Back Issue: April 2016

The paper version of the April 2016 issue of AMRM is now available as a back issue direct from SCR Publications. Back issues of the digital version of AMRM are available from Zinio. 

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This issue's feature layout is another fine NSWGR steam-diesel transition era layout; Dick Grace's home layout, Koolah, based on the long closed station at Coolah, north of Mudgee in the mid-west of the state.

The contents of the April issue

Dick Grace's Koolah, another fine NSWGR layout in HO scale, is our feature layout.

You have built your layout, the rolling stock looks good and the scenery provides a fitting backdrop to your trains, but aimlessly running generic trains doesn't appeal for long. Rather than tear it down and start again, why not replicate the traffic movements of the real thing and make it interesting again? Adrian Gunzburg starts a two-part work on operating your layout, based on the operating patterns of the real railways in the steam-diesel transition era. 

Who said scratchbuilding was dead? Peter Sansom has built two NSWGR 19 class locos using traditional techniques that work in any scale, not just the one in which he has built his locos.

Having trouble keeping your track clean? Jonathan Majer adapts a track cleaning method purchased in an American prototype product to fit in a NSW vehicle, not only making keeping his track clean and his models running reliable, but also providing an appropriate vehicle that can be utilised as part of an operational scenario. 

Multi-deck layouts are becoming more popular, but the helix necessary to move between the levels can be difficult be difficult to scenic realistically. David Bartle suggests a method suitable for the local prototype.

We also have the usual 'regular' features, including a Beyond the Fence from Phil Jeffery, describing some very 'modelable' trees and the latest In the Loop from Trevor Hodges, musing on ways of increasing the 'play' value of one's model railway (do I detect a bit of a minor theme for this issue... ;) 

Last, but certainly not least in the articles section of the magazine, this issue's Gallery takes a quick look at some of the models of real-life locations currently on the exhibition circuit. We certainly hope that we will be able to provide a more 'in-depth' look at these layouts in future issues.

Our experiment with the concept of an 'extended review' of a commercially available kit has proven popular with readers, with Kevin Tiernan having submitted this treatise on finishing the Oz Kits steam crane, almost before the ink was dry on the last issue! We have also come up with a name for this new section; On the Workbench (an) In-depth Review, as we expect it will become a regular feature. Submissions suitable for this section are welcomed.

We have also 'freshened up' the look of the Reviews-Recent Releases-News sections of the magazine with a little tweak to the graphics that we think looks better and is easier to read.

In the Reviews section we look at just some of the models that have been released commercially recently. Here you will find information on the SDS Models r-t-r MRC (and variants) refrigerator vans, the Southern Rail version of the WA L class diesel and the Auscision Downer EDI Rail GT46C-ACe locomotives, as well the kit for a NSW 20' milk container from Road & Rail Resin and a new book from Scott Whitaker on a subject dear to the heart of many modellers Railway Hotels of Australia -Volume One: Victoria!  

The Recent Releases and News sections have much of interest for those with wallets they wish to have become a little lighter!

As most are now aware, 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.

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

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

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You can also purchase a digital back issue from the Zinio site:

James McInerney

Production Manager

Stop press: First sample of Model O Kits O scale NSWGR 36 class locomotive kit arrives

One of the benefits of having this blog is that we don't have to wait another two months to share news that didn't quite arrive in time to appear in the current issue of AMRM. Model O Kits have received the first complete, painted samples of their O scale NSWGR 36 class locomotive kit. More details on their website: Model O Kits

James McInerney

Production Manager

Back Issue: December 2014 AMRM

The December 2014 issue of AMRM is now available as a back issue either direct from SCR Publications or online from Zinio.


On the cover...

What's inside...

We haven't had much from the west lately, so we are very pleased to present our first West Australian layout for some time, and it isn't WAGR! This exhibition layout, owned and built by well-known WA identity, Stuart Mackay, is based on the actual location of Watheroo on the (then) privately owned and operated Midland Railway of WA and features some of the colourful and unusual locomotives and rolling stock that was operated on this interesting system, which, at the time, was the longest privately operated railway in Australia.

To build a realistic model, one needs prototype information, and Phil Dunn has certainly provided some very comprehensive notes on the VR Z vans modified and recoded for passenger service.

This article will tie in very nicely with David Foulkes' construction article on adding buffers to Z vans, scheduled for a near-future issue of AMRM.

With all the very nice rail tank car models being produced lately, we need some where on our layouts to send them! Phil Jeffery looks Beyond the Fence again with some images of typical country fuel depots that should provide some inspiration for suitable models.

The rest of the issue appears to have become a bit of a 'how-to' on a number of layout building issues, with Craig Veitch presenting part 6 of his Void to Layout series, this time covering wiring it up and planning the operational sequences. 

Mal Smith, on the other hand, illustrates some basic track laying and scenery building techniques in this, the first of two parts detailing the construction of a diorama of the Bell's Grotto area on the Wolgan Valley railway.

Richard Gross also has some useful hints and tips on a number of aspects pertaining to the successful construction and operating of a layout.

Trevor Hodges continues to keep us 'In The Loop' with a discussion of some of the issues involved in fitting layouts into fixed spaces.

This issue's Gallery returns to the VMRS's Victorian Prototype Modeller's Forum with some photos of some exceptional modelling in N scale.

The Reviews section in this issue is another big one,  with reviews ranging over a wide variety of areas, including books, electronic aids, kits and r-t-r models. Here you will find considered opinions on the r-t-r SDS Models BMT milk tank wagons, Austrains 'Way and Works' set, Powerline's latest version of the NSWGR BCH and BWH hopper wagons , plus Casula Hobbies' Tulloch double-deck suburban electric trailers. If you are thinking of tackling Ezi Kits' NSWGR J522 locomotive kit or Andian's NSWGR 5000 gallon Commonwealth 'turret' tender kit, you will find the info here to be of much use! Under the broad heading of 'accessories' is a carriage internal lighting kit from ANE Models, a DCC control system imported by All Aboard Modellbahn and a DCC accessory decoder and button board from North Coast Engineering. You can't model something well if you don't know what it looks like and the three books (Train Hobby's NSWGR 53 class profile, plus Steam: Gone But Not Forgotten and Northern Exposures) reviewed will go a long way to providing a lot of very useful information on the late steam era of the NSWGR.

Then there is the nine pages of post-October long weekend releases and news.

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

You can also purchase a digital back issue from the Zinio site:

James McInerney

Production Manager

Back Issue: April 2014 AMRM

The April 2014 issue of AMRM is now available as a back issue direct from AMRM.

The April issue cover features a scene on my very own HO scale Lambing Flat, showing the level crossing, plus the new signal box that controls the junction to the new section of the layout that is described in this issue.

The contents of the April issue.

As mentioned above, this issue covers the extensions that have, and are being, constructed on my home layout, Lambing Flat.

(The second part of the article describing Iain Hunter's Broadford layout has had to be held over till the June issue, due to lack of space.)

And here is one we have been working on for (literally) years! A comprehensive modelling article (with a section on the prototype) on the original VR bogie J class hopper wagons, complete with a very comprehensive drawing of the prototype in both HO and O scales. The article describes two different approaches to converting an American prototype model to a J class, using two different brands as the source, by well-known VR modellers, Peter Ennis and Tony Gray.

Phil Knife brings us another in his series on building WAGR steam locomotives. The 'hints and tips' he describes are useful for building any model, not just the one he has constructed.

Another one that has been 'in the works' for a while. Alex C Brown presents another of his NSW passenger car conversions, showing how to create a model of a supplementary interurban car that we can pretty much guarantee will never be available r-t-r!

Ian Barnes takes us through the steps of fitting a DCC sound chip to a DJH steam locomotive kit.

Roy Elder shows that building good looking scenery isn't hard at all.

Peter Jarvis describes his collection of kit- and scratchbuilt versions of the BCV/BLV/MLV/MLK vans, the prototypes of which were described in Ian Dunn's article, 

The BCV - A Much Modified Van, in AMRM Issue 293 (April 2012).

Unlike last issue, there is much more commercial news happening at the moment! 

With over nine pages of Reviews and nearly seven of News and Recent Releases, there is plenty to tempt the wallet.

This issue we review the r-t-r Eureka VR R class 4-6-4 steam and Auscision AN class diesel locomotives, plus the r-t-r Southern Rail QR ALY four-wheel vans, Austrains NSWGR LHG/OHG goods brakevans, SDS VR U four-wheel louvred vans and Auscision VR VLX/BLX louvred/closed vans (all HO scale).

Lots of interesting stuff in the News section as well.

Purchase this issue of AMRM as a back issue.

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

or

Order a back issue from our website

James McInerney

Production Manager

Back Issue: February 2014 AMRM

The February 2014 issue of AMRM is now available as a back issue.


The February issue cover features a 1980s era V/Line passenger train passing under the Hamilton St bridge on the approach to Broadford, Vic, as reproduced in HO scale by Iain Hunter.

The contents of the February issue.

This issue we feature another layout of an Australian prototype that was constructed, and resides, overseas, this time in the UK. Iain Hunter's HO scale exhibition is also notable in that the VR broad gauge tracks are modelled to a scale 5'3" gauge.

If you have always wanted to scratchbuild a model, but weren't sure how to go about it, John Gilbert's article on scratchbuilding a VR signal box will set you right! The drawings accompanying the article, created by Lindsay Bennett, are some of the most comprehensive we have ever printed.

Bob Lynch describes how to build a working NSWGR turntable using a kit available from Gwydir Hobbies.

It's taken a while, but we have finally managed to convince Justin Moy to share some of his very convincing weathering techniques with our readers.

For the modern era modellers who want to 'get it right', Peter Attenborough presents another of his Today's Railway Scene series, this time covering the activities of the Manildra Group.

This issue's Gallery contains a follow-up to Jim Longworth's article in AMRM Issue 273 (December 2008) on the NSWGR's exhibition layouts, in the form of a selection of photos of the first NSWGR layout when it was on permanent display in Newcastle during the 1960 and '70s.

Also included in this issue are articles on VR footbridges, detailling a locomotive depot and building a lift-out layout section.

For the first time in years, the commercial sector has been relatively quiet for this issue, so the Reviews and News section only runs to eight pages, however we have still managed to review the Auscision NSW NHRH/PHCH/RHCH coal hoppers, the Little Building Co baker's shop, the latest volume of the Wheatley brother's Railway Portraits series and a rather useful colour hand-held LCD television receiver. It's an ill wind etc... as the smaller commercial section has allowed us to expand the number of articles included in this packed with 'goodies' 80 page issue.

Purchase this issue of AMRM as a back issue.

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

or

Order a back issue from our website

James McInerney

Production Manager

Back Issue: December 2013 AMRM

The December 2013 issue of AMRM is now available as a back issue direct from the AMRM office.


The December issue cover features a shot of the Indian Pacific crossing the flooded creek on the ACT Model Railway Society's HO scale exhibition layout, Yendys.

The contents of the December issue.

This issue's feature layout is a small (with a very 'buildable' idea for a 'minimum space' layout) slice of mid-20th century Geelong, featuring the long gone tramways of that rural Victorian city.

Even more impressive is that the layout resides in Canada!

Our occasional Lineside section features some images of three exhibition layouts set in or near Sydney.

It's been a long journey, but we have finally got to the end of Ian Black's comprehensive series on building the NSWGR & VR's 'glamour' train of the 1960s/'70s, the incomparable Southern Aurora. This last installment covers construction of the PHN power cars.

For those who want a nice, simple scratchbuilding project, Maikha Ly shows us how easy it is to build a typical suburban house.

All layouts need something to support them, so David Mitchell presents another way of building baseboards which will be particularly useful to those living in small spaces and/or rented accommodation.

The 'traditional' materials for scratchbuilding are often overlooked these days, given the amazingly versatile materials that are available now, but Barry Lloyd shows that good results can be obtained by 'looking back'...

Our theme for 2013, our 50th Anniversary year, has certainly been 'looking back' and we conclude with part three of our Gallery feature highlighting significant commercial models of the last half century, this time covering the years 1987 to 2012, using photos of the display organised by the AMRA (NSW) branch at the 2012 Liverpool exhibition.

Reviewed in this issue are the SDS Models NSWGR BCW/NSCF bogie cattle wagons and NSWPTC FMW/NRWF F.J.Walker refrigerated wagons, On Track Models NSWGR BOB set passenger cars, Trainorama NSWGR MRC refrigerated cars, Ozrail Models VR L sheep vans and a Chevrolet 'Blitz' truck kit from Times Gone By (all HO scale), plus ready-to-place SAR and VR colour light signals in N scale from San Mateo Line and a power amplifier for the ESU Loksound DCC chip from DCC Solutions.

With six pages of reviews, plus the article content and eight pages of new product news, this issue of AMRM should give our readers some enjoyable holiday reading over Christmas (if you can wait that long!) 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers!

Purchase this issue of AMRM as a back issue.

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

or

Order a back issue from our website

James McInerney

Production Manager