top of the slipway took me a whole morning to build, and I think, even in closeup, it is hard to believe that it is made from card!
PROGRESS ON THE COALYARD & BEYOND… by Chris
Finally, I've decided where all the lineside bits and bobs will go on this layout so the October bash should be the last time of placing unglued items on the board!
I've got to start on the trees and hedges next as it all currently looks a bit bare in that respect. One of the many great things about meeting with others at a show is that you get lots of ideas from your co-exhibitors, regardless of what gauge the other layouts are, it inspires you basically.
So, as the layout is heading towards completion, what next? I always have a few ideas in my head - my teachers at school called me a dreamer, but I'd argue that's a good thing as without the dreamers, we wouldn't have many of the items that we have today.
The loft room is already fitted out with boards all round, as was covered in a previous newsletter, so instead of the test circle of track on it, that needs to be started in earnest - especially as a flat surface will just attract 'stuff'.
My office room at home is crying out for an end-to-end line, and as the good lady has informed me of plans to decorate the room, it seems the time is right to get a railway in there.
One day, that 1940's LNER mainline exhibition layout will get started too...
Yes, lads and ladies, be a modelling dreamer and be proud of it!!
NEW TOYS
A selection of our member's latest acquisitions.....
Well, about two years since I paid my deposit I think, I finally received my Revolution Trains class 128 parcels railcar.
I’m very pleased with it, it was worth the wait, a lovely little model
I was a little confused at first as it was advertised as having directional lights, and there weren’t any! On going back to the RT website it said, “working directional lights according to era”. So, I ran it again in a dark room, and lo and behold, the headcode boxes light up, not visible in daylight. Later period models have full lights. I think mine should have been a bit cheaper
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I've had a real scoop this month with a shop selling off items of new Farish locos, I acquired six for an average of just £87 each, all run superbly.
The steam collection is Tornado in green and another A1, along with a rebuilt Royal Scot.
The diesel collection are a class 08, 20 and 47
From other sources, I've also got enough bits to make up a Sandite train, more on that next time...
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Fleischmann SBB container wagons with tank loads
Minitrix Cargo container wagons with COOP containers
Hobbytrain SBB Cargo silowagons
Hobbytrain SBB Cargo “Bischofszell” wagon
Arnold SBB Silowagons
Jaegerdorfer OBB 6 piece set, from the 1970’s