Railway Modeller April 2018

[Hroth]

Seeing as we're doing Pecos marketing for them....

 

Just picked up the April RM

 

Full cover pic of the Hattons P class 0-6-0 in BR black (ec)

 

Layouts include:

 

Langdon Beck (4mm scale)

Canalside Ironworks (18" gauge/6mm scale)

Operating Canada Street

West Tilgate (N gauge)

Royd Hall Drift Mine (7mm scale)

 

Reviews include:

 

Hattons SECR P class

Peco L&B centre-observations in OO9

Heljan Class 20 in O gauge

 

Thats the cover highlights, lots more inside, though I havent had the opportunity to look yet!

 

Oh yes, and one of those "Shows you how" booklets on Customising R-T-R Locomotives in OO.

 

 

[Mike Oliver]

Thank you for that info Hroth. It seems impossible to get information from the Peco website and the Facebook page is not much better. Are Peco really so complacent about attracting sales?

[Arun Sharma]

Subscription copy of RM appeared today - Three very interesting and useful reference articles that I will cut out and keep:

Locomotive Motor Options by Geoff Helliwell describing N20 motors

Gordon Gravett's article on weathering 16T minerals

Bill Ascough's article on LBSC Atlantics

and a personal interest in the layout article prototype - a "What if" article on an imaginary extension of the Haltwhistle-Alston line to meet up with the Weardale branch and over the tops via Langdon Beck to Middleton in Teesdale. A route which I have cycled many times and would not wish it on any loco crew ever!

 

The best edition this year so far I think.

[it's-er]

Actually, they have pretty full information about the April 2018 edition, here on their Railway Modeller Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/RailwayModeller/posts/1650952871606393

 

I hope this link works ok - I'm not always sure with Facebook.

 

John Storey

[rue_d_etropal]

Peco are redoing their website. Companies do that every so often, as are Bachmann at the moment. I would say Peco probably know far more about what is going on in the hobby than many who make comments online.

Having said that, it is a good issue. I do wonder why they have an article on enamel paints. Will it be clockwork trains next. I also think that the Comment page, does have a couple of good points, but completely misses the target with respect to poorly operated layouts at exhibitions. It is the ones who often try to put on a show(one train ever hour , as that is what timetable says), that put people off. Often discussed at our club.

On the whole 40 years ago, some classic layouts got the crowds by having something actually moving, a good example being David Jenkinsons's Garsdale Road(?). I remember seeing it at Central Halls one year. It doesn't need fancy trcks, just something moving. Far too many superb layouts spoilt by a combination of absolutely nothing happening, apart from the oversized gang behind the layout having a chat(enough time inbetween trains).

[Steamport Southport]

Enamel paint Is far better for some aspects especially if you are painting things that are actually metal. Acrylic certainly has it's place, but not for locomotives and rolling stock. It's far too flat and has no sheen. Try painting a black ex works locomotive with acrylic to see what I mean. 

 

I'm talking as someone who was an early adopter of acrylic when Citadel/Games Workshop released their range years ago. That's when I was into painting fantasy figures. It's alright for painting snotlings or orcs, not so much for Black Fives.

 

 

 

Jason

[LBRJ]

Thank you for that info Hroth. It seems impossible to get information from the Peco website and the Facebook page is not much better. Are Peco really so complacent about attracting sales?

They do manage to sell about as many issues every month as the next two combined!

 

Looks like another good copy of  The Times of model railways

[Dunsignalling]

Nobody has so far mentioned the intriguing loco conversion by Ken Chadwick, who has created a surprisingly convincing PD&SWJR 0-6-2T from unexpected, but readily obtainable and budget-friendly source material. 

 

The Modeller demonstrating, once again, that some of the things it used to do so well in the past retain validity today.

 

I have most of what I'll need to emulate it and some ideas of my own that will lead to a couple of things being done slightly differently.

 

Excellent stuff. Thanks for the inspiration, Ken and thanks to Steve Flint for including it. 

 

John

 

PS. Geoff Helliwell's article on using Chinese motors and gearboxes is a must for those concerned about finding substitutes for Mashimas.

Edited March 9, 2018 by Dunsignalling

[Arun Sharma]

At #5 Rue_d_etropal asked, " I do wonder why they have an article on enamel paints".

 

I suspect the reason is that many of us who regularly use airbrushes are conscious that acrylics dry very quickly and are thus far more prone to cause blockage in airbrushes than enamels. Additionally, it seems [to me at least] that such dried acrylics within an airbrush are considerably harder to shift by soaking in the relevant thinners than dried enamels. 

It only has to happen once. I will never again use acrylics in an airbrush.

[Andy Y]

They do manage to sell about as many issues every month as the next two combined!

That statement is incorrect, look up the ABC circulation figures.

 

                               2017       2016

Railway Modeller   31,966     33,828

Hornby Magazine   27,124    28,190

Model Rail              24,716    24,051

[Robin2]

That statement is incorrect, look up the ABC circulation figures.

 

                               2017       2016

Railway Modeller   31,966     33,828

Hornby Magazine   27,124    28,190

Model Rail              24,716    24,051

I can't find the figures for BRM ?

 

...R

[Andy Y]

I can't find the figures for BRM ?

 

...R

Because I only quoted the magazines which are ABC audited; we are fourth (not by a lot when the digital issues are taken into account) and only second and third were pertinent to the incorrect assertion.

[rue_d_etropal]

Enamel paint Is far better for some aspects especially if you are painting things that are actually metal. Acrylic certainly has it's place, but not for locomotives and rolling stock. It's far too flat and has no sheen. Try painting a black ex works locomotive with acrylic to see what I mean. 

 

I'm talking as someone who was an early adopter of acrylic when Citadel/Games Workshop released their range years ago. That's when I was into painting fantasy figures. It's alright for painting snotlings or orcs, not so much for Black Fives.

 

 

 

Jason

Look in any DIY shop and you can buy top quality acrylic varnish in matt, gloss and semi gloss. It is only railway modellers who seem to be stuck in the past and continue to use enamels. For metal, use a suitable primer, that is what it is for.

 

Interesting using the example of a Black 5, most of which spent their lives dirty, not shiny. Can't see any advantage of emels for that, and in a few years you won't be able to buy  enamel paints. I think postal restrictions wre lfted, but does not mean they won't be re-introduced, and then getting hold of paints , unless you have a shop nearby, will be difficult. Exploring other paints and methods of painting, might help the hobby, whereas continuing using what will become more difficult to get hold of, will mean one day, oh dear what to I do.

 

I looked intopaints afew years ago, from an environmental point of view. Acrylics mighr still present a problem, but there are no proper guidelines(and some companies exploit that) , but suspect that will be the case some day. When I had a workshop in local market hall, although it did not bother me, it was mentioned that oil paints wre not permitted, I presume on health and safety grounds. You might not like it, but it is happening, and I am just trying to get people moving in the right direction, before they have a problem.

[Pteremy]

Hmmm. I have bought RM for the past 4 months, after 30 years of not doing so. It is - as a printed magazine - a quality product, in the strictly physical 'in your hands' sense. But it is also a bit like an old fashioned tea shop. Comforting, very familiar (e.g. in terms of Pritchard product placement; the local event listings) but not quite with the zeitgeist. For example, the article on 'motors' was interesting, but a bit impenetrable. Reflecting on how i felt afterwards i think that the issues being considered would have ben far better dealt with online in an e.g. you tube format. That is one of the advantages of the inter web. The ability to really 'show' rather than just 'tell'. 

 

I wish it well, particularly if it supports newcomers to the hobby. But if it wants to retain a pre-eminent position in the hobby I wish it had a more cutting edge to it. With RTR seemingly on the verge of pricing itself out of the 'new entrant' market we need all those with influence to use it.

[Arun Sharma]

Hmmm. I have bought RM for the past 4 months, after 30 years of not doing so. It is - as a printed magazine - a quality product, in the strictly physical 'in your hands' sense. But it is also a bit like an old fashioned tea shop. Comforting, very familiar (e.g. in terms of Pritchard product placement; the local event listings) but not quite with the zeitgeist. For example, the article on 'motors' was interesting, but a bit impenetrable. Reflecting on how i felt afterwards i think that the issues being considered would have ben far better dealt with online in an e.g. you tube format. That is one of the advantages of the inter web. The ability to really 'show' rather than just 'tell'. 

 

I wish it well, particularly if it supports newcomers to the hobby. But if it wants to retain a pre-eminent position in the hobby I wish it had a more cutting edge to it. With RTR seemingly on the verge of pricing itself out of the 'new entrant' market we need all those with influence to use it.

Surely then "if RTR is about to price itself out of the market", all the more reason to buy and read a magazine that still publishes drawings for modellers and has article on kit building etc - rather than just reviews of [expensive] RTR.

[Ruston]

Hmmm. I have bought RM for the past 4 months, after 30 years of not doing so. It is - as a printed magazine - a quality product, in the strictly physical 'in your hands' sense. But it is also a bit like an old fashioned tea shop. Comforting, very familiar (e.g. in terms of Pritchard product placement; the local event listings) but not quite with the zeitgeist. For example, the article on 'motors' was interesting, but a bit impenetrable. Reflecting on how i felt afterwards i think that the issues being considered would have ben far better dealt with online in an e.g. you tube format. That is one of the advantages of the inter web. The ability to really 'show' rather than just 'tell'. 

 

I wish it well, particularly if it supports newcomers to the hobby. But if it wants to retain a pre-eminent position in the hobby I wish it had a more cutting edge to it. With RTR seemingly on the verge of pricing itself out of the 'new entrant' market we need all those with influence to use it.

When it comes to model railway magazines "cutting edge" seems to mean style over content and as for viewing things on Youtube - no thanks! Especially with the motors article. That's the sort of thing you're going to read more than once to take it all in and maybe refer back to.

[truffy]

Acrylic certainly has it's place, but not for locomotives and rolling stock. It's far too flat and has no sheen.

 

 

Look in any DIY shop and you can buy top quality acrylic varnish in matt, gloss and semi gloss. 

 

 

And then there is, of course, TA-DA-DA...(semi)gloss varnish.

 

You're welcome.

[truffy]

When it comes to model railway magazines "cutting edge" seems to mean style over content and as for viewing things on Youtube - no thanks! Especially with the motors article. That's the sort of thing you're going to read more than once to take it all in and maybe refer back to.

Not to mention the problem (IMO) that so many YouTube videos are so terrible in terms of presentation and production. Sure, I don't expect professional-level production values, but some are almost wilfully excruciating to the point of being unwatchable.

 

Edit: three points specifically come to mind: the curse of autofocus; not keeping the object in the field of view; and sounding like you've just been woken from deep slumber to read the telephone directory.

Edited March 9, 2018 by truffy

[Robin2]

I don't see YouTube videos as an alternative to a printed magazine or a professional video. But if you want to learn how do something (pretty much anything) there is probably a YouTube video that will show you how very effectively - and without too much trouble finding it either. The fact that the shots are occasionally out of focus or that the presenter is not what you would call photogenic is of little concern to me. If the video is awful, then just search for a better one.

 

I found the Article on the N20 motors interesting as I have been using some of them myself - but just with cheap plastic gears from Squires. By the way N20 refers to the motor only. It is a classification used by Mabuchi though I doubt if the cheap motors are actually made by Mabuchi.

 

I have started a Thread about the motor article here

 

...R

Edited March 9, 2018 by Robin2

[LBRJ]

That statement is incorrect, look up the ABC circulation figures.

 

                               2017       2016

Railway Modeller   31,966     33,828

Hornby Magazine   27,124    28,190

Model Rail              24,716    24,051

 

Sorry

I must be not too up to date with the figures..

Still a healthy sales for all of them though

[PMP]

Look in any DIY shop and you can buy top quality acrylic varnish in matt, gloss and semi gloss. It is only railway modellers who seem to be stuck in the past and continue to use enamels. For metal, use a suitable primer, that is what it is for.

 

Interesting using the example of a Black 5, most of which spent their lives dirty, not shiny. Can't see any advantage of emels for that, and in a few years you won't be able to buy  enamel paints. I think postal restrictions wre lfted, but does not mean they won't be re-introduced, and then getting hold of paints , unless you have a shop nearby, will be difficult. Exploring other paints and methods of painting, might help the hobby, whereas continuing using what will become more difficult to get hold of, will mean one day, oh dear what to I do.

 

I looked intopaints afew years ago, from an environmental point of view. Acrylics mighr still present a problem, but there are no proper guidelines(and some companies exploit that) , but suspect that will be the case some day. When I had a workshop in local market hall, although it did not bother me, it was mentioned that oil paints wre not permitted, I presume on health and safety grounds. You might not like it, but it is happening, and I am just trying to get people moving in the right direction, before they have a problem.

 

This post is so wide of the mark its difficult to know where to start. It shows a significant level of ignorance of the modelling hobby regarding paint, manufacturers and its application across a host of different modelling genres..

 

Enamels are widely used across Rail/Military/vehicle and maritime hobbies. The paint is easily available from companies that do mail order, as well as good hobby shops on the high street. There is no 'stuck in the past' in this, some enamel paint products such as AK Interactive are at the cutting edge of paint use and techniques, particularly within the military genres. The majority of these are military shades, but simple colours are easily transposable, blacks/whites/greys etc. Specialist rail paints are harder to get hold of, the market is significantly smaller hence Humbrol Testors Floquil and others not making those ranges any more, but that's not recent.

 

Well known brands of enamel paint include Railmatch, Humbrol, Revell, Tamiya, Mr Color, Testors, Xtracolor, Colourcoats, there are some others if you bother to look. I've not included Phoenix/Precision as whilst I know their paints are oil based they themselves don't refer to them as enamel. Shipping (from Hannants for example) is by Parcel force as standard royal mail won't take them.

 

So less of the rubbish please about getting people 'moving in the right direction', and scare mongering that enamels won't be available in a few years or they're difficult to get hold of because none of that is true. If you don't like them fair enough, but do at least keep it factual.

[vaughan45]

Sorry

I must be not too up to date with the figures..

Still a healthy sales for all of them though

 

Not quite the level of the late 1980s when if I remember correctly the ABC figures showed the Railway Modeller regularly at around 90k and occasionally over 100k. However there was limited competition in the 'general' model railway magazine market, Model Railway Constructor had gone, Your Model Railway was coming to the end of it's life span and Practical Model Railways had problems with it's production values. We had to wait until the early 1990s for BRM and Model Railways Illustrated (which then disappeared).

Edited March 11, 2018 by vaughan45

[rob D2]

Good old RM.

It’s still a bit steam a centric but always has plenty of layouts - and I like to see layouts of any persuasion.

 

And to be honest the layouts are a good mix of super high standard and more achievable which I may make.

 

The reason for the article on enamels is clearly to engage with new entrants - everyone has to start somewhere . I applaud this approach as long as it doesn’t turn into constant “ we show you how....” a la Modelrail which put me off that eventually.

[Izzy]

The sales figures do make interesting reading, and I do wonder how much of the decline is due to the now changed circumstances of the web based forums such as this, or if other factors are also involved. I don’t know whether individual sales would grow much if there were fewer mags around, I rather suspect not by much, but could be wrong.

 

Izzy

[greatcoleswoodhalt]

I haven't purchased Railway Modeller for years, but bought the April'18 issue yesterday due to the P Class review - a stopgap until delivery.  Despite being frontpage, I was disappointed with just two pages and limited text.  Appreciate the P Class isn’t new, and the variants widely known, but it left me a little underwhelmed!