Trains Online Magazine May & June 2005

'Burton competition winner is a real masterpiece in miniature'

Words taken from an interview by Eric Flavell, June 2005

Measuring a mere 62 inches by 11 inches, Wells Green TMD just scraped under the competition limit set by Diesel and Electric Modellers United (DEMU), and was judged the winner at this month's Showcase event at Burton. The competition was announced in 2003 and James created his winning 'OO' gauge entry on boards originally built for a Scottish layout.

"The boards proved to be just the right size to meet the competition requirements and it was inspired by the International Electric Maintenance Depot at Crewe" he explained.

Although third rail electrics are the normal fare near his home in Worthing, James has a passion for overhead powered electrics, fuelled by visits to locations such as Birmingham and Stafford, useful for gathering reference material for Wells Green TMD.

The bulk of the work was carried out during the past six months with the aim of producing a small section of a much larger maintenance facility and featuring a range of AC electric locomotives in a "grimy, gritty atmosphere"

Structures on the layout are a mixture of scratchbuilt and proprietary models. The catenary portals are etched brass kits by N Brass Locomotives, while the contact wires are by Sommerfeldt. Corrugated plastics and styrene strip were used to create the backscene, which represents typical depot buildings and includes and administration section with a detailed boardroom interior.

Article reproduced courtesy of Trains Online Magazine

Text copyright © 2005 Eric Flavell

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