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Retford – A truly inspirational layout!

Today I was fortunate to be invited to the Running Day of Roy Jackson’s layout Retford. Retford is truly a massive and inspirational layout, depicting a scale mile of Retford Station, and the diamond crossing where the ECML crossed the GCR line from Sheffield to Lincoln.

It was my third visit to see the layout and it was great chatting to Roy (about Nu cast V2s being the best starting point for a 4mm V2). It was also an opportunity to see Geoff’s layout Wrexham under development, what that man can do with Plasticard! Check out his latest article in this months Model Railway Journal. Thanks again to Roy and Geoff for their hospitality.

Right, off to bed and up early for the NYMR 4oth Anniversary Gala!

B16s- The reason I model the North East

That statement is most likely true. I do like the B16s in all their varieties hence I chose a B16 as my banner for 50A Works. The B16/1 is of the original Raven design, B16/2 was a Gresley rebuild and B16/3 a Thompson rebuild. The B16/1 is a lovely reminder of the Edwardian era.

Here is my 61477, a long term allocation of York 50A. The loco is from a PDK kit and was actually there test build for their kit which they offered me for a very good price.

Now the temperature is warning up, work on Leaman Road shall begin once more.

50A Works on Youtube!

I decided to revamp my long forgotten youtube channel. Originally branded ‘North Eastern Steam’ to reflect the videos made of my old layout.

50A Works on youtube will give the option of the video format for my modelling, showing developments on Leaman Road and my P4 projects. Back to the modelling, I’m currently awaiting a couple of LNER Van kits from Parkside Dundas with one to be built with a sprung chassis and the other compensated. I must say I’m finding the research into wagons completely fascinating with so many variations on designs.

The First Step On The P4 Ladder

After encouragement from a friend, I finally bit the bullet this afternoon and began work on the Wagon Kit I bought at Scale Four North. I wanted to have a go at springing, although the thought of springing had somewhat scared me into thinking it must be the most complicated thing in the world!

First step was the springing itself with the Bill Bedford W irons I also bought at S4N. I must say it was a lot more straightforward than I thought, and the second one went together in no more than 30 minutes.

Next stage is the wagon itself which I hope to tackle over the weekend.

Scale Four North – A true modeller’s show

Now home from what was a lovely show at Scale Four North. I set off from the Dales a little too early as I was there around a hour and half early. I met my friend Simon Robert’s before the show started where we had a good chat. Once in the show, my first stop was the Scale Four Society stand where, with a cheque handed over I became a fully fledged member of the Scale Four Society, lovely welcome pack too!

I spent up as was to be expected, with an A3 and A4 Easi Chasi from Brassmasters and P4 wheels for the Bachmann O4 from Alan Gibson. I also picked up a mineral wagon kit from Parkside which will be my first attempt at making a wagon…and in P4. I hope I’m not being over ambitious.

Good to meet Jamie and Andy Cooper in person. Definitely will be keeping the Scale Four North date in my diary.

Scale Four North Exhibition Tomorrow

The title describes it all really!

The Scale Four Society annual Northern Show starts tomorrow at Wakefield College. With a nice selection of layouts, good demonstrators and a mass of traders, it’s a show that us modellers really can’t afford to miss. I also intend to get myself signed up to the Scale Four Society.

I will be helping on Ian Everett’s Humber Dock (when Ian is on his breaks), so do say hello!

More information can be found below on the Scale Four Website.
http://www.scalefour.org/shows/shows.html

A relic from the North Eastern Railway?

Our local Postman calls in for a cuppa every morning. Today he showed me something that he had found knocking around in an old draw and kindly offered it me.

On the face of it, I would think it is a Guard’s Whistle from the North Eastern Railway era. If anyone has any thoughts on this, please leave a comment. 🙂

Manna from Heaven…..I mean Heaton!

A wise exchange of locos between myself and Dave (Max Stafford) gave me the chance to model a loco for the P4 Project. I have a photo of 60085 ‘MANNA’ of Heaton MPD on York Shed in 1959 (in colour). What was distinctive when compared to other A3 photos I’ve seen from 1959, was the burnished smokebox straps. Dave’s loco was superbly weathered, but I required a different tender (which I had in my collection). It’s not the easiest task to have to weather the tender to match someone else’s weathering job so after much T-CUT and Klear, these are the results.

Next stage will be the conversion to P4.

A3 in the Works

Here is a glimmar of a loco as part of Project R (It might be changing to Project E so stay tuned). This A3 has certainly travelled around. I originally sold it to Max Stafford, and now it’s been sold back to me.

60085 will be portrayed circa 1959….oh and with the help of the Brassmaster’s Easichasi, will be P4!

Leaman Road’s new Online Home.

For those who have followed Leaman Road on RMweb, you will have possibly seen my latest post here. For various reasons, I have decided I shall no longer post updates of my modelling (on Leaman Road and future projects) on RMweb. This blog will be it’s new home as well as on Modellers United.

I would like to thank all of those who have supported me so far and I hope you continue to follow Leaman Road and my 4mm modelling here.

Tom