Fairlight Works

Narrow Gauge South 2008, part 2

We continue with more photos from the Sparsholt show on Saturday.

Setting off my Want alarm was the EDM/Inscale Models Bagnall 0-4-2T, fresh from South Africa. I’ve blogged about this loco kit before, but seeing first hand confirmed the inevitable: I want one. Now I just need to figure out how to fund it.

Wintoncester Water Works was a smart little 009 diorama, just a couple of feet wide but packed with life and detail.

While the majority of layouts at Sparsholt were 4mm scale, or thereabouts, there were a few larger sizes on show. Gretton & Wenlock by the Wimborne Railway Society was an attractive O-16.5 layout, which while it didn’t have a particularly defined setting showed that 7mm modellers can keep up with the 4mm guys when it comes to convincing, non-twee scenes.

Also pushing the scale ratio below 1:72, it was good to see Francis Stapleton’s 5.5mm/ft scale layout, Ty Bach again. Francis also had a small diorama layout showing off the new range of White Elephant Mining Supply resin kits, which are looking great and a good alternative to the Ffestiniog-centric 1:55 “mainstream”.

Finally, a return to 009 for the Glyn Valley Railway, by Peter Binns and Nigel Smith. Depicting Glynceriog station, it’s a very green and pleasant layout packed with detail and a nice combination of tram loco and ex-WD Baldwins.

So, full marks to the Wessex Narrow Gauge Modellers for one of the best shows I’ve been to since returning to the hobby. There were a load more layouts than I’ve been able to show – around 35 in all – and there was barely enough time in the day to see them all!

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