Monday, June 29, 2009

Broad Gauge Models - models

Broad Gauge Models is well known to modellers of the Victorian Railways for their extensive range of models and RTR Brass locomotives. I am unclear when they started probably some time in 1980 with their first release in late 1980. They continued in business until c1990 when they split into Steam Era Models – who got the plastic kits and bogies, Heritage signals –the brass signals and Broad Gauge Models who kept the name and the locomotives, although under new ownership. The structures seem to have gone to Ian Lindsay Models.

In a misguided fit of enthusiasm I decided to see whether I could garner a list of all the Broad Gauge Models releases from the reviews in AMRM using Magindex. The result is an impressive list although a few items seem not to have been reviewed. I recall the E steam locomotive kit – I know this as I have one, and there was a Y steam locomotive and a SAR 700 class.

Here is the list (comments welcome)

VR standard 4 -door goods shed (HO) AMRM Reviews In the November/December 1980

VR Y class bogie sideframe (HO) AMRM Reviews In the March/April 1981

VR style shunters steps and brakewheels (HO) AMRM Reviews In the March/April 1981

VR G side frame casting AMRM Reviews In the May/June 1981

“Blacken-it” chemical metal blackener AMRM Reviews In the July/August 1981

VR E series and PL series passenger bogies (HO) AMRM Reviews In the July/August 1981

“Weather-it” chemical ageing for wood and cardstock AMRM Reviews In the September/October 1981

VR shunters steps and brake handles (HO) AMRM Reviews December 1981

VR GY open wagon (HO) AMRM Reviews April 1982

VR station building (HO) AMRM Reviews August 1982

VR K class (HO) Samhongsa/Broad Gauge Models AMRM Reviews August 1982

VR GY brake gear and shunters steps (HO) AMRM Reviews December 1982

VR D3 class 4 -6 -0 steam (HO) Samhongsa / Broad Gauge Models AMRM Reviews February 1983

VR A2 class 4 -6 -0 steam (HO) Samhongsa / Broad Gauge Models AMRM Reviews December 1983

VR archbar and cast steel bogies (HO) AMRM Reviews December 1983

#2 gauge 3/16in pan head screws AMRM Reviews December 1983

VR U van (HO) AMRM Reviews February 1984

VR UB van (HO) AMRM Reviews April 1984

VR E open wagon (HO) kit bash – not reviewed but released August 1984

VR T van (HO) AMRM Reviews October 1984

VR X class 2 -8 -2 steam (HO) Samhongsa / Broad Gauge Models AMRM Reviews February 1985

VR Y class diesel (HO) Samhongsa / Broad Gauge Models AMRM Reviews February 1985

VR loco numbers (HO) AMRM Reviews February 1985 issue,

VR I wagon (HO) AMRM Reviews April 1985

VR M cattle wagon (HO) AMRM Reviews August 1985

VR GY brake gear and shunters steps AMRM Reviews October 1985

VR I open wagon and M cattle wagon Decals AMRM Reviews February 1986

VR X class diesel electric (HO) Samhongsa / Broad Gauge Models AMRM Reviews April 1986

VR T van (HO) Decals AMRM Reviews October 1986

V/Line G class diesel electric (HO) Samhongsa / Broad Gauge Models AMRM Reviews February 1987

AN BL class diesel electric (HO) Samhongsa / Broad Gauge Models AMRM Reviews February 1987

Silver and V/Line green/white lines Decals (HO) AMRM Reviews February 1987

VR W series passenger cars (HO) AMRM Reviews June 1987

VR W passenger and Plate frame bogies (HO) AMRM Reviews June 1987 issue,

16 .5mm gauge wheelsets (HO) (16 .5mm) AMRM Reviews June 1987

VR 18ft T van conversion (HO) AMRM Reviews June 1987

VR IY wagon (HO) AMRM Reviews December 1987

VR C class diesel electric (HO) Samhongsa / Broad Gauge Models AMRM Reviews February 1988

VR timber trestle bridge kit(HO) AMRM Reviews June 1988

VR / V/Line FQX (VQCX) container flat wagon (HO) AMRM Reviews October 1988

VR Z van (HO) AMRM Reviews August 1989

VR bogie wagon brake gear (HO) AMRM Reviews February 1990

VR A2 class 4 -6 -0 passenger, Stephenson valve gear, coal fired version (HO) :Kit by DJH / Broad Gauge Models AMRM Reviews February 1990

Liquid modelling water AMRM Reviews August 1990

VR / V/Line SFX (VFLX) bogie flat wagon (HO) AMRM Reviews April 1991

Colonial cottage: Kit (HO) AMRM Reviews June 1991

VR N class 2 -8 -2 steam locomotive kit (HO) Kit by DJH / Broad Gauge Models AMRM Reviews August 1995

VR D3 class 4 -6 -0 steam locomotive kit(HO) Kit by DJH / Broad Gauge Models AMRM Reviews October 2000

National Rail RQZY 5 -pack container wagon (HO) AMRM Reviews June 2004

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Bowen Creek (Epping 2009)

I am a perennial visitor to model railway exhibitions – sometimes I am there for only a few minutes and leave depressed by the overall amateurish modelling or the evident lack of interest the exhibitors have towards the public. But every so often comes a model that is so impressing that it just blows me away. From my past I remember Woodend, Crafton, Boliva, Sunset Siding, Time and Patience …

At Epping was another, possibly the greatest - Bowen Creek .

Bowen Creek 013

Bowen Creek represents a unattended crossing loop on an imaginary line in Central West NSW. The layout is built to Proto:87 standards but with skill and subtlety that is rarely seen in modelling.

The strength is two areas – the landscape and in the display. The landscape is constructed so that the railway sits in the landscape as in real life.

Bowen Creek 015 Look at this section for example the track is almost invisible.

Bowen Creek 017

yet there is incredible detail in the track and with the shunter’s shed. There is a point rod to the lever and wire to the signal. The inside of the shed has internal bracing

Bowen Creek 022

visible. Look at the landscaping around the short siding and the S truck.

Then look at the wider shot I took (above) and you can see how it all works together.

The other matter is the display. The model is constructed from steel tube with a high density polystyrene foam as the base. The module encloses the scenes and lights them with lights from the front. This allows the modeller to control the light and the view of the scene. It is also raised fairly high again to control viewing. Unfortunately at Epping, Bowen Creek caught the afternoon sun and this made photography a bit tricky.

The other layouts on show such as Palden Hill and Brunswick Park probably had similar quality modelling but because of their standard design they had no control of the light and they looked fairly gloomy.

Being P-87 all the rolling stock had to be converted but some old RTR favourites were there such as a 620/720 rail car, Bowen Creek 023 the C30 and this 47. They tended to be a few derailments which I put down to this being the layouts first show, others might reflect unkindly on those finescale flanges.

Bowen Creek is a credit to all involved in particular its owners Ian Millard and Andrew Campbell.