The Club builds and operates layouts in a variety of scales.
Orchard Wharf – Traverser Revamp
This is taken from our Members’ forum – where the progress on Orchard Wharf and other club projects are documented, and members can engage. Join us online today to get full access. The traverser on board 4 (the “Rest of the World” RoW traverser – left hand end as watching the layout) of Orchard …read more.
Dec 22, 2024
Kit building brass Mk1 coaches – before the RTR versions arrive
The Great Northern (King’s Cross) suburban services in the 1950s-70s were characterised by the ‘short’ Mark 1 non-gangway coaches – normally hauled by Class 31 diesels. The majority of coaches and trains were formed of compartment third/second class coaches, as manufactured for several years by Bachmann in OO, and these would have formed the bulk …read more.
Dec 28, 2023
A new home test track
One of the great benefits of MRC membership is access to the test tracks, allowing us to run our models on a decent sized circuit to run them in, and identify any niggles. Many of us will also have a short section of track at home and if we’re lucky maybe a ‘rolling road’ to …read more.
Feb 25, 2023
Heaton Lodge – one man’s memories in 7 mm scale
It is not often that news about a model railway spills from the pages and forums of the modelling press onto the pages and screens of the national press but Heaton Lodge, a 7 mm scale layout based upon a section of line in West Yorkshire has done just that. We sent our West Yorkshire …read more.
Dec 13, 2021
Model Railway Scenics – Carol Flavin Replay
Carol started her railway modelling life in 2017 because of her grandchildren’s enthusiasm and she had no idea how absorbed and engaged she would become. “It’s how I came to appreciate my love of making realistic scenery. Modelling in OO Gauge, Edge Hey & Strines Railway expanded to fill a whole bedroom, and is a …read more.
Oct 25, 2021
Put It In The Garden – Phil Parker – Playback
Phil has been a modeller since being handed a bag of balsa wood offcuts, a knife and some glue as a child. Since then, he’s worked in all scales and become interested in all sorts of prototypes – although mainly the offbeat and unusual ones. Garden railways have been part of his life for over …read more.
Oct 1, 2021
A Shay in 1:160 scale
Tom Knapp writes from Hawaii: I’ve just completed construction of an interesting 1:160 narrow gauge locomotive kit from Showcase Miniatures. It is designed to run on 6.5mm gauge track, simulating 3-foot narrow gauge. The model is West Side Lumber Company’s three-truck Shay No. 12. West Side Lumber Company (and its predecessor the West Side Flume …read more.
Sep 18, 2021
Five Go To “Bembridge” – Replay
David Woodcock, one of the original five, tells the story behind the pioneering Protofour model railway layout “Bembridge” which was built at Keen House and which was first exhibited at the Club’s Central Hall Easter show exactly fifty years ago. Recorded 13/5/21.
Aug 25, 2021
Making Use of a Garden
Introduction For a number of years, I have contemplated building a railway in my back garden so that I could run by small collection of Gauge 1 and G scale models. I undertook a lot of planning work on the CAD programme on my computer. Some of the ideas were unnecessarily complicated, but I eventually …read more.
May 18, 2021
Rydes Vale – the rewiring concludes
I have been busy under the boards of the Rydes Vale. After removing all the lineside accessories to protect them from damage and also allow easier access I have turned to the wiring. I have removed all the old wiring and am currently installing tag strips in place of the brass screws used as solder …read more.
Apr 2, 2021
Controlling Electromagnetic Uncouplers
Electromagnet uncouplers are a proven method for uncoupling Sprat and Winkle and other couplings that require a magnetic “pull down”, but due to the heat generated by electromagnets when they are energised, there is the potential of heat damage to the baseboard or in the worst-case scenario fire, due to overheating caused by misuse or …read more.
Feb 20, 2021
Restoring Rydes Vale – a pioneering 2mmFS layout
“Rydes Vale” was one of the earliest 2mm finescale layouts. Constructed in the early 1960s by Mr H H Grove and his son Bert, the Groves created a new set of track and rail standards which were instrumental in giving a faultless performance at our exhibition in Central Hall, Wesminster, London, for three years. This …read more.
Feb 13, 2021