Phil Copleston

Hi Dee, There are actually quite a lot of 1:64th scale road vehicles, people and animals around, if you know where to look. Seeking suitable 1:64th scale scenic items can be half the fun or 'challenge' of modelling in S scale! To start off: 1. The Lledo 'Days Gone' series of die-cast road vehicles were all to 1:64 scale (and can still be picked up for a few pounds), while the first 12 or so items in that range also came with a plastic sprue of useful 1:64 Edwardian or 1930s-50s-era figures. (These figures can also be found as 'loose' items on eBay.) The Lledo horse-drawn vehicles in that range also provides a source of useful 1:64 scale horses, of course. 2. The Lledo 'Vanguard' series included several makes of lorries, each with a variety of box, low-side or tanker bodies, all to 1:64 scale of course. (But the 'Vanguard' cars were all to 1:43 scale.) An upgrade and repaint can produce super-looking and authentic 1950s/60s era commercial road vehicles. Lledo also manufactured an unknown number of 'specials' or promotional items for commercial companies or tourist destinations, depicting various types and eras of lorries and light trucks, which are well-worth looking out for and can often be found very cheaply (for a pound or two). 3. Lesney 'Models of Yesteryear', Dinky Toys, Corgi and several other old makes of toy die-cast cars, lorries, buses and traction engines are a useful source well worth seeking out. Ordinary run-of-the-mill cars and light vans are harder to find, I agree, but some do exist, mostly from the 1920s/30s era, such as the Ertl series of die-cast Ford Model T vehcles. 4. Last but not least, you will find some modern 1:64 scale cars and VW buses etc. on sale at your local Tesco and Sainsbury's (and other) supermarkets in the toy section, either singly (£1 each) or in packs of 6 or 8 (for less than a tenner) under their own supermarket brand label, or sold as "Jonny Lightening" or "Hot Wheels". Some of the hot-rod cars are pure fantasy, but others are usable. These are fairly basic die-castings and may require upgrading with truer-to-scale wheels fitted or otherwise improved, but they are dirt-cheap and worth considering if these suit your modelling era. 5. Oh, and there are also lots of other 1:64 scale die-cast road vehicles out there originating from Hong Kong/China and Australia. And don't forget the dozens of 1:64 scale white-metal automobile, bus and truck kits from the USA and New Zealand which are often suitable or adaptable to the British scene. Then there are various farm vehicles, diggers and excavators and plant die-cast in 1:64 scale too. I'm not too familar with these, so perhaps someone else with more knowledge can comment? Anyway, that should give you a hint of what's out there, should you choose to look. Try eBay, local swapmeets, or adverts in various model or 'die-cast' magazines (you want the cheap un-boxed items, even battered ones which you can upgrade and repaint). Good luck!

Yes I know I'm a bit late in coming to this thread - but better late than never! Great photos, by the way. Very useful for my Cambrian modelling. Please post some more from this collection. I can confirm that the first photo in this thread is indeed of GWR 0-6-2ST No.1677, ex-B&M No.20, seen at Machynlleth. The location is confirmed by the well-known quarry cliff as the backdrop to the loco yard in this view. The mainlines are at a slightly higher level in the middle ground, while the loco is seen at the east end of the station yard shunting the sidings leading to the 'lower yard' (dropping down to the Corris station), and often used for carriage storage as can be seen here behind the loco. The reason why this loco is far from home turf is that the former Brecon & Merthyr found itself as part of the Central Wales Division of the GWR after Grouping, and thus their locos were repaired at Oswestry Works. B&M No.20 was known to have worked around Machynlleth and Barmouth in the mid-1920s. There's another photo of GWR 1677/B&M No.20 (from the other side) but at Barmouth Junction, published in CC Green's book 'Cambrian Railways Album -2' (Ian Allan, 1981) p16, centre left. Great photo. Another interesting GWR 'oddity' for my 1927-era Cambrian layout!

Possibly so. But at just £2.29 (incl. postage) for 100 micro-brushes via eBay, I doubt it will be worth the bother to look elsewhere! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100pcs-Small-Disposable-Eyelash-Extension-Micro-Brush-Applicators-Mascara-3mm-/111470817727?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19f42db1bf

Hi Andy, Forget agressive track rubbers and messy alchohol (except the consumable kind!). Get yourself a 1/2" wide slightly bendy nail-polishing stick (the pink/white/grey type) from Boots or Superdrug and use that to clean your rails. Much kinder on the track, no gritty after-debris, and easy and precise to use on delicate pointwork and in otherwise 'difficult to access' places. Oh, and dead cheap. The 1/2" (13mm) wide versions are perfect for 2mm scale trackwork and the differently coloured sides represent slightly different grades of abrasiveness, which can be useful. Give it a try anyway, you'll soon get the hang of it. As for your "new layout in N using Easitrac" - well done for attempting to adapt Association sleeper units to 9mm gauge! But errr... I assume that was a typo for "in 2mm"? Good luck and tell us how you got on.

All down to the wine and Mini's 'assistance' in tracklaying, I shouldn't wonder... oh, and a certain Baron von ZOB!

Mr Greenwood's working horses not needed! Paul Styles once built a working 2mm scale/4mm gauge Simplex and skips which ran on to a jetty and back again. How did it work? Via an under-track sprung dolly on a wire loop powered by a slow-acting fixed electric motor. A upward projecting pin through a slot between the rails engaged with the Simplex and drew it along. If you don't believe me - I saw it work and photographed it!

Jerry, I suspect the beer in those cans is a bit flat by now, which expains John's move to DCC. Now his locos have a lot more zip! (No kidding. I'm not pulling your ring-pull!)

Hi Larry, Thanks for your inquiry. You ask about British and European locomotive and rolling stock shells and mechanisms - the short answer is there aren't any! (hardly) But see below. The British S scale modelling scene is quite different from the USA. There has never been any significant commercial support for 1:64 scale modelling in Britain. There is no ready-to-run, just a few etched brass loco kits available and some etched brass, whitemetal, lazer-cut card or resin rolling stock body kits, most of which are supplied via the S Scale Model Railway Society (SSMRS): http://www.s-scale.org.uk/ Consequently, there is nothing like American Flyer or "Hi-rail" or "Tinplate" or a collector's scene in British S scale, just the good honest craft of 1:64 model-making! Instead, the 100-or-so active British S scale modellers focus on scratchbuilding or designing and constructing their own basic body shells, adding or adapting parts from the range of components available from the SSMRS. Loco mechanisms are usually completely hand made or utilising 4mm (1:76, OO) motors, gears and bearings. Actually, we like S scale this way - to be different from commercial 4mm or HO scale modelling and to attract people who seek something a bit different and more of a challenge. Take a look on the SSMRS webpages (above) for "Parts" and "Gallery" to see photos of kits and components and completed models. You have to be an SSMRS member to buy the parts, though. By the way, like American S, all British S scale standard gauge runs on 22.45mm gauge, but to ultra-fine wheel profile and track standards (finer than Proto:64): http://www.s-scale.org.uk/standards.htm This video shows the entirely scratchbuilt S scale layout 'East Lynn & Nunstanton' by Trevor Nunn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM5iByK-G5A As for European S scale... almost non-existant! I know of a handfull of dedicated European modellers who have scratchbuilt German standard gauge and Swedish narrow gauge prototypes in 1:64 scale, but this is highly unusual (and they are mostly SSMRS members). In the 1950s and '60s the former East German firm of Stadtilm produced some toy-like plastic and printed tinplate German-prototype models running on 22.5mm gauge, marketed as "Stadtilm Spur S aus dem DDR". Here is a collector's page (in German) to give you an idea: http://www.seppelbahn.de/SpurS.htm and this video shows it running: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ6jV9gn45k As you can see, Stadtilm Spur S was quite crude, but is still collectable. Search on http://www.ebay.de for "Stadtilm Spur S" or "Spur S" to see what is around. Of course, S scale (1:64) modelling is also popular in Australia and New Zealand (and to a limited extent in South Africa) for 1,067mm (3ft 6ins) narrow gauge prototypes in the form of Sn3½. Here are two examples of Sn3½ modelling (in the UK): Ian Hammond's New Zealand prototype ‘Kopikopiko’ exhibition layout http://www.s-scale.org.uk/gallery21.htm and Andy May’s Western Australian prototype rolling stock http://homepage.ntlworld.com/asmay2002/models.htm So, if you are looking for quick and easy S scale British and European 'shells' and mechanisms to add variety to your NYC layout, then you won't find any. Sorry. But if you are keen to learn about the diverse and fascinating wider world of 1:64 scale model-making, then you'll be delighted by what you find outside of the U.S., I am sure. Hope this reply is of interest. Good luck!

Cobbling is the 'last' thing you'd find Jerry doing!

David, I'm baffled as to why you are so keen that the labours of your CAD design work should be made available to others via 3D printing (assuming the design of the particular loco wheel in question suits their prototype), yet you are not prepared to have castings made from 3D lost-wax masters and distribute them to others. So I am not sure what the "object of your excersise" is, in terms of a usable product for all in S scale. Perhaps you'd like to clarify. Also, I agree with Adam - there is no scope for economies of scale using the Shapeways 3D printing process. If it is purely for your own use, then why not just scratchbuild a set of wheels and be done with it? You could have made them by now!

David, But this "Castable Wax material" that Shapeways are suggesting you use is what a number of us have advised all along - that you exploit the 3D-printing process as originally intended to make masters for lost-wax brass castings. And of course these can be made available to all - except that you (or someone) has to buy them first and send them out to purchasers. T'was ever thus. You can't just dial-up and email precision things like loco wheels.

Hi folks, Ummm... was it really two months since I promised to post some photos of 'Wadebridge' at the Helston show on 26-27 April 2014? Ooops! Well, here they are, better late than never... Jerry, busily snapping away (the results are to be seen elsewhere on this thread), as John looks on, while I was photographing the pair of them! The two T9s meet, oh so exquisitely scratchbuilt by John Greenwood. T9 No.119 in post-war malachite green livery with 'sunshine' lettering. SR 'West Country' class locomotive 21C107 is appropriately 'Wadebridge' (or will be once the plates are attached), later British Railways No.34007, seen here with the Padstow portion of the ACE. The main body shell is Farish but heavily reworked, with many new parts and a scratchbuilt tender, cab and chassis. I think she looks rather spiffing in her as-built form and in post-war malachite green livery. Guineaport Cottages, Wadebridge. Photographs of the real buildings were utilised to produce coloured card 'kits'. Wadebridge east signal box, looking back towards the station. You can almost hear the bells... The three Beattie 'ladies' on shed. The Medieval bridge over the River Camel, which carries Molesworth Street over the estuary, and that gives rise to the name of the town. Prior to the bridge's construction in the 15th century, the settlement was known simply as Wade, a dangerous fording point across the river. The view down Molesworth Street, towards the level crossing. Wadebridge south quay, just to the west of the Medieval bridge. Warehouses on south quay, their character perfectly captured in model form. The view up Molesworth Street from the level crossing, looking towards the start of the Medieval bridge over the Camel. T9 No.710 passes over the Molesworth Street crossing with an eastbound train. Wadebridge west signal box, protecting the level crossing of Molesworth Street. There we are, I hope it was worth the wait! Enjoy.

David, A suggestion: Rather than trying to print a driving wheel centre direct, wouldn't it be better to use this 'rapid prototyping' process as originally intended, and use it to produce a lost-wax master? This is a tried and tested process, and would then give you the opportunity to clean up the printing ridges, fill any blemishes and correct any errors, before sending the master for casting in brass. This is the route Maurice Hopper and I are taking to produce some Shanks 3ft dia. loco wheels. Trying to skip straight to finished driving wheel centres using the 3-D printing process seems to put too much faith in an outcome over which you have little control.

Hi folks! Yep, I wuz there! And I enjoyed every minute on both days (as you can see), although by late Sunday afternoon I was flagging a bit. I have a large stock of photos of 'Wadebridge' from the Helston show to post here over the next few days. A taste-wetter for Railex. So watch this space...

Jim, These are superb! Well done. This is clearly the right method to produce ROBUST loco driving wheels.

You are absolutely right, Simon. I have argued this point too: 3D-printing is only a basic production process, requiring quite a lot of subsequent cleaning up. In S scale it is often a lot easier and quicker to simply scratch-build the required parts than spend all that time messing about in CAD. Producing iffy loco driving wheel centres by this method seems to be the hard way to do it! As for the need for hand finishing off 3D prototypes, Like you, I'm also a satisfied customer of Jim King's Smoky Mountain Model Works kits and can attest to the quality of his finished products. He spends a lot of time cleaning up, filling and adding additional etched details to the 3D printed masters before committing them to resin moulding. The quality of his finish products is renowned!

Don et al, I quite agree - stocking different types of wheel bearings to suit different applications that fit a standard range of wheels is the sensible approach, whatever the quantity/price issue. The other way around - stocking a plethora of wheel types on differing axles to suit every manufacturer - would be just crazy!

Good stuff, Scott! This was taken at the SSMRS Autumn Meeting in Exeter last October, right? Maurice's 'country boards' will be at several shows later this year (see notices in S 1:64. exhibition list). Hope to see you again soon. :-)

And... may I add, that "2mm finescale's larger cousin" (i.e. S scale) will be in the basement at the St Albans 2014 show! This year we have a special display of Sn3½ 'Cape Gauge' models (New Zealand, Australian and South African) and modelling demonstration in support of the unfinished New Zealand Sn3½ layout 'Amber Lime Works'. More details here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/55748-s-scale-exhibition-diary-latest-updates/ See you fellow two-millers and S scalers there!

Reece: Thanks for the excellent additional detail photos! Judging from the images, you must have taken these on the Sunday before opening - hence the lack of stock, track-cleaning in progress, and our hung-over looks. Oh dear... On a small point of clarification, lest any readers think otherwise, 'Wadebridge' was the only 2mm finescale layout (1:152) at the Bodmin show. The others were N-gauge (1:148 or 1:160), of course. Anyway, as Jerry says, please do come and say hello to us at the Helston show in April, where 'Wadebridge' will be on display in Cornwall again: http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/events/7880-FalmouthandDistrictModelRailwayClub_ASpringModelRailwayShowinCornwall ('Wadebridge' not yet showing on invited layout list)

Yes please, Alan. As a life-long Cambrian fan I'm most interested to see Reg Storer's 1950s/60s photos of Oswestry Works. Please post as many as you can (or provide a link to the rest). This reminds me that I really ought to do something with my own original research and survey of Oswestry Works and finally get it published. Your modelling project has pricked my conscience and inspired me to get moving on this!

Yes indeed, '10800'. John Greenwood is one of those few British modellers who have embraced the concept of modelling a 'whole railway' (or as our American cousins put it, "a complete railroad you can model"). Another is Jas Millham with his erstwhile S scale exhibition layout the 'Yaxbury Branch', now permanently ensconced at home in his attic - with 'Rookfield' as a removable exhibition portion. In the past, modelling complete portions of railways (as opposed to stations only) was popular within the British railway modelling scene, now dominated by the smaller portable exhibition layout. A browse through the modelling magazines of the 1950s and '60s will reveal further examples. As an operator, you drive your train through a landscape from station to station on a proper and realistic journey, not popping in an out of a limited scene. Having operated both John's and Jas' layouts, and other 'basement empires' over in the States, I can attest to complete satisfaction with this this type of operation! What John is demonstrating here with 'Wadebridge' and 'Wenford Bridge' as contributory portions towards his overall plan, is that it is possible to combine both layout concepts by building in stages towards the larger - and I think more satisfying - home-based model railway 'empire'. Given enough space and commitment, this is perhaps a modelling approach worth revisiting.

Oh yeah... oooops! Thanks Paul. Then... I look forward to seeing it in its sleek mantle of glossy BLACK!!