Welcome to September

When first-time layout builders look for a project, understandably, they usually start small. Clearly Simon George missed the brief, who after seven brave years of construction, has completed his heroic ‘Heaton Lodge Junction’ layout – possibly the largest indoor O gauge layout we’re ever likely to see tour the country.

What started as a project to recreate his youth, quickly grew to a 200-baseboard monster, measuring more than 180ft in length and requiring a setup time measured in days, not hours! We’ve visited ‘Heaton Lodge Junction’ many times over the course of the build and have been in awe at the scale of this project and how it quickly offers immersive viewing. You really have to see it to believe it – and, now you can! Britain’s biggest model railway will be going on tour to the viewing public soon. Look out for dates in BRM or on our website, World of Railways.

Before embarking on ‘Heaton Lodge Junction’, Simon spent the best part of 18 months learning and practising the techniques needed to build his first model railway. In September, we’ll offer the same on our website, World of Railways, as we run our first Skills Week, to help other would-be builders gain all the information they need to start their own projects.

The free-to-attend online event from September 20 runs until Friday, September 24, with a different theme on offer each day, covering all major modelling topics including trackwork, weathering, scenery and layout control. It’s a week not to be missed – tell your friends, too!

Another two great layouts in this issue arrive in the shape of ‘Watery Lane Sidings’ – an extension to ‘Charlie Strong Metals’, a highly-accomplished scrapyard layout, previously featured in BRM February 2021. Our final layout is the branch line terminus of Rushwick, one of many layouts created during lockdown. Cunningly, its creator has recycled and re-used products when possible – something we can all learn from.

On top of the layouts, we’re also taking a closer look at arguably the most impressive railway feature, the viaduct, in this issue, with a build of Arten Gill by skilful modeller Jeff Grainger. Plus, railway historian, Clive Baker takes us for a tour around the country, visiting some iconic structures that can inspire many a modeller. Meanwhile Andy York picks some of his favourite layouts to feature viaducts.

Also inside your September issue, skilled modeller, Jamie Warne, takes us through everything you need to know about choosing the right kind of lighting for your model railway, Phil Parker tackles an N gauge card kit and Howard Smith demonstrates introductory weathering techniques.

Learning new skills is all part of the fun of railway modelling and, as Simon George demonstrates, there really is no limit on what can be achieved. If you’d like to brush up on some of your modelling techniques, make sure you join us at the World of Railways virtual Skills Week (September 20-24). Sign up to our weekly newsletter at www.worldof-railways.co.uk to get regular updates. We’ll look forward to welcoming you.

Happy Modelling!