Friday 15 March 2024

Friday Film Club ~ TRAINS GONE TROPPO - Dirty Diesel Daze

This week's Friday Film Club presents the musical genius of Quincas Moreira in the premiere of TRAINS GONE TROPPO - Dirty Diesel Daze.



Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss an episode of this Australian train tropicanza!

Sunday 10 March 2024

Farewelling my Noughties locos


Time doesn't stand still, and sometimes by taking that approach into our modelling we can instill a sense of modelled history on our layouts. After moving-on some model locomotives last month so that I could afford some new camera gear, I have seemingly farewelled the Noughties era of my HO scale shelf layout.


Just like that, the days of seeing twin National Rail Indigenous NR Class locomotives working my layout are over. So too the sight of twin CFCLA leased locomotives resting in the yard. Retiring certain models from your model railway collection can have an instant impact on the era that you are modelling. In my case, the opportunity to clear out my Noughties era locos and replace them with something from a more recent time period to run alongside my existing Pacific National pairing, now moves the period that my layout is set in forward a decade to the 2013+ era.

Farewell my old Faithfuls. This CFCLA pairing were survivors from my Philden Street Yard layout.

This was the second model I had owned of JL406. I originally had a DC version back on my original Philden layout that you can see photos of in the Philden Museum.

With my new camera paid for so that I could continue my photographic studies uninterrupted, I thought it appropriate to capture some final images of my Noughties fleet in action at Philden Beach.

NR30 was the first locomotive to depart, and after realising that I hadn't taken a single image of that model on my layout's new North Coast setting, I quickly put my new camera to work to record the other 3 locomotives before they departed for the final time. NR52 was the second Indigenous locomotive to depart Philden Beach, and along with the blue and silver CFCLA pairing of FL220, (the ex-NSW 422 Class) and JL406, (the ex-NSW 442 Class), all are now relegated to history on my HO scale shelf layout.

While NR52 may have been a stunning model and extremely rare, the prototype example had been repainted Pacific National blue and yellow by 2008.

In a further example of time not standing still, the first replacement locomotive is on its way as I type this. Adding a single C44ACi model to my small roster moves the layout's modelled era forward to 2013, where it will fit in alongside my Pacific National pairing of NR22 and BL28, and my Cootes Industrial leased C Class locomotive. From there I can gradually return my layout's roster to full strength over the coming year as I save for the next modern locomotive on my hit-list, the GT46ACe. For a small shelf layout, having 5 or 6 locomotives is really enough. After facing a challenging start to the year, it's nice to have a little something to look forward to again.

Until next time...

Friday 8 March 2024

Friday Film Club ~ Don River Railway

This week's Friday Film Club delivers a flashback to my visit to the Don River Railway in Tasmania during 2011.


Don't forget to subscribe to gain access to exclusive early previews!


Sunday 3 March 2024

Layout Revamp Book Launch


Finally there's some good news to share, with my new book Revamp An Existing Layout hitting the shelves of your favoutite hobby shops this month!


This is the book that follows the budget-savvy revamp of my current bookshelf layout. From its days set in the grimy shadows of inner-city Melbourne, to sunning itself on the shores of the New South Wales mid-North Coast, 2023 saw me somehow manage to complete the layout's transformation, exhibit it twice at some model railway shows here in Queensland, Australia, and complete the book before the clock struck midnight to ring-in the New Year.

When it comes to announcing the new book is now available for sale, it seems that is only half the story. Distributing, promoting and marketing the book, combined have caused my modelling hours to dry-up in a year where I've returned to full-time study ahead of developing some exciting new projects.

It's time to dig-in to my customary Book Launch platter and celebrate the release of another book!

Take the above photo for example. Apart from the stunning bottle of sparkling Shiraz and the delicious meat and cheese platter that will have disappeared by the time you read this, I've been trying to take my photography and editing craft to the next level, including photoshopping the book launch platter into the middle of a swanky waterside restaurant, that we'll fictitiously say is the downstairs bar of my layout's Jetty Hotel.

As I wrestle between continuing on with another altogether different model railway media project, (no, it's not another book), or deciding whether the support just isn't there and heading in another arts direction with my time and money, it is time to stop and celebrate what I have managed to achieve during these post-Covid years. And that is a series of six Australian model railway how-to books that have been self-produced and funded off my own back. Totally free from product placement or paid-for-comment and advertising, these are the sort of books that everyone asks for to add to their library. The big question remains, just how many modellers will actually support such an endeavour when it comes to sales?

Like any business model that exists within our hobby, releasing a book, a model or product of any kind requires the project to make money. Not just because making money is a much better alternative to losing money, but rather as a necessary means of recouping the cost outlay involved while still being able to have your endeavour provide an income in the face of not being able to earn a regular salary from a regular job.

In a niche market such as model trains, it is tricky task to balance. In an even more specific genre such as Australian model railways, it seems there is even less of a chance to get it right. So now as I sit back and develop a series of other projects based around some exciting ideas I have, I need to determine whether the hobby here in Australia is capable of financially supporting those ideas. Or if those ideas would be better supported financially in other arts fields. I guess the next three to four months will be telling.

So, if you haven't already considered purchasing one of my books or have been meaning to buy one for some time now, then your model train library will surely benefit from adding the complete set of six Philden Model Railway Presents to your shelf. Ask for it at your local hobby store, and if they haven't got a copy, ask them why not? Failing that, the book is now available direct online, along with all my other titles, from the publisher at the link below.

It's been a fantastic project to have worked on full-time for the past 18 months, and a series of books that I'm sure will still prove popular for many years to come! Once the excitement of rolling out the book across the country comes to a close, I can honestly say that I'm already looking forward to the return of some personal hobby time.

Thanks go out to my loyal readers and supporters, who have championed these books to their friends and model railway clubs across the world. It's heartening when some of my direct online sales come through in US Dollars, Pounds Sterling and Euros, and shows the reach that this blog now enjoys around the globe.

Happy modelling!
Phill O

Friday 1 March 2024

Friday Film Club ~ The Blues Train

This week's Friday Film Club takes us to Geelong's Bellarine Railway, and a look at the legendary Blues Train!



Don't forget to subscribe to gain access to exclusive previews!


Friday 23 February 2024

Friday Film Club ~ Southbank

Welcome to another episode of Friday Film Club. This time a visit to the creative playground of Brisbane's Southbank Parklands.


Don't forget to subscribe to my channel for exclusive premieres!

Wednesday 21 February 2024

Weathered by Philden Showcase 26


This week I managed to fire-up my airbrush and weather a couple of boxes of the SDS Models FX/VPFX flour wagons to list on eBay. These were the very last of my Victorian HO scale models I had sitting aside waiting to for some spare time to give them a light rust spot treatment and general coat of grime, before they found new homes.


Also in need of finding new owners, were my pair of CFCLA diesel locomotives, FL220 and JL406.


After providing years of enjoyment on my former Philden Street Yard layout, and then surviving a further year of running on my NSW North Coast Philden Beach layout, the time seemed right to move them both on. Especially as I am wanting to nudge the timeline forward to include some QR National running on the Beach.

My DCC sound equipped Auscision Models ex-422 Class loco sold first.

And the DCC sound equipped Auscision Models ex-442 Class followed a week later.

This SDS Models VPFX flour wagon is finished in silver with the large Victorian Railways VR logo.

While this VPFX flour wagon is painted white with the large VR logo.

This is an earlier FX flour wagon with the Kimpton's and So-Lite Flour logos on the side.

This FX flour wagon features the Water Wheel Flour logos.

While this FX wagon has only a very light application of rust and grime.

I guess by moving on my CFCLA pairing of Auscision Models locos, I'm keeping the traffic on my small shelf layout fluid. Both locos ended up going to the same owner, so its a nice thought to know they will be plying some new rails together for the years to come.


My thoughts can now turn to planning to introduce some more region-specific power onto my Philden Beach layout and further fine tuning my modern-ish era.

My latest batch of weathered flour wagons are now all live on eBay, and take the number of models I have weathered in this little venture to over 250. More importantly, the total number I have sold now stands at 232, which is a pleasing success rate. My next weathering weekend will see me finally attack my sugar hopper fleet for Philden Beach, and 4 lone N scale coal hoppers that I misplaced after my N scale sell-off late last year. The boxes are so tiny I must have missed them! I'm just waiting on my graffitti decals to arrive so I can do a real job on them all.

Click on the above banner to view my eBay sale...

As has been the custom since I started weathering some models to offer for sale alongside my own books, all models sold come with a signed certificate, just so you know that the model has been personally detailed by me. It is just a small way of saying thanks for your continued support as a writer, modeller and general all-round railway tragic. Without the added sales through my eBay shop, ultimately this blog would not be able to continue.

For my own record...
Models sold 232/255

Friday 16 February 2024

Friday Film Club ~ Milton

Welcome to the 2nd Edition of Friday Film Club. This time I visit Milton Station, set against the iconic background of Brisbane's famous XXXX Brewery for a spot of trainwatching.


Don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for exclusive premieres!