East Kent O Gauge Group, Faversham
SPRING 2021 - Our committee should meet at our HQ in mid-May, then have members back at the end of the month, if all goes well with national Covid restrictions easing. We’ll need to check layouts and Circuit to see what refurbishment is needed after months in store. Being booked for the 2022 Warley Show with ‘Edington Junction’ will concentrate minds.
Materials have arrived for ‘Lenham Junction’ station (ex-LC&DR) which will slot into the Circuit. The navvies await track plans being pasted onto the baseboards; David Grimwood and Paul Weeden directing. The civil engineers, led by Roger Harmer and Ross, have chosen materials, and will be working from detailed building plans and photos, focusing on the early BR years. We hope all members will be involved.
Meanwhile, back at home, members have been busy. As a change from making rolling stock, our Secretary completed his Burnham-on-Sea goods yard - dimensions slightly compressed. We were pleased to see David Hopkins’ ‘Southbrook’ station appear in GOG’s Virtual Show; now with interiors and lighting. The Treasurer continues production of well-weathered, late BR wagons. Diving in at the deep end, Barry King chose a Class 67, ‘Charlotte’ in Colas livery as his first brass kit. He is now sourcing suitable decals. Fred Coulter has added a cassette fiddle-yard to his slim layout. We’ve seen photos of it with the painted Westdale coaches which we saw begun six months back. Dual-gauge pointwork has crept onto Tim’s DCC brewery layout as he builds n-g saddle tanks.
The Colonel Stephens Museum at Tenterden benefits from Ross Shimmon’s skills. He has been assisting with detailing and painting three Edge Hill Light Railway contractor’s wagons, built by Allen Morgan, and some 2’4” gauge mineral hopper wagons of Snailbeach District Railways ( 3D printed EDM Models ). Geoff Roberts often shares photos on WhatsApp of developments on his dioramas.
You can see these models on our website at www.ekogg.org.uk. Hopefully, later in 2021 we’ll see them, and maybe you, at our Badlesmere HQ. Rob Moody
Last update: 25 Mar 2021