Back Issue: AMRM December 2019

The December 2019 issue of AMRM is now available as a back issue direct from SCR Publications (paper copy) or Zinio (digital copy).

You can purchase a paper copy of this issue online at:

www.australianmodelrailways.com

or directly from the AMRM office by phone on (02) 9311 2036, using your Credit Card.

The digital version of the December 2019 AMRM was released by Zinio on Wednesday 13 November .

Buy digital back issue of December 2019 AMRM from Zinio.

(scroll down from current issue for all back issues).

The December 2019 cover.

The contents page.

This issue's feature layout models a prototype that (as far as I can remember) has never been featured in AMRM previously, the North Australian Railway, and it is set in the dark days of 1942. Peter Lucas has adopted some very interesting techniques to model this extremely obscure prototype. 

Not many modellers have the knowledge or interest to create authentic signal box diagrams for their layout, but the late Wilfrid Brook, did. He shared some of his knowledge and techniques in this fascinating article.

Tom Carlos is back with the latest installment of Billabong Marina, describing how he constructed more of the many buildings populating this fascinating little 'gem' of a layout.

Peter Michalak presents a DCC Workshop on fitting a 'stay alive' module to his SAR F class steam locomotive. Don't be misled by the prototype, this article is applicable to anyone who has fitted a DCC chip and wants their locomotive's to proceed smoothly and without annoying stalls.

It's not often we get the opportunity to highlight 'good works' in AMRM, so we are delighted to be able to publish an article by Brad Peadon describing David Xuereb's commendable efforts to raise funds for the charity Kids with Cancer Foundation Australia through the medium of model railways.

This issue's In the Loop takes a wide-ranging look at what might happen to a layout once the builder has passed on and explores some of the issues surrounding layouts whose owner is no longer with us. 

In this issue's Beyond the Fence, Phil Jeffery describes some idiosyncratic and very modeleable equipment once used to unload wagons on the Victorian Railways.

For the modern era modeller, Chris Jones describes a very basic structure used to unload grain in Melbourne, while general maintenance of models is covered by Jonathan Majer's Cleaning Unpowered Electrical Pickup Wheels and Steve Donohue's artistically illustrated Coasting to Clean Track.

This issues Gallery takes a look at stock handling on the VR, courtesy of photographs by John McCallum of models displayed at various Victorian Prototype Modellers' Forums.

This issue's On the Workbench continues the stock handling theme, but in NSW, with an article describing the NSWGR's '1890', '1891' and '1896' bogie cattle wagons and Ian Dunn's adventures constructing the newly-released Stephen Johnson Models HO scale kit of the '1890' version.

 On the Workbench leads into the Reviews section, which cover's our publisher, SCR Publications, latest release, Hudson Brothers A History of Hudson Brothers Carpenters, Engineers & Manufacturers 1866-1898, by David Jehan, as well as the latest release from Train Hobby Publications, Ted Payne The Steam Era • Victoria, featuring many more of Ted Payne's excellent photos.

As one would expect in the issue after the AMRA (NSW) October long weekend exhibition, the Recent Releases/News section contains a lot of new models, as well as some intriguing news of what is coming up in 2020! 

We also have available an online version of AMRM to compliment our traditional paper version. You can purchase the paper version from newsagents, hobby shops and specialist bookshops (or direct from AMRM if none of the above are convenient), while the online version can be purchased either through us or direct from Zinio International.

Contact AMRM, either by sending us the form below, or via our website, to take out a subscription to the online version (or adjust your current subscription to include the online version) in time for the release of the online version.

Purchase this issue of AMRM as a back issue in either paper or digital form.

Ring the office on (02) 9311 2036 and have your credit card handy

or

Order a back issue from our website

Or click here to

online to the paper or digital (or both) versions of AMRM at our website.

You can also purchase a digital issue of AMRM (including back issues) from the Zinio site. 

Scroll down for back issues

James McInerney

Editor

Back Issue: AMRM October 2019

The October 2019 issue of AMRM is now available as a back issue direct from SCR Publications (paper copy) or Zinio (digital copy).

You can obtain a paper copy of this issue online at:

www.australianmodelrailways.com

or directly from the AMRM office by phone on (02) 9311 2036, using your Credit Card.

The digital version of the October 2019 AMRM was released by Zinio on Wednesday 18 September.

Buy back issue of October 2019 AMRM

(scroll down from current issue for all back issues).

The October 2019 cover.

The contents page.

This issue's feature layout is Tony Scott's new (and quite extensive) 1970s era VR N scale home layout, Forest Creek, with photos by the incomparable John Dennis. 

Despite the opinion of some that scratchbuilding is dead, we seem to have no problem being offered plenty of scratchbuilding articles for publication! No sooner have we finished

Kevin Tiernan's series on building a NSWGR passenger brake van, than highly respected South Australian modeller, Gavin Thrum presents a major article on scratchbuilding an SAR Webb-era 'caboose' (goods brake van).

Even if you have no interest in SAR steam-era brake vans, Gavin's magnificently illustrated, step-by-step guide to constructing the model will be of use to anyone contemplating scratchbuilding a model of any sort. If you have never scratchbuilt anything before, but would like to have a go, then the techniques presented here will definitely help you on your way.

Scratchbuilding definitely seems to be the 2019 theme in AMRM, with Ian West's short, but informative, article will allow anyone with the ability to bend a piece of wire to construct working station platform lights.

AMRM regular, Jonathan Majer, presents an article on a subject not often covered; how to protect your layout from the depredations of small pests (no not the neighbour's kids... )

This issue's In the Loop looks into one of the basics of modelling, laying track, while October's Beyond the Fence comes from Graham Watson in Western Australia and highlights an item of Australia-wide civil infrastructure that often finds itself modelled.

Gallery features another couple of Eureka 50 class conversions by Ray Smith, describing how he fitted Laird crossheads to his models of 5154 and 5340 and scratchbuilt a model of a 3650 gallon turret tender.

The Reviews section is headlined by a review of what is probably the single most useful book ever published on the steam era NSW railways, Garry Saunders' New South Wales Railways in Colour 1855 -1957. Not only does this book thoroughly describe what is currently known about the colour schemes used by the NSW railways on locomotives, rolling stock and infrastructure, as well as the colours used by Sydney's tramways system, but also describes every class of locomotive, carriage and goods vehicle used on the system, what colours they were painted in their lives, plus going into the background of how and when they were introduced. This review is ably supported by a thorough look at the Southern Rail HO scale, r-t-r, QR 2300 class diesel locomotive, the Casula Hobbies HO scale r-t-r MLV/MLK bogie milk vans and bogie E flat wagons and a look at Where there's smoke Part 1 Scotland to the Cape, the new book from the publishers who brought us Northern Exposures, Lenses South and Shooting the West.

The Recent Releases/News contains some very interesting new models, quite a few of which should be available for purchase, or viewing at least, at the upcoming ARMA (NSW) exhibition on the October long weekend (at the new venue in Sydney's Olympic Park). 

We also have available an online version of AMRM to compliment our traditional paper version. You can purchase the paper version from newsagents, hobby shops and specialist bookshops (or direct from AMRM if none of the above are convenient), while the online version can be purchased either through us or direct from Zinio International.

Contact AMRM, either by sending us the form below, or via our website, to take out a subscription to the online version (or adjust your current subscription to include the online version) in time for the release of the online version.

Purchase this issue of AMRM as a back issue in either paper or digital form

Ring the office on (02) 9311 2036 and have your credit card handy

or

Order a back issue from our website

Or click here to

online to the paper or digital (or both) versions of AMRM at our website.

You can also purchase a digital issue of AMRM (including back issues) from the Zinio site. 

Scroll down for back issues

James McInerney

Editor

Back Issue: August 2019

The August 2019 issue is now available as a back issue direct from SCR Publications (paper copy) or Zinio (electronic copy).

You can purchase a paper copy of the current issue online at:

www.australianmodelrailways.com

or directly from the AMRM office by phone on (02) 9311 2036, using your Credit Card.

The digital version of the June 2019 AMRM has been released by Zinio.

Digital back issues of AMRM can be obtained from Zinio.

(scroll down from current issue).

The August 2019 cover.

The contents page.

This issue's feature layout is a 4mm scale, 14mm gauge rendition of Fingal station on the TGR's St Marys branch, constructed as an exhibition layout by Simon Handby. 

Scratchbuilders (and those contemplating scratchbuilding) will be pleased to see the third and final chapter of Kevin Tiernan's story of how he built models of the NSWGR's VHO passenger brake van, utilising techniques applicable to any prototype or scale, described in simple, easy to follow and reproduce form.

The advent of computers and the internet has made creating signs for your model railway a lot easier and simpler. John Casey shows how he created some simple signs and how he found the appropriate fonts.

There are plenty of fine r-t-r and kit open wagons available now, in lots of scales, but there is not much info available on how to model what they carried. Arthur Hayes shows how to create some suitable loads for open wagons.

Trevor Hodges' In the Loop highlights the advantages and disadvantages of helping one's mates!

This issue's Gallery features another Eureka 50 class conversion from Ray Smith, describing how he built his model of 5599.

The Reviews section features another steam era vehicle that was part of the scene for nearly 100 years, the 1884 six-wheel 'supplementary tenders' that lasted until the end of steam and into preservation, produced as a kit in HO scale by Peter Boorman's Workshop. Also covered is Nick Anchen's latest book, Outback Railwaymen Life on the Commonwealth Railways.

The Recent Releases/News section always expands considerably after a major exhibition, and this issue needs 13 pages to report on what was released and foreshadowed at the recent Epping Club exhibition at Rosehill.

We also have available an online version of AMRM to compliment our traditional paper version. You can purchase the paper version from newsagents, hobby shops and specialist bookshops (or direct from AMRM if none of the above are convenient), while the online version can be purchased either through us or direct from Zinio International.

Contact AMRM, either by sending us the form below, or via our website, to take out a subscription to the online version (or adjust your current subscription to include the online version) in time for the release of the online version.

Purchase this issue of AMRM as a back issue in either paper or digital form

Ring the office on (02) 9311 2036 and have your credit card handy

or

Order a back issue from our website

Or click here to

online to the paper or digital (or both) versions of AMRM at our website.

You can also purchase a digital issue of AMRM (including back issues) from the Zinio site. 

Scroll down for back issues

James McInerney

Editor

Back Issue: June 2019 issue.

The June 2019 issue of AMRM is now available as a back issue direct from SCR Publications (paper copy) or Zinio (digital copy).

You can obtain a paper copy of the current issue online at:

www.australianmodelrailways.com

or directly from the AMRM office by phone on (02) 9311 2036, using your Credit Card.

Digital back issues can be obtained from Zinio

(scroll down from current issue).

The June 2019 cover.

The contents page.

This issue's feature layout magnificently captures the ambience of the 1970s/early 1980s PTC/SRA NSW scene, despite the builder never having lived in NSW!

Once more, we are shining the spotlight on a prototype that gets very little attention, the privately owned Midland Railway of Western Australia, with an article on the railway's prime motive power during the steam era, the A class 2-8-2.

Phil Knife presents another in his series on Western Australian locomotives, describing the prototype and how he scratchbuilt an example in Sn3½. The article also includes a full page scale drawing of the prototype produced by Mitchell Campton.

If you have wanted to depict water on your layout, but aren't quite sure which method will work best for you, the latest chapter in Tom Carlos's Building Billabong Marina might help you out considerably!

Sydney area modellers will find first-time author, Joe Dal Forno's, description of how he constructed some Gymea Lilies, a very distinctive Sydney basin plant, very helpful.  

But wait, there's more!

If you transport your models on a regular basis, Martin Vella, another first-time author, has some very interesting thoughts on the subject and Leon Oberg describes another item of obsolete NSW rolling stock that has been recycled into another potential scenic feature. Regular columnist, Trevor Hodges, also returns with another interesting In the Loop ruminating on a variety of modelling issues and tying them all together very neatly!

This issue's Gallery features some magnificent South Australian models photographed by Gavin Thrum at the Modelling the Railways of South Australia convention in 2018.

The Reviews section highlights our sister organisation, SCR Publications, new book Goods Wagons of the NSW Railways 1855-1905, a 'must-have' for modellers and those with an historical interest in the full-size railways. Also reviewed are two new HO scale kits of NSW 'early days' rolling stock from Peter Boorman's Workshop, a new injection moulded HO scale QR wagon kit, an HJS bogie open, from Wuiske Models, the HO scale ready-to-place sand tower from Southern Models and the late David Burke's very entertaining book, 30 Days On Australia's Railways.

The Recent Releases/News section, still reflecting the slowdown in the commercial sector,  none-the-less features some very interesting information on new models, both released and due soon.

Sadly, some very prominent people in the hobby have passed away recently, so this issue has Vales for Peter Ford, Bob Dunn and Neville Murray.

We also have available an online version of AMRM to compliment our traditional paper version. You can purchase the paper version from newsagents, hobby shops and specialist bookshops (or direct from AMRM if none of the above are convenient), while the online version can be purchased either through us or direct from Zinio International.

Contact AMRM, either by sending us the form below, or via our website, to take out a subscription to the online version (or adjust your current subscription to include the online version) in time for the release of the online version.

Purchase this issue of AMRM as a back issue in either paper or digital form

Ring the office on (02) 9311 2036 and have your credit card handy

or

Order a back issue from our website

Or click here to

online to the paper or digital (or both) versions of AMRM at our website.

You can also purchase a digital issue of AMRM (including back issues) from the Zinio site. 

Scroll down for back issues

James McInerney

Editor