andyram

Just over a week ago I broke up for my school's half term planning a relaxing week at home with my wife and new daughter. I had even hoped that I could end my modelling drought by restarting work on my home layout of Skaleby. But like the best laid plans of mice and men life does not always work out how you expect it. Visits to two model railway shows and several local model shops failed to find the dry stone wall pieces that I needed for my planned half term project. And with no other parts of Skaleby really providing me alternative inspiration, things have remained static in that area. But that was not to be it of course. A flippant comment made during a school fundraising meeting has landed me with the job of organising a model railway show at the school. This will be to raise funds for our "fifth anniversary appeal". It also landed me with the job of providing a layout of my own for the show. Sadly, Skaleby is not portable so I have decided to start another layout which will be Skaleby's little brother and one that will be built specifically to attend shows. So here is where we have got to now: The show Throughout half term I have been frantically researching show dates for the end of the year. The school's headteacher wants the event to take place in 2012 in order to fit in with our year of fundraising events. I have checked the dates of as many local shows as I can think of, and have come up with a list of prospective dates that won't clash. These will be taken to the governor's meeting later this week for confirmation. At present I am 99.9% certain that the show will be on Saturday 10th November and will take place at Weston-on-Trent Primary School in South Derbyshire. Once the date is confirmed I will be turning my attention to creating leaflets and posters to advertise the event. I have been very humbled by the response I have received from fellow RMWeb members and the offers of layouts I have already received. As this is a new show, and one that is being run to raise funds for the school, I have already stated the fact that I am unable to pay out much in the way of expenses. This has not stopped the layout offers coming in and I am really excited by the offers I have had. At least one layout offered had appeared on the "hit list" I dreamt up during the last few days. I have also received two definites for trade stands too, and that was from the first two people I asked! My recent visit to the Sileby show even brought up the possibility of a couple more layouts too. I am so amazed how easy it was to discuss this with people. As someone who admits to being quite shy, it was a big effort to actually ask people face to face for help. Thanks to all of those for being so helpful and understanding. So I hope to be able to formally announce the date soon and will then start finalising the list of layouts and looking for trade stands. It is all quite exciting! The layout I never thought a week ago that I would be contemplating another layout build. I have so much to do on my permanant home layout, Skaleby, that starting another one would be a ridiculous notion. But I have promised to show a layout of my own at our show. In reality, building a show layout has always appealed to me anyway and so this is a good excuse, even if the Weston show may be the only one it ever visits! As I am on a deadline and need to construct the model in just 8 or 9 months I have decided on a small micro layout. I have already purchased wood for the baseboard which will be 4 ft x 1 ft. The railway has been given a working title of "Skaleby West" and will feature a small branch line station complete with passing / run-round loop and a couple of goods sidings. This will allow me to transport some of my smaller stock over from Skaleby. I am not intending to model a particular region, and will make things deliberately freelance and vague. That way I could choose to run the model as ex GWR, Midland or even North Eastern region as I have appropriate locos and stock for these areas. So far I have played around with the track layout and have come up with what I think will be the final track plan. This is shown in the picture below. So far the board is sat on the top of the rabbit hutch which shares the railway room with Skaleby. I just need to run a few trains to check the plan is operable.

Hate to disagree. But I like the green! But I also wonder what it would like with the Ropley totem on the bottom.

Three weekends in February so far and now three model railway shows visited. This time it was the Syston Model Railway society show which takes place in Syston, Leicestershire. I have to say I really enjoyed this show. Whilst there was once again nothing on the trade stands to tempt me, I enjoyed many of the excellent layouts on show. There were some old favourites such as Rowthorne and Cromer, both of which seem to attend every show I go to. I always like to see layouts that have appeared in the Hornby magazine, so it was nice to see Bishops Wearburn. This large N gauge layout always had something moving. The scenery was good too, with an impressive double track bridge over a river at one end. Summat Colliery was also enjoyable to watch and looks good too. Can't wait to see it once "Harry" gets the sound chip....Or should I not mention that I've not seen a Z gauge layout for a while, but "Nevermoor", set in LNER days was very impressive. So much detail in such a small scale. Just a shame that the owner heralds from Ipswich - I won't be able to afford to book it for my show later in the year. Mentioning small scale, the "T" gauge garden layout was also superb. Can't believe there is a working gauge as small as that!! Finally a mention on the catering. The bacon cobs were delicious, and contained much more bacon than at the Allestree show last wee!!

Thanks to all for the layout offers I will message you all individually to respond. Things are beginning to take shape now, and in less than a week my stress level has dipped slightly. What a great website RMWeb is. If anyone else has offers of help they will still be very well received!

Now they do look just ready made for a model railway!!!

What are the APA boxes? Just thinking I could also use them as I need to build a portable layout before the end of the year.

The show is at Weston on Trent. I hope to have the final date by the weekend, if not then early next week.

Thanks for all comments so far. I will contact the model railway mags once the date is finalised. Likewise for the local radio stations etc. The tombola idea is a great one, another thing I will pass onto the Parents Association. As for road signs, the parish council clerk works at the school so I will contact her first and then highways after if necessary. Posters and leaflets are in the early design stage, although some for the local area may be placed in the hands of the children in the older classes in the school. I had thought about the refreshments. This will be passed onto the Parents association again. They are used to catering for our other fundraising events so that shouldn't be a problem. As regards free lunches for the exhibitiors I plan to give them a pass to allow them free stuff from the refreshment stall. Since we plan to have bacon / sausage cobs, crisps, cakes, teas and coffees etc I hope that will cover that.

Thanks for the info. I know what spaces I can use for the show, but have not measured these out yet. I like the idea of using the graph paper to mark out the spaces. We have used the school hall for Christmas and summer fayres before, and the Parents Association have done a show with lots of pampering stalls for a "Lady's Night" so I, roughly, know how many tables I could fit in for trade stands. My rough plan is to a "square" of exhibitors with the layouts around the outer edge of the hall so that they are near the plug sockets and thus avoiding wires having to stretch too far. In the middle, facing the layouts, I would then have the bulk of the trade stands. I have two traders committed to attending providing they can make the date, We also have a couple of long, wide corridors in the school and I would try and get some shelf type layouts to display along these. I plan to then put my, still to be constructed, layout in one of the other rooms which I reckon I can use. I had not really considered the programme as I thought that the show may be too small to warrant one. But now you mentioned the idea of getting firms to advertise in it I think that would be very sensible. Thanks. As for advertising. I definitely will advertise on here, and will use the as many other avenues that are financially viable. Like the idea of editorial space in the paper. I had considered trying to get it into the "events diary" of the model magazines as I reckon these would be quite cheap. I also plan to make up leaflets to distribute at other shows and through local railway outlets. Not thought about who would open it. Nice idea. I wonder if Pete Waterman is free lol!!!!! Thanks for your comments and ideas, its given me lots to think about. Much appreciated! PS So far I have one RMWeb blogger who has offerred their layout for the show.. Thanks to them too.

At the moment it is mainly the layouts as I am calling on the school's Parents Association to provide refreshments. But any help and advice that is available will be gratefully received!!!

Me and my big mouth! My South Derbyshire school is celebrating its 5th anniversary in its new building this year. As part of the celebrations we have set up a fundraising drive in order to pay off our remaining share of the cost of the new build. The headteacher had asked for fundraising ideas. I have run many a quiz night for the school over the last few years and I am sure I will be doing another one before the summer. But apparantly we need more events. Well I said it didn't I? I made the suggestion of holding a small model railway show in our building to help with the fundraising. Of course I expected the women in the school, who all have no railway interest, to laugh it off and tell the token male in the school to not be so silly. Right??? Wrong!!!!! The headteacher thought it was an excellent idea, and now I found myself responsible for organising it! Oh and she wants it this year as well!!! What was I thinking??? Now at present the date is to be finalised. The three favoured dates are Saturday 8th September, Saturday 13th October and Saturday 10th November. Not sure which one it will be yet, but expect this to be decided in the near future. I am just checking dates of other local shows in order to avoid any clashes. I do have two traders who have promised to attend the event whatever the date. Once I know the actual date I will be approaching a few more. But its layouts I need. I need help here!!!! I need small exhibition layouts whose owners are prepared to help out a stressed fellow modeller and attend. As this is a new show I am looking for local people as we can't be paying out loads on expenses. Can anyone help??? Oh...and if that wasn't enough! If my big mouth had not got me in enough trouble, I then heard myself saying that I would display a layout of my own. It looks like my developing home layout, Skaleby, is going to have a little brother!!!! I think I'm going to be going for the old classic of an ex-GWR branch terminus. More on this as I make, what will have to be rapid, progress. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please don't mis-understand my comments. I enjoyed the show, even if the layouts were not really for me. Like I said it was perfect for those who like to see the older models in action and the constant action does appeal to the youngsters. I also referred to it as a "Trains Day" rather than an exhibition at the start of my entry. I was simply giving a description of the event for those who could not go. Totally agree that the bacon sandwiches are excellent value!!!! Like I said at the end of my entry - the show has given me an idea for running a similar event at my South Derbyshire school to act as a fundraiser. Thinking further on this subject, I think I could convince enough traders to attend. Just need to find those layout owners who would be prepared to attend any such show!

A second weekend in February, and a second model railway show! After visiting Stafford last week I found myself at the Allestree "Trains Day" today. This show takes place annually at the church hall in Allestree, Derby. I believe it is run to raise funds for the church whose hall it uses. A large model railway show with lots of impressive layouts and various trade stands this isn't. With no more than 12 exhibitors this had a more intimate and family feel than the large show at Stafford. In fact it took me just 20 minutes from entering to have seen every stall. Had I not stayed for a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich from the refreshment window and not made three circuits of the room I would never have made my visit last an hour. I had hoped to find some scenic items amongst the trade stands as I need a few things for my next scenic project on my Skaleby layout. Sadly I was to be out of luck. Most stands featured a good mix of new and second hand Hornby and Bachmann locos and rolling stock and some items of Lima, Hornby Dublo and Triang, but featured little in the way of scenic items. The only such stock available was from "Derby Trees" who were selling their range of HO gauge trees from a stand alongside the "Famous Trains" charity. This is a group who are trying to construct a large OO gauge model railway in a building inside the city's Markeaton Park. The lack of scenery seemed to spread to the layouts within the show. There was an ecletic mix of layouts, most of which fell into the "train set" category. These featured a series of ovals with trains travelling around continuously, never leaving view, with a few storage sidings for spare stock. The big attraction was that the layouts featured models from the past and some manufacturers and ranges long consigned to history. One layout featured a display of Triang Hornby with an A4 and an 8F travelling around in opposite directions hauling passenger and freight sets respectively. The only loco on display was an 08 shunter parked in the sidings at the rear. The scenery consisted of a few buildings and a little scatter material with no variation in height, no hill or enbankment in sight! Another exhibitor displayed a collection of old tinplate clockwork Hornby 0 gauge, whilst another had an impressive collection of working Lone Star. Three circuits of track featured British and American outline models hurtling around at breakneck speed. There was also a small N gauge display of two circuits stuck to a green baise board and a large working display of Triang Battle Space. The only out and back layout was an "L" shaped Thomas model. Trains arrived from the fiddle yard to a large station area complete with engine shed and goods yard. Whilst the buildings were all present no other scenic work had taken place and it did look like the buildings and track had been placed onto the table at the start of the day. There was no run round facility so trains pulled stock one way and propelled it the other. As a modeller who visits shows to admire others work, view spectacular models and gain ideas and inspiration for my own layout - this show did not provide anything for me. But for those who like to view the models from yesteryear it was perfect. The constant movement of trains also provided plenty of entertainment for the children who are not going to be interested by constant shunting and interventions from the great hand in the sky. Maybe this show will act to inspire these youngsters to be the modellers of tomorrow. There was certainly a decent crowd of youngsters enjoying the action. What the show did do for me however, was to plant a little seed of an idea in my head. If this was run as a fundraiser for the church, perhaps I could convince my headteacher to allow me to run a similar event in our school hall. Maybe that would provide an ideal event for my school's latest fundraising drive. Now there is an idea!!

As half term approaches I am beginning to plan my next bout of scenic work on Skaleby. As mentioned in my previous post I am looking to work on the rear station platform by adding a dry stone wall to the rear and adding various trees, scatter and other foliege. I am also hoping to tidy up the board as it has become a little bit of a "dumping ground" during the last few weeks as the baby takes priority over everything else. Unfortunately it looks like I will have another job added to the railway's "to do" list. As I mentioned before, the layout has been hampered by the "flying fur" from the house rabbit that shares the railway room. I have had to clear small bits of fluff and hair from those locos which are stored on the layout at regular intervals. This week my trusty Railroad Jinty needed quite a bit of "defluffing". Sadly, despite my best efforts, it seems that the engine is developing a problem. Whilst running a train this morning the motor sounded quite rough. I can only describe it as a bit of a "croaky" sound. Strangely it only makes the sound when travelling forwards, as the motor is fine in reverse. It looks like I may have to learn how to do a few more loco repairs next week. In the meantime I thought I'd add this very old shot of the engine on the layout. This was taken before all of the boards were in place. The shorter running line resulting in the use of the old coaches.

That explains why it looked familiar. I am sure that I saw this at Derby last year. It was a very impressive with so much happening. I loved the scenics too. Many of the buildings seemed to be from the Skaledale range. Just goes to show what is possible with off the shelf products.

I forgot to add a comment in my entry about something that did happen whilst I was at the show today. A tannoy announcement stated that an exhibitor had had a loco stolen from their stand. I do not know whether this was taken off a layout or trade stand. Either way I feel it is sad that there are people within our hobby who would do such a thing. An absolute disgrace!

I had been looking forward to today's Stafford show for the last few weeks as it would be my first show visit of 2012. This would be my 4th visit in as many years and I knew that there would be plenty of high quality layouts to see and lots of trade stands to tempt me to part with my hard earned cash. I was a bit worried by the snow forecast for the day, but relieved that it hadn't appeared when I left this morning. As someone who is building my first solo project at home I was hoping to get some ideas for my Skaleby layout and also pick up a few supplies to help with my next scenic project. Unfortunately I was not able to pick up the dry stone wall pieces I wanted for my station scene. I did trawl the stalls looking for bargains and whilst one or two items tempted me there was nothing which caused me to put my hand in my pocket. As a subscriber and regular reader of the Hornby Magazine, I always look out for those layouts that have appeared in its pages. I hope that these shows give me a chance to see some of these layouts "in the flesh". Today I enjoyed seeing "Dagnell End", a brilliant Southern region layout set in the London suburbs. The scenery on this is excellent. The station and track is set amongst several levels of scenery giving a real urban feel. The scratch built buildings are superb and I loved the touch of having glass walls on the half relief buildings at the front of the layout. The detail in the church was excellent, and the cinema foyer was very effective too. This layout also features a working underground section. The last time I saw this it was working very frequently, but in the time I was stood there today no trains moved. Another Hornby magazine layout was "Bash Street" which is set in 1959 and was making its last visit to an English show. This was the first time I had seen this layout and I was very impressed. It certainly caught the grime of a city location very well. Just a shame that this is the one and only time I will get to see it. The Hornby magazine's own layout "Berrybridge" was in attendance. This is a fairly simple layout compared to the other two mentioned, featuring a station, single road engine shed, goods yard and little in the way of non railway scenery. It is still a very nice model however and it was nice to see the trains running through the station on this occasion. The last time I saw Berrybridge was at the Bachmann event at Wirksworth when space meant that there were no fiddle yards and the model was used as a shunting layout. It certainly looked much better in its full exhibition set up.Perhaps a more scenic back scene would have improved things further. Easy for me to say though! There were a few other layouts in attendance which I had seen in the past. The shelf layout based on Cromer is small, but effective. I am not normally a fan of modern image layouts, but this one has kept me entertained at two previous shows. The operators did throw a steam special into the mix today. One modern image layout that really did catch my eye was St Giles. This Western region, Rail Blue era layout, had a constant flow of trains which is always important for maintaing a crowd. The scenics were good too with lots of detail packed into their busy street scene. There was even an Inspector Morse jag parked with a police van outside the pub. These extra touches always raise a smile. The Stafford society's own layout, New Haden Colliery, was there again. This is another one I have seen in the Hornby magazine. I like this one as there is always something happening with plenty of little tank engines shunting coal wagons, trains arriving and departing and passenger trains passing on the line at the front. The pit buildings are very well detailed too. When I first saw this layout it had a large back board. This, I think, made it difficult for the operators. Maybe that is why it has been removed. Now you can see everyone moving around behind as there is no back board at all. It does spoil the illusion somewhat. Talking of spoiling the illusion....surely someone on one particular layout should have noticed that on shed they had two standard 4's, BOTH numbered 75029!!!! That really is poor in my book! The best layout for me was EM gauge "Alkham". This branch line terminus station was set in rolling countryside scenery with beautifully modelled buildings and was brilliantly lit. Trains ran at realistic speeds without stalling. I could have watched it for hours and would still have found new things. Excellent! I should mention the Soar Valley Clubs layout "Dorehill St.Stevens". It claimed to be new although I am sure that I have seen bits of it before. It was huge!! Lots of trains and very entertaining. I really did enjoy the Stafford show. My only regret is that the snow started about 1pm, and I did rush the last hall in order to get away before the weather worsened.

As a regular visitor to the SVR, and someone who has regularly photographed this location I have to say that I am loving these pictures. The layout looks fantastic.