Train of the week is a new feature that were are starting in August 2018 and hope to feature every week subject to how manic it gets with new product launches. Of course it is subject to how succesful the concept is and on going sales from it but it is not just about that it is also about showing ideas and putting together locos, coaches and wagons from various manufacturers together into a realistic train. Most featured items are standard stock items and we can always recreate it again to customer's own specifications with either more or less items of rolling stock or even different liveries as required

As such even when completed and sold we will leave them on the list as inspiration for short, simple trains that you may want to tackle yourself or leave us to do for you subject to items still being available and a new "Train of the Week" should be added every Thursday and we intend changing the era and type of train to keep it fresh and different.

With the Christmas rush and increased mail order we have been very busy of late so it is a short and sweet one this time and done whilst we found the time, so not the usual Thursday update.

Here we are showing the full set of four different numbered ICI Stafford salt vans that we have produced which have all been custom weathered through the workshop. The locomotive is one of the new Dapol 57xx / 8750s that has been recently produced. Overal this short train is under 3 foot in length and would be at home on any shunting scene.

The loco as shown is 9669 which Dapol have produced with a late crest. We have shown it here after we have converted it to an early crest example of the 8750 class and weathered it to complete this short shunting scene. As it happens with this production run of the loco they have not done an early crest version of the 8750, hence the change for a customer.

As Dapol has not released this loco with a sound fitted option for the trade we are offering a sound fitting service to all versions of the Dapol 57xx / 8750 at £175.00 using the ESU sound chip rather than the Zimo chip that Dapol normally use

Here is a link to the Dapol 57xx / 8750's Dapol Pannier Tanks

Here is a link to the new Tower Models Limited Edition ICI Salt vans s Tower ICI wagons

It has been very busy the last few weeks with the launch of both the Heljan Class 31 and the delivery of the Dapol Y1 Sentinels with sound. We have also been very busy doing research work on projects like the Heljan Class 60 that was announced today.

Last week we had the production test sample of our Limited Edition ICI 5 plank wagons come in and we have now weathered them.

These all represent Buxton Lime wagons 5 plank and these cover the 1950's with the Lime Division wording and then the 1960's with the Alkali Division wording with a total of 5 number options of each being produced, as always in limited numbers.

Here we have used one of the Heljan Class 25/1's that we were weathering through the workshop for the shelf to haul the train which is now for sale via the "Available off the Shelf" section of the website.

The 1950's liveried wagons feature the words "Lime Division" but then in the 60's this was changed to "Alkalid Division". You can obviously use the Lime Division letter wagons well into the 1960's though mixed in alongside the Alkalid Division wagons and these were certainly not looked after and often showed excessive wear and tear!

This set of wagons is already sold but we obviously can complete more when the main production run of the wagons comes into stock which should hopefully be in the next two weeks. We are taking advance orders for these now for despatch as soon as they become available. On the last two images we have shown one of the new Class 31's from Heljan in clean finish that is also just being completed through the workshop.

Here is a link to the fully finished locos that are available off the shelf for immediate despatch RTR locos available off the shelf

Here is a link to the Heljan Class 25/1's Heljan Class 25/1

Here is a link to the new Tower Models Limited Edition ICI 5 plank wagons Tower Lime wagons

Already have train of the week ready for next time so long as we have time to write it!

After the colourful Train of the Week last week back down to a more subdued train this week.

Here we have one of the earlier Heljan Class 20's with the disc headcodes that we recently numbered and weathered for a customer along with a short rake of catfish wagons.

This is a mixed rake of catfish in both the early black livery and some in the later olive livery. We still have good stocks of the black catfish available both factory clean finish and custom weathered but the green ones shown were the last few we had in stock. Again we have used one of the Slaters brake van kits to complete this short train

There were four of the olive catfish in this rake, two have already been sold but we still have two of the HJ4351 early olive available that we have custom weathered and also 3 of the Dogfish in BR black that have also been weathered available. The Class 20 is an earlier version that is no longer available that we were completing through the workshops although we still have a small number of the later centre headcode versions available but number of these are also running low.

The overall length of this train is just over 5 foot so suitable for a smaller layout whilst still looking a realistic size.

Here is a link to the Heljan Class 20's Heljan Class 20

Here is a link to the remaining stocks of the Heljan Catfish Heljan Catfish

We will not have time to do a Train of the Week as a result of the release of the limited re-run of the Heljan Class 31 so we simply will not have time to spare.

Sadly the Royal Mail started transfering their postal services to the road network in the 1990's and many items of rolling stock ended up neglected in sidings which we are trying to replicate here. This is the second Train of the Week we have done with heavy graffiti, the first feature was on 25th June this year.

Street Art or mindless vandalism, graffiti is a fact of life when it comes to the railways and can be seen on many a station approach on retaining wall or redundant stock left in sidings and is by no mean a new phenomenon having plagued the railways for many a year. Graffiti has always been something that has divided the model railway fraternity. I, myself, have always admired the skill of the artist but there is nothing worse than a poorly executed piece.

Here we are showing one of the Heljan Royal Mail Class 128 parcels units along with one of the Royal Mail GUV's that have been the victims of heavy graffiti.

All of graffiti that we have replicated were real pieces. The GUV as shown carries pieces that were all done by one street artist on the Euston approach roads in 1998 with this side showing what was known as "window down" graffiti. The opposite side of the GUV has full the full side covered in what was known as "top-to-bottom" graffiti, terms which are self explanatory.

The Class 128 though shows art by a prolific graffiti crew from the 1990's from London, although from different pieces of rolling stock rather than all on one vehicle. The artists would sign their pieces, in this case "DDS" which stood for Diabolical Dubstars which the various members of this crew would leave as their tag for the artwork.

Several different styles of graffiti are shown, the right hand piece on this side of the Class 128 being a "block buster" style piece for the simple block style lettering that was often done with a brush or roller.

Personally I prefer the artwork on the otherside of the GUV but it is all from real pieces from the time. You will also note on the images seemingly random flashes of colour below the individual pieces. This was common as the artist would test out both the colour and flow of the spray cans before applying the colours to the artwork. There are also example of signatures beneath the individual pieces.

On this side of the Class 128 we have also shown what is know as a "going over". Most street artists will respect another artists work but sometimes this was not true, with the artist on the left hand side of the Class 128 going over the top of an existing poor quality piece.

This is simply a modelling piece and they have all been hand drawn and are not transfers. We should have a third in this unusual series on graffiti done probably in the New Year with a rake of Heljan cargowagons that venture to and from the continent and will have both British and European graffiti.

Network Rail estimates more than 5 million pounds per year is wasted on cleaning up graffiti and feel we should also put this link British Transport Police and Graffiti and we do not encourage anyone to risk their lives around the railways or break the law to create graffiti.

This week the workshop completed a repaint on a secondhand DJH 2-6-4 Fairburn model. Originally it was in LMS livery but we have repainted it into BR late crest livery and light to medium weathered it. Here it can be seen running light before it collects the train. This loco also went on to the website for sale on Monday night and was sold immediately on Tuesday morning.

Here it is connected to the rake of BR fitted vans. These are some of the Tower Models Limited Edition vans from Dapol in BR bauxite that have been custom weathered through the workshop.

Finishing off this short train is a kit built bauxite brake van built from the Slaters kit. This brake van again has been weathered and actually belongs to the workshops and we just borrowed it for the photographs. In the train is a mixture of both the Tower Models planked and plywood vans. We produced a set of six different numbers for both the plywood and planked versions the van.

There is available from Dapol a single planked and plywood van in a slightly later livery with a white outlined box around the numbers along with other various BR 10 foot wheelbase wagos but we have broken up a few of the sets of six to enable people to buy a mix of plywood and planked vans or just a handful. We have on split a few sets for people who may not have space for a full six or would rather have a mix of both the plywood and planked vans as shown here.

Here is a link to the webpage where you can the Tower Models Limited Edition Van Sets and also the Dapol BR 10 foot WB wagons

Well I was hoping to have one of two trains that are being completed through the workshop ready for this week but sadly neither are finished as of yet but at least it gives us something for the next couple of weeks

Instead this week we have got a train following on from the them we used last week but this time with one of the Heljan Class 37/4 with the centre headcode and a rake if the Heljan BG's

This livery of the Class 37/4 is now sold out and it was a customer's own model that we were numbering, weathering and fitting with sound. Heljan are re-running the Class 37/4 later this year but not in this earlier livery but are re-running the always popular large logo blue livery along with several later privatisation liveries including our own Limited Edition Transrail livery.

Here as well we are featuring the earlier Crimson Cream BG in the rake of maroon BG's; again as discussed last week using this change of livery to break up the profile of the overall train.

Since last week both we and Heljan have now run out of the GUV in southern green so the only livery current available for the GUV is the Royal Mail red livery. Heljan have plans to reintroduce some of the GUV's around the same time as the CCT is produced next year.

The overall length of the train as shown here is just over 80 inches in length but is suitable for most layouts, either adding or reducing a coach of two to suit the space available.

Here is a link to the Heljan BG's page where you can see what liveries are still available of these.

Here is a link to the Heljan Class 37/4 page where you can see what liveries are currently available and the new liveries which should be available before the end of the year.

Sorry that we didn't get time to do a Train of the Week last week, with the launch of the new Lionheart coke wagons it took all of our time at the end of last week. This week we have gone with a southern Parcel train utilising both the Heljan Class 33 and Heljan BG's and GUV's.

We have used custom numbered and weathered examples of both the BG (Full Brake) and southern green GUV (General Utility Vehicle) into a short but effective looking train.

Not only does the presense of the southern green livery give it a more distinct regional feel but we have positioned the southern green GUV to break up the solid colour of the maroon BG's behind this green example of the Class 33,

Eleven liveries of the Class 33 are available and is perfectly suited to this southern themed parcels train. We have done parcel trains before with a different regional theme for the Western region behind a Class 52 with a chocolate and cream BG instead of the GUV but the reason to revisit this short rake is that we are now running very low on the Tower Models Limited Edition full brakes in maroon with just as small number now left.

Both the BG and GUV are very versatile vehicles and could be found as shown here as a dedicated parcels service, added individually to a passenger train or attached to a rake of wagons.

The overall length of the train as shown here is just over 78 inches in length but is suitable for most layouts, either adding or reducing a coach of two to suit the space available.

Here is a link to the Heljan BG's and the Heljan GUV's pages where you can see what liveries are still available of these. Heljan have plans to reintroduce some of the GUV's around the same time as the CCT is produced next year.

Here is a link to the Heljan Class 33 page where you can see what liveries are still available of these.

The Dapol Turbots were only released about a month ago and after featuring the EWS variant on Train of the week as part of a shunting scene we had an order come in for a rake of twelve.

Was too much of a good opportunity to miss once we had weathered the full set.

There are three number options of each of the two liveries available but as we have mentioned before it isnt too difficuly to alter the numbers to give more number options. It takes a little more effort with the EWS numbers as they are in yellow but it is easy enough to find a close enough colour match to alter the last few digits with a 3 into an 8 for example.

Dapol have already sold out of the Dutch Engineering livery, although we currently have stock of all of them available either for immediate despatch either as the clean examples or we have a small number that we have one each of all six options custom weathered available off the shelf. We can always weather up more if required.

Hauling the train we have opted for one of the Heljan Class 37/4 in EWS livery that we have numbered and weathered. This time we went for one of the un-numed examples we have available from stock. We also have two named example available off the shelf and clean examples which can be completed with the customer's choice of name, number and degree of weathering if required.

When it came to putting the who lot together the only problem was that we could not fit the whole rake of twelve onto the little layout we use for Train of the Week with just six shown here but I am sure they look impressive all together in their new home.

Here is a link to the new Dapol Turbots Dapol Turbot Wagons

Here is a link to the Heljan Class37/4's Heljan EWS Class 37/4

Details of the fully finished Class 37/4's available of the shelf can be foun here Locos available off the shelf

Have been feeling a little guilty about not featuring a steam train for a while now so thought it was about time we featured one, especially as last week there was not a Train of the Week with the launch of the new Heljan split headcode Class 37's

Last year a customer showed me a black and white photograph very similar to the above image from Llangollen of the BR Black 2-6-0 hauling a four coach suburban set. I am always interested in photographs from Llangollen and logged the idea at the time to recreate the train for Train of the Week.

To start with we have one of the Heljan 43xx Mogul's in BR black which we have weathered through the workshop to haul the train.

Coupled up to this we have one of the Dapol four car sets of suburban coaches in BR Maroon which again has been weathered through the workshop

Alternatively this could be done with a two coach pair of B sets but with the size and power of the 43xx Mogul it justified a four car set of coaches for a larger suburban service, in this case representing a popular tourist destination on the Welsh borders in the 1950's and 60's before the line closed to passenger service in 1965 and freight services in 1968.

The overal length of this train is just over 6 foot in length so perhaps not suitable for a small layout but the train with a two coach set would probably but suitable.

Here is a link to the Dapol B set coaches Dapol Suburban Coaches

Here is a link to the Heljan 43xx Heljan Mogul

Following from last week and the recent launch of the Dapol Turbot wagons we are again featuring these this week. Dapol have released three numbered versions of the Dutch Turbots and we are using all three here.

To haul these we are using one of the Heljan Class 33's in Dutch livery that was released earlier in the year. The example shown is Spitfire that has been completed through the workshop and lightly weathered.

Finally to complete this short train we are using one of the Dapol SR Pillbox brake vans that we have converted in Dutch livery, renumbered and then weathered along with a few replacement planks

As we mentioned last week it is also very easy to alter the numbers on the Dapol Turbots, with a little gentle use of white paint and a steady hand to change to change a 3 into an 8 or a little black paint to change a 4 into a 1 to give you more number options for the Turbots if you wanted a longer train.

The overall length of the train as shown is just over 4 feet in length but easily extra vehicles could be added to the rake to suit the available space. The new Turbots have been incredibly popular and we have just bought all remaining stocks of the Dutch liveried examples from Dapol which means the manufacturer has sold out of them in under two weeks and I have gauranteed stock for us for the coming months as many people have not even seen them yet!

As an example of an extended rake we thought we would show here what also could be added to the train with the addition of three of the Heljan OAA's that have also been weathered.

This added almost two feet to the overall length of the train.

We have also added loads to the OAA's that you do not receive with the models, in this case a representation of sections of concrete pipe. All these actually were is the plastic centres from loads from out credit card machine which have been glued together in either 3's or 5's and spray painted a suitable colour.

Sadly these OAA's from Heljan are now completely sold out at Heljan and they have no plans to reintroduce them. We had just three examples left which we had kept back ready for the launch of the Turbots to show them in this rake.

Once we had completed the train though we put them on sale and the entire train as shown sold earlier this week through the shop. We have got two more Class 3's in Dutch completing through the workshop which should complete eaarly next month. At this stage we intend weathering all three example (Seafire and Spitfire) but we could change this to a customers requirements if we have prior warning as they have not reached the front of the front of the queue or complete one with the customer's choice of name and number as required.

Here is a link to the new Dapol Turbots Dapol Turbot Wagons

Here is a link to the Heljan Class 33's Dutch Class 33

With the launch of the new Heljan split headcode Class 37/0 expected next week there will not be a Train of the Week next week.

Well it has been a busy old week with the launch of the Dapol Turbots last week and it is good to have some new modern rolling stock to utilise for train of the week!

With the lack of shows and that chance for many customers to actually see these things in the flesh this weeks is pretty picture intensive as we have worked hard to gets these examples of the Turbot weathered and into a train on such short notice.

Here we are showing a weathered example of the Dapol Class 08 in EWS which was release earlier in the year along with the three number options which are available of the EWS liveried Turbots and then finally one of the last remaining Heljan VDA's in EWS livery.

The Heljan VDA's are now completely sold out in every livery that was produced but we have 4 examples left in the EWS livery that we have custom weathered in preparation for this launch as a single one would make a good stores vehicle in a short rake like this.

Overall it is an effective short looking modern shunters scene. We are also completing a rake of twelve EWS Turbots through the workshop as we speak to be hauled by one of the Heljan Class 37's which will also feature on Train of the Week in the coming weeks.

Dapol have produced 3 number options of the Turbots in both EWS and Dutch Engineering grey yellow livery and having now had chance to study the models it is quite easy to carefully alter the numbers on both liveries to give additional number options with a careful alteration from an "8" in the number sequence to a "3" (and vise-versa) and the same from a number "4" to a number "1" without the need for full replacement of the number with transfers as a little tip if you are after extended the train witout repeating the wagon numbers

At the same time we were also completing as customers weathered Dapol Class 08 in Freightliner livery so as alternate here are a few images of the same train with a different colour loco and I have to say the Freightliner livery really looks good with the application of a little weathering:

Here is a link to the new Dapol Turbots Dapol Turbot Wagons

Here is a link to the Dapol later bodied Class 08's Dapol 08

We were working almot until 10pm last night photographing these and have already got the next 2 weeks Train of the Week features ready to go so hopefully even with the expected launch of the Heljan split headcode Class 37/0 we should stilll have a feature for next week.

Last week we received the test samples of the production models of the new Tower Models A Cant & Sons Salt Merchant wagons so after photographing them we have weathered the full set for Train of the Week.

In these first two images we are showing both the full set of six , all with different numbers, along with a secondhand kit built J39 clean before weathering both the loco and salt vans

That was the end of last week and here is the full set weathered. Canning Town is on LNER (ex Great Eastern) rails and is in the London East End district close to the docks. A Cant & Sons was obviously quite a big company by the number of salt vans it had but whether it was linked to the fish trade, household salt or export via the docks I am not sure. Interesting it bought the salt from Stafford salt works and service and maintenance on the vans carried out in Stoke on Trent so could of been seen either around east London or the Midlands area so would of been seen in at least these two areas.

What were missing at the workshop is a LNER liveried brake van so added an LNER van to the end of the rake before a BR brake van for fish for Stafford from the docks along with the returning empties.

This is a secondhand kit built J39 that is just come into stock otherwise we would of used one of the Tower Brass J39 models from stock. We have a good selection of J39's available off the shelf but can also complete them with a customers custom number and livery if required.

Then finally we decided to add two of the ICI Stafford salt vans to the rake representing the return journey to London when obviously they had a large salt order.

Here is a link to the Tower Models Limited Edition A Can wagons A Cant & Sons

Here is a link to the Tower Brass LNER / BR J39's Tower Brass J39 0-6-0

Next week we should receive the production run of the A Cant wagons along with the new Dapol Turbot wagons so we will not have time to do a train of the week next week.

Last week we were a little short on ideas for something to do with the general lack in rolling stock that is currently available without repeating something that we have done previously.

Finally we came up with an idea utilising rolling stock that is currently available. Here we are using items from both Heljan and Dapol, The Heljan Warship that has been customs named and numbered along with the Heljan maroon BG that has also been custom numbered and weathered. Along with these we have used all three of the Dapol different numbered Fyffes banana vans and one of the Dapol six wheel milk tankers that have also been weathered.

This train represents a short local service and obviously with the nature of the perishable goods, time was of the essense for delivery. It also represents a service for smaller towns having been made up in the larger cities.

Rather than a brake vans the maroon BG is being used for braking as well as increasing the capacity to carry goods, whatever that may be travelling through to the town. Length wise it is still a short but effective looking train at just over 54 inches in length that would look equally at home on a small layout as a large layout on a real persihable train service.

Finally we have the six wheel milk tanker shown here in Express Dairy livery behind the BG representing a later pick-up added on to the end of the train on-route. Currently the both the United Dairies and Express Dairy liveried milk tankers are not available from Dapol but as luck has it today Dapol have announced a re-run of these for production in the first half of 2021 that includes both liveries that have sold out and the introduction of a new livery in the CWS green milk tanker. We are taking advance orders for these nw for despatch as soon as they become available.

Details of the Heljan Warship can be found through this link and the Heljan Mk1 coach through this link. The BG's are very useful vehicles found as an addition to a freight train, as part of a dedicated parcels train or as an addition to a passenger train.. Details of the six wheel milk tankers through this link Dapol milk tankers and finally the banana vans through this link Dapol BR vans

Last week we finally received the balance of the Tower Models Limited Edition ICI wagon set for the 1950's. We have previously covered the Stafford Salt vans as a set so we thought we would cover this week a North Western set of the ICI wagons utlising both the salt vans and 5 plank open wagons

Again thinking locally we have used one of the Tower Brass BR 0-4-0 Pugs to represent shunting of the wagons. All have been custom weathered through the workshop. All of the wagons have been done from historical photographs and we are extremely please with the final result of all the hard work.

Five of the series of seven wagons produced in this series are shown here, two Runcorn salt vans, the local Fleetwood salt van and finally two of the ICI 5 plank open wagons which have all been produced for us by Dapol here in the UK.

One thing I like about the Runcorn set of four wagons is that the only identifying markings that identify them as Runcorn is the "Empty Return to Weston Point" wording in the black box on the left hand side of each of them so easily could be used anywhere as the wording is so small. As it happens with both Fleetwood and Runcorn being in the Northwest something as shown could easily of happened.

The train as shown here is only small at under 3 foot in length and ideally suited for a small shunting layout or equally at home operating in the sidings of a larger layout

Details of the Tower Models ICI wagons can be found through this link and details of the Tower Brass Pug through this link. Details of the fully finished Pugs Fully finished available off the shelf page but we are happy to complete the Pugs with any suitable custom number and degree of weathering if required.

Street Art or mindless vandalism, graffiti is a fact of life when it comes to the railways and can be seen on many a station approach on retaining wall or redundant stock left in sidings and is by no mean a new phenomenon having plagued the railways since for many a year. Graffiti has always been something that has divided the model railway fraternity. I, myself, have always admired the skill of the artist but there is nothing worse than a poorly executed piece.

This all began at Christmas when a customer's wife came in to buy her partner some OO freight stock as a Christmas present. We got talking and it turned out her partner was both a professional graffiti artist an a railway modeller. Up until then he has been modelling in American HO and showed me some impressive pieces in HO and he wanted to turn his hand onto OO having been studing UK graffiti in and around London.

Move forward three months in February and I chanced to meet them both in town again and got talking about graffiti. Half an hour later I asked if her would like to try a little bit in O gauge and that he would find it much easier. With a nod in agreement we parted ways with an exchange of business cards.

The following month began lockdown so I ended up calling the gentleman concerned and asking how he was and if he was working. The lockdown had effectively put an end to his work for the time being so again mentioned the idea of doing some work on O gauge and we agreed as something to keep him from going stir crazy whilst unable to do his normal job.

From the attached series you can see both sides of a Heljan Class 128. As a slab sided vehicle with few windows it lent itself perfectly to this. In the past we have done a number of the Dapol HAA coal hoppers with a small degree of graffiti along with weathering to give the general impression of vandalism but this is to a whole different level.

All of the graffiti shown is actually from actual graffiti from 1989, hence the dates on some of the pieces. We also left the original Parcels Service wording underneath the silver busk piece so it would show through slightly. You will also note on the two above images seemingly random flashes of colour below the individual pieces. This was common as the artist would test out both the colour and flow of the spray cans before applying the colours to the artwork. There are also example of signatures beneath the individual pieces.

Then there is the ends of the Class 128. Often graffiti artists would also had there street signature to the ends of the vehicle rather than the artwork itself or even incorperate it into the piece or beneath it as shown on the side images Examples of both styles are shown on this.

The actual pieces here were inspired by graffiti off London underground stock from 1989. I did not want to put too many images on here but I have created a small image dump of the of the whole decorating process. Here is a link to that series of images of the work in progress for those who interested in the actual process of decoration.

I am also hoping to have a couple more items finished in the next few months, the first one inspired by Euston approach retaining wall art from the 1990's and then a final set if everything goes to plan. I am pleased to say the modeller who has done these few pieces has now been able to return to work so these are very much one off pieces; love them or hate them,!

Network Rail estimates more than 5 million pounds per year is wasted on cleaning up graffiti and feel we should also put this link British Transport Police and Graffiti This is simply a modelling piece and we do not encourage anyone to risk their lives around the railways or break the law to create graffiti.

Last week were were very busy towards the end of the week with the arrival of the Dapol Autotanks with sound, hence no Train of the Week last week. Also last week we received the first of the Tower Models Limited Edition ICI salt vans which we have used here for an effective looking short train. At the same time we were weathering one of the sound equipped Dapol Jinty's through the workshop so it seemed a perfect oppurtunity to put the two together.

Here are six of the ICI Stafford salt vans along with a kit built Slaters BR brake vans. In this 1950's series of ICI wagons we have done two different numbered Stafford Salt Vans which are now available and are expecting this week 2 more Runcorn Salt Vans and Runcorn 5 planks. Next week we hope to receive the last in the series which is the Fleetwood Salt Van which will complete the full set of seven so we can begin complete all advance orders for the full set.

As standard the wagons are all clean but we have put these through the workshop for weathering which nicely takes the plastic sheen off of the vehicles. Stocks of the Dapol Jinty are a different thing though, we still have a limited number of the 2019 production run which have been factory fitted with sound but all of the none sound models have sold out. Dapol have announced another run of the BR Jinty which should become available later in the year but it is hard to give a release date in the current climate and oingoing situation.

Details of the Tower Models ICI wagons can be found through this link and details of the remaining Dapol Jinties through this link. We are taking advance orders for the 2020 production run of the Dapol Jinty now and the Limited Edition ICI wagon series are now available.

Next weeks Train of the Week has just been completed and I am going to photgraph it tonight ready for next week and has taken over 3 months to complete!

The OAA and OBA types were open wagons with steel ends and wooden dropside doors were built in the 1970s to replace much of the aging freight stock and used on Air-Braked Network (ABN, later Speedlink) services.

A decline in general merchandise traffic affected the fleet and many of the OBAs were transferred to departmental use within a few years. Later, both types saw a variety of modifications and conversions for other duties.

Here we are showing one of the Heljan Class 50 in BR blue livery that we have numbered along with a rake of BR bauxite OAA's. Here we have shown 8 that have just been completed through the workshop, both the Class 50 and OAA's are for sale but we have limited stocks of the OAA's. Heljan produced the OAA's, VDA's and Claaa B tankers several Stocks of all types are sadly now running very low and Heljan have no plans to re-run any of these due to the price quote from China on the cost of the re-runs. Once we have sold out of these they have no plans to re-run any of these three popular wagons.

Details of the Heljan Class 50 can be found through this link and details of the remaining Heljan Freight Stockthrough this link. The rake of six OAAs are just over 5 foot long and the loco around the 18 inch mark so a train at under 7 foot. We have completed eight of the OAA's in total in the bauxite livery and also have a mixed rake of six weathered OAAs in railfreight red grey / ABN livery available of the shelf. There are still some of the clean versions available but not many now.

Sticking with the principle of small trains we have here a short postal service this week with the Heljan Class 128 Parcels Railcar in BR blue livery livery along with one of the Dapol six wheel milk tankers that has been added on for either empty returns or dairy pick up.

When you think about postal trains many people immediately think of the large travelling Post Office trains but there were others delivery post from the cities to outlying towns and areas.

Both items here have been lightly weathered and are a nice short complete train. The overall length of the train shown is just over 80 cms or just over 47cms for the Class 128 on it's own.

Details of the Heljan Class 128 can be found through this link and details of the six wheel milk tankers through this link.Dapol milk tankers Alternatively the Heljan BG and GUV are very useful vehicles found as an addition to a freight train, as part of a dedicated parcels train or as an addition to a passenger train.Heljan Mk1 coach

Next week with it being a bank holiday on Monday we will not be doing one of these due to lack of time so back with the next Train of the Week the begining of June.

Another one based around items being completed through the workshop with a mixture of customer items and items available off the shelf.

Here we have one of the Tower Models Limited Edition Class 42 Warships in green livery that has been completed as D829 "Magpie" and lightly weathered. To complement this we have a mixed rake of Dapols' fitted BR vans with some planked vans along with both plywood vans and banana vans..

After completing the customer advance orders for these popular van types they have now completed examples of all three types available off the shelf along with two Warships, Magpie as shown here and a blue example of Intrepid.

Here is a link to the available options of the Heljan Class 42 Warship Heljan Warship

Here is a link to the Tower Models Limited Edition sets of Dapol BR vans Tower Models Van Sets

Here is a link to the new Dapol Banana Vans Dapol 10ft WB Wagons

Very short one today as we have been busy with the arrival of the Peco restocks and as such it is a day later than normal. I have kept this one for a few months now for just such a situation and although not a train, it is a very interesting piece and better than posting nothing for the week!

When Dapol originally announce the production of the Y1/Y3 shunter they announced one as 68163 as BR (ex LNER). People may of noticed that Dapol like producing local model to their local area and this one operated in and around Wrexham post war. This version never made it to production sadly and one customer who is modelling the area asked if we could recreat it for him.

Interesting with this series of original images you can see the plain 6 has been added to the LNER shaded numbers early on to avoid any confusion with GWR locos and both the L from LNER on one side and the R from LNER closest to the cab door in both cases are a little cleaner than the rest of the lettering where the driver has obviously attempted to clean the loco up from both sides

The keen eyes will also see the Wrexham Rhosddu 6E shedplate that is also featured on the model.

This final image is obviously of the loco at an earlier stage where it is nothing like as dirty but what is interersting with this image is just seeing how high they have piled the coal up with some even on the roof! Coal is something the customer is doing himself as we avoid fitting coal due to the risk of it coming adrift and the risk to scratching paintwork in transit.

It was an interesting custom job to do and both we and the customer were happy with the overall finish, just one we would like to have to do again. Just a pity that Dapol never produced this example as a standard model in the end.

Here is a link to the available options of the Dapol Sentinel Dapol Y1/Y3

The workshop are getting on nicely with the brand new sets of BR planked and plywood vans for weathering and we should hopefully have the first sets coming through from the workshop next week. they have taken the opportunity to photograph the first of them for me.

Here we are showing the full set of 6 planked vans hauled by one of the Heljan Class 25/3 with one of the Slaters kit built BR brake vans all of which have been weathered through the workshop.The Class 25/3's are starting to run low now as Heljan have now completely sold out of these and we only have a handful of each left with the BR Post TOPS livery having already sold out.

Freight was the bread-and-butter of the railways and the iconic BR van a mainstay of haulage in the 1950's and 60's. I will always remember a customer who used to work in a signal box in Lancashire telling me of huge rakes of BR vans travelling every day south from the mill towns to the docks.

Second here is a rake of the plywood vans instead of the planked version. Over 500 of these were built in the 1950s and were a cheaper build cost compared to the planked version.

With both the planked and plywood sets of vans each one has a different number that has also not been used by Dapol before so perfect to either start a van train or to bulk out current wagon stock.

Then finally in these last two images is a mix of both planked and plywood vans, eher showing just seven but trains could be easily over 20 of 30 in real life so the limit is really what you have space for on the layout.

Well, last week was rather hectic at the end of the week with the three simultaneous launches; the Dapol Banana vans, re-run of the standard BR 10ft vans and opens and finally the Tower Models limited edition sets of both plywood and planked vans.

It is good to have new items to feature and the workshop have been working all week on the first of these for customers. Here we have utilised one of the new Dapol 14xx Autotanks along with 5 of the banana vans and finally to finish off the rake a Slaters kit built brake van; all of which have been weathered through the workshop. The Slaters brake van is actually the workshops own as we have now sold out of the Dapol BR bauxite vac fitted brake vans but we do still have stocks of the BR grey version from Dapol

The transport of bananas from the docks to the distribution warehouses used to provide considerable traffic for the railways. The arrival of a banana boat at places such as Avonmouth, Garston, or Barry would often result in the running of a number of special fitted-freight trains to distribute the fruit around the country. Insulated vans were used to ensure that the bunches were not exposed to extremes of temperature during their journey, some also being steam-heated to assist in ripenning the fruit.

The yellow dots and company markings for these do add some character to the rake and the light to medium weathering just takes the edge of the clean finish and "sheen" of the plastic models.

Even though it is show here as a short train that would easily be at home on any layout if you had the space a nice long rake would be rather impressive representing these iconic trains.

Next week we will be utilising the both of the Tower Models BR van sets that have just been completed showing both a shorter train and longer rake.

A few months ago we had a commision to weather eleven of the Minerva BR ex GWR iron mink and gunpowder vans. Knowing the new Dapol 48xx / 14xx was coming up we took the oppurtunity to get some of the Great Western liveried examples to weather for Train of the week.

Minerva to an extensive range of these and we obtained ten different types in total, 2 x Iron Mink Vans 25" large lettering with iron doors, 2 x Iron Mink Vans 16" medium lettering with iron doors, 2 x Gunpowder Vans 25" large lettering, 2 x Gunpowder Vans 16" medium lettering, 1 x Gunpowder Van Improvised lettering, 1 x Modernised Iron Mink Vans 6" lettering with wooden doors all of which we have subsequently weathered along with the Dapol Autotank

The larger 25 inch letttering represent the earlier of the two liveries as shown here with 4800, the earliest livery of Autotank.

The biggest limitation for us here was the fact that there is not currently a ready to run example of a Great Western Brake van, hence why we have said it is shunting rather than a full train. The are kits for various GWR / BR brake vans on the market though from both the Parkside and Peco range of kits that build up well. The Parkside PS44 is the more recent kit though and an easier build in my opinion.

Here we have shown the later examples of the iron minks and gunpowder vans with smaller lettering along with 1432 in the later Great Western livery lettered GWR.

We do not normally stock the Minerva range of wagons but the above examples that have all been weathered through the workshop and are for sale along with the first of the stock Autotanks

With the arrival of the new Dapol Autotanks we could not ignore the classic Autotank and Autocoach pairing and has to be the first Train of the Week to feature the loco

So we are working our way through the brand new Dapol Autotanks with custom weathering and numbering for people and at the same time we have completed 3 of the basic models for stock. We have now completed a good number of customer's locos but are now waiting on more numberplates from Guilplates to complete the last batch.

Both the Autotank and Autocoach are produced by Dapol and we have lightly weathered them both just to take the edge off the plastic sheen to the pair. This is an iconic set for the western region that is small but equally at home on a small or large layout with no need for short cuts on the length of train!

Various liveries of both are available to cover the GWR and BR periods but stocks are running a little low either because Dapol are currently closed as we sell out from stock or have completely sold out either with us or with Dapol. Only a small number of the un-numbered ones were produced and these have been the first to sell out. A simple call can check what is currently available from stock. The basic analog ones are available now with the DCC fitted and sound fitted available later.

I have spoken to DCC supplies today and Dapol did not get the ones for sound fitting off to them before closing down so we expect these to take some time still after Dapol return to work.

Next week we will have again two more 14xx's but on shunting duties.

Well, it has been a very busy day with the despatch of the brand new Tower Models Limited Edition Leith General Warehousing wagons but the workshop have worked hard to get the test sample set we received a couple of weeks ago weathered. We have also had the launch of the Dapol 48xx / 14xx / 58xx which had kept us occupied

Thought it would also be good to show the first picture in black and white given that the whole inspiration for the set of wagons was the above photograph.

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We have actually used a kit built Class 17 Clayton to try to mirror the photograph. We were hoping to have the Heljan Class 17 test sample to photograph with the train but the only example that they had was the blue livery so we resorted to what we had.

We have produced a total of eight different numbers for the wagons and only a total of 25 of each wagon. We have used one of the Dapol BR grey brake vans to finish off the train.

The train looks very good and although not the length of the train in real photo looks very effective.

Here is a link to the wagons Leith General Warehouse wagons After all advance orders have been completed there is just six sets remaining out of the 25 sets produced. You are not restricted to buying the full set as we are selling the wagon individualy as well. The standard models are clean but the workshop can custom weather the wagon as required.

Things should calm down for a bit now. We have plenty of work to do and no doubt the new Dapol 14xx will appear in several of the upcoming Train oif the Week features.

We are going to do our best to keep this up as a weekly update during current events. We are still open for mail order sales during these difficult time but on reduced hours of 9.30 until 3pm.

Busy at present with the exhibition last weekend and preparations for the launch of the Dapol Autotanks next week but we did have time to complete a train for a customer last week which we thought was very nice and we would share.

This week we have completed a train of the Minerva Iron Minks and Gunpowder vans in BR livery, with a mix of degrees of weathering to the customer's specifications. The Great Western Iron Mink was a classic wagon and very successful with over 20000 entering service with a lifespan over over 25 years in service with the last of them being withdrawn from departmental service in the 1980's.

Keeping the Western region theme of the wagons we have paired them up with a Heljan BR 43xx in early BR black, again medium weathered.

Minerva actually produce ten different numbered BR grey vans but we have eleven in this rake with a single repeat which you are not likely to notice or remember when they are going round a layout. We just used a kit built brake van to complete the train, not sure of the origin and it was just whatever was around at the time.

Overall it looks very well as a classic unfitted van train with a western theme to it and it was something different for us to weather.

I have also got two further sets of the Minerva vans for the earlier and later GWR period to complete and will feature alongside the brand new Dapol 14xx's once we have had chance to complete some example of these with a light dusting to take the sheen of the plastic away from the model.

We do not normally sell the Minerva wagons but they are all still available directly from Minerva.

Here is a link to the available liveries of the Heljan 43xx 2-6-0 Mogul, it has been well received and some liveries are now sold out, the BR black has been especially popular! Heljan 43xx

.Next week we may or may not manage to update this depending on the launch of the Dapol 14xx and that the layout is currently down having been at Lincoln show the weekend before last.

This week we finally recived the first production samples of the new Tower Model limited edition Leith General Warehousing wagons and seemed to good to miss the opportunity to photograph these.

There are eight different numbers of these being released to make up a good Scottish themed train.

The wagons were used to transport grain to the various distilleries for Whisky production could be found even in the North East at times.

We have shown it here with one of the Tower Brass J39's and the plan is to now weather this set through the workshop and show it again in a later Train of the week.

We were hoping these would of been out at Christmas and in fact the bodies were completed in time but it turns out that Dapol have run out of wheel sets. As soon as they get restocks of these then they are first to be completed.

These were an iconic block running train for any Scottish themed layout and could be seen in rakes of up to 18 or more at times but with eight it makes a good realistic size train. Although not technically correct as there are differences in the roof detail, straps and doors, there is no way Dapol would tool up for such a unique vehicle but these will give a very good representation and the numbers being produced are very small and more than half of them are pre-sold now. These wagons also had a very long lifespan lasting from WW1 through until the withdrawal of the very last one in 1971.

Here is a link to the forthcoming Tower Models Limited Edition Leith Wagons Dapol Leith Vans

Here is a link to the Tower Brass LNER / BR J39's Tower Brass J39 0-6-0

We will not be doing one of these next week with all of the preparations for Kettering show. We have the one for the following week ready to go which is probably the week before we receive the new Dapol 14xx's.

We will revisit these featuring a Class 17 Clayton once the have been weathered in about 3 weeks time.

Back to basic this week with one of the classic trains of the steam era with a tank engine coupled up with an Autocoach.

The shown items are both from Dapol with a late BR 64xx Pannier Tank couplied up with an earlier Great Western Autocoach in shirtbutton livery. Now I would of gone for the BR version of this coach to go with this loco but these two items came in together and the customer had bought them together to represent a later loco along with a coach that long overdue a repaint.

Anyway, the customer in the end has traded them in and bought a matching pair instead so we have put these two secondhand pieces through the workshop and lightly weathered them both for sale either together or more likely separately.

The main reason though is a reminder that the long awaited Dapol Autotanks are due for release in the next few weeks and the Dapol Autocoaches are a perfect companion for these in a small complete train that is equally at home on either a small or large layout. Once the 14xx comes out it is bound to feature on several weeks of Train of the Week.

Here is a link to the forthcoming Dapol Autotanks Dapol 48xx/14xx/58xx

Here is a link to the Dapol (ex Lionheart) 64xx & 74xx's Dapol 64xx/74xx

Here is a link to the Dapol Autocoaches Dapol Autocoaches

Probably will not have time to do an issue of this next week with the imminent arrival of both the 14xx from Dapol and the blue version of the Class 03 from Heljan both due the end of the month and then having to start packing for Kettering show the first Saturday in March.

This week I wanted to feature another of the new locomotives from Heljan with the Class 33 but with 11 liveries it was a case of which livery to go for. In the end the descision was easy and we weathered up the last of the civil engineers stock we had from Heljan to make up a train.

The locomotive is a customers that is being weathered but has not yet reached that point so is shown here clean with 3 of the Heljan OAA's in Dutch livery and a fully repainted Dapol PIllbox brake van. As an idea of size the overall length of this train is approximately 128cm.

We had also given the workshop the very last of the Dutch Catfish that we had in stock and seemed a waste not to try them out at the same time as a separate train along the same lines. This set, with the OAA's parked up in the siding behind, is approximately 158cm in length.

There is a stock example of the Class 33 in the system being completed hopefully in time for Kettering show which is being completed as "Seagull" and of course we can complete any of the Class 33's with the customer's choice of name number and weathering through the workshop.

Then of course, we had to give it a try with a mix of them all together, which really pushed the limit on the size of train on our little layout at a length of approximately 236cms but would look good on a bigger layout. At the end of the day it is down to the available space but all three look "right".

Engineering traffic like this can be found all over the country carrying out essential maintenance and often seen in sidings when not in use.

Sadly much of the Heljan rolling stock is at the end of the line but we still have some stocks available. These are the last of the stock we had in Dutch livery though but it is all available for sale.

Here is a link to the new Heljan Class 33's Heljan Class 33

Here is a link to the remaining stocks of the Heljan Catfish Heljan Catfish

Here is a link to the remaining stocks of the Heljan OAAs Heljan OAAs

Next week will be a steam loco that also finished this week and then 2 more interesting ones to follow that we have been working on and have not touched on before; if they are finished in time.

With so many launches in the last six weeks it has been difficult to find the time to indulge this feature but this week we completed a train for a customer rather than doing one for stock.

The brand new Heljan Class 50 came out not so long ago and a customer asked us to complete one of the revised Network South East Livery to closely approximate the above picture. Luckily we also still had stocks of the Heljan Catfish that are also in the image.

The green liveried Catfish are all sold out but we still have black examples available along with a couple of the Dutch examples mixed in. Heljan also supply loads for these, both full and half load and we have shown them here with the full loads that we have lightly stained rather than leaving them the bare plastic.

We have also finished the train off with one of the Dapol SR Pillbox brakevans that we have repainted into Dutch livery that we have also featured although the train in the picture does not has a brake van.

The Heljan Class 50 is certainly a superb model and has soon very well with three liveries already sold out and stocks of the remaining liveries running low already. We have shown the train here with eight Catfish but from the original image you can see it is a lot longer but looks effective with just the eight and could be longer or shorter to suit the layout. Stocks of the catfish are also running low now and the Heljan Dogfish have all sold out.

Here is a link to the new Heljan Class 50's Heljan Class 50

Here is a link to the remaining stocks of the Heljan Catfish Heljan Catfish

Next week hopefully we will have either a steam loco and coach or Dutch set using the recently released Class 33 depending on how we work through the backlog of orders.

Sticking with last week theme of shunting we are moving forward in time frame with a later EWS train.

Just before Christmas Dapol released the later version of the ever popular Class 08 in various liveries. here we have taken the factory finished EWS version and given it a medium weather which just takes the sheen of the plastic of the standard factory finish

To match up with the livery we have used some of the Heljan VDA vans which are also in the EWS livery. These came out several years ago in various liveries and at the time the EWS livery was not that popular as there wasn't many locos in a matching livery. Now we have both the Heljan Class 37 in EWS and the Dapol 08

Together they look very well and it is a short but effective looking train that would not be out of place on any more modern layout at under 4 foot in length.

Here is a link to the new Dapol Later bodied Class 08's Dapol Class 08

Here is a link to the remaining stocks of the Heljan VDAs Heljan VAA / VDA and also the Heljan OAAs which are also very popular but coming to an end Heljan OAA's

Next week we will be busy with packing for Bristol show so we will not be doing a Train of the Week but hopefully will have a new one ready for the following week featuring the new Heljan Class 50's

In November a customer contacted us is regard to some of the Dapol Air Ministry tankers is if we would be able to re-brand some as Regent for him. Utilising the Air Ministry version seemed the best bet and we liked the idea of it.

Even better than expected, last year took the last of the last four Heljan Class B tankers that were in Regent livery to be converted into Shell BP livery, which have yet to be completed but this did give us the badges off the Heljan wagons spare. The customer was after six but these four would do the job, especially having the badges instead of transfers and from the pictures the customer supplied appear to be the same size, or at least close enough.

Using the Air Ministry Livery of the Dapol tanker we managed to match the shade of grey on the tanks to remove the Air Ministry branding rather than the more aggressive approach to removing the lettering, especially when the number was bhind the handrails and ackward to get to. Then we re-numbered them, all on both the sides and ends of the tanks and weathered including oil stains from the fillers for an overall nice effect.

For the loco we have gone for one of the new Dapol Y1 / Y3 BR Sentinels that has also been weathered through the workshop to represent a light shunting engine assebling the train for mainline use.

Have to say the new Dapol Sentinel is a lovely little loco and sets off this short train very nicely.

Here is a link to the new Dapol Y1/Y3 Sentinels Dapol Y1 / Y3

Here is a link to the Dapol Air Ministry tankers Dapol Air Ministry Tankers and also the Tower Models limited edition sets of 6 tanker in either Esso or Shell BP liveries Tower Tanker Sets

I hope to get back on this for next week but am now tied up with the Heljan Class 03 launch which is expect in tomorrow.