Sunday 29 December 2013

2013 Another year older (Part 1)

Well, that's another year almost over, in fact by the time some of you get round to reading this the new year would have started!
So, what was 2013 like for me and my hobbies?
Last January, February  and March saw a flurry of activity on my latest 00 gauge layout "Steam on the Cambrian" with it's first exhibition booked for September I had to move quickly to make sure it was finished and I'm happy to say I made the deadline with not much time to spare.
I don't think I will sail that close to the wind again, because some jobs had to be rushed to beat the clock, not always a good idea!
Posting pictures of the layout's progress on this blog bought a nice surprise when a message from Chris Nevard arrived asking if he could come up and do a few pictures of my train set.
Of course I was more than delighted that my humble effort was considered good enough for Model Rail magazine and the photo shoot took place in August at the Cradley Heath Model Railway club meeting rooms, it was the only place with enough room to erect the layout and leave enough room for the master to do his magic. Still not sure if or when it will appear in print but, I will certainly post the information here as soon as I know anything.

I didn't attend many exhibitions as a punter this year but one I did get to was Midland Railex at the Midland Railway centre at Butterly. Having exhibited Pen Y Bont there in 2012 it was nice to go back as a punter and have time to look at stuff and purchase some odds and ends from the many traders. Always a good show and only just an hour travel from home to.
September saw "Steam on the Cambrian" out at it's first exhibition at Telford. Just a one day event it was the ideal opportunity to "shake down" the layout and make sure everything worked ok under exhibition conditions. Apart from a few little snags that need to be sorted all went well and I think the layout was well received judging from the comments I got from punters, I even managed to get a couple of show invites for 2014 so a good day all round.
October came all too quickly, summer was over and it was exhibition time at Cradley Heath Model Railway club. As exhibition manager with little or no experience I was really bricking it to be fair, but I needn't have worried because the event was a complete success.

 I was absolutely amazed at the comments I was getting from visitors, exhibitors and traders about the show, it's exhibits, catering and all sorts. Even well known exhibition managers from other clubs were complimentary on our first show so we are going to repeat the event again in 2014 (October 18th).


So much other stuff to report on and so little space to write it!
I'll post part 2 for your reading pleasure (or boredom!) in a day or two.


Cheers for now and Happy new year!
Frank

Friday 20 December 2013

Seasons Greetings or Humbug?



It's that time of year again, the little fat man with the white beard and red suit will soon be bringing those who have been good their Christmas presents.
To be honest though I am not a Christmas person, Christmas has lost it's magic for me since I found out that Santa Clause was just a big con!

That of course does not stop me from making up a Christmas present wish list.
Of of the things I have been asking for for the last 3 years is a Bachmann Dukedog (Earl class) locomotive.
I really thought I stood a chance of getting one this year but the news from my local model shop is that they won't be dispatched now until January.
Never mind there are other things on my Christmas list that I stand a real chance of getting!

I am very busy on the workbench too at the moment even though I haven't posted much here. I am making bits and pieces for the Cradley Heath MRC's new quick build exhibition layout "Halfpenny Green".
I will be featuring more on that on this blog throughout 2014.

So, as this will probably be my last blog entry before Christmas I will take the opportunity to wish all my followers, readers and friends in cyberland all the best wishes for Christmas hope you all get what you asked for, and have a wonderful time.

Finally.....
Money's tight, times are hard, Here's your cyber Christmas card!



Cheers all
Frank

Tuesday 10 December 2013

By George it's finished! (almost)

Another 7mm scale narrow gauge project rolls off the production line at "Dukedog Towers" workbench.

This little 0-4-0 Tender loco is now complete apart from name plates and crew, nameplates will be ordered from Narrow Planet along with plates for some of my other locos very shortly.

I have decided to call this one GEORGE after one of my great grand children, other locos past and present will also be named after family members as appropriate.

Anyway without further waffle here's a couple of pictures..


































Just as I write this blog entry I have been asked if I would like to take George and  my other NG locos and stock to the Narrow gauge show at Littleover on Jan 25th.2014.
 Being without a suitable layout myself (yet) it would be nice to run the engines on a proper narrow gauge layout.

The next project has been started, more on that soon!

Cheers
Frank