Spring into spring
Presidents Report, The Dovecote Light Railway
June 2009 By Mark Thatcher
Well, I don’t know about spring, its practically summer! During the winter months the points were frozen, so most of my modelling activities were concentrated on catching up either building stuff for myself, or for Garden Rail Magazine review articles.
The first review involved me building a lovely colliery hutch carrier in 45mm gauge, which, in turn carries four 32mm colliery hutches as its load. These are made out of resin by AnDel Models and are rather superb. I weathered mine but as the kit comes pre-coloured you could build it simply out-of-the-box and still achieve stunning results. I also built a low-loader with crate load for the same review. AnDel’s kits go together really nicely and I would not hesitate to recommend them.
The first review involved me building a lovely colliery hutch carrier in 45mm gauge, which, in turn carries four 32mm colliery hutches as its load. These are made out of resin by AnDel Models and are rather superb. I weathered mine but as the kit comes pre-coloured you could build it simply out-of-the-box and still achieve stunning results. I also built a low-loader with crate load for the same review. AnDel’s kits go together really nicely and I would not hesitate to recommend them.
"over 150 photos..."
Garden Rail Issue 177
Also during the winter months we had a chance to compile the first proper article on the DLR, which has now been published in Garden Rail Magazine.
I wanted to try to show the bird’s eye view of the line and to this end, took over 150 photos on a wide angle lens from around 6ft in height – then spent seven hours stitching them all together! (Mental note to myself: must get out more!)
Click here to download the birds eye view of The DLR
I wanted to try to show the bird’s eye view of the line and to this end, took over 150 photos on a wide angle lens from around 6ft in height – then spent seven hours stitching them all together! (Mental note to myself: must get out more!)
Click here to download the birds eye view of The DLR
"immense size..."
Also I completed the build of British Outline Buildings’ Lacey Green windmill. This structure is of an immense size and one of the nicest kits I have ever built. I spent a lot of time on the Lacey Green windmill website and as the fantail assembly was not provided in the kit I scratch-built one! I hope you enjoy the pictures. The mainsails are motorised but I am yet to get the fantail to go around – but thanks to some cogs, gearing and chain from AnDel, I think this might be achievable.
"superb kits worthy of a mention"
I also reviewed the new IP Engineering “Curly Roof” carriage from the Ffestiniog Railway and their No 17/18 balcony third kit. Again, superb kits worthy of a mention. Mine were painted crimson over oak-stained natural wood. Because the kits come as laser cut, with separate overlays, painting is a breeze as you can paint all the components prior to final assembly.
Since then I am also reviewing IPs’ new range of free-lance carriages, made in the same way, although they are still in the DLR workshop awaiting lighting to be fitted – although it has to be noted that Keith at Modeltown supplied 33 figures that required painting for the interior of the rake and it was Flo who painstakingly painted them – even down to the polka dot dress and Edna’s curtain clad skirt.
Since then I am also reviewing IPs’ new range of free-lance carriages, made in the same way, although they are still in the DLR workshop awaiting lighting to be fitted – although it has to be noted that Keith at Modeltown supplied 33 figures that required painting for the interior of the rake and it was Flo who painstakingly painted them – even down to the polka dot dress and Edna’s curtain clad skirt.
"Tramways loop had sunk..."
Once spring finally had sprung, we did eventually venture outside to the line and what a shambles it was. Tramways loop had sunk even more and the line had been taken over by weeds and ground Elder. I was quite dismayed, but thanks to Flo’s help it was mostly sorted in and day’s work with a vat of weed killer. We also filled in the dip between St Edmund’s chapel and Awdry moor. The new grass has taken well here and this new green-field site will soon be turned over to the developers, as this is where we hope to locate Dovecote village complete with windmill and mill storage facility and mill cottages.
To this end we have commissioned Stuart Currie to build us a small Post Office-cum-general store, which hopefully will be ready for collection at the Stoneleigh 16mm AGM show, next year.
With work being so hectic there has been little time for proper running sessions this year, apart from a quick odd demo run for visitors. This usually is either undertaken by our railbus or 0-6-0 diesel loco "jessica", both manually controlled battery powered locos from IP engineering. Of course one sure-fire way to ensure we get a steam up is to buy a new live steam loco!
To this end we have commissioned Stuart Currie to build us a small Post Office-cum-general store, which hopefully will be ready for collection at the Stoneleigh 16mm AGM show, next year.
With work being so hectic there has been little time for proper running sessions this year, apart from a quick odd demo run for visitors. This usually is either undertaken by our railbus or 0-6-0 diesel loco "jessica", both manually controlled battery powered locos from IP engineering. Of course one sure-fire way to ensure we get a steam up is to buy a new live steam loco!
"We buy and run what we like"
So was our first garden rail purchase of this year was made – the SR&RL (Sandy River & Rangely Lakes) No24 loco, in gleaming Oxford blue. She made her debut around G&T time on a superb evening steam up and in close-up looks just like the real thing. Of course, being a Roundhouse loco she is a delight to steam, out of the box and comes complete with their new glitch-free 2.4Ghz radio control system, which is as smooth as silk. All the RC gear and batteries are housed in the tender and two connections mate this up with the servos on the loco. The receiver is about half the size of a matchbox. Our new friend from across the pond is certainly strikingly different and a worthy addition to our stable – certainly the largest live steamer we have. Very impressive slow speed control is on hand too as she ambles up round the loop towards Tramways station.
"gleaming oxford blue"
SR&RL No.24 Loco
So was our first garden rail purchase of this year was made – the SR&RL (Sandy River & Rangely Lakes) No24 loco, in gleaming Oxford blue. She made her debut around G&T time on a superb evening steam up and in close-up looks just like the real thing. Of course, being a Roundhouse loco she is a delight to steam, out of the box and comes complete with their new glitch-free 2.4Ghz radio control system, which is as smooth as silk. All the RC gear and batteries are housed in the tender and two connections mate this up with the servos on the loco.
The receiver is about half the size of a matchbox. Our new friend from across the pond is certainly strikingly different and a worthy addition to our stable – certainly the largest live steamer we have. Very impressive slow speed control is on hand too as she ambles up round the loop towards Tramways station.
Click on the pictures below for larger view.
The receiver is about half the size of a matchbox. Our new friend from across the pond is certainly strikingly different and a worthy addition to our stable – certainly the largest live steamer we have. Very impressive slow speed control is on hand too as she ambles up round the loop towards Tramways station.
Click on the pictures below for larger view.
"no more carriages"
Of course she needed some rolling stock, and despite promising to myself, “no more carriages”, also at Glendale was a fine rake of carriages built by another GRM reviewer, Tony Reynolds. Now, usually I try to avoid cheque-book modelling as if there is a kit available I will buy that and build the kit. There are two reasons why I did not do this on this occasion: firstly we are really busy and it is as much as I can do to keep up with my articles for the magazine, and secondly: I build well, but Tony’s work is legendary. These carriages come with working lights, populated with many folk and have exquisite hand-lined sides. I know it took Tony an age to build them, and am sure he would approve of them going to a good home.
Click on the pictures below for larger image.
Click on the pictures below for larger image.
"already working on my next review"
Plans this year are limited to what free time we will have, and I am sure much of that will be taken up with track maintenance and weed control. I am already working on my next review which will be on IP’s new freelance carriages as I have four of those to complete, followed by a review of the new Easi-build range of kits from Modeltown, then a Signal box from Jackson’s Miniatures, and some new buildings and platforms from Cain Howley Structures.
But I hope in between all these to have a moment or two to pour us out a glass of wine and lie on our steamers whilst we watch some steamers – as in the heat of summer, what better day than to relax and simply watch the trains go by!
But I hope in between all these to have a moment or two to pour us out a glass of wine and lie on our steamers whilst we watch some steamers – as in the heat of summer, what better day than to relax and simply watch the trains go by!