Model Rail 249 July 2018

[grahame]

With all the frothing over two potential new steamy locos (how loco-centric many seem to be), the publication they were announced in seems to have gone under the radar. But I've received my subscription copy so here's news of it.

 

This issue has a theme of modelling stations. I was hoping for some suggestions about making canopies and the overall train shed (there's a loverly pic of one on the cover) for my forthcoming project concerning London Bridge. Unfortunately there was nothing but there is plenty about station buildings and platforms.

 

Layouts include Calvercar Town and Aldwych. The latter features LT underground trains although there are few pics of the trains giving the impression it is more a diorama - perhaps a track plan would have given a better clue.

 

There's the usual proliferation of how to projects and reviews of the Heljan 47xx and Hatton's snowplough. Slim pickings this month - were there fewer new releases?

 

Overall, for me, perhaps not up the the level of interest and standards of the recent couple of issues. But at least there is the next one to look forward to.

 

G

[ColinK]

This should be the second edition I recieved since taking out a digital edition, its the second one I’ve not recieved.

[dibber25]

This should be the second edition I recieved since taking out a digital edition, its the second one I’ve not recieved.

 

Publication day is Thursday 7th June. Digital copies should be available then. (CJL)

[dibber25]

MODEL RAIL July 2018 Issue No. 249

 

Publication date: 7 June 2018

 

Create the perfect station.

 

Here’s what we’ve got for you this month:

Opening the box:

It’s the big announcement, with prototype pictures and outline details of our 2019 (‘16xx’) and 2020 (LBSCR ‘E1’) exclusive models.

Plus: According to Chris and Modelling Lives, with Andy Sparks.

 

Layouts and features:

Day of the diesels ‘O’ gauge layout.

Going Underground Basildon MRC’s ‘Aldwych’.

Masterplan: Paul Lunn presents five plans for stations that he would like to model.

Loco Spotlight: The Class 87s.

 

Workbench

Stations galore as:

George Dent builds a contemporary wayside station.

Chris Leigh restores the chimneys and slates to back-date Oxford Rail’s Moreton-in-Marsh GWR station.

George Dent summarises the best platform systems.

Chris Leigh shows how to scratch-build a card station in ‘N’ gauge, using Staines West as his example.

Chris Nevard shows how to weather platform surfaces.

Chris Leigh takes a trip down memory lane to upgrade some Hornby-Dublo stations.

Chris Gadsby shows you how to run your station more realistically.

Dave Lowery improves Darstaed’s Mk 1 coaches.

 

Reviews:

Heljan ‘47XX’ 2-8-0

Hatton’s Beilhack snowplough

 

Regulars:

Know your stuff, Show & Tell, The Club Room, Exhibition Diary, Backscene.

Edited June 5, 2018 by dibber25

[David C]

A "16xx" and an E1? I never thought I'd see an RTR version of the former as they were built by BR, not the GWR and consequently their appeal would limited. I'll certainly buy one - or even two - for Woodstowe, my WR BLT which is operated as per the Cardigan branch, where the class was a staple (along with 45xx praires) in later years. Currently 57xx/87xx panniers stand in for the 16xx classes.

 

Sure the E1 will please Southern enthusiasts. 

 

David C

[Steamport Southport]

Not trying to be critical but I spotted two mistakes very quickly.

 

 

There weren't "only eight" 47XXs as stated on page 98. There were nine (plus a tenth being built at Llangollen)

 

Also in the Top Ten Facts about Liverpool Lime Street page 7. Liverpool Lime Street was built to replace Crown Street, not Edge Hill.

 

 

 

 

Jason

[Edwardian]

Looks like another good issue, thanks, containing the usual mix reflecting our broad church of a hobby. The modern imagers surely cannot complain, as the main layout feature is Day of the Diesels and we proceed from there to a construction article for a modern 'bus shelter'-type station, stations being this month's theme.

 

I really liked the feature on detailing the Oxford Rail GWR resin station (though to my mind it rather begs the question why Oxford chose to produce the model in this way, in GW colours but without steam-age features, such as roof slates and chimneys - one of Oxford's weirder choices), anyhow CJL does a cracking job on it.  A clearer 'before' picture would have underlined just how much room/need for improvement there was.  

 

Clearly 'on fire', we next have his beautifully observed Staines West in 2mm.

 

I always enjoy Paul Lunn's articles, and this month's plans look fascinating as usual.  I shall also be very interested in the Heljan 4700 review.

Edited June 5, 2018 by Edwardian

[9402 Fredrick]

What day is the digital copy going to be available?

[Joseph_Pestell]

What day is the digital copy going to be available?

See #3

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

Isn't it rather undermining the review to announce the models for review as 'superb'? No need to read that then...

[gwrrob]

What does the review of the Heljan 47xx have to say on the QC niggles that some customers experienced.

[Ian Hargrave]

What does the review of the Heljan 47xx have to say on the QC niggles that some customers experienced.

Generally,Robin,this is not a flattering review by Richard Foster.It scores 78% Headings such as "Lacklustre", "green is flat and muddy".

Yes QC issues are mentioned but the killer punch is..."The awful mounded cabside number plate dominates the look of the model and makes the whole thing look rather toy-like". He compares it unfavourably with Hornby's 28XX and concludes it to be poor value for money..Praises its performance though....we know this to be true in any case.

As a footnote,a current eBay asking price is around £120...recently anyway.

[dibber25]

What does the review of the Heljan 47xx have to say on the QC niggles that some customers experienced.

 

As a general principle, reviews should not have anything to say about customers' experiences, beyond reporting that "we understand some customers have........" (CJL)

[dibber25]

Looks like another good issue, thanks, containing the usual mix reflecting our broad church of a hobby. The modern imagers surely cannot complain, as the main layout feature is Day of the Diesels and we proceed from there to a construction article for a modern 'bus shelter'-type station, stations being this month's theme.

 

I really liked the feature on detailing the Oxford Rail GWR resin station (though to my mind it rather begs the question why Oxford chose to produce the model in this way, in GW colours but without steam-age features, such as roof slates and chimneys - one of Oxford's weirder choices), anyhow CJL does a cracking job on it.  A clearer 'before' picture would have underlined just how much room/need for improvement there was.  

 

Clearly 'on fire', we next have his beautifully observed Staines West in 2mm.

 

I always enjoy Paul Lunn's articles, and this month's plans look fascinating as usual.  I shall also be very interested in the Heljan 4700 review.

Yes, I thought afterwards that a 'before' picture would have been a good idea. There was, in fact, a 'before' picture taken, but it got used in the previous issue's News section. Thanks for your kind comments - I really enjoyed doing the job on Moreton-in-Marsh and the resulting model will replace Bachmann's Sturminster Newton buildings on my layout. While I was at the real Moreton-in-Marsh there were two guys on the platform in high-vis discussing work which is to take place there. I doubt they will restore the slates and chimneys (you never know - they restored the pantiles to Mortimer but that was in BR days) but I think the 1967 waiting room on the up platform may disappear in favour of a metal/glass shelter, no doubt. (CJL)

[Steamport Southport]

Just read the 47XX review.

 

The last few words seem to sum it up perfectly, "it doesn't feel like a £200 model".

 

I want one, but looking at the general consensus, then I wouldn't pay anywhere near that price for one.

 

 

 

Jason

[Edwardian]

Just read the 47XX review.

 

The last few words seem to sum it up perfectly, "it doesn't feel like a £200 model".

 

I want one, but looking at the general consensus, then I wouldn't pay anywhere near that price for one.

 

 

 

Jason

 

Perhaps I'll stick with the white metal kit versions I have.

 

I rather felt the same way after purchasing the Hornby 7200.  Not a bad model, but it didn't surpass the kit version I had.

[Edwardian]

Yes, I thought afterwards that a 'before' picture would have been a good idea. There was, in fact, a 'before' picture taken, but it got used in the previous issue's News section. Thanks for your kind comments - I really enjoyed doing the job on Moreton-in-Marsh and the resulting model will replace Bachmann's Sturminster Newton buildings on my layout. While I was at the real Moreton-in-Marsh there were two guys on the platform in high-vis discussing work which is to take place there. I doubt they will restore the slates and chimneys (you never know - they restored the pantiles to Mortimer but that was in BR days) but I think the 1967 waiting room on the up platform may disappear in favour of a metal/glass shelter, no doubt. (CJL)

 

Ah, yes, it was in the previous issue that you had said you wanted to replace the, IIRC, S&DJ buildings on your layout's passing station.  Senior moments prevented the connection being made.   

 

Well I really liked the fruits of that revamp project, so I am glad to think that it will do service on a layout.  I hope MR publishes pictures of it in situ in due course.

 

Thanks again for a particularly enjoyable article.

[PhilJ W]

Just got my copy today. One error on the Aldwych article, Basildon MRC has been around for a lot more than 20 years, that is the time we have been in our present club house.

[Zero Gravitas]

FYI - Tesco are currently selling a twin pack of Model Rail July 2018 and Ideas for Layouts Volume 3 for £4.99.

[big jim]

Chris, do you have the subscription team contact details please, my copy hasn’t arrived yet

[dibber25]

Chris, do you have the subscription team contact details please, my copy hasn’t arrived yet

 

01858 438884. Today till 21.30. Saturday 08.00-16.00. (CJL)

[big jim]

Thanks, all sorted in 60 seconds

[DY444]

As I'm about to replace the Hornby platform sections on my layout the station stuff was very timely and helpful

 

On the less positive side, there were so many mistakes in the first three paragraphs of the Class 87 article that I didn't read the rest

[Izzy]

Thanks to the heads up from Zero Gravitas yesterday I picked up the bagged offer from Tesco's. Thought the layout book/mag looked rather familiar - then realised I had picked it up in Heathrow in early Decemeber to read on the long flight to Sydney........doh!

 

Have to say though that for anyone that hasn't seen it the layouts Volume 3 is well worth getting. Loads of interest and inspiration, as is usually the case with Paul Lunn's designs as is evident in the actual months magazine.

 

Izzy

[Dzine]

Thanks to the heads up from Zero Gravitas yesterday I picked up the bagged offer from Tesco's. Thought the layout book/mag looked rather familiar - then realised I had picked it up in Heathrow in early Decemeber to read on the long flight to Sydney........doh!

 

Have to say though that for anyone that hasn't seen it the layouts Volume 3 is well worth getting. Loads of interest and inspiration, as is usually the case with Paul Lunn's designs as is evident in the actual months magazine.

 

Izzy

Hi Izzy, Many thanks for your kind comments, there's lots of fab stuff coming from the team over the next few months, hope you like that too.  Kind regards Paul