June Running Night 2019

Hey hey, the June running night was a little light on with numbers but it was a very chilly night, my car temperature gauge recording just 10 degrees (thats cold for West Aussies!). But that didn't stop the trains from running as you can see from the attached video. Once again I apologise for having to lower the quality as Blogger won't let me upload too large a space of video. I did spend most of this morning working on this video so please enjoy and as always I welcome your feedback.

Graham Watson owned and Gavin Stallard built F45 sits in the yard at Swan View Waiting to depart back down the hill. This model has inscription on the underside of the tank dating back to 1986!

Graham Watson owned and Gavin Stallard built F45 sits in the yard at Swan View Waiting to depart back down the hill. This model has inscription on the underside of the tank dating back to 1986! 

Rodger Jenkins scratch-built brass MS class garratt hauls a ZF guards van wrong road up towards Swan View

Neil Blinco's Alyn Models ASG28 hauls a lengthy goods up to Swan View.

Alison Kelly's A1511 hauls a train of empties through Swan View whilst passing her DB1588 heading through with a loaded train returning to the Perth Area.

Alison Kelly's DB1588 combines with A1511 to haul a lengthy consist through Swan View.

Alison Kelly's DB1588 solos on a train headed east from Swan View.

Supplier of Metric Screws in Small Sizes

I just came across this eBay Store in Port Maquarie, NSW, which has a wide selection of small metric screws.

https://www.ebay.com.au/str/MidNthCoastComponents/Nuts-Bolts-Screws-Washers/_i.html?_storecat=18842568012

June Meeting 2019

Hey hey, the cold weather and the heavy rain must have been the reason why last Monday's meeting was a little light on in numbers and as such is the reason for so few photos tonight. We had a few  new visitors which is always pleasing after the exhibition and hopefully they continue to come along to future meetings. The feature of the meeting was a presentation of photos taken by Bill Gray of layouts and exhibitions that we have not yet seen other than in Australian Sn Modeler. I look forward to many more of Bill Gray's photos and hopefully some more of my trains will feature with the next running night on the 28 June 2019.

Ray Cooper acquired this goods shed from the late Gary Gray estate and has been slowly detailing it to suit his home layout based on Yarloop.

Alex Kruger brought in some wagons he has been working on from RailWest and  GA Models kits. On the top row in the right hand corner is Alison Kelly's KA wagon partly build by Murray Rowe and finished off at the exhibition as shown in the last blog post.

Bill Gray continues to work on his layout of Perth Station from the late 1800's. Whilst working on the layout he has found a requirement for horse drawn vehicles and so has purchased some products from NZ Finescale and a games shop in London Court, Perth.

Simon Mead has been fixing gutters on his roof and made the discovery that the mesh was almost the correct size for S scale ladders so he brought in a small section as a sample. Murray Hartzer also brought in a purchase he made at the recent exhibition being a little tractor which is featured in the top left hand corner.

AMRA WA Annual Exhibition 2019 - Day 3

Hey hey, day 3 of the AMRA WA Annual Exhibition and so I have for you 3 videos. I kept myself busy yesterday with making new wheelsets for a couple of RailWest KA wagons built by Murray Rowe as well as chatting with the public. But I did manage to pull myself away to get some shots of Matt Curtis' train running around Watheroo as well as my own train of 4 wheel wagons built by Murray Rowe and Jurgen Engel. Special thanks goes to Kieran Wright for allowing me to use some of his images on this blog post. Also a big congratulations to Stuart Mackay who's layout; Watheroo managed to equal second place in all three awards being "The Richard Smart Memorial Cup",  "Jack Stanbridge Trophy for Best Model Railway as Judged by other Exhibitors" and the "Bill Gardner Cup for Best Model Railway". Well done to the organisers for putting on such a brilliant show. I look forward to attending next year's. Finally a big thank you to those who came and found me to say Hi. Please don't be shy, always happy to talk about Model Railways and in particular WA railways.

Murray Rowe's X class Models MRWA A26 heads a long passenger train at Watheroo station waiting for an on coming train to cross. Photo courtesy of Kieran Wright

A car waits patiently for a goods train to cross on the main line into Watheroo.

Alison Kelly's RailWest A1511 passes through Watheroo station with her load bound for Perth. Photo courtesy Kieran Wright

Gavin Stallard's scratch-built DB1587 rolls into Watheroo with a goods train made up of various wagons built by Matt Curtis.

Alison Kelly's RailWest A1511 rolls through Watheroo station with a hefty load bound for Perth while a curious swan looks on from the vantage point of a nearby water tower. The train is made up of wagons built by both Jurgen Engel and Murray Rowe.

Alison Kelly's RailWest A1511 and a few Westrail GEs with tarpaulins made by Murray Rowe.

Alison Kelly's RailWest A1511 and a few Westrail GEs with tarpaulins made by Murray Rowe.

Alison Kelly's RailWest A1511 rolls through Watheroo station with a hefty load bound for Perth.

Alison Kelly's Marbelup Models DB1588 rests at the depot at Watheroo. 

Gavin Stallard's scratch-built DB1587 alongside sister unit DB1588 which is a Marbelup Models 3D print built by Jurgen Engel.

Gavin Stallard's scratch-built DB1587 tail-to-tail with sister unit DB1588 which is a Marbelup Models 3D print built by Jurgen Engel. 

Richard Stallard's Marbelup Models prototype of the WAGR XW wagon. 

Richard Stallard's Marbelup Models prototype of the WAGR XW wagon.  

A RailWest KA wagon built and painted by Murray Rowe and finished with wheelsets from RailWest made by Alison Kelly.

AMRA WA Annual Exhibition 2019 - Day 2

Hey hey, day 2 of the AMRA WA Annual exhibition continues with fewer hiccups today than the day before which is natural for any exhibition layout. I only managed to get a couple of videos today as only two trains were running but both had sound so were fun to listen to and operate. I'll be on the modeling desk tomorrow so I'll keep you all up to date from there. Until then, please enjoy the videos and photos I have added below.

Charles De Bruin's MRWA B class simmers in the depot at Watheroo while a water tanker is refilled ready for its next journey.

Charles De Bruin's MRWA B class simmers in the depot at Watheroo while a water tanker is refilled ready for its next journey.

Decalling of Gavin Stallard's AQNY continues to progress at a rapid pace.

Time For A Name Change

Retrospect is a funny thing, often you may look back and wonder why you carried out a task the way that you did.

When this Blog was first created, I named it after what local modellers were referring the scale to, "I model in SN3-1/2", when in most cases they don't, they model in S Scale or 1:64"

Wikipedia best describes it -   Sn3½ is a scale/gauge combination derived from S scale to represent narrow gauge 3ft 6in (1,067mm) track by using 16.5 mm gauge track. The scale is S or 1:64.

So I have renamed the blog accordingly so it just doesn't cover topics about the distance between the rails but to more the modelling scale of "S" for Western Australia.

AMRA WA Annual Exhibition 2019 - Day 1

Hey hey, day 1 of the 2019 AMRA WA Exhibition has come and gone with another 2 days to go. If you are still contemplating coming down, I highly suggest you do as you only have 2 days left. Don't miss out on this ripper of an event. S scale is making their presence in the community felt with not 1 but 3 displays plus the regular RailWest and modeler's desk. Alan Penstone has brought along his beautiful display of the bridge known as Ringa bridge which will become part of his home layout.  Murray Hartzer is working hard on building items for the East Guildford layout. Stuart Mackay has brought back his fantastic model of Watheroo. Also the Modelers of Australian Prototype have stepped it up a notch with Matt Curtis' display of S scale locos and rollingstock as well as the regular contributors such as Gavin Stallard. I managed to wander around to get some photos but will get more over the weekend. For now, please enjoy the selection below.

Stuart Mackay's MRWA F44 passing a passenger train at Watheroo Station.

Stuart Mackay's MRWA A24 with a goods train waits for an oncoming train to pass in the loop.

Charles De Bruin's MRWA B class simmers in the depot road at Watheroo.

Watheroo yard looking busy.

Grain elevator at Watheroo.

Kieran Wright's recently completed MRWA Ja6.

Kangaroos seeking water on a dry and hot summer's day in Watheroo.

An overall shot of Watheroo.

Alan Penstone's MSA on his model of Ringa Bridge. 

Alan Penstone's Model of Ringa Bridge.

Alan Penstone's Model of Ringa Bridge.

The S scale display. 

Murray Hartzer hard at work on the East Guildford display.

Murray Hartzer hard at work on the East Guildford display.

Card board mock up of the station buildings at East Guildford. 

Card board mock up of the station buildings at East Guildford. 

Gavin Stallard's DB along with his DA and a Y class.

Matt Curtis' S class under construction.

Matt Curtis' S class under construction along with Gavin Stallard's under construction JK tanker. 

Gavin Stallard's under construction JK tanker along with Matt Curtis' S class under construction. 

Matt Curtis' XM ballast wagons.

An assortment of wagons beautifully built by Matt Curtis. 

The underside of a Marbelup Models XM hopper 3D print built by Matt Curtis.