MODEL RAIL'S GREAT BRITISH MODEL RAILWAYS

GREAT BRITISH MODEL RAILWAYS VOLUME 5 BROUGHT TO YOU BY
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2017 No. 5
12 layouts
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67
welcome
…to Great British Model Railways Volume 5.
When Model Rail was
launched in 1997, there was
a real fear that the supply of
quality layouts was a finite
resource, one that would soon disappear.
Here we are, 20 years later, and great
layouts just keep on coming.
We see so many fantastic layouts at Model
Rail, but we don’t have the space to feature
all of them in the magazine. That’s where
Great British Model Railways comes in, to
bring you even more modelling excellence.
One of the great things about model
railways is that they really are all things to
all people. You can take from the hobby
whatever you like. We’ve tried to cover all
the bases in terms of era, region and scale.
With so many great model railways out
there, we were spoilt for choice when
compiling this volume.
We’ve got 12 cracking layouts for you to
enjoy and they reflect the variety in
approach from the various modellers - from
those who insist on replicating every detail
to those with a more ‘broad brush’ attitude,
seeking the right atmosphere rather than
slavish accuracy. What links them all is
a commitment to re-creating a world in
miniature to the highest standard possible.
Making it happen...
Managing Director: Nicola Bates
Editor: Richard Foster
Deputy Editor: George Dent
Consultant Editor: Chris Leigh
Staff Writer: Mike Harris
Photography: Chris Nevard
Artwork: Andrew Mackintosh
52
Richard Foster Editor
New products, both in terms of ready-torun
trains and scenic materials, are catalysts
for such a consistently high standard of
modelling, but it’s the vision and imagination
of you, the railway modeller, that is the real
reason why publications like this and the
exhibition circuit are bursting with great
model railways. Long may it continue!
Richard Foster, Editor
Production Manager: Shane Collins
Sub Editor: Richard Hampson
Art Editor: Matthew Hunt
Printed by: Wyndeham Southernprint
Published by Bauer Media
in Peterborough, UK.
On the cover
Beaconsfield & District
MRC’s ‘Beaconsbury’.
CHRIS NEVARD
Contents
2 Subscribe to
Model Rail
4 Beaconsbury
16 Blue is the colour
28 Bottle Kiln Lane
38 Amworth
47 Falcon Road TMD &
Prospect Yard
58 HasselL Harbour
Bridge
70 Kings Park
82 Kingscombe
92 North Bay
104 Solderham &
Overwood
114 Pocklington
122 Rockcliffe
132 Exclusive ‘USA’ offer
From the publishers of Model Rail 3

BEACONSBURY
‘Beaconsbury’ has been reinvented - twice -
to ensure it can tour the exhibition circuit
for many years to come. RAY LEWIS
tells the story.
Photography: CHRIS NEVARD Artwork: ANDREW MACKINTOSH
GREAT BRITISH
MODEL RAILWAYS
00
GAUGE
1
4 From the publishers of Model Rail
www.model-rail.co.uk
5

2
GREAT BRITISH
MODEL RAILWAYS
3
Speak to Norman Jones
and he’ll instantly project
an unprecedented level of
enthusiasm for the project
that’s kept him busy for the past
three and a half years.
He refuses to allow model
making to become a chore, and
that’s reflected in both his
passion for exhibiting and the
delightful nature of his latest
layout, ‘Blue Is The Colour’.
“Being rushed and pressurised
reminds me of work. I like to take
my time,” says Norman. “I don’t take
myself seriously, so if someone
points out that something’s not
quite right, I’m inclined to agree. I’ll
even admit that if I was building the
layout again tomorrow, I would
probably do things differently.”
It’s a refreshing attitude, and one
that’s surely enhanced his
enjoyment of the hobby.
But Norman’s
modesty belies
a talented model
maker who,
alongside
fellow members
of the Stafford
Railway Circle, has
created an engaging
exhibition layout, and
one whose busy exhibition
schedule shows no signs of
slowing down.
DECKS APPEAL
The centrepiece of the entire layout
is arguably the two bridges that sit
alongside a convincing waterfall.
The sides of the foreground girder
bridge were salvaged from a kit,
“I WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE
VARIATIONS IN THE LANDSCAPE,
AND THIS NECESSITATED A RIVER
AND BRIDGES”
18

It’s always nice to be invited to
exhibitions. Of course, all layout owners
want their layouts to run well at shows
and entertain visitors, so constant and
reliable train action is a prerequisite.
However, as we discovered, when
you’re concentrating on talking about
model railways to visitors, derailments,
or making an error with a point can
become an embarrassing hazard.
SOUND JUDGEMENT
To enhance our presentation, we hand
out leaflets to visitors. Certain areas of
the layout have extra ambience, in the
form of sound samples of a busy main
line station, some brass band music
that emanates from the bandstand, and
seagull sounds from the beach area.
‘Rockcliffe’ has been a hugely
worthwhile challenge and we’ve learned
a lot from each other. We keep our
minds open to new ideas and we listen
to comments from friends, family and
viewers, which keeps us on our toes.
We faced many challenges along the
way, and made many changes -
sometimes it felt as if we would never
finish. The layout is radically different
to those initial plans, but our skills
certainly developed as we went along.
We hope that ‘Rockcliffe’ reflects
what we learned along the way.
13
11
12
LAYOUT FACTFILE
Things you might have missed
ROCKCLIFFE
Rolling stock: Mix of RTR and scratchbuilt
Signals: N/A
Power & control: Gaugemaster 100 Electronic
Loco Controllers x4
Buildings: Metcalfe kits and scratchbuilt
GREAT BRITISH
MODEL RAILWAYS
N
GAUGE
Gauge & scale: 2mm:1ft scale, 9mm gauge, ‘N’
Prototype: Fictitious
Size: 6ft by 4ft
Track: Peco Code 55
Locomotives: Ready-to-run
1
12
10
9
8
6
11
13
4
3
5
2
7
130 From the publishers of Model Rail
www.model-rail.co.uk
131

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MR-109: No. 30067, BR late emblem
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