Another publicity poster?

U-tank improvements...

After the transformation of the Rugens with red painted wheels I've given the U the same treatment...

As well as the wheels I did the handle on the smoke box in red, and painted the blower in front of the cab black.

Quite a transformation!

Trains at dawn...

This morning my daughter and I got up at the crack of dawn and ran her trains as the light came up... Magical.

Boxing Day celebrations...

So yes, no new LGB models this Christmas, but after 12 months we probably don't need many more for the for-seeable... So whilst the family went out for a morning walk I spent the time gladly playing trains on my own - getting out 90+% of all my stuff for a good old fashioned play with my 'train set'...

From EJ&KLR on Boxing Day

Not that it looks much like a train set anymore... with the station nearly finished and the new signage placed outside it's really coming to life. It really does look wonderful, your eye overlooks all the missing bits and with the natural light comes to life in a really magical way - so relaxing and so much fun both running, shunting and then watching trains go by, your trains, things you created, running to your timetable and whim...

Enjoy the photos - a fitting memory...

EJ&KLR on Boxing Day

New book and a kit...

Christmas has been kind so far... A cool book on the narrow gauge in Saxony and a new kit.

I say kit, I mean Lego really. I'm looking forward to putting it together...

Roll-wagen bogies...

With a lot of bodging and not much fine scale modelling in sight the first of the bogies takes shape whilst thoughts turn to how to model the chassis itself...

From toy to train...

I'm very happy...

It's been some time coming but I'm on the verge of weathering a G scale model!

What brought on this abrupt U-turn in policy? The Rugens...

I bought mine in good second or third hand condition. It looked brutish and chunky but the glossy finish screamed toy...

I had big plans, to convert it to a tank but as yet these haven't come to fruition...

However a change of identity and a general improvement over many aspects of the finish have transformed this big kids toy into a train, at least in my eyes.

The finishing touch? Painting the wheel edges and centres with Humbrol Satin 174 red. 20 minutes work and a massive visual difference. Now to roll it out on the Frank S conversion and U-tank...

But yes, back to the original point... The wheels have lifted the model so much it feels it's crying out for some subtle weathering...

Rugens works plates and coal...

The custom etched brass works plates for the Rugens arrived today from Steve at Narrow Planet (www.narrowplanet.co.uk) and they look awesome. He used .35 and .15 material, I chose to use the thicker ones despite the less crisp detail.

I painted them with satin black Humbrol enamel, then whilst it was wet gently rubbed it over a piece of kitchen towel which gently polished the paint off the raised parts leaving it in the letters and detail.

These were carefully cut out when dry and edges smoothed with a file before being attached using a spot of superglue.

I have also added a real coal load to the bunker, attached with undiluted PVA, applied first, then the coal applied and prodded into position.

Ready for some heavy goods traffic over Christmas!!!

The EJ&KLR in the snow...

Thanks to my brother, Andrew, a photo from this afternoon...

Alisendorf has it's station...

Spurred on by the inspiring book 'A Garden Railway Adventure' I've fitted the roof, some timber end detail and painted the base. It's not finished (still needs chimneys at the least) but it's getting there and should be ready for Christmas...

Merry Christmas 2011

Bargain book...

I picked the renowned 'Garden Railway Adventure' book up by Nick Trudgian. I'm looking forward to reading through it whilst snow bound this weekend...

First snow...

Yes not on the real railway but posed in the outdoors in the inch of snow that fell here today...

Stub ended...

I've started the Roll-wagen project with the first wheelsets that have been modified by removing the stub axles as these will be fitted with an inside framed bogie to maximise the amount of swing available to negotiate R2 curves.

Tractor loaded...

I've taken the diesel shunter and flat wagon outside and posed the tractor on to see how it looks, and I'm very impressed. I've just blackened some 2mm loop chain to use to mock up some securing shackles too, so will take a few more when it's properly fitted.

Pictures of the Lanz Bulldog...

I discovered that my Pola Lanz Bulldog tractor kit was complete, but without instructions so I've spent a pleasant day relaxing, working it out myself and assembling the kit. The only modifications to the finish are I have painted the brass steering control wires black, otherwise this is how it builds out of the box. An excellent kit, and despite being 20 odd years old, one that went together very well.

Two deliveries...

I've treated myself this month... A big bag from Eileen's Emporium with some thick plasticard (for the steel bodied brake van), I beam for the roll-wagen and the chain to tie down a load on my open wagon...

But what load?

I've managed to acquire an unbuilt Pola tractor kit from the 1980s, in 1:22 scale, which should be perfect! Sourced from G&M Farm Models, excellent service and a good price.

Just about 10000 in a year...

Bert and Geoff can't believe how far we've come in 12 months...

From initial ideas of a preserved line in the UK to a post-war line in Austria, building an outdoor line from scratch and several major building and rolling stock projects.

Then a lot of friends and visitors along for the ride. 10000 visits is incredible so thanks for sharing the journey. I'd love to hear from you, via comments or email.

I'm currently hurrying to finish the station building (without dorma) and signage for running sessions at Christmas (weather permitting). More to share soon and plenty of interesting projects (roll-wagen and steel brake van) in 2012.

Check out my horn...

Along with my windows in the recent Modell-land order was also a LGB horn, that I have fitted (by drilling a pair of holes on the removable bonnet) to the Liliput Diesel-lok V3 that I've detailed and repainted as the EJ&KLR no.2

The last thing I've been pondering is fitting a braking system (hoses and tanks) but have yet to source anything appropriate. The new Kof air brake pump might be good but I've not found it available as a spare from anyone yet!

OBB steel bodied brake van project...

Along with my Roll-wagen project I've planned to build one of these OBB rebuilt brake vans based on a LGB van for sometime. They were rebuilt from wooden bodies vans in the late 1960s and used on all of the systems including my three favourites, the Steyrtalbahn, Ybbstalbahn and Waldviertelbahn. The windows are spares from the Hartz van, sourced from Modell-land.de. I'll start my working drawings over the winter alongside building the Roll-wagen.

White Pass winter...

With hugely evocative photos like this I wonder how long it will be before I attempt a White Pass and Yukon model railway, in G scale or perhaps H0m (or is that HOn3)...

A very model-able branch train...

It just goes to show not all trains need to be long, whilst reading a back issue of Narrow Gauge World I came across this photo by Ian Drummond of a 2095 at Krimml in July 1981. It shows one bogie coach, one bogie stake car and one bogie van... Now admittedly that is a touch too long for my line but I can certainly do an approximation with my current rolling stock and look forward to re-enacting next time I visit at Christmas...

Signal and sign...

I've finished the signs and mounted them on BBQ skewers ready for painting. They're 40 thou Plasticard and Slaters 8mm high black letters, and the black lines were drawn with Humbrol satin black with a bow pen and metal rule.

European Narrow Gauge Vol 1

I found a copy of Trevor Rowe's photo book on European Narrow Gauge. There are some classic shots of the Rugen tanks that are quite evocative, along with interesting shots of the French metre gauge from my point of view. A good buy from Batterdale Books.

Signage...

I've been trying out some ideas with the Staters 8mm black plasticard letters.

First up is a generic Austrian inspired station name board, with the station named 'Alisendorf', a twist on Mum's name. I'm pretty happy with it, it's edged with satin black paint applied with a bow pen.

The second thing is the signal board type signs. I made one up earlier in the week more closely to scale but it didn't look right next to the chunky track so I've mocked up a second using a BBQ skewer rather than cocktail stick and a slightly bigger back board. I think it's a good compromise. What do you think?

Rugens outside...

I've dropped the Rugens back off at the EJ&KLR this afternoon, so took a few photos. The works plates will probably be a few weeks, and when I fit them I'll also add some coal to the bunker.

I've collected the grey flat wagon as I want to size up some loads and I will be starting on the roll-wagen bogies soon.