Pylon King

On 29/11/2019 at 15:02, Coppercap said:

Quite a few of the catalogue layouts had multiple tracks often leading to nowhere in the distance or out of camera shot. Trains were often on apparent collision courses, and if the layouts were meant to be operable, the wiring would have been pretty complex! If anything were to derail on the larger layouts, I always wondered how you'd reach it (with difficulty!). I still used to spend hours looking at the whole catalogue though...

Yes , the original studio photos would reveal the real ‘warts and all’ aspect of these wonderful dioramas , they certainly captivated our imaginations . The accompanying photos from autumn 1970 illustrate this - R408U turntable box lid and original studio shot.

On 14/12/2020 at 08:04, Legend said:

 Ah yes. Possibly my favourite Hornby / Tri-ang  catalogue of all time .  1974. ( 1980 , 1967, 1973 drives it close)

 

Strange , as pointed out there was no Jubilee in the catalogue , was I disappointed , no . I suppose Hornbys Cuneo pictures had some  history of not relating to anything in catalogue , the 1970 Jubilee and Castle for instance or the 72 Co-Bo .   Yet the following year I was disappointed because of the lack of appearance of models in the cover , I suppose these were line drawings and not a Cuneo picture , maybe that was the difference .

 

New Type face Hornby Railways only lasted a few years . It was the time that locos were attractively presented in red box and black insert with line drawing on . I remember seeing lines of them on the shelves at John Menzies Buchanan St Glasgow , who in these days had a large toy dept and a very good Hornby section . You’d struggle to find Hornby anywhere in the centre of Glasgow now - just Hamleys . 
 

What was exciting to me was not the new models (47 and 2mt) but the ideas of new layouts in the catalogue . Promised in the third edition of the track plans book which didn’t turn up until. 1975 . Spent hours figuring out what line went where , so this catalogue was truly inspirational and showed the entire range well in layout dioramas . 

The Cuneo catalogue years were and still remain magical. There were at least  four different versions of the 1974 catalogue, most notable was the first print featuring various unreleased sets . Also several ‘74 only products including the R133 girder wagon featuring a  Minic Motorways boat , still very much a favourite.

On 13/12/2020 at 15:56, Legend said:

Yep here she is 

Hornby also produced a prototype Jinty in the same livery , sadly it never went in to production.

On 15/12/2020 at 15:36, Legend said:

Yep 1972 it was . Love these model land factories . Managed to get a couple but they go for rather a lot of money on eBay 

Totally agree , both  the factories and Victorian shops/town houses are absolute favourites , still superb kits to this day .. Photo - Hoddesdon show a few years ago.

The 1972 catalogue cover , a fascinating insight to it’s creation.

On 10/12/2020 at 14:32, BernardTPM said:

As already mentioned, a lot of models had disappeared from sale, though several of them were used in the catalogue illustrations. Here's a compilation of unavailable items taken from the 1975 catalogue pages:

 

Also Model-Land factory units and figures , Minic Motorways vehicles and the original Minix car (silver wheels and chassis’s) range all long gone.

Really enjoying this thread and reading about everyone’s experiences  , those catalogue layout scenes from the 1960’s and 70’s will always bring back fond childhood memories . Planning which Loco/set to have for Christmas and studying the photos wanting all the buildings and accessories but never being able to afford it was all part of the journey to building the dream layout . After all these years I’ve  still got the ‘Rovex Photographic Studio Catalogue Archive 1967-74’ featuring layout/diorama scenes from their various publications , several unpublished photos which I hope to one day get developed . Many are large commercial 8”x 10” transparencies , although old  , the quality of photography is exceptional . Here are a few from the archive.

On 07/12/2020 at 09:09, Legend said:

 

For me thats the image that defines that model railway era . As you say out with the old in with the new , and that could be within the real railway context , a shiny new AL1 and an old jinty , or in the model railway context , the end of Hornby Dublo and start of Tri-ang Hornby .   As Ruffnut has already posted (sorry hope we didn't steal your thunder) this leaflet contained the brilliant panorama of a layout featuring both Hornby Dublo and Tri-ang products . I always wanted that H-D Mainline station with the overall roof . Thought it looked fantastic . The image went on to form the 1966 Catalogue Cover and the layout reappeared in the 1967 catalogue (the one with M7 on the cover), which I think was the one I would have been staring at for hours! 

 

Maybe its particularly special to me as I got a Tri-ang Jinty in 1966 as a present to cheer me up when I got my tonsils out  and it was followed up that Christmas with the AL1 .  I already had a trainset , the Tri-ang Freightmaster with "Brush Type 2" It got extended so I had two ovals and an incline in a passing loop . As it was all on the dining room table , the gradients must have been fearsome.  The AL1 appeared from Santa because I had asked for an electric train like the one that took me to Lewis's Glasgow to see his helper . Well it was blue with three windows on the front , so Santa was close!  Still waiting for what I now know as a Class 303 Blue Train .  I'm hearing Tom Jones singing "The green green grass of home" which I think was the number 1 that Christmas thats todays earworm!  I also vaguely remember a rocket launch around Christmas time .I remember staring out the window at night looking for it!  Could it have been one of the first Apollos? 

 

Happy days . As you've probably gathered , thoroughly enjoying this thread and wallowing in the nostalgia!

Apologies for bombarding this thread with multiple posts , not too sure when the closing date for it might occur .

Around 1965-74 was a golden age for Rovex publications. The fact that we are still talking about it fifty years on shows the profound effect these catalogues had on us as children , priceless memories .

On 19/12/2020 at 01:17, RyanN91 said:

Taken from the 1985 catalogue These gems the Operating tipper set and operating conveyor set.  1986 Catalogue featuring the BR Class 43 HST and BR MK3 coach fold out on the back cover! , with a mention that  each model introduced in each years will be varied in future years but in years to come they will reintroduce previous models in varies liveries etc, although this 1986 catalogue 1987 was the last time a BR Class 43 HST in IC Executive livery would be issued until 2014 but arrived in 2015!  1983 Layout and the introduction of the Hornby set of 3 Pylons with a fascinating insight into the national grid! 1988 Catalogue featuring a BR Class 90, BR Class 142 Pacer Railbus, and the introduced Overhead Power supply system. 

Great photo . Featured  in the photo were the original Model-Land pylons (1966-71) as Hornby did have any up to date samples available .

Just completed this 1:76 scale power grid model . The 132kV ’St Fergus Trident’ was first introduced up in Scotland and is one of several new designs replacing traditional electricity pylons.

Just completed this 1:76 scale power grid model . The 132kV ’St Fergus Trident’ was first introduced up in Scotland and is one of several new designs replacing traditional pylons.

Recently discovered this old magazine from 1968 . A selection of photos featuring line repairs.

This is currently on eBay , very good starting price if anyone’s interested.

 PL1 updated photo.

Visited Fleet last week to check out The Loco Shop which had  recently opened  during lockdown. As a shop within a shop it utilises the space with Hornby /Airfix /Oxford Diecast  to great effect  including a scenic end to end demonstration layout . Great friendly service, they hope to extend their in store range and continue to offer  online sales as well.

Life on the line.

1:76 scale National Grid at work .

33kV & 132kV British utility poles.

4 hours ago, MRDBLUE17 said:

I’m glad you shared a photo of the Bachmann model as I had spotted that recently as it fits one of my layout plans next to the signal

box and agree it’s rather good. The Pylon is excellent, was that scratch built? Very nice linking to the back scene too.

 

all the best

Mark
 

It’s a great Bachmann model and certainly saved many hours in having to scratch build one , I visited a couple of telecommunications stations to research their layout and design . It would be great to see these being featured on RMWEB layouts .  Regarding the 1920’s PL1 pylon , yes this was scratch built from the original engineers drawings /plans , these structures are generally overlooked in the modelling world. 
 

One or two update photos illustrating 132kV & 33kV British designs. Still surprised to find none have ever been manufactured ready made or as kits.

4 hours ago, brushman47544 said:

 

Very nice. But I hope that's a mobile communications tower rather than overhead pylons, because of the potential for interference.

I agree in theory interference should be an issue ,surprisingly it appears to be the opposite with high voltage towers now regularly feature these antennas. I also have a 1:76 scale  L6 400kV pylon in the collection feature them .

Recently purchased the Telecommunications cabin , great model.