Benchwork, Layout Planning, Planning BookLeave a comment

Visualising My Layout – The Benchwork

traiNmaster

Call me crazy or mad but I believe in conceptualisation and visualisation. During my high-school days, we were taught a subject called “Industrial Arts (IA)”. In this subject, over a period of 3 years, we were taught metal works, wood works, electrical and mechanical works. I must thank my IA teachers for imparting to me the knowledge of drafting. So, instead of creating a physical prototype, I put them on papers. Here is how I envisioned my layout, starting with the benchwork. As I mentioned earlier, real estate space is a premium to me. I measured the space I could … Continue reading Visualising My Layout – The Benchwork

Introduction, Layout PlanningLeave a comment

All Aboard!

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Finally, I got the green signal to proceed, just like the engineer on this Deltic diesel loco. Well, I won’t be charging ahead at full throttle but at least I could pick up some speed – something to do over the autumn and winter seasons and to get my mind off work during the weekends. The drawings for my tilt-table layout, which has been gathering dust for the last few months, are now out of my file and are being fine-tuned. Oliver Bachmeier’s Neustadt layout – at least with some modifications – will come alive in N-scale on a 2.5m x 1.2m 2-level layout. I have a couple … Continue reading All Aboard!

German RailwaysLeave a comment

The Possibility of an Impossibility?

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The model railroader within us gives us the creativity license to model what we can dream about. The layout is a product of that imagination. Irrespective of whether it could happen in reality, it is the fun in modelling and displaying our work that matters. People may say we are crazy or that it does not happen in real-life; but somewhere someone will show you that it is possible and does happen in real-life. Keep on dreaming the dream. Fotos: Screenshots from Baureihe1031 Youtube video. Continue reading The Possibility of an Impossibility?

GreetingsLeave a comment

GONG XI FA CAI in the Year of the Water Snake

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We have now entered the second week of the Chinese Lunar Year of the Water Snake. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my blog visitors and fellow model railroaders GONG XI FA CAI (English: A Happy and Prosperous Year). I hope this year will be smooth sailing, just like how a snake glides through the ground and water. May your layout continues to grow and your model trains continue to snake throughout your layout. Continue reading GONG XI FA CAI in the Year of the Water Snake

German Railways, Product ReviewLeave a comment

Prayer almost answered …. Fleischmann H0-scale ICE BR407

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At last, Fleischmann answered my prayer ….(almost). The 2013 catalog shows the new HO-scale construction of the DBAG ICE BR407. This basic set comes with 4 parts (with sound) with 2 versions of 2-part extensions. So, for those of you who are looking forward to have a new ICE on your layout, Fleischmann will have them in sometime this year. Fotos: Eisenbahn-Romantik Fleischmann ICE BR407 Test Report (only in Deutsch): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPA7wPxyO2c For the N-scalers like myself, let’s continue to pray harder. I have ICE 2 from Fleischmann and I am happy with the craftmanship and finishing. Although I have not had a chance … Continue reading Prayer almost answered …. Fleischmann H0-scale ICE BR407

German RailwaysLeave a comment

Eisenbahn-Romantik-Club

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It was a quick response for my Eisenbahn-Romantik-Club (Romantic Railway Club) membership application. Applied on Sunday, received a complimentary newsletter and members’ web access today. This is my first railway club membership in Germany, although back in Malaysia I was a founding member of the KTM Railway Fan club (www.ktmrailwayfan.com) since March 2004. I look forward to their activities this year as I learn more about the German railways. Continue reading Eisenbahn-Romantik-Club

Planning BookLeave a comment

Locomotives Bible ….. Amen!

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I walked past a bookshop called Jokers, yes that is what is it called, near Dom/Römer in Frankfurt and found this 360-page book about all locomotives of the world – Locomotiven: Das Ultimative Handbuch (Locomotives: The Ultimate Handbook) (published by GeraMond) at a discount. This book is of course in Deutsch and hence, another chance to improve my Deutsch. In this book you will find the oldest, the most produced, the smallest, the largest, the strongest, the fastest, the heaviest, the most successful, the extraordinary,  the most failed, the most beautiful steam, diesel, electric locomotives and tractions in the world. … Continue reading Locomotives Bible ….. Amen!

Layout Planning, Product Review2 Comments

Turnouts Jigsaw Puzzle

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I have convinced myself that I would go with Peco code 55 Universal Fine Streamline turnouts and tracks for my layout. Although code 55 is actually code 80 rails embedded onto the ties, Peco is the only manufacturer that makes flex tracks with concrete sleepers for N-scale. It is a pity that other such as Minitrix, Fleischmann, Piko and even Atlas have not being able to convince themselves to offer flex tracks with concrete sleeps. For the US model railroad manufacturer Atlas, it is understandable as most US tracks do not have concrete sleepers. But for the European/German manufacturers, hmm ….. … Continue reading Turnouts Jigsaw Puzzle

Benchwork, Layout Planning, Product ReviewLeave a comment

More than Just Tiger Woods

traiNmaster

As you can see, I am progressing on my first layout. The track plan is ready with some modifications once I get the frame done. My track work will be based on Oliver Bachmeier’s HO-scale track plan. The other structures and landscapes will be entirely different. I do not intend to replicate Oliver’s layout in N-scale. However, I do find his track work interesting as it incorporated a helix (or to be precise, nolix – a stretched version of helix), turnaround track and fiddle yard underneath the top visible level but within the same 2,3m by 1,0m frame. I do … Continue reading More than Just Tiger Woods