Welcome to June

As will be immediately-apparent, this is very much an LNER-themed issue (though not exclusively). Not just the LNER but its predecessors and successors as well, such is the popularity of this system on the ‘dry-side’, though the LNER reached as far west as North Wales.

Some fantastic layouts are on display in this issue, including, of course, ‘Grantham’, by Graham Nicholas, a large and wonderfullydetailed tribute to the pride and pre-war optimism of the LNER at arguably its peak. We’ve been lucky to feature many layouts depicting the LNER/BR/ER/NER/ScR over the years, all of them built to a great standard. Some of these layouts feature in our LNER round-up on page 46 and thankfully, with the return of exhibitions, some can also be seen ‘in the flesh’ to both inspire and delight at one of the many shows on offer around the country over the coming months.

It’s not only the layouts that have an LNER feel in this issue. Wartime modeller, Chris Mead, shares the steps taken to 3D print his Mobile Electrical Sub-station sets of the LNER, Andy Sparkes offers a guide to sourcing period-correct rolling stock for popular ECML passenger trains of the 1950s, and Ian Lamb recalls memories of a vast power depot at the gates to Edinburgh.

Not forgetting our readers who favour other iconic railway companies, this issue also features the wonderfully-scenic ‘Little Salkeld’. Strongly influenced by the Lake District and the Settle & Carlisle line, the picturesque scene created by Paul Moss celebrates the final years of steam. Also inside this issue is a comprehensive guide to locomotive lamps, how to construct a lowrelief building, the BRM guide to glue, plus top tips on refurbishing a layout.

Model manufacturers have been busy over recent weeks, too, with plenty of exciting new models planned to appear over the coming months (see our news round-up on pages 100-105), plus a few already arriving on UK shores, like the new HYA/IIA hopper wagons from Accurascale and the new SECR open wagons from Rapido Trains – both reviewed in this issue.

Things are looking very good for future LNER-themed RTR products, too. Tony Wright is assisting Hornby with its forthcoming ‘Coronation’ streamlined train, plus two other RTR manufacturers with future locomotive and rolling stock projects related to the LNER and its successors.

Such is the current ‘Cornucopia’ of RTR/ RTP wonderment, that building convincing models of locations using out-of-the-box items has never been easier. Regarding the future, no doubt we’ll see the fruits of RTR/ RTP ‘riches’ in forthcoming issues of BRM, though some hands-on ‘modelling’ will still be required, as it should be. With that in mind, Happy Modelling!

Unfortunately, the price of the latest issue of BRM has gone up slightly. We too have felt the pinch, with paper, postage and printing costs all rising significantly. Our subscription costs will increase slightly too, but not until May 31, so now could be the time to consider taking out a subscription, especially with our three issues for £5 introductory offer.