|
September 2009 Just over one year since I last wrote here, the world of 1/32 Gauge One modelling has taken a few more small steps forward and in the following few words I will attempt to summarise the changes as I see them. Positives Slaters have produced a very nice "shake the box" injection moulded kit for the 10 ton Midland Railway box van. Priced at £72.00 and available now, I believe that this is in many ways the most positive trade development that this scale has yet seen. Affordable, from a known and trusted manufacturer, and easily buildable into a characterful and accurate model, this may be the product that "snares" more small scale modellers into 1/32 modelling than anything before or since. Whilst I do not pretend to understand the intricacies of who makes and sells what "brassware" and on what terms, Bachmann appear to have withdrawn from the G1 market while Tower Models seem to be going from strength to strength. At the same time Finescale Brass have been set up to also sell brass locomotivery from China. Apparently all of these models originate from Mr Randolph Chang who will, incidentaly, also happily supply you directly. Confused? I am. Of course I omitted to mention Accucraft in the above account, who have also given us the vey nice Flying Scotsman and Black Five models in brass over the last couple of years. As mentioned above, Tower Models have an ambitious program, including various types of coaches and several locomotives, all in 1/32 scale. The Terrier is now available I think, with the L&Y "Pug" to follow shortly - pretty amazing news. Exhibitions The G1MRA Yorkshire group are promoting a brand new G1 exhibition, Gauge 1 North at Bakewell on Saturday the 17th of July 2010. Although this unfortunately clashes with my show Camrail next year (it hopefully won't in successive years) this represents a big step forward and I urge everyone who is able to get along and visit it. In the meantime, apart from the G1MRA AGM on Saturday the 28th November, John Dale and company's Shepshed show will have a significant Gauge 1 element to it, with John's superb new layout, "Pomparles Siding", Steve Cook's "Dungeness Siding" and Simon Dunkley demonstrating G1 wagon building. Negatives Well there aren't any really, except that Accucraft have decided not to pursue their previously announced project to develop a line of affordable ready to run and fully finished 1/32 railway models in plastic. Speaking to Ian Pearse at the Llanfair show yesterday, he told me that the response to their already produced Gauge One models (Flying Scotsman and Black Five) had not been sufficiently encouraging to persuade him to invest the money required to produce a Gauge One range. The first model would have been the Class 20, owing to suitability of various existing drive train components, and when I opined that the class 08 would have been a more potentially popular choice, Ian told me that it would also have been a relatively complicated and expensive model to produce. Our conversation then turned to the prospect of a plastic ready to run Mark One coach, and Ian told me that Trevor Taylor (who through his Gauge One model company had been previously slated to be producing a RTR 1/32 coach) had also been disappointed with his response to the announcement at last year's G1MRA AGM. Whether Trevor intends to pursue the project or not I therefore do not know, but it appears to look less likely than it was. There will no doubt be more to the whole business than the simple story outlined above, but looking at the superb 16mm scale Pickering coaches that Ian has had produced and both witnessing and hearing of the very positive sales response that these have produced, I can well understand there being at the very least great caution in producing something for what is a new market. Despite what some traders have said, I firmly believe that the existing G1MRA membership will emphatically not be the main audience for these new models if and when they happen. On that basis I do wonder about the credibility of gauging the potential based upon expressions of interest from the G1MRA membership, whilst the vast majority of railway modellers remain largely ignorant of the potential development, but then again it's not my money..... This is not your committee speaking Which brings me on to a gripe, G1MRA's continued insistence on maintaining a cloak of exclusivity and exclusion around its activities. WARNING - YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE EXPOSED TO MY SENSE OF HUMOUR Here's a question for you, why might you choose to model in Gauge One? 1.] To join an exclusive club and rub shoulders with barristers and retired colonels. 2.] To get away from irritating idiots who worry about in what order you put the wheels on when assembling kits. 3.] To avoid having to:
4.] To wear a bright green tabard and stand looking bewildered inside running tracks. 5.] Compensate for your pyschological inadequacy by playing with bigger trains than nearly everyone else's. 6.] Discuss the great evolutionary strengths of the Dodo, a much misunderstood creature. Well speaking for myself the answer is "none of the above" and I'm pretty certain that goes for most members of G1MRA too. But here's the thing, if that is the case then why on Earth do the G1MRA committee continue to insist on the policy of not opening the two major G1MRA shows, the AGM showin November and the Spring meeting in April to the general public? Don't forget, these are the only events at which one ever sees the whole range (more or less) of Gauge One products and traders. This one simple and easy act would allow such events to be widely publicised and move Gauge One out of the cobweb covered shadows in which it currently exists. I spoke to Tag Gorton at Llanfair (Editor of "Garden Rail") who made the observation that although more than willing, he was unable to give any publicity to these main G1MRA events for the simple reason, of course, that they are closed to the public. And while we are at it, let's allow poor David Halfpenny to admit non G1MRA members into the newly created forum, keep the Yahoo group exclusive if you really have to - it's outmoded and of limited value anyway. Come on G1MRA - open up our activities! You might think I'm a youngster but working on three score years and ten I'm due another 19 years, and a lot of other members have got less "credit in the bank" than that - let's share the huge pleasure to be had in Gauge One and ensure that it continues and grows. Perhaps if these policies had been adopted a few years ago then Ian Pearse wouldn't be walking away from Gauge One? Sorry if this all sounds a bit waspish or rude, but I've tried keeping my mouth pretty much shut for the last few years and that hasn't done any good!! Personal trains Pomparles siding was exhibited at Thornbury back in May (see picture below) and is due to be shown again at the Shepshed show on Saturday the 10th October 2009. This should be a really good show, with John Dale's new layout, mine, Steve Cook's Dungeness Siding and Simon Dunkley giving a G1 modelling demonstration plus all the usual traders and 7mm scale layouts.
Otherwise I have finally made a start on my garden railway, but progress is painfully slow. If you know of any product or information which should be added to this site, then please let me know. |
|||||
|
The ultimate diesel model.. Rob Mabbett's utterly believable model of class 22 number D6320, as running around Gloucester in the late sixties. Built from one of Fred Phipps' superb kits, see "Diesel hydraulics" for further photographs of stupendous modelling and painting. |
Still seized up in the sidings.... Accurately scaled kit for the diminutive Ruston and Hornsby 48 horsepower shunter. Louvres mastered by Fred Phipps. Continuing apologies, will it ever happen? A detailed article on my model is featured in the April 2007 issue of "Railway Modeller"
|
A Yahoo group to foster interest in modelling in this scale. Join below. | |||
| |||||
|
The intention of this site is to build a point of reference and centre of information for all individuals with an interest in 1/32nd scale standard gauge modelling. The fact that most prototypes discussed are British reflects the author's first interest and that outside of the UK Gauge One is generally practised at 1/32nd scale already. The author of this site is Simon Castens, who takes responsibility for all opinions expressed and any mistakes that might have escaped his attention. If you would like to comment on anything written here, then please do so! Last updated 7th September 2009. "ScaleOne32" standards, published 7th January 2006. | |||||
| Back to top of page | |||||