LocoLaurie

That is very interesting. I'm not alone lol. Laurie

Hello, Some of you may know me, Laurie Calvert, as the creator of a science-fiction model railway called Cato Pass. Built in Nov 2015 it has displayed at 61 shows, been in several magazines, been on TV, BBC news, and been lucky enough to pick up an award or two. It has been a wonderful ride culminating in me working with a team from Hornby to produce some of the sci-fi Steampunk designs in 2020. This year I have managed to make not one but two sequel layouts to complete the trilogy, for future exhibition display, using the same 6x2ft format of an underground cavern set on a moon of Saturn. These are imaginative designs, hopefully inspiring a different type of modeller into our wonderful hobby. These especially seem of interest to families, and there are even audience buttons for them to control certain things. So I hope some of you can appreciate the angle I am coming from. The first is Cato Cove, an underground dockyard set on Titan, where the Steampunk Junk Collection Ship is under dinosaur fish attack, whilst the Steampunk locos race around, and aliens attack on the surface. Search on YouTube 'Calvertfilm Cato Cove Pt17 Running Session of Sci-Fi Model Railway' The Second is Cato Inferno, an underground ice cavern on Mimas, with a Dropship landing pad which is on fire after being attacked by Dragons. It also features a huge loco called Colossus which spans three adjacent tracks and shuttles back and forth trying to escape the Steampunk retaliation. I could only managed to attach one video/YouTube link to the finished models but on my 'Calvertfilm' channel you will find build videos if you wish to know how I achieved any of the effects, such as the large realistic fire effect, which wasn't cheap but the most realistic way I could achieve the effect I wanted. Still most hobbies aren't cheap are they? lol. I will also attach some images for your perusal. I make regular layouts too, and I know Sci-Fi and Steampunk are not everyone's cup of tea, but hopefully there is room in the hobby for these imaginative and detailed models, and that you can appreciate the modelling and the ideas. I hope to see some of you in the future as I display these at shows. Please enjoy. Regards, Laurie

Dangerous for me to visit this shop because it has such an extensive range I might not come out for hours. Friendly people too. I needed a Steampunk loco fast, and managed to contact them through social media. They were on the ball, posted the item fast, and I got it the day before I urgently needed it. Massive thanks to Ken and Heather.

Hi All Contrary to popular believe I do sometimes make a regular railway. But not normally. The past two months has seen me combine one of my favourite TV shows with our world of railways. 'Thunderbirds Are Go' has two shuttling engines, one a pod vehicle, the other a sci-fi loco. Also there is a static crashed Monorail train, and a crashed plane spewing out smoke (steam effects). There are 4 audience buttons to press, and various lights around the model. Sound effects, and music if required. This was a commission build. Here is a video I hope you enjoy it as it is a bit of fun. It's not the point if it is your thing or not. The aim is to get yet more people interested in our hobby, so hopefully people get that :-) Stay safe, and keep modelling. Regards, Laurie Sci-Fi Cato Pass p.s. some images too.

Hornby also want to give people the idea, and then see what they come up with. Over to you folks really......

Hi Splendid People I'm Laurie Calvert (aka Cornelius Chuddery) the designer of the Steampunk product for Hornby. The was tasked with using existing product, and giving it a Steampunk make-over. So bear in mind those constraints, although I am very happy with the designs. I am really pleased with the results on the Locos, Wagons, and Coaches. The buildings I had lots of thoughts over. I really wanted to do something wacky, overbalanced, and almost falling over but had to modify existing items. So two of the sides have detail on them and two of the sides just cogs and gears as a Steampunk motif - the idea being they could be instantly recognisable as Steampunk. No matter what a steampunk song says, you do actually needs cogs and gears. Otherwise they would look like buildings but not really Steampunk. I have many more ideas if they are needed. This also has a narrative to it, to get imaginations going. Bassett-Lowke was used as that company was founded in Victorian times 1899. Seemed apt in a way. Hornby designers have done a great job on the art for the models. The interest grew in the product as the months rolled on. I have built two demo layouts, one for America. The investment wasn't too high but the idea here is to bring in other modellers into our hobby. I applaud Hornby for giving this a go. To broaden it's appeal. Ask your children or grandchildren what they think of these locos racing around dinosaurs, and you may find you have to have these as visitors to your own layout when the grandkids come round to visit. The hobby after all is meant to be fun. I am making a series of videos for daily release on YouTube for those interested in seeing how this product was developed, and give you an insight. Here is the first. I hope this interests people. If it's not for you fair enough. I don't like every loco I see. That's not the point though - the idea is to appeal to new modellers, so well done Hornby management for giving this a go. For me this was a dream come true - I got to design a Hornby product. How cool is that? Regards, Laurie

Hi all. Thanks for you comments. I'm Laurie the designer of this product for Hornby. The was tasked with using existing product, and giving it a Steampunk make-over. So bear in mind those constraints, although I am very happy with the designs. I am really pleased with the results on the Locos, Wagons, and Coaches. The buildings I had lots of thoughts over. I really wanted to do something wacky, overbalanced, and almost falling over but had to modify existing items. So two of the sides have detail on them and two of the sides just cogs and gears as a Steampunk motif - the idea being they could be instantly recognisable as Steampunk. No matter what the song says, you do actually needs cogs and gears. Otherwise they would look like buildings but not really Steampunk. I have many more ideas if they are needed. This also has a narrative to it, to get imaginations going. The investment wasn't too high but the idea here is to bring in other modellers into our hobby. I applaud Hornby for giving this a go. To broaden it's appeal. Ask your children or grandchildren what they think of these locos racing around dinosaurs, and you may find you have to have these as visitors to your own layout when the grandkids come. The hobby after all is meant to be fun. For me this was a dream come true - I got to design a Hornby product. How cool is that? I am making a series of videos for daily release on YouTube for those interested in seeing how this product was developed. Regards, Laurie Calvert (Cato Pass model railway).

As a primarily Sci-Fi Steampunk modeller, Steampunk Laurie from Team Steampunk Series 1, I have to say how much I enjoyed Heat 5 and the creativity that shone through from all teams. There were elements of each model I really found entertaining. In fact this series of GMRC seems more about fantasy based modelling than I was expecting, with sci-fi elements creeping into many designs across the heats, and it makes me wonder if more show layouts will reflect this in future? For me the hobby needs to evolve a little bit (still keeping its core modelling) so as to attract new people. So well done to all teams on GMRC2 and especially this heat that had some wonderful interpretations. Steampunk models, TB1, and some great buildings. This is my first post on GMRC2 as these modellers fired me up! Steampunk Laurie

Just noticed this topic. Fantasicgorical stuff. Really glad others are having a go. For figures I get mine from eBay. They are a bit larger than normal but they still work for me. Just search Steampunk figures. Here's an example: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-28MM-STEAMPUNK-TUNSTALL-TORCHER-METAL-FIGURE/123465908999?hash=item1cbf244307:g:eg4AAOSw~ztbOQO9:rk:17:pf:0 Laurie Calvert

Channel 5 link to appear on the show for Series 2. Same address as elsewhere on this thread. http://www.channel5.com/apply-to-be-on-the-show/ It says: Teams of modellers or individual modellers are welcome to apply. Please send your name, location and contact details to casting@knickerbockerglory.tv

Backstories: This message is really to the Teams. We were all filmed before the show, and these Backstories were going to be used on the show originally. But now they are due to be published on the Channel 5 web site I think Pat said. http://www.channel5.com/show/the-great-model-railway-challenge/ But does anyone know where they are please? Laurie p.s. here is our own 3 min video made during that backstory filming featuring Bryher and Marko:

Great very funny, you know if memory serves me correctly, I think my Team Steampunk left some behind in our box of goodies (inc paints, and scenics) for other teams to use. I'm not sure we left that many. As they say in the movies 'Life finds a way' lol. Steampunk Laurie.

Well done to all teams. Great modelling on RVD, and Aberdeen won with an imaginative model. Where on earth did the producers get the idea for 'Journey through time'. Our Team Steampunk would have been stumped lol.

Really good to see Bryher from Knickerbocker is glancing over this thread. I doubt I can submit a team for series 2 due to personal issues but may I make some suggestions? 1: I would like to see a general sponsor that can supply other types of modelling materials such as sci-fi models, and all sorts of other things. Someone like Hobbycraft for example. This is because I found for some strange reason Hornby, Bachmann, Peco, and all the others were devoid of sci-fi items :-) It restricted my build considerably in series 1 on the 'Time Travel Train'. 2: The Pre-Build rule (if allowed, and it seems most teams need it to be) should be very clear, so they all do more or less the same amount in terms of time and money. 3: How about a guest star viewing the models and giving opinions? Could be quiet entertaining or informative depending who it is. Just a thought. Cheers, Steampunk Laurie

Great to meet you too. Thanks for having a chat about the show. And yes the cow did eventually get hit by the loco but only because I moved it backwards on the rails to build up excitement for the viewing public. Cow survived and so did the loco. Layout run all day fully automatically without a single stop, problem or derailment. Those inexpensive (£25) analogue SS2A shuttle + controllers from Block Signalling do a great job accelerating and decelerating the trains. If I did a series 2 of GMRC I think I'd put some in.