Andrew Young

There was a time when visiting model shows I could be found rummaging through boxes of back issues of MRJ published before I had an appreciation of finescale modelling buying the copies containing articles which caught my eye. It was through this means that I first discovered Philip Harvey’s ‘Amberdale’ in MRJ 63. Here was a layout that had atmosphere in the same way as Ahearn’s ‘Madder Valley’. It was a slice of countryside with the railway running through it. Fully freelance, but completely believable. After gazing at the photos for some time it dawned on me that this superb layout was in actual fact oo gauge not EM or P4. Reading the text soon enlightened me that the depth of your flanges or the exact number of bolts to your chair does not correlate to atmosphere. MRJ 63 remains to this day probably my most thumbed issue. Much later on, ‘Ambledon’ at the head of the valley appeared in MRJ 269 in glorious colour to further inspire. A further passage of time ensued when I was looked at the ‘What’s New’ page on the Titfield Thunderbolt book emporium’s website and lo and behold there was a book on Amberdale published with a highly recommended précis by Mr Casten. An internet search found the publisher’s page with some images to further wet the appetite. Received a copy for my birthday earlier this month and promptly read it from cover to cover. If you’re a freelance modeller, whatever your scale, this book will inspire you. Highly recommended.

Agreed, by their very nature they make a good blank canvass to finish how you wish. I chose render with corner stones and there’s stone. The first one I saw built up was on one of Mike Bragg’s Black Country based layouts with a brick finish.

So, the RMWeb outage debacle rumbles on…. Whoever heard of a back up that wasn’t a back up? At least the site speed is back, even if so are the adverts. This thread is still devoid of photos, all the way through so shall wait a little while longer to see what reappears before deciding what to do next. Anyway, one benefit of glacial progress is that of the photos lost forever in recent months, the main achievements are in this photo. The Mannin models carriage, the magnetic shunting poles and the Petite Properties pub. Last Saturday saw our Trent Valley Area Group of the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association Members Day at Mickleover, delayed from January due to Omicron. An excellent day of catching up with friends fuelled by bacon rolls, tea and cake. One piece of modelling that caught my eye was this group of Petite Properties buildings, complete with interiors and lighting. Neil bought along his under construction ‘Ffarquhar Road’ layout on which running rights were extended and my Hudswell got a run out. Liz and Annabel came along for a look round and Annabel is a fan of the whistles and bells that DCC brings. An excellent day. Was fun to shunt a few wagons around and showed that less can be more. Also, seeing how Neil had challenged himself to get something to the show reminded me of how we used to do that with our group layout. So have challenged myself to get my layout to a state where it can be taken along to our next members day in January.

And some from me. Can blame Paul Martin of EDM Models for this. I sent the photo of them in the case to Paul who replied with “any chance you can get a photo outside the case?” A challenge we gratefully accepted! My biggest problem now is that I have one loco on order from Paul. Do I need to increase that order…. Andrew

Thanks Graham. Having had issues with plastic glazing fogging or picking up marks very easily, I’m now a definite convert to using microscope slide glass. There’s a definite knack to using them and they don’t like being split into two small a pieces or have a second cut made to the same slide. So, there was more wastage cutting the small pieces in the bay windows than the rest of the glazing put together. But once you have the knack it’s surprisingly quick to do.

Thanks Mike!! Now corrected. D’oh!

Just realised that it’s been 2 1/2 months since my last post! It’s been a busy time. Firstly we enjoyed a great Christmas, thankfully Covid didn’t scupper this one too and we had a week beside the sea in Tywyn with family and there was even time to get a day in on the Talyllyn locos. Since Christmas, has carried on being hectic. Since having our daughter, there has been little chance to partake in winter working parties on the railway. However, we timed a visit in February to coincide with one of the hedge laying gang’s visits and the Grandparents being at home ro look after our daughter. I’d only been hedge laying once before but it’s interesting work, with some good mates and plenty of cake. Even if the weather reminded me why I’d gone over to servicing carriages in a dry shed in recent times… Trying to make what’s there grow a bit better. Helps with conservation of the lineside and creates natural habitats along the way. A selection of the cakes to help keep out the weather! #hedgegangselfie Now there has been some modelling too. Aided by my little helper… The regular zoom meetings of our local bunch of 7mm NGA Trent Valley mob have been a boon for getting back to the modelling bench when other priorities have taken over and kept you away from it. Starting at one of the zoom meetings and being finished at this evening’s (though the roof will get weathered in due course) I’ve finished off my Petite Properties low relief pub, the ‘Terminus Tavern’. I’ve attempted a typical rural Welsh rendered pub in a monochrome finish. Using sandpaper and styrene covering the walls. My first use of acrylic paints (need more practice, the weathering could be better), my first use of glass microscope slides for glazing (never going back from that one even if the small side panels on the bay windows severely tested my patience) and finished with the excellent York Modelmaking roof tiles (next time I’ll try to be neater). The gutters and down pipes are the new ModelU ones which are excellent products which have come on the market at just the right time for me. One down side of drinking beer and having a good laugh on these zoom meetings is shown in the lettering. I set up for ‘Tavern’ first, all near and central. Then poured a second bottle of beer before I did ‘Terminus’. The slightly off centre result will be a permanent reminder of how much I enjoy Titanic Brewery’s excellent Plum Porter…. However, I think it will look just the part to the rear of the layout. One of the distractions slowing progress has been the layout set up in the attic. Shuffling a few wagons about has been very enjoyable, even if it has slowed this build down. Shall start my next project after the weekend (have family duties plus taking the 7mmNGA stand to the Gauge O Guild show in Kettering), will be sticking with buildings for now before turning my attention to the layout where they will end up. Andrew

Would enter, but already have a copy of this excellent book. Well worth having.

Last time I went, there was a Clifton shopper ticket for £2 if you just wanted to go from the park and ride to the show and back.

Thanks for finally finding a photo of a new one that shows that Minerva really aren’t that far off with their colour match for the cab. As my father would give chapter and verse on, colour film from the sixties is very unstable with its colour over the years and different manufacturers of film behaved in greatly different ways. Taking that photo above, just look how dark the dark green on the bonnets is being depicted, showing how much of a minefield this is. Looks to me on the various photos that 1) the cab colour weathered darker over time and 2) the actual colour isn’t as nice a green as people would like it to be. Andrew

Just superb Tom. One question, what have you used for your bracken? Thanks, Andrew

It’s desperate times when I’m your electrickery expert!! Good to see my attempts at making my electrics idiot proof have helped.

Excellent. Had the same conversation with Paul for when I build my Planet.

Lovely work on the signs and the Planet. Will your Planet be having an Uproar sound file? Was going to suggest speaking to Paul Martin about your Volvo cab, but I see you already have.

Great to see you back Geoff, I’d been following your blog off and on but it’s good to see your O gauge adventures continuing on here. Andrew

A while back I was pondering couplings. Having tried Dinghams and found that they didn’t suit the vastly differing coupling hook heights on my stock thoughts turned elsewhere. One fellow Trent Valley Group member sent me some magnetic couplings that a friend of his was developing and whilst definitely an option, the cost of each unit when multiplied by the number of drawhooks I’ve got put me off. One thing that attracted me to O gauge was the ability to use proper three link couplings when shunting wagons and was keen to stick with them if possible and personally, I’m not averse to the big hand in the sky. The magnets gave me an idea. Apart from some of the rtr locos all the rolling stock I’ve built uses steel three link couplings and had heard of people using magnetic coupling poles and searching the forums gives the necessary information to make them. A pair of reasonably priced rechargeable pen torches were purchased off the web. I already had some 1mm diameter by 1mm long magnets (daft ideas for working hopper wagons requiring further thought…) and I had some brass tube which when split and opened out would fit over the torches. To this was added some 1mm diameter brass rod and some suitable brass tube which the magnets and brass rod would fit inside. Some basic metalwork bodging, a spot of soldering and the addition of some masking tape to stop the brass rod from moving about too much and I have a pair of magnetic shunting poles. One for myself and one for @NeilHB as a return favour after he scratchbuilt for me an exquisite open wagon. Andrew

Thank you Graham @PMP99 all done by dry brushing. I’ve developed a palette of colours I use in the hope that I can get consistency with my models so they sit well together. The only downside is that they’re Railmatch enamels so quite smelly. Which isn’t always popular with Liz working from home as we share the study! Andrew

Been making very slow progress on the modelling lately, many thieves of time around my daughter’s birthday and the run up to Christmas. However, have now finished the Mannin Models Brake Third coach. I’m rather pleased with the outcome and great value too. Had best concentrate on the layout for a bit to give me somewhere to run it! Andrew

We have lighting only when we remember to take the lamp down with us… And one out of two draining pits ain’t bad!

Only if you insist on lighting up outside! It’s fine if you’re a progressive railway with a shed to prepare your locos in in the morning, maybe even a proper water column at the shed too ;-) Andrew

Nice platform, is it a softwood frame with styrene on top? Had been pondering how to do mine. Cheers, Andrew

@Mol_PMBThey’re a tad cramped, but Mr Martin and I (I’m 6’3” and not exactly slim!) have spent a couple of days sharing the driver’s side of Merddin. Must echo Mol’s comments about the ride quality and the superb power output from such a compact machine. The decision works very well with the one water space and two fire boxes. Last Thursday evening’s 7mmNGA Trent Valley Group Zoom session, like the usual pub session, except from home, whilst modelling and not restricted to just members local to Derby, we were discussing the Funkey diesels. To realise just how good a piece of kit a Double Fairlie or a Garratt are, compare them to the internal combustion alternatives available. Andrew

Fairlie tried that, but two chimneys on one fire creates a draughting nightmare.

Wishing Trevor the best in what must be very difficult times, when I ordered some earlier this year, he was very prompt in sending them. Sadly, I found the Dingham couplers weren’t for me due to vastly varying coupling hook heights on my eclectic stock. Think I’ve got two etches of the 7mm scale coupler, one only missing a couple of couplers I took off to experiment with. I also have some of the electro magnets which I’ll happily sell on if there’s a current Dingham user wanting to ensure they have sufficient stocks for the future. More use than sitting in my drawer, PM me if you’re interested. UPDATE: Electromagnets now sold. Thanks, Andrew