About this event

A journey through the trials and tribulations involved in bringing a ready-to-run model locomotive to market, from research to production sample, through the eyes of a Project Manager. Using the example of Accurascale’s latest steam locomotive project, the Great Eastern Railway’s 0-6-0T ‘Buckjumpers’, Paul Isles will talk the audience through the various stages of the model’s development process to date, using CAD images, research sources and previously unpublished images to illustrate the processes.

 Paul Isles joined Accurascale as a Project Manager in the Autumn of 2020 and has worked on a number of diverse Irish and UK projects for the company in subjects that are close to his heart, including the BR Mk.1 57’ Suburban coaches, the GWR Siphon bogie vans, the Iarnród Éireann ICR diesel railcar units, the Córas Iompair Éireann Park Royal coaches and, of course, BRM’s wagon model of the year, the Chaldron waggons; subject of last year’s talk!

Born into a North London family and having spent his formative years in East Anglia, it was only natural that with Paul’s interest in the pre-grouping era, and specifically small steam locomotives, it would only be a matter of time before a Great Eastern Railway project would come to fruition at Accurascale. Paul has kindly agreed to share his research and CAD development on the Buckjumpers, as well as giving an insight into the internal processes of producing a ready-to-run model at a company that has recently been overwhelmingly voted ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ by the readers of Hornby Magazine, Model Rail Magazine and BRM.

Paul will begin the evening by taking a look at the history of the Buckjumpers and the challenges that such a large class of locomotives makes to planning models, before going on to describe the various elements of research, collaboration, 3D scanning, design, tooling, testing and decoration involved, before finishing the evening by taking questions on the subject matters covered.

This event is in person, and guests are welcome at Keen House. The bar will be open before, in the interval and after the lecture with a range of drinks and snacks. We also intend to stream it live on line, and record it for ‘on demand’ viewing later. Please use the form on this page to register for the online Zoom link.

Finally, please note there are stairs to all rooms. If you have any accessibility concerns, please contact us so we can advise and make appropriate arrangements.