ATD card-building kits are fairly new and this article uses two of them to build an attractive diorama in TT:120 scale. The kits used are the ATD13014 1970s office block and the ATD13023 Mess hut and store. The ATD 1970s office block kit The office block kit comes on several thin card sheets that are … The post Building the ATD models 1970s office block in TT:120 scale. appeared first on Classic Collect models ..read more

When the railway arrived in Accrington in 1848, the area was little more than a Village. However, By the 1930’s Accrington was the location of a main LMS depot, with extensive sidings and a coaling stage. Unfortunately, all that remains today is a single line to Blackburn or Burnley and a small station building. Accrington’s … The post Accrington’s lost line and exploring the route. appeared first on Classic Collect models ..read more

The Ribble bus company was a Lancashire pioneer in bus transport. The company was founded in 1919 just after WW I, in a small Lancashire village near Preston. Notably, the depot in Gregson lane contained four double decker and one single decker bus. Services ran to Preston, Longridge and Bamber bridge. Ribble started operating from Lancaster in 1926 and were fairly aggressive in absorbing other local companies, in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The Lancashire and Westmoreland Motor service Company amalgamates with Ribble The Lancashire and Westmoreland Motor service Company was acquired by Ribble in 1 ..read more

Our weekly model railway news blog and product roundup, from Classic Collect models BILT EZEI kits make a comeback Since Freestone models closed down the kits from BILT EZEI and Prototype models have not been available. However they have now been acquired by Squires Tools. Roger Lewis the founder of Squires Tools, in 1992, has also acquired other ranges and businesses These include the Green Scene website and the Townscene range of backscenes. BILT EZEI kits first appeared in 1958 and were marketed by Hamblings. They proved to be popular and were once a common site on model railways. However ..read more

Alvis cars table of contents The Alvis car company, Introduction The first Alvis car, the 10/30 The 1930s Alvis car, chassis types and dates. Alvis cars in model form Dinky Alvis models Top Marques Alvis models Matrix Models Alvis models The Matrix models Alvis 4.3 litre Vanden Plas Tourer ’38 is on sale at Classic Collect Models. The Alvis car company, Introduction In this Alvis cars history and model guide we look at the history of this Small British car manufacturer and the available die-cast models. The Alvis car company began as TG John and Co. Ltd in 1919. They originally made s ..read more

Deagastini are a magazine, part-work, company that produces subscriber based magazine series. Nowadays, they focus on larger model vehicles, that are released piece by piece. However, in the past they provided complete models with each magazine issue. Over the years they have released a a range of magazine / model collections covering famous manufactures of the past, such as Dinky Toys. Binders were also issued for the magazines. The Dinky toys releases, comprised 66 issues, covering cars and vans based on original Dinky models. The series included French as well as British vehicles. These ar ..read more

This article and series features exclusive video content. The videos can be downloaded for free, click on the three dots on the right, when hovering over the video. Baseboard, Free PVA Glue- large bottle, £2 – Poundland 1/8″ Cork sheet- Javis Peco track pack, £62.00 – Jacksons Models Dapol class 27, £120 – Hattons. Nowadays, building a model railway can be an expensive business. Therefore, how do you create a layout for less than £300? The answer is n gauge, as a rule n locomotives are cheaper, and you use less materials to make the baseboard and scenery. A basic oval with two sidings, can b ..read more

This is part two of a series looking at the Tri-ang 1955 catalogue, page by page. Page 3 of the 1955 catalogue featured an electric goods set and two clockwork sets. The No. 3 Goods set The R3 set had a Jinty locomotive , a bolser wagon, a 7 plank wagon, a GW van and a NE brake Van. R10, 7 plank Goods wagon R11 goods van in GW red R17 Bolster wagon R16 brake van The R.52 Tri-ang Jinty was produced from 1952 until the mid 1970’s. There were also 12 curves and two straights, of standard track, finally a battery box was included. The No. 5 clockwork set The No.5 clockwork set featured an 0-6 ..read more

The Hillman Imp, also known as the Hillman Limp , “had a distant relationship with build quality”, as quoted by Giles Chapman. The car was first conceived in 1955 after the Suez crisis. Previously, The Rootes Group was known for it’s large gas guzzling cars and lacked an economical small car. The car was intended as a Mini competitor but production numbers never rivalled the Mini. Additionally, Reliability problems with the first cars caused sales to plummet after 1965. Arguably the Imp destroyed the Rootes Group’s reputation and they were taken over by Chrysler in 1967. Buy collectable print ..read more

Airfix model railways were produced From 1976 until 1981. Notably, Airfix was a well known model kit manufacturer. Consequently, there was to be a range of RTR model railway locomotives, coaches and wagons. Initially the models were made in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, communication problems led to production switching to the UK, in 1980. However it all came too late for Airfix who went into administration at about the same time. Airfix had begun in 1948 producing an injection moulded tractor kit. The bagged kit was available from 1955-59. By the mid 1970’s they also had a large range of lines ..read more