Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2022 i Australian Model Railway Magazine

One of the exhibits at the New South Wales (NSW) Rail Museum at Thirlmere is the Camden tram in one of its incarnations, with a 20 class steam locomotive No. 2029, an LV milk van No. 20274 and CCA car No. 1273. This combination or similar was the mainstay of trains on the line between Campbelltown and Camden. Even with the introduction of the 30 class steam locomotives in 1957 nothing much changed. Tramways and the NSW Railways The line was originally built by the Public Works Department, of which the railways and tramways of NSW were branches. The Camden line was one of several tramways built in this period. When the NSW Railways Branch took over operation of the line from the Tramway Branch, the name ‘Camden tram’ continued…

If the South Australian Railways (SAR) modeller wants a turntable for their layout, there are no commercially produced models available in HO scale, so one has to either scratch-build one or kitbash a suitable kit. While I have scratch-built a great many models in the past, including an 85ft turntable for the Adelaide Modellers Group’s Beltowie layout in 1985, which later migrated to Terowie North in 1992, I present here a wonderful alternative. Looking for a speedier solution, it became apparent when fellow modeller Geoff Brooks began a conversion of a turntable kit for his Mile End depot project, which had its immediate appeal. So, I thank him for the inspiration. The kit he used is available from PECO as kit No. LK-55. Many retailers sell the popular makers’ products…

NSW CDY – NOCY open wagons in HO scale by Auscision Models, PO Box 1791, Castle Hill, NSW 1765. Phone: 0425 866 442. Email: information@auscisionmodels.com.au Web Site: www.auscisionmodels.com.auPrice: $300.00 per four-pack (plus P&P if purchased by mail order). A single photo can provide a lot of inspiration and capture the ‘feel’ of an era. For me, a photo in one of Train Hobby’s pictorial books of a lone 48 class diesel locomotive hauling a fairly new CDY and a well-worn, four-wheel S wagon, trailed by a venerable FHG guard’s van on the Batlow branch screams ‘PTC era.’ While the Tumut and Batlow lines are now a distant memory, the arrival of Auscision Models’ CDY open wagons enables the modeller to obtain everything on the train in that photo in ready-to-run form.…

Background The idea for the Murtoa layout began way back in 1979 when I first saw Graham Brown’s prototype Woodend layout at the Australian Model Railway Association’s (AMRA) exhibition at the Camberwell Town Hall. I had never seen anything with such detail and realism up to that time and decided there and then that I had to build a prototype layout like this for myself. The location I chose to build my prototype model of was Murtoa, situated on the main western line between Melbourne and Adelaide; Murtoa is the branch line terminus for the Warracknabeal–Hopetoun line. It had almost one of everything you could find at a country station at that time. It is on a main line with a branch line terminus, had an island platform, footbridge, railmotor…

On the model beyond Coonamia the standard gauge main swung back around the walls of the room to the Curlew Point power station, conveniently relocated from Port Augusta. The main line sneaked behind the power station façade and commenced upwards inside a helix, while the power station spur split to form a balloon loop within the drum of the helix. The Curlew Point helix was designed to accommodate a pair of GM class diesel locomotives and about twenty bogie gondola wagons and a brakevan, representing an abbreviated ‘halflength’ Leigh Creek coal train. At the top of the helix the main line popped out of an Armco culvert and started navigating the railway on a narrow shelf. Scenically, the upper level was bare and treeless with a continuous flattish horizon Rob…

The availability of high impact foam has made it a ready source of material for landscaping your model railway. These days you can find 30mm thick 1200mm by 600mm foam sheets and aerosol spray foam at most hardware stores. Using these effectively can be a real trick. The most obvious is to layer the sheets like a cake, creating a rising ground. However, cutting the foam can create a stepped effect, even if you use a jigsaw with a smooth cut blade. This technique is also costly if you have four thicknesses of 30mm foam board (120mm of height) you have just invested in $100 worth of foam in one location. For more oblique scenery you can layer vertically. This will make the layered effect less obvious, but costs remain…

For your HO and N scale rolling stock storage needs, a new Australian owned manufacture has emerged Round House Boxes. They have a range of 100% Australian made rolling stock trays and boxes available. Trays are available as singles or doubles. Tray dimensions are 600mm long, 400mm wide and 55mm high. The foam channels are eight across for HO scale and eleven across for N scale. If you have had an issue at an exhibition or the local club, finding a particular locomotive stored in a sea of rolling stock boxes. Unable to easily identify in which locomotive is in which box, Round House Boxes has a solution. They have produced HO scale single locomotive foam boxes with a convenient ID sticker on the ends. They are the same overall…

Introduction On my layout I have hidden sidings where a ringing bell announces the arrival of a train and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) change from green to red indicating the state of occupancy. A number of visitors asked for circuit details and it made me think that there may well be others in AMRM’s readership who might like to know as well. Simple Train Detection I don’t use electronic detectors such as infra red as I have no experience with them. If forced to use detectors I’ve always liked the simplicity of reed switches, but the downside is that your motive power will need to be fitted with magnets. I was shown a simple circuit many years ago by a fellow modeller and this is shown in Drawing No 1.…

30mm foam sheet, stocked by most hardware stores in 1200mm by 600mm sheets. As required. Spray foam, 750ml cans are the most cost effective (if you use all the can contents in one go). As required. Liquid nails (Selley’s), as required. Plaster of Paris, as required. Isopropyl alcohol. Modpodge (matt) Tile grout, in your preferred base colour. Static grass. Tools and consumables Jigsaw with a smooth cut blade. Hobby knife (to score and snap the foam). Bread knife. Various foam sanding blocks. Static grass applicator. Mixing bowl for plaster. Spatula or paint knife. Latex gloves (for skin protection when working with spray foam).…

The AMRM would like to kick off a regular column which features images of our readers’ Australian layouts or projects. Subjects can be any of the following, as long as they are Australian: Trains on your layout or your club’s layout. Lineside details you are particularly proud of, for example a scratch built building or bridge etc. A piece of rolling stock or locomotive you either modified, scratch built etc. Strive for realism, consider the composition of the photograph. For this to be successful, we need your best realistic photographs, and captions. Give us some background how you did what you did, and the inspiration. For photography tips and tricks see ‘Article Submission Guidelines’ in AMRM issue 346 February 2021. So, send us some of your handy-work so that we…