Introduction At a recent model show, Dad picked up a Budd Rail Diesel Car (RDC) on a whim. This is not the normal kind of model we’d normally look at, but for some reason it stood out as a fairly decent model, and the price… Read More »Upgrading a Budd RDC
I had some spare time while visiting Reading back in 2018, so I took a short trip one station down to the line to Twyford, to visit Berkshire Dolls House and Models. Whilst I was browsing, I saw an interesting looking wagon on the shelf:… Read More »JGA wagon upgrade
A lot has been written and said about Rapido’s excellent APT-E, so I won’t talk about the model’s merits here, except to say I’m really happy I took that chance to grab one when the second batch came around last year. That said, when I… Read More »Rapido APT-E: Sound upgrade
It’s finally here! After multiple delays, a false start around Christmas-time and certain global events threatening to affect its arrival, my sound-fitted Hattons Class 66 has finally arrived. Or rather, they have arrived – after placing my initial order for 66957 “Stephenson Locomotive Society” in… Read More »Hattons Class 66 review
One of the key features I want on Weybourne is working semaphore signalling. With the trackwork finished and the DCC and CBUS electrics installed, now seems like a good time to start looking at this. Whilst at this year’s Tonbridge show, I saw a small… Read More »Automating semaphore signals
Whilst I await the arrivial of my Hattons class 66 (update: delayed again due to axleboxgate!), I decided to fit my trusty old Bachmann 66 with a sound decoder. I’ve had the loco for about 10 years now and it’s always been a good runner,… Read More »DCC Sound: Bachmann class 66
I have fitted DCC sound to a handful of locomotives in my collection, but so far, it’s only been diesels that have received the upgrade. Today that changes, as I’m going to be adding sound to one of my favourite (and most dependable) steam locos:… Read More »DCC sound: Bachmann 4MT
I have had a Hattons class 66 in Freightliner livery (66957 – Stephenson Locomotive Society) on order since they were announced back in 2018. With the delivery date fast approaching, I’ve ordered a mixture of container wagons in Freightliner livery for it to haul when… Read More »Working End-Of-Train lamps
I’ve recently acquired a rather nice little Hornby Terrier loco. It’s one of the ex-Dapol tooling models, so while it’s not up to the standards of the more modern Hornby offering, it’s still a reasonable model that I’d like to get running. As it’s one… Read More »DCC in a Hornby A1X Terrier
At the heart of every DCC model railway lies the so-called command station. This is a device that takes commands from a handset, computer, or other input device, and converts them into DCC commands which are then sent to a locomotive or accessory via the… Read More »Building a DCC control unit