New Beginnings

Hey hey, I apologise for having to disappear for the last few days. My life took a sudden new direction with little notice. As such, it is with a heavy heart, that I must announce I will no longer be continuing with the regular Monthly update blog posts. You will still have Stuart's wonderfully written post meeting notes which now include a great array of photos for you to view. However, this opens me up to new and wonderful opportunities ahead as I move on to my next new big venture; Ally's DCC Workshop will be a hobby business specialising in basic DCC Education, Installation and Trouble Shooting. For those interested, you can find my details here as I update you on progress:

https://www.facebook.com/Allys-DCC-Workshop-104206364286013/

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank those who followed this blog and put up with my errors and inconsistencies over the last couple of years. I may continue to post here periodically but for now I wish you all happy modeling and good luck to all your future endeavours.

I sadly won't make this month's Running Night so for now I'd like to leave you with one final project that I have been working on over the last few weeks that you might enjoy.

July Running Night 2019

Hey hey, as always another enjoyable running night was had by all in attendance. Some different trains that we haven't seen run on Swan View made appearances including a well built V class by Ross Green and an ADA, ADH set built by Stuart Mackay. I have made another video for you all to enjoy so hopefully it gives you the feel as if you were there. As always I welcome feed back so do not hesitate to message me on Facebook or email me.

Ross Green's Combined Modelers V class 1214 heads to Perth light engine from Swan View.

Stuart Mackay's X class Models MSA 492 hauls a short timber train down to Perth past Swan View.

Stuart Mackay's ADA and ADH set arrives at Swan View station with an extended suburban run from Perth. 

Stuart Mackay's ADA and ADH set arrives at Swan View station with an extended suburban run from Perth. 

Alison Kelly's unpainted Marbelup Models DA1571 (with ViTrains Mech) on a trial run to Swan View from Midland.

July Meeting 2019

Hey hey, a good turnout at this month's meeting with 33 members showing up for the meeting. The theme of the meeting was Terminus Stations of the WAGR which have good modeling and operational potential. Graham Watson provided a very informative slide presentation with photos of several key stations including Newdegate, Esperance and Flinder's Bay to name a few. Of course there were the usual Bring and Shows as well as updates from AMRA and regarding the recent exhibition and the upcoming AGM. Photos of the bring and show are below, so please enjoy.

Niels Kroyer displayed his completed (minus decals) GA Models RA class 4 plank open wagon with fox bogies.

John Bajkowski's scratch-built yard crane for  his home layout based on Wyalkatchem.

Alison Kelly recently purchased a DA class locomotive kit from Marbelup Models with the recently modified mechanism to accept ViTrains bogies and motor.

Neil Blinco displayed a neat pen organiser made from one of John Gaspari's 10mm X class cabs. 

Roger Palmer has been working on the flour mill for the East Guildford layout using  card which will have brick paper added later.

John Morrison missed our previous meeting on jigs for modeling so displayed his bogie assembling jig for us to view.

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.