December Running Night 2018

Hey hey, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and looking forward to the New Years break. These running nights are beginning to prove very popular as we had quite a large attendance for the final 4th Friday of the month meeting of the year. We had quite a large number of DC trains as well as a few DCC equipped trains. These nights will continue into the new year and members are always more than welcome to attend. Please have a safe and happy New Year and we look forward to the exciting new meetings for 2019!

Doug Firth's sawn timber train lead by a RailWest S541 heads south towards Perth passing Ross Green's scratch-built N201 in the Swan View head shunt.

Doug Firth's sawn timber train lead by a RailWest S541 heads south towards Perth.

Ross Green's scratch-built N201 rests in the sidings at Swan View between duties.

Ross Green's scratch-built N201 rests in the sidings at Swan View between duties.

Doug Firth's X class Models MSA495 pulls into Swan View with a short goods train.

Doug Firth's X class Models MSA495 pulls into Swan View with a short goods train. 

Neil Blinco's W class hauls another goods train through Swan View in the opposite direction.

Stuart Mackay's scratch-built governor railcar rounds the corner having just exited the tunnel.

Stuart Mackay's scratch-built ASA class steam railcar arrives at Swan View station. 

Stuart Mackay's scratch-built ASA class steam railcar departs Swan View station.

Stuart Mackay's ADB/ADK suburban set approaches the platform at Swan View.

Neil Blinco brought his fantastic suburban train hauled by his X class models X1023.

Alison Kelly's Marbellup Models DB1588 rolls up hill through Swan View with a wagon transfer.

Doug Firth continues to work on his early WAR train which saw rigorous testing on Swan View.

December Meeting 2018

Hey hey, 2018 has now come and gone and personally I think it has flown by rather fast. But we couldn't farewell the year without the traditional christmas meeting. Stuart Mackay rightly pointed out that January 2019 will also be the 30th anniversary meeting of the S scale SIG at AMRA WA having formed in 1990 so plenty to celebrate. This meeting ran a little more different than usual; the format being General Announcements, Bring and Show, Slide Presentation followed by a demonstration from the bring and show as well as the Christmas Cheer. Special thanks should go to Neil Blinco for his delicious shortbread as well as Trevor Bourke for organising the rest of the evening. The bring and show was particularly interesting as you will see from the photos below.

Part of the interest was from Richard Stallard's "early Christmas present" in the form of a ProtoThrottle which he demonstrated for us on Swan View using the NCE DCC track. This is a prototypical DCC controller that allows one to control locomotives in a more realistic manner i.e. with braking functions and notches in the throttle much like the prototype. Much fun was had "having a go" with the ProtoThrottle as can be seen in the video below. All in all, another fantastic meeting and I look forward to reporting more in the following year ahead.

Have a Happy and Safe Holidays and for those travelling over the break, please travel safe and its  always better to arrive late than to never arrive at all... Or as my old boss used to say; "be good or good at it!" Take care.

Doug Firth talking about the 3D printed AI coaches he is assembling.

John Morrison updated us on his work with his brass LA hoppers displaying several in the works and one almost complete.

John Morrison updated us on his work with his brass LA hoppers displaying several in the works and one almost complete.

Alison Kelly brought in her latest 1:64 acquisition being an agricultural tractor by Norscot which she acquired from eBay.

Mitchell Henderson-Miller has been experimenting with cardboard containers in 1:64th scale using a balsa base to keep shape.

Doug Firth displayed many things at the meeting, one being this EM scale point that he has made from scratch. Whilst it is the wrong gauge for our use, Doug points out the skills and principles are still the same for those who choose to scratch-build points in Sn3.5.

Richard Stallard's ProtoThrottle displaying the many functions and realistic levers.

Richard Stallard also brought along a completed model of his latest 3D printed work, the XBC bauxite wagon.

Richard Stallard also brought along a completed model of his latest 3D printed work, the XBC bauxite wagon.

Richard Stallard also brought along a completed model of his latest 3D printed work, the XBC bauxite wagon.

Richard Stallard also brought along a completed model of his latest 3D printed work, the XB bauxite wagon.

Stuart Mackay brought along a train to run on DC for the meeting to keep the members entertained whilst the Christmas Cheer was set up.

Following on from last blog post, Doug Firth has completed his RailWest Models 1-piece GS wagon including decaling.

Doug Firth has been very busy with his work on his early WAR era AI coaches as seen here on Swan View.

More of Doug Firth's handiwork of the same era. 

Craig Belcher brought in a fantastic array of wagons he has assembled to varying degrees shown here being hauled around Swan View by Alison Kelly's DB1588.

Craig Belcher's RailWest Models VWV.

Craig Belcher's part brass, part 3D print, part styrene HVR Riverland car.

Craig Belcher's part brass, part 3D print, part styrene HVR Riverland car.

Craig Belcher's GA models tanker wagon painted in the distinctive green livery that was used by HVR. 

Brass P class DE in Sn3.5

Hey hey, a while ago I sent out an expression of interest for a brass P class DE in Sn3 1/2 (through Graham Watson's distribution list) to be built by Dave Luketic. Dave Luketic has been building modern brass locomotives for WA and other states, primarily in HO scale, for several years now and plans to release a P class in HO in the not too distant future. Besides that, he has produced a wide range of wagons in both brass and cast materials to quite a high standard. An example has been provided to get an idea of the quality of his work.

Thanks to a sufficient enough response from the group, a prototype body has been produced for the loco. Dave plans to scratch build the mech using North Yard wheels and parts to the correct size for the P class. No price has been announced yet but based on his previous works, it will be well worth the $.

Dave Luketic's Bass P class DE prototype. Photo curtesy of Dave Luketic

Dave Luketic's brass Q class DE in HO. This loco uses an Athearn SD locomotive chassis with cast side frames to match the prototype. Photo curtesy of Toby Rowallan

November Running Night 2018

Hey hey, last Friday's running session must have had a record attendance because there were so many trains running I could barely keep up! I spent the evening taking more video than photos as I continue to explore more of this side of the hobby but I did get a few still shots. I hope that the video I have added at the top/bottom of this blog works as well as the last one. I have experimented a little more with this one but happy to hear your feedback. Unfortunately I haven't been able to improve the quality much (actually had to reduce it to get it to upload to the blog) but I did have fun combining all my clips in one so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it.

Stuart Mackay's RailWest Models PM713 heads south of Swan View heading to Midland. 

Stuart Mackay's X Class Models X1009 hauls a short goods into Swan View station.

Stuart Mackay's X class Models MRWA A24 rolls down hill away from Swan View station towards Midland.

A close up of Stuart Mackay's X class Models MRWA A24.

Doug Firth has been busy assembling his WestOz Models DM kit and a few other wagons which he tested on Swan View.

A close up view of Doug Firth's WestOz Models DM.

An overall view of the DC side of the yard with a nice lineup of trains awaiting their turn.

Doug Firth is probably the first member of the SIG to complete the new RailWest one-piece GS kit as seen above.  

Doug Firth is probably the first member of the SIG to complete the new RailWest one-piece GS kit as seen above.  

Alison Kelly's Marbelup Models DB1588 sits in the sidings at Swan View alongside her  RailWest Models A1511.

November Meeting 2018

Hey hey, last night's meeting supplied us with a few treats to some fantastic modeling by members of the AMRA WA S scale SIG. Ray Cooper travelled up from the south to display for us a compressed mill based on what was at Nanga Brook which is part of his layout based on the Yarloop and Nanga Brook bush lines. There was also some great work from other modelers including newcomer to the hobby Alex Kruger who displayed a selection of RailWest 4 wheel and bogie wagons. Mitchell Henderson-Miller also displayed some of his latest work including a WestOz Models DD which he plans to modernise to a "as preserved" condition as well as some larger scale parts and his foray into casting. As well we got to see more progress on Bill Gray's Early Perth Station building and his ingenuity with brick paper. Below are a selection of photos that hopefully give you and idea of the scale of the meeting (pun intended).

The timber yard part of Ray Cooper's Mill display.

The log landing and steam house part of Ray Cooper's Mill display.

Inside the Mill built by Ray Cooper.

A birds eye view of the log landing part of Ray Cooper's Mill.

An over all birds eye view of Ray Coopers Mill. 

Alison Kelly brought her Marbellup Models DB for the 'bring and show' as well as Alan Penstone displaying his MRWA FA Brake Van and 4 wheel open wagon. Below that are some more well made tank wagons by Greg Aitken.

Alison Kelly brought her Marbellup Models DB for the 'bring and show' as well as Alan Penstone displaying his MRWA FA Brake Van and 4 wheel open wagon. Below that are some more well made tank wagons by Greg Aitken.

Newcomer Alex Kruger's 4 wheel wagons built from various RailWest kits. Of note is the lettering on the ends were hand drawn and he has done and impressive job.

Newcomer Alex Kruger's bogie V wagons built from RailWest kits.  Of note is the lettering on the ends were hand drawn and he has done and impressive job.

Mitchell Henderson-Miller's display including his WestOz Models DD at the bottom of the photo as well as his casting mould at the top right of the photo.

The theme of the meeting was a roundup (pun intended) of stock wagons. We were privy to various wagons from the very early scratch built masters to the very modern cast and 3D printed kits. A massive total of 70 wagons were recorded with many members admitting they had more at home and only brought examples as well as other members that were unable to attend leaving one to wonder just how many are really out there? All in all another fantastic meeting and great display of modeling skill.

An overall view of the stock wagon roundup showing all 70 wagons.

A birds eye view of the stock wagon roundup showing all 70 wagons.

An overall view of half of the stock wagon roundup. 

An overall view of the other half of the stock wagon roundup.