Howard Smith

There's a reasonable list here, but speaking to a chap who makes castings for the 10.25in gauge 'brigade', there's over 100 around the country when you take into account private individuals...most of these are kept hidden out of the way - for obvious reasons such as this one (unfortunately now dismantled). Best one for it to stretch its legs is the Wells & Walsingham which runs along a former standard gauge trackbed. Upon speaking to many of these, they don't mind visiting locomotives, provided - if a diesel - they don't interfere with steam galas or special weekends.

That's the beauty of it at this stage - there's so much planning and measuring, CAD etc. That can happen in my office and doesn't require space. Here are the scale bogie plans I've been tinkering with... This one gives a rough idea of its width...

Seems like a nice place to start is with the nameplates. A quick call to a nameplate manufacturer revealed everything I needed to know about nameplates. Collaborating with Justin Noble from ScaleModelScenery.com, I downloaded the true Frutiger font, as used on Res Class 47 nameplates and with some photoshopping, measuring and tinkering, we came up with the following... ....OK, so this is just a bit of a drawing. I'll take a slitting disc to the gap between the 'c' and 't'... Now, all laser-cut and ready to be glued. Just like scrabble. Four laminations and patience - that's all. ...but this is more like it... And with that, it's off to the casters today. Here's to seeing them come back in aluminium. Whilst that's going on (it's only a namplate!) I'm starting with the bogies. These are big items, very big items...

I thought I'd heard about that - must have made a racket!

I'm on the hunt for a six cylinder turbo diesel - maybe something out of a 4x4... will run a generator which will power traction motors.

The idea of building a model in 10.25in gauge came as I wondered around an engineering exhibition. Being a diesel fan and seeing a wealth of steam locomotives on display made me wonder why diesel electrics seemed so thin on the ground - especially given that radio control and battery power is so widely available now. So, choosing a prototype wasn't hard - it had to be something different. And, by different, I mean popular. It seems like diesel fans are interested in building more obscure yet iconic locomotives like LMS 10000/10001 or 'Deltics' in 5 1/2in or 7 1/4in gauges. I want something different - a real showstopper, something that'll draw the crowds in, yet represent a mundane workhorse. It also has to be noisy too - by that, read 'turbo diesel powered'. Hence, a RES 47/7 prototype has been chosen and upon looking through the various names - it had to have 'Res' in it! - I settled on 'Respected', a name worn by 47776. The livery is my favourite to have been carried by the 47s. Seen passing through Penmaenmawr on September 6, 2003, Respected hauls the 1D67 10.07 Birmingham New Street-Holyhead. JOHN EYRES Seen at 'The Cross' 14/5/2003, with paintwork looking pretty shabby A close up of the Highland Terrier applied above the nameplate in 2003 So, with prototype chosen, it was time to choose a scale. It's got to be something you can see, so, no messing - 10.25in gauge it is! Wary of its size when complete - 3.5m x 0.5m x 0.7m, it's not a project for the faint-hearted. Hopefully, over the next few years, bit by bit, it'll materialise. And, once complete and if you're interested and following this, you can bet your bottom dollar you'll be offered a ride on it as it tours the 10.25in gauge railways of the country!

The number of those who model steam still outnumbers diesel and electric modellers. Steam is still the largest market and despite a tendency for more diesel-era layouts arriving on scene, they still have to catch up with the number of steam layouts.

The cover gives the list of layouts on video, as does the digital description, plus those within the digital magazine - it's not hidden. If you've forgotten you've previously seen them, you'll be able to enjoy them again.

The layout articles and those featured on the DVD have previously featured in BRM, but unless you've bought every copy you might easily have missed some. Diesels and electrics are on the cards if it makes sense to produce, we just need enough interest. Howard

Season's greetings RMwebbers, Look what has just gone live! This new digital video download features a great selection of steam era layouts, and given it's Christmas, we've thrown in some great heritage railway content too! ***10 Great steam era layouts inside*** ***1 hour + of steam era action*** WATCH THESE FIVE LAYOUTS: Liverpool Lime Street (OO) Loughborough Road (OO) Garsdale (O) Horfield (OO) Kingswear (2FS) 6 GREAT LAYOUT ARTICLES: Much Murkle (OO) East Wheal Dream (O) Halland (OO) Penmaenpool (OO) Wellbridge (OO) Kingswear (2FS) PLUS WATCH: How to clean wheels easily Scratchbuilt pioneering and pre-grouping locomotives on test A guided tour of Didcot Railway Centre, a leading heritage site A driver experience course on the Severn Valley Railway Get your copy today for just £4.99, whether you're on tablet, PC or MAC to watch and read it this Christmas. Preview and download your copy here

In the March 2016 issue of BRM I created a quick frost diorama to show that your layout needn't be set in the middle of Summer. You can download the issue here

Thanks - it's not updated as much as I'd like though. Best, Howard

Glad to hear it arrived OK. Best, Howard

It's almost a year since the last post, so it's high time I get a couple more posts going on this blog. Those of you who read BRM on a regular basis will be aware of the articles over the past 12 months or so - creating the fencing, building a signal kit, weathering the station building amongst others, but that's the layout - what about the rolling stock? North Wales trains of the '90s, usually had a Mk 1 coach lurking amongst the Mk 2 As. So, Penmaenmawr is in need of a couple - the trouble is, do you go down the lengthy kit route and build your own, or make something that is available 'off the shelf' better? Time is a big factor here, so for me the choice was obvious. In the November issue of BRM (on sale October 8 ) you'll see how I modified and re-sprayed these Heljan Mk 1 SOs and added new seating, tables, passengers and bogies. New seating ready to be installed.

Statement from Bachmann Europe Plc: Bachmann Europe can confirm that both the N and OO Scale Mark 1 BCKs in Pullman Colours come with a limited edition certificate (504 pieces).

STATEMENT FROM Bachmann EUROPE PLC IN RESPONSE TO David Haarhaus, European Sales & Marketing Director at Bachmann Europe Plc would like to clarify the situation regarding future commissioned items. “At the time of the interview with BRM we were reviewing internal processes relating to commissioned items. Detailing the relationships between our customers, our UK engineering team and our parent company in Hong Kong. This review would not have in any way infringed on commissions for our retailers such as Invicta or the London Transport Museum. I would like to reassure RM Web readers that Bachmann will continue to talk to its customers regarding bespoke projects and opportunities and the options available to make their dreams and suggestions become reality”.

Very nice Martin.

Some time ago I built a model of Penmaenmawr station building. I thought that it was time to man the paintbrushes and decorate it as per the prototype, ready to be fixed to the layout. In the January 2015 issue of BRM, I'll be showing how it was transformed from an unpainted and plastic-looking building to a weatherbeaten building that has endured years of the North Wales coast weather. If you'd like to find out how it's done and the full summary of what products I'm using, get yourself a copy of the January 2015 issue of BRM (on-sale from December 11). It comes with a free DVD, so you'll get to see some handy tips too. Howard Smith

My brain wasn't engaged when I typed that...

Hello Tom, Yes, as you'll seen in the Jan issue of BRM. The station building is looking better.

Nice to see another 7mm project underway! Howard

Thanks for the encouraging comments Huw, it was nice meeting you at the show. Soldering is a subject that comes around every once in a while. We ran a series on soldering two years ago, covering most aspects from a beginner's point of view. Whitemetal soldering was one of the topics covered. Saving a whitemetal kit from the heat of the iron is harder than a brass kit if some detail is lost (ie. window frames etc.), but not always impossible. I suppose it depends on what state the kit is currently in/ how much work to repair is needed and how much a new replacement part can (if possible) be bought for. If you don't mind taking a few snaps of the kit, I'll let you know your options. In any case, yes, like I said at the show, we'll certainly build on your idea and see if it develops into something for the magazine. Thanks, Howard

Well, RMweb Live was a good chance to work on the Road-Railer project and make some progress. It is now in the state as seen below: The show was one of the best I've experienced for engaging with the public on a more one-to-one basis, and the project certainly created some intrigue amongst many who passed. An explanation of the work carried out so far, along with details on the prototype machines and Phil Parker's Road-Rail trailers can be read in the November 2014 issue of BRM, on sale in shops from October 9.

Mick, I think you are right.

Yes, so did I. A really good model with interior seat details, the beauty of these coaches is that they lived for so long.