GA Models LA Ballast Hopper

Hey hey, since my last post I have continued to remain busy making models each Thursday at AMRA WA with other members of the S scale group, my latest project being a GA Models LA Ballast Hopper. I must say this has turned out to be one of the better kits I have assembled and I’m rather pleased with the end result. 

The kit as it is sold. One must still supply vacuum pipes, wheels, W irons and couplers.

The kit needed very little cleaning of parts and glued together with Zap CA glue with ease. To understand the wagon’s design better, I happened to come across a preserved LA wagon in Mingenew when up that way visiting family. The photos were useful in especially working out the vacuum through pipes.

LA wagon plinthed at Mingenew Station.

This was a preserved wagon but far from the right colour for an LA in later years of service which is what I chose to model. Luckily a few images of the LA in Westrail service appear on the Rail Heritage WA website which I found to be great reference photos. Using this photo and some very rudimentary measurements from the wagon, I sent off to Custom Hobby Decals in QLD to get the decals made. At under $70 for a set of 5, I’d recommend them again. This is the same company that made the decals used on my DB and F class locos. 

LA23811 image courtesy of Rail Heritage WA.

This image lead me discover one big part missing from my nearly completed model… hungry boards. So I turned to the one place I know I can get great advice; the Thursday modeler’s group. With a bit of experimenting with styrene, and a lot of encouragement, I created some hungry boards which turned out rather well. 

The kit assembled as per the instructions.

LA kit painted in Tamiya TS1 Red Brown with added hungry boards.

Whilst I waited for the decals to arrive, I trialed some colour on the LA model. When I sprayed the first coat of Tamiya TS1 Red Brown, I took some time to look at the wagon compared to prototype photos and found that I was not happy with the shade of Brown. That’s when I returned to my Thursday modelers brains trust and discovered Dulux red oxide primer which is much closer to the WAGR/Westrail colour. 

Comparing the Humbrol H70 (GE wagon) with Dulux Red Oxide Primer.

Once the decals arrived and I was happy with the colour, I sprayed a layer of gloss clear coat to give a smooth surface for the decals to adhere to. Once dry, the decals were soaked in water with a few drops of Micro Sol solution and applied to the model. These decals are really easy to work with and the size was spot on. 

The finished and decaled model. 

The last steps to go is to dull coat over the top and weather but I think that’s for another blog post. Now to start the next 4x LA wagons.

Bencubbin

2018 saw Bencubbin as the S scale layout exhibited at the AMRA model train show

The layout presented by S scale modeler Greg A with assistance form the S scale group was well received by the viewing public  

Check it out at this link below

Bencubbin - Model of a WAGR Wheatbelt Station at 2018 AMRA Model Railway Show (youtube.com)

Westrail Models F class

Hey hey, long time, no post. I have been busy over the last few months after leaving the AMRA WA Committee. I managed to acquire two F class locos from Westrail Models and whilst a little work was required to get them to run smoothly, they are great locomotives. I did manage to break the window on F40 (as preserved) so that is not in the limelight at the moment till that is fixed. But just before Christmas, I finally received the cab for my second F; F44 in green. I’m very happy with it and looks great hauling a train of yellow wagons around Swan View (see below). Anyway I hope you all have a safe and prosperous New Year in 2024 with lots of modeling.

East Guildford Layout

 East Guildford was the layout presented by members of the WA Sn3.5 Group and AMRA at the 2023 Model Railway Show. 

The layout represents East Guildford station which is a suburban station 12km from Perth on the Eastern mainline to Midland, Kalgoorlie and Beyond. 

Originally opened in 1896 as Woodbridge and later changed to East Guildford in 1908

The railway and station sit on the highest area of land at the neck of a peninsula of land bounded by the Swan and Helena Rivers. This area of land known as Guildford when settled was deemed to be a good location for a navigable inland port on the Swan River to serve the eastern lying farming areas and became the first terminal of the railway from Fremantle in 1881. In 1884 the railway was extended to Chidlows Well passing through the area that would become the next station on the line - East Guildford.

The layout features the station area with its sidings servicing the Peerless Flour Mill and Douglas Jones Timber mill modelled in the late 50's to early 60's.

Many members were involved in the build of this layout which was commenced in early 2019 led by the late Murray Hartzer who sadly passed away during the layout build. Many of Murrays vehicles can be seen on the layout in his memory. Amid the issues of the Covid pandemic the construction of the layout continued to culminate in its display this year when AMRA held its first show since 2019.

The layout was awarded the only two trophies to be presented in 2023, being the Jack Stanbridge Trophy, which was for the best layout as voted for by the other exhibitors, and the AMC People’s Award, as voted for by the visiting public.

Thank you to all who contributed to the build of this layout!

Here are a few pictures from the show. 

East Guildford Station

Peerless Flour Mill

East Guildford Station

Peerless Flour Mill

Douglas Jones Sawmill

In real life Peter Trinder from the UK captured Pr 536 and Pm 

hauling a train past the Peerless Flour Mill in 1962

Kieran Wrights capture on the layout.

W class shunts the sidings outside DJ's Sawmill

A video compilation can be found here 

(484) East Guildford Station Western Australia - 2023 AMRA Model Train Show - YouTube

Westrail WQL flat wagon 

Adding to my collection of S scale flat wagons is this model of a WQL flat wagon.

Westrail had a fleet of 62 WQN class wagons capable of carrying 2 x 20’ containers, the builder Goninan also proposed a lengthened version to fit 3 x 20’ boxes.

This S scale model is based on that proposal and the WQL designation is made up.

Construction is mostly from styrene strip and shapes with American Models Barber roller bearing bogies and MTH wheels. The couplers are Kadee HO #118’s with the glad hand removed and set at the correct height for S scale. Archer 3D decals were used for the weld lines and floor plate patterns.  The combined air reservoir and valve were 3D printed while the air hoses, brake wheel and gearbox came from DPH. The brake pipe unions are from Precision Scale Company.

The model was finished with Vallejo Chrome Yellow and decals printed at home, apart from the Westrail logos which were kindly printed for me by John Miller.

AQNY (formerly WQN) flats with the WQL

Banking Engines or Double-Heading?

Hey hey, just a quick video update for those missing out on all the fun down at the AMRA WA Clubrooms at 24 Moojebing St Bayswater. You don't see it happen much in WAGR or Westrail practice but multiple units on trains do occur occasionally so why not model the prototype? Here you will find a series of clips of multiple locomotives on trains either on transfer or pulling long rakes. Perhaps this could be a future topic worth discussing? thoughts?

East Guildford Exhibition Layout Update 06/22

Hey hey, it's been a while since the last update and I'm sure you're all dying to know whats been happening with East Guildford. Now track has been completed in the loop to the fiddle yard and trains are running satisfactorily for now, detail has started to appear on the layout.

Neil Blinco has done a fantastic job of making trees as well as photo back scenes of local buildings in the East Guildford area to give the layout further depth and perspective. Doug Firth has beautifully recreated advertising posters from the era which have been placed on the fencing along the station platform. Yes, you can read them if you look closely, check them out! Trevor Bourke has continued the arduous task of remedial ballasting the curves and basic landscaping the curves for each end of the layout to blend the scene breaks together. Other small details have also appeared like telegraph poles and associated equipment.

As you can see from the attached photos below, much has been achieved with thanks to Doug Firth, Neil Blinco, Trevor Bourke, Bill Gray, Garry Pilmoor and Greg Aitken. Without this team of dedicated modelers, this layout wouldn't be the beautiful master piece it is today. However, much work is still to be achieved and it's still not too late to get involved if you so wish. In the workshop area, towards the Perth end of the layout you will find a whiteboard with a list of items yet to be completed. If you think you could do one of these small tasks, do not hesitate to put your hand up. It is envisaged that the layout will be displayed in full at the 2023 AMRA WA Model Railway Exhibition which is already shaping up to be a big comeback after the break from the pandemic. Hopefully we shall see you there or at our next open day before then.

(All images by the author unless captioned).

Neil Blinco's DM585 at the head of a suburban passenger train headed for Midland, rounds the curve into East Guildford.

A view of the Perth end of the layout showing completed track around to Simon Mead's fiddle yard (Image courtesy of Neil Blinco).

Neil Blinco's Gum trees made from Sedum Flowers and appropriately painted to suit. 

The timber yard has now been arranged to a more organised display and temporary photo backdrops have been applied to gauge the view they will provide.

Doug Firth's amazing advertising posters.

More of Doug Firth's advertising posters.

Alison Kelly's A1511 crosses East Street with an empty wheat train for the eastern wheatbelt.

Neil Blinco's V1213 heads a goods train into Perth from Midland and through East Guildford Station.

An unidentified PM by Neil Blinco heads a goods train past the now permanent backdrop houses.

Alison Kelly's DB1588 runs light engine to Midland through East Guildford, past Ray Cooper’s excellent sawmill.

Alison Kelly's DB1588 runs an empty Superphosphate and fertiliser train through East Guildford, headed for the sidings along Ashfield straight for loading.