nest

Grand work Phil!

...and i believe a happy birthday as well!

Nestor 

On 13/02/2020 at 11:36, justin1985 said:

As far as I know there is no UK stockist - although Conrad do stock a LIMITED subset of the range, meaning you can order them directly from Conrad UK (same company as Rapid Electronics). 

 

I've bought several of the kits in Z scale directly from Herr Oswald. It looks like he's updated his website with an actual shop function - last year you had to complete an Excel file and email it to him. Last year, at least, he only took payment via IBAN bank transfer - I used TransferWise to avoid the ridiculous charges that UK banks impose for this! Delivery was pretty swift, and arrived by Parcelforce.

 

There is no denying the prices are high, but the texture of the kits is incredible! Here is one of my completed kits (linesman's hut) in Z: 

 

Thanks this is helpful! 

Ill check out Conrad  

I'll also follow your topic, looks interesting.

Nestor 

Hi guys 

Apologies if this is the wrong place to ask this question...

Having had a look online, I'm struggling to find a UK supplier of the lovely MBZ laser cut building kits. Does anyone know of anywhere they are available in the UK? Otherwise I'm quite happy to import but thought I ought to check first. 

Thanks in advance! 

Nestor 

That's really rather good! Would definitely be interested if and when they are available 

Nestor 

Great to see progress...now you just need to be finished in time for our next club cup night  

nestor 

It's with great sadness that I must report that this morning I was informed that Doug Hill, former treasurer of the Brighton MRC, passed away. An excellent modeller and an expert on all things LSWR, he will be greatly missed by all that knew him. 

Nestor 

Hello all! 

So I've, probably deliberately, been putting off wiring this thing up as that is my absolute least favourite and least confident aspect of layout building...

Instead I've been planning in where the platform and goods platform will be. Hardly the correct use of my time but until I'm absolutely certain of what I'm going to be doing wiring wise (it'll be dead simple, that I do know!) it's all I'm prepared to do. 

I'll be heading to my nearest Hobbycraft (now that there is one in Brighton) to buy up some balsa wood and I'll also be making a small shop of rolling stock over the next month or so.

That's all for now, below are some photos of the rough planning of the platforms, the cut in the track between the two boards and the Autorail positioned stylishly in the sun....

Nestor 

Just a quick one...

good weekend at Ally Pally has increased the total stock level for the layout by three wagons from Piko. 

Attached is a shot of the entire stock so far...

Nestor 

Hi all

off topic I know BUT I'll be at Ally Pally next weekend (23rd/24th March) demonstrating scenery techniques. Do come and say hello if you're there! I do this wearing my MRC hat rather than my Brighton MRC hat and it's always very enjoyable. 

Hopefully ly see some of you there 

Nestor 

Also...

Just thinking ahead, how have others gone about modelling the low level platforms common across France? I'm used to the higher British ones but have not tried a lower level one before. Any help greatly appreciated!

Nestor

Following on from the previous post, the goods siding is now also laid.

Nestor 

BOO! 

I'm still here! With a promotion at work just around Christmas I've barely had time to think about the layout which led to a bit of a slump in the way of a modelling mojo.

However, having found myself flicking through some old MRJs the mojo swiftly returned and some time was made today to crack on with the first stage of track laying. The first stage quickly moved into the second stage and now all that is left to lay is the goods siding. 

Pictures attached below, including a terrible pun based mug from my girlfriend who really ought to know better than encourage my terrible sense of humour! 

Ttfn 

Nestor 

I think we may be a wee bit off topic there...

On the subject of Le Train, I am aware of it but have not yet done a proper search.

nestor

Nest, have you seen this topic?

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/132461-lheure-bleue-a-new-french-layout/page-1

I have yes, and very good it is too! Very different to my plans.

Nestor

Hello!

Apologies for the lack of updates through November, I've had a heck of a lot on (including running the Brighton MRC show) so little time to focus on my own modelling.

Again the next few weeks are looking very busy with work and Christmas so progress (if any) will be pretty slow moving forward. I do however plan to start track laying in the next week or so.

On a recent trip to Paris I picked up a few wagons and have a Jouef 141 TA on its way. I foolishly didn't pick the French language book on the history of the Midi. Next time though!

Ta ta for now!

Nestor

Much to my surprise the building kit arrived in the post today so that was my afternoon sorted!

Still got a few bits to do (painting, additional roof details etc) but I'm quite pleased with how quick and easy it's been so far.

Nestor

I'm currently using a bit of spare time to start properly visualising the layout. Having loose laid the track, I have drawn an outline of the overall plan onto the (currently unfinished) baseboards. The plan is simple leaving plenty of space for a bit of landscape modelling.

Now to get on with finishing the boards...

Nestor

I'll make sure to take a few extra euros with me then!

The person I'm travelling with will just have to put up with a day of model shops then!

Thanks guys

Nestor

Hi Nestor,

 

I see that you follow Renaud Yver, you might like to have a look at Biscatrain too - http://www.biscatrain.fr/ . The original owner had to give up on his layout in 2017 (I missed the details of why - but it involved a move to a smaller property) and he passed it on to someone else who has reassembled it all and is carrying it on. Biscatrain had a lot of helpful items on 'how to do things' that may help you in your endeavours too.

 

The layout IMHO, was excellent.

 

Good luck in your efforts.

 

Oh BTW, whilst there are a number of French modelling mags, you could try 'Le Train'. They do a mix of 'real' railways - modern, steam and pre-nationalisation and a number of layouts in each issue. They had a series on autorails which may have been of use to you. They also do 'one-offs', steam, autorails, electrics and the like - oh and DVDs.

 

Cheers,

 

Philou

Hi Philou

Thanks for the link, I've come across Biscatrain before but not given it a proper look as yet. But I will now!

I will also look into Le Train. Unfortunately my French doesn't extend far beyond some very basic tourist level understandings which makes this all a little tricky but i'm getting there.

I'm actually heading to Paris week after next so intend to pop into one or two model shops and see what's available magazine wise and wagon wise. I've ordered a kit to build the station building as my attempts at scratch-building currently leave a little to be desired... I have also ordered an autorail (a Renault VH) by MISTRAL.

That's all for now

Nestor

As Ian says look for Epoch 3/4 models, I'd also suggest a strong bias for ordinary opens and vans, mostly plain brown, unless your layout has a particular industry that need special stock. One signature type is the UIC Type 1 open wagon, modelled by Piko & Roco

 

This is a Belgian example which lacks the pressed door panels of the SNCF ones.

 

Uic open wagon Maldegem Steam Centre (37).JPG

 

SNCF also had the more commonly modelled UIC Type 2 open wagons with a single set of doors each side.

 

Continental Modeller ran a very informative three part article back in the 80's by Andy Hart of the SNCF society which gave a very useful over view of SNCF goods stock, in addition Benno Weismueller wrote several profiles of UIC wagons for CM. I'll try and find some references for them.

 

Lastly, I'd suggest joining the French railways Society as they're much more knowledgeable than me. http://frenchrailwayssociety.org/

 

You mentioned vineyards, I recall Andy Hart did an article on inproving the Jouef "bifourde" twin cask wine tanker.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Wine-Barrel-Wagon-SNCF-SCW-574781-Jouef-6430-H0-1-87/1130028046?iid=201143396787&_trksid=p2047675.m4096.l9055

 

The main flaw in the model is that it was fitted to a standard chassis which needs shortening

 

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-old-tank-wagon-for-wine-mulhouse-railway-museum-france-5657299.html

 

All the best

 

Nick

Hi nick

Thanks for that, I'll take a look at those!

I plan to join the society when I get a chance

Nestor

Despite living here I have no idea either! But most shops' websites tend to give an era for the model and its livery. So I suggest Eras 3/4 might be the sort of time-frame. See what they have on offer for that era, and you may get some ideas. Rural France, just like much of the world, thrives on grain and similarly seasonal traffic. Elevators etc provide a very ready focus for freight operations, therefore.

Thanks

In terms of passenger stock I kind of know where I'm sitting with Epoch III/IV but I'm stumped on train formations for freight workings.

i have a vague idea of the kind of wagons that would make up a pretty generic short goods for a French rural layout but it's the specifics of the region which are proving a little tricky.

Nestor

Hi guys

A little quiet here due to work being busy and prep for the exhibition I help organise.

Just a quick question regarding stock. Whilst I intend to my passenger traffic to be provided by a couple of Autirails and possibly some four wheeled stock I'd love any advice or knowledge on freight formations in this part of France on By-ways during the late 50s and early 60s. As I've said I'm still pretty new to the French scene so any advice is greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Nestor

 

Thank you both, looking for shorter than short radius for industrial use so beginning to think C&L assembly is the way forward although this re-entry into modelling for me is supposed to be fairly simple but must admit pondering on DIY points - and while I'm there I could go EM then it all turns into a beginners snowballing nightmare!!

 

Thanks

Ralf

You'll be modelling in S Gauge before you know it!!

I think it all depends on what your aims are with the finished product. If modelling a dirty industrial layout with some pretty grotty and worn out track then hand built is definitely the way to go. For me, as it's an overall image with plenty of scenery, the Peco bullhead track will fit in fine.

Nestor