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About this blog

Some further thoughts, ideas and lessons learned in railway modelling.

Entries in this blog

2024

Episode 12: Creative Downsizing - the final Chapter.

Episode 12: Creative Downsizing   Every member of our family is busy downsizing following our recent house move.  In the previous post I said I hoped to use the process creatively, clearing space in a way that will move me forwards with modelling.  I've made enough progress to bring my ideas together into this post, which I think completes this blog.  I hope these thoughts are useful:   Part 1:  How to keep the memories   Without the space for all the things I've bu
Keith Addenbrooke

Keith Addenbrooke in 2024

8
2024

Episode 11: "One Hundred and Eighty!"

The last few blog posts have been about getting ready to move house.  I'm happy to say it has gone very well in many ways, and we are delighted to be in our new home.  But what has been the impact on my railway modelling?   Getting read to move - the rest of the story:   At the end of Episode 8, the rather pleasant  homework I set for myself was to read @James Hilton's excellent and imaginative Wild Swan books:     If you've not yet got copies, can I plea
Keith Addenbrooke

Keith Addenbrooke in 2024

7
2024

Episode10: Moving Day

With the Removal men due tomorrow to start packing everything up for us, today has been about checking everything is clean and ready.   The baseboard factory has now closed down and everything of value removed - and it looks like some moss is already starting to encroach upon the outside assembly area:       The drying / testing room has also been cleared - a very useful facility which I expect I’ll miss more than I realise:     Ever
Keith Addenbrooke

Keith Addenbrooke in 2024

3
2024

Episode 9: In which we say "Good-bye" - for a little while

Before we move house in a couple of weeks, I thought it might be nice to bring together some photos of the modelling I've done in the six years we've lived here.  Although this blog (and it's predecessor here), focus more on my inability to actually build a model railway layout, I've also done far more modelling than ever before, have looked at a wider variety of possible projects and ideas than I ever would have imagined, and had wagon loads of fun along the way.  So here's a celebration:
Keith Addenbrooke

Keith Addenbrooke in 2024

6
2024

Episode 8: Am I 'brave' enough?

May 2024 marks the fourth anniversary of when I used a free day to being planning the model railway layout I hoped to build.  Inspired by the writings of Frank Ellison and Al Kalmbach from 1940's America, I set out on my great adventure:   But so far the great layout hasn't happened (yet).  I've written extensively, elsewhere and in earlier blog posts, about how plans and space around me have changed regularly, hopefully commenting informatively (I've learned a lot) and reasonably ent
Keith Addenbrooke

Keith Addenbrooke in 2024

8
2024

Episode 7: Loose Ends, Last Orders and a Fresh Challenge

Our planned house move is now likely to happen in the Summer.  With more time to get ready, an Easter update makes sense.  There's a new challenge to report on, as well as some modelling progress.  I'll start with loose ends being tidied up:   Loose Ends:   Left over from my American HO project last year was my incomplete Walthers' Grain Elevator Kit.  I've been keen to build this for a good while, so even though my plans have changed it was nice to get it finished.  
Keith Addenbrooke

Keith Addenbrooke in 2024

14
2024

Ceteris Paribus: a lesson to remember

Ceteris Paribus I've been reminded of two assumptions I was taught when I studied economics, about how markets function:   The first seemed quite fanciful at the time - the idea that buyers (and sellers) have perfect market knowledge.  Although it was presented to us as a means of simplifying analysis, the rise of the internet means it is now within reach.  When it comes to model railways, I can compare prices, quality, availability and alternatives for anything I'm wanting to eit
Keith Addenbrooke

Keith Addenbrooke in 2024

4
2024

Episode V: A New Year

Happy New Year!  Well, I hope so.  As we enter 2024, I've been thinking about setting some modelling objectives.  Some find them helpful, whether it is the hard and definite deadline of a committed exhibition or show date, or practical steps to maintain progress on a larger project, or simply aspirational targets to aim at - in order to maintain some degree of modelling focus.  Some might be looking forwards to retirement, and want to structure their time in order to make best use of it, for oth
Keith Addenbrooke

Keith Addenbrooke in 2024

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Introduction

Learning from Wulfstan

Introduction   “The world is in a rush, and is getting close to its end.”   A sentiment many of us might appreciate.  Trouble is, when the former Archbishop of York Wulfstan put it in a Sermon it was over a thousand years ago, in 1014.  I can only wonder what Wulfstan would make of life in our always-on, 24/7 world.  Just think about how we can shop: credit cards, same day deliveries, flash sales, eBay or Facebook marketplace.  Life is lived at a pace, and aspects of railway
Keith Addenbrooke

Keith Addenbrooke in Introduction

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Introduction

When I were 'lad

When I were 'lad - Introduction They say nostalgia ain't what it used to be, and who am I to argue?  Memories of times past, when life was simpler and days were longer, trousers were short and knees were grubby, pockets were for train spotting books and paper railway timetables; those memories can all have a significant influence over us when it comes to our modelling choices.  I wrote in my previous post about the desire to recreate childhood memories.  I'd like to take that thought in a d
Keith Addenbrooke

Keith Addenbrooke in Introduction

5
Introduction

The Dream, the Marshmallow Test and a (small) win on the Premium Bonds

Introduction - Part 2 One of my favourite layouts on RMweb is @ian's HO scale "Die Ercallbahn" in the German Railways Forum.  Drawing on childhood memories of the Marklin 3-rail AC system, Ian has brought those memories to life once more, creating the kind of system layout I'm sure many of us dreamt about when growing up.  I find it tells such an absorbing story that the first time I saw a video of the layout in operation, I was surprised when the doors of a small railcar didn't open on arr
Keith Addenbrooke

Keith Addenbrooke in Introduction

4
Introduction

An Introduction

Introduction Railway modelling is mainly a Spring and Summer hobby for me.  Autumn and Winter bring busier times, and as much of my modelling takes place outside (benchwork, paint spraying and big sticky jobs), or inside with the window open for ventilation (gluing and painting), free winter evenings are often spent on research and reflection.   I enjoy exploring fresh ideas, dreaming up new projects and shopping around for bits and pieces.  I've discovered I also enjoy writing ab
Keith Addenbrooke

Keith Addenbrooke in Introduction

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