Thursday 28 March 2024

Friday Film Club ~ TRAINS GONE TROPPO - Hot Summer Nights

Summer might be officially over, but here's some Trains Gone Troppo on a Hot Summer's night for your Friday Film Club.



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Monday 25 March 2024

The sweet new addition


My layout is once more feeling 'sweet-as' following the arrival of my new Auscision Models C44ACI locomotive in the attractive Aurizon 'pineapple' livery, (pineapple field added for effect). Although you would be forgiven for describing the yellow locomotive as a banana given that my layout is set in a town where the Big Banana reigns supreme!


While revamping Philden Beach over these past 12 months has seen my layout's setting become more modern, finding any suitable small locomotives to act as the yard shunter has proven to be a prickly-sweet affair. However, the sweet new addition of loco no. 6025 will only enhance operations on Philden Beach, and it seems I have made a great choice in selecting the Aurizon livered 6020 Class locomotive to join my roster. As was the case with last year's release of the C and BL Class locomotives, the model again comes in the simplified black foam inside liner, making it a lot easier to remove the model from the box given that the model is dripping with details that you would once only dream about on a brass locomotive.

The bright yellow livery already looks right at home on my Philden Beach shelf layout.

I've liked this locomotive livery ever since photographing a similar 5020 Class coal variant at Chilcotts Creek on a trip back from the Hunter Valley back in May 2016. Of course, my wife now refers to my model of 6025 as the 'lollipop man train', as she shot the image shown here of 5042 from the passenger window of our car as we slowed for roadworks after chasing the banker units off a coal train from Ardglen along the New England Highway.

The lollipop man gave the obligatory smile once he realised he was going to end up in someone's photo, and eight years on we have a funny story to go with one of the model locomotives on my shelf layout.

This was the same case with the Auscision Models C Class locomotive that I added to Philden Beach last year. I'd stopped to photograph an SSR grain train at the Moree Bulk Grain Silos back in 2018 whilst driving south to Victoria along the Newell Highway, and amongst the 6 loco lash-up were 3 x C Class diesels idling away, (C504 + C505 + C509).

After walking the cotton prickle infested grass corridor alongside the railway line to photograph them all, I knew I was going to want a model of one for my own layout. Even if I was complaining while removing cotton spikes from the soles of my sneakers for the next couple of hours from the comfort of the passenger seat. I ended up ordering the model of C509 in the Cootes Industrial livery as it was the only number produced of any of the locomotives I photographed that day. Although I still get tempted by the thought of adding the SSR pair of C510 in the SSR green & yellow, and C507 in the 40 Year Anniversary SSR blue and yellow livery!

Memories. They're prickly-sweet even at the best of times!

My models of a C44ACI locomotive 6025 alongside ex-Victorian C Class unit C509.

I like the flared radiator fins on the no. 2 end of the Aurizon 6025 as much as I do the North American comfort cab on the nose of the C Class.

Which brings me to the prickly end of the pineapple. After farewelling my Noughties-era locomotives and rolling the time period forward on my layout, it's a case of big or nothing at all on the new release front for the foreseeable future.

For a 2013+ era layout that is set on the NSW North Coast line, right now we have the NR Class locos available from both Auscision Models and SDS Models, along with Auscision's C43/44ACI, C, G and BL Class locomotives. Of these, I already have the Pacific National NR22 + BL28, the Cootes Industrial C509 and now Aurizon's 6025 plying the rails on Philden Beach.

Coming soon, or currently available to pre-order are the SDS Models 81 Class and Auscision's GT46-ACe, CLP, CLF and 90 Class locomotives. Of these, perhaps the QR National LDP Class GT46-ACe is the logical choice to pair up with my new Aurizon 6025, given that Aurizon never repainted the LDP's from their QR National colours, and kept them running right up until their lease expired and they ceased intermodal operations at the end of 2017.

A small shelf layout that really only operates single loco transfer runs and switching operations doesn't require a big fleet. But even on a fictional layout, I'm mindful to keep everything era appropriate.

However, given that 4 locos are providing enough ample power to operate my shelf layout, perhaps doing nothing for the time being and holding out for some smaller locomotive models to serve as yard shunters might be the more sensible approach. Auscision Models recently updated their website to show that they are planning to produce the 42 Class, S Class, GM Class and A Class Bulldogs, the NSW Mk II & III 44 Class and the NSW 49 Class locomotives. Of these, a 49 Class diesel in either the Greentrains/Cootes Industrial or SSR liveries would be ideal to complement my C Class.

As they have now also archived all of their sold-out models, I'm not expecting an announcement regarding a NSW 48 Class re-run anytime soon either. So it remains a case of go big or go home...

Given that I made the switch to DCC sound equipped models in the early days of building Philden Street Yard and have since revamped the layout as part of my series of books, I can't complain about keeping a frugal layout roster when the models I have are all of the highest quality available. With DCC sound models here locally in Australia pushing the $500 mark, right now would be a daunting prospect for any modeller thinking of changing from DC to DCC operation. However, the quality of models available on the market right now is also the best it has ever been. I guess that is the reason why the thought of adding an extra C Class or another C43/44ACI model in a different livery is so appealing.

Until next time...

Friday 22 March 2024

Friday Film Club ~ Maydena Railriding

Something different for Friday Film Club this week, with a visit to Maydena Railtrack Riders, for a rail bike ride deep into the heart of Tasmania's wilderness!


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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.



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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.


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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!



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