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: AMRM February 2019

The February 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 February 2019 cover.

The contents page.

This issue's feature layout is a permanent HO scale home layout that reproduces the very popular location of Goulburn on the NSW Main South line.

Our feature article for this issue shows that two common beliefs are completely false! Firstly, scratchbuilding is not dead and secondly, there are younger modellers turning out some very fine models!
This issue sees the first part of Kevin Tiernan's very comprehensive, well illustrated and easy to follow series on scratchbuilding a passenger carriage in HO scale. 

AMRM's graphics designer, John Casey, takes time out from assembling the magazine to write and illustrate a very useful article on creating billboard advertisements for buildings.

Continuing the scratchbuilding theme of this issue is Doug Simpson with an article on how to create attractive buildings from photos, a great 'short cut' to scratchbuilding for those without the time or inclination to build everything in the traditional way.

Ready-to-run modellers haven't been forgotten either. Ian Dunn has written a Prototype File on the NSWGR four-wheel HG goods brake vans, outlining their history and areas of use, to go with the review (also published in this issue) of the recently released Casula Hobbies r-t-r HO scale range of HG brake vans.

This issue's Gallery catches us up with some of the changes on Peter Knife's Sn3.5 layout, based on Minnipa on the SAR's Eyre Peninsula, via more excellent photos from John Dennis.

This issue, Trevor Hodges' regular 'In the Loop' column takes an entertaining look at the proposition that one can model in too many scales at once (or can one?) and Phil Jeffery's Beyond the Fence article looks at some once common infrastructure, the PMG's wooden phone boxes and cast iron mailing boxes. This very useful article has already encouraged me to create a 'near enough' Australian phone box from a Peco British kit I had lying about!

The Reviews section features the aforementioned r-t-r Casula Hobbies range of HO scale NSWGR HG goods brakevans (and W&W derivatives) and the latest release from Eveleigh Press, The Steam Tram in Australia & New Zealand, as written by respected historian Bruce Macdonald.

Despite it being the traditionally quiet pre-Christmas period when the Recent Releases/News section was prepared, we still managed to fill five pages with lots of interesting information on new models, both released and due soon.

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 2018 AMRM.

The August 2018 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. 

Buy digital back issue of August 2018 AMRM from Zinio (scroll down from current issue).

The August 2018 cover.

The contents page.

This issue's feature layout is Phil Overton's minimum space HO scale exhibition layout 'Philden', which shows that you can have a modern era layout, even if you live in a small unit with a family.

With the deluge of beautifully detailed rolling stock that has hit the market over the last decade or so, it is nice to see that some still scratchbuild! Iain Hunter has modelled an unusual NSW flat wagon using techniques that are applicable to just about any scratchbuilt model.

If you don't feel you are quite up to scratchbuilding yet, try this simple SEM kit conversion from David Clark. You end up with a variation not many others will have and you will have learnt some valuable skills!

Two- (and multi-) deck layouts are becoming more and more popular, seeing as they allow a lot more operation in the same space as a single-deck layout. Graeme Barnes describes how to construct the very necessary helix to take the right-of-way from one deck to the next.

Continuing the layout building theme, Jonathan Majer has raided Bunnings to solve a storage problem he was developing with his multiplying modules!

The layout is going well and you are looking for some inspiration to detail the scenery. Our regular 'Beyond the Fence' feature in this issue has some ideas from Graham Watson for spicing up those blank brick walls . 

Unless you are modelling the 'early days', you will need some motor vehicles on your layout. John Casey has some ideas on sources of suitable cars for the very popular steam-diesel transition era.

This issue's Gallery has a mini-history of the HO scale models that have been available of the iconic NSW 46 class electric locomotive.

Trevor Hodges' In the Loop column discusses a very common problem in our aging demographic, the physical strains brought about by tracklaying!

The Reviews section looks at two recent HO scale modern era wagon releases, one from a well established manufacturer and the other from a 'new kid on the block'.

Thanks to the recent Rosehill (NSW) exhibition, the 14 page Recent Releases/News section is overflowing with tasty new models and the promise of things to come!

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

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

James McInerney

Editor