No, not really, but I have visited a number of 16mm railways this year, a couple of them quite close to home. I've never been able to understand why some people seem completely focused on one gauge and/or nationality, I just love garden railways for what they are. So I've decided that my Winter indoor project will be to build some 16mm stock to run when visiting the narrower railways.
Don't worry, the WGLR will NOT be ripped up to be replaced by 32mm track, although a small length may be incorporated next year. I think Peter Jones had at least 4 different gauges on the Compton Down and I've only got 2 up to now, so there's plenty of scope for more.
Anyhoo, you've got to have some motive power and I managed to pick up a second hand IP Simplex from the Exeter show. Control is completely manual, a direction switch on the starboard side, on/off switch to port. Power (such as it is) comes from 2 AA batteries. This had been built quite well, but had been covered in gloss black paint, so it's been re-painted in matt olive green with a coat of satin varnish over the top.
The cab is scratch-built from plastic strip and card with Cambrian rivets and bolts.
The various tools and items of clutter come from a Trenarren Models garage set. The wagons are from the Binnie range and there's more to come on these (plus the Swift Sixteen kits that are on the bench too).
The Simplex came with a driver, but I wasn't keen on his gloss blue overalls, so he's been replaced by a converted Preiser figure who's a little short for 1/19th scale, but short blokes can drive trains too.
Maldwyn won't be challenging Tornado any time soon, but I still think he's got a certain "something"? ................ even if it is mostly rust.
Don't worry, the WGLR will NOT be ripped up to be replaced by 32mm track, although a small length may be incorporated next year. I think Peter Jones had at least 4 different gauges on the Compton Down and I've only got 2 up to now, so there's plenty of scope for more.
Anyhoo, you've got to have some motive power and I managed to pick up a second hand IP Simplex from the Exeter show. Control is completely manual, a direction switch on the starboard side, on/off switch to port. Power (such as it is) comes from 2 AA batteries. This had been built quite well, but had been covered in gloss black paint, so it's been re-painted in matt olive green with a coat of satin varnish over the top.
The cab is scratch-built from plastic strip and card with Cambrian rivets and bolts.
The various tools and items of clutter come from a Trenarren Models garage set. The wagons are from the Binnie range and there's more to come on these (plus the Swift Sixteen kits that are on the bench too).
The Simplex came with a driver, but I wasn't keen on his gloss blue overalls, so he's been replaced by a converted Preiser figure who's a little short for 1/19th scale, but short blokes can drive trains too.
Maldwyn won't be challenging Tornado any time soon, but I still think he's got a certain "something"? ................ even if it is mostly rust.
