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Those present may remember that I laid out the frames for a Gibson 0 6 0 chassis as a starting point for building a loco kit. Having opened the box, and talked about it, I thought I should finish the kit . So here it is awaiting some final details , couplings and weathering. The

In 1962 I was living in Gosport and working in Portsmouth. I saw a BR handbill advertising an excursion from Pompey direct to the Bluebell. I went with a friend from the local model railway club (some things don’t change!) We were shocked on arrival of an SR 4Cor EMU. Naively we were expecting a

John kicked off today’s Skills session by talking about the different materials and tools he had employed in constructing model buildings over the years. Card, plasticard, balsa wood and plywood in different thicknesses had all been used at various times. In the case of card John had often laminated different sheets (at right angles to each other to

Yet another busy day at Badlesmere. After setting up the big table Sarre, Lenham and the micro layout were all brought out to be worked on. Roger, Jackie and John B set about  installing magnets on Sarre to enable Dingham automatic couplings to be used thus  avoiding, in theory at least, having to lean over

Fifteen of us boarded the luxury bus organised by Geoff and left the lowering skies of Kent for the sunnier climes of Essex where sheep were safely grazing and headed off to Mangapps Railway.  Greeted on arrival by John Jolly we were given free access to roam the carriage and engine sheds and inspect John’s

Another full house with twenty of us getting together at Badlesmere. The circuit was  quickly set up and running commenced with a wide range of stock including, in honour of  the Jubilee, Ross’s K&ESR “Royal Train” consisting of a Terrier, a GER brake third and a  royal saloon. In support of the bona fides of

Today’s Saturday Skills session was led by Richard explaining the dark arts of soldering as we all gathered around the big table. Firstly, Richard stressed the importance of cleanliness when soldering and how it is vital to achieving a good strong bond to ensure that the surfaces you are going to solder are “squeaky” clean. Richard talked

Work has commenced on removing the redundant wiring for the electrically operated uncoupling magnets on Edington. These were replaced by permanent magnets a few years ago and removal of the redundant wiring is hoped will aid clearer fault finding and easier access, particularly to the control panel. Three of the four sections of the layout have been completed, with

Not much to report on Sarre. It enjoyed good use on 20th April with a number of branch and industrial locos and trains being run. The highlight was the early KESR train that Ross brought along from the Tenterden Museum. One of the points played up again but David Ho will sort this. Scenically, we need to

The track plan has been finalised, overcoming some tricky problems making it fit with the need to connect easily with the rest of the circuit. Track laying has begun, and should progress reasonably quickly, if members are willing to pitch in and help. We have enough components to make a good start, Paul and I

On a beautiful sunny day seventeen of us forsook the attractions of the great outdoors to congregate in the shade at Badlesmere to discuss all things railways and even do a bit of modelling. Edington was set up and before people started running trains, John B and Jackie adopted their usual positions on the big

Today’s focus was on DMUs, EMUs and railcars. The circuit was quickly set up (although possibly the wrong way round) once people had remembered how it all went together. John P then went off message running his reconditioned R1 before various multiple units and railcars appeared. Sean took the opportunity to run his 2EPB set

This was yet another very interesting Saturday Skills session with Roger giving an excellent talk on applying transfers.

Badlesmere welcomed fourteen of us to focus on Sarre and shunting stock. There was a good supply of goods wagons together with a few four wheel coaches. There was also a good amount of loco power including Roger’s Terrier, my R class and Bill’s M7. In addition to that Ross also brought along some beautiful

Despite a couple of Covid absentees fifteen of us managed to overcome the Kent Lorry Park that was backing up from Dover and find their way to Badlesmere . Early arrivals set up the circuit and hoped that somebody would arrive with something to run on it. Fortunately Fred, Geoff and John B had locos

Fred showed us the drafts of the new banner and promotional leaflets that he had been preparing for the Group, these were very well received and after discussion one or two minor tweaks will be considered before final approval at our next meeting. Our Saturday Skills slot then continued with Bill giving an excellent talk on figure painting which

Seventeen members converged on Badlesmere to focus on Edington and RTR stock.Plenty of freight stock was in evidence together with a Pannier tank and David G’s custard and cream GWR railcar along with a tiny SDJR 0 4 0 saddle tank. Roger and others also had a play on Edington which we will offer up

Today’s theme on the circuit was “Overseas and US Stock”. Despite this most people ran British locos although “Overseas” was ably represented by Roger’s lengthy train of aCanadian diesel and several freight cars or goods wagons as we call them in the old country. While that was going on Tim and John P together with

We all sat enthralled while Fred expounded on the mysteries of weathering locos and other stock.Fred’s advice was to know before you start what effect it is you want to achieve and to study photographic examples rather than try to make it up as you go along. Fred brought along many of his own models that he had weathered and