Wheeltapper Trophy

Graham's model of an Inverness based Class 24/1 with tablet catcher. He based this model on a Bachmann Class 24 upgrading it and adding detail using a Brassmasters cab roof and the tablet catcher.

Steam Locomotives

The steam locomotive category was split into a Steam Locomotives UK and Steam Locomotives Non-UK elements.

The winner of the Steam Locomotive UK competition was Tim Peacock for his A5 Coronation Class. This has been modelled using a 52F brass etched kit with Ultrascale wheels and a first attempt at lining. Extra detail was added such as lamps, crew and fire irons. The model aimed for a used but well cared for look.

The winner of the Steam Locomotive Non-UK competition was Mick Moignard for his D&RGW K-27 #454. Scale/Gauge: HOn3:HO scale, 3 foot gauge, 10.5mm track gauge. K-27 #454 is depicted as she was in 1951 when she was the Montrose switcher, used for narrow as well as standard gauge switching, accomplished using an idler car (not shown). #454 is a reworked and redetailed MMI diecast-and-brass model. Added and reworked detail - mostly scratchbuilt in brass - includes the swithcher footboards and rear beam on the tender, new ladder and backup light along with lashed-up lighting conduit, and new drains and handgrabs on the rear in addition to removing coalboards and adding new brake piping down the right tender sill. The loco also has a reworked switcher pilot with a new toolbox and grab rail, new oil boxes and piping on the smokebox, a new whistle, reworked steps to the sand dome, redone from sander pipes, revised lagging clamps and many other small details. The factory paint was preserved as far as possible while the work was done. Bare brass and mazac was blackened before being retouched by airbrush. Extra lettering was added where needed. Weathering is airbrushing, washes, powders and inks and Rustall. 454 has a Soundtraxx DCC Micro Tsunami in the loco with a GME cam on the #2 axle, with the speaker in the tender.

Coaching Stock and NPCS

The coaching stock and NPCS category was split into UK and Non-UK elements.

The winner of the Coaching Stock and NPCS UK competition was Adrian Harford for his Southern Railway Dia 99 Brake Third 2639, which is an O gauge fine scale model for the Okehampton project. This model was the winner of the Chairman's Cup. This coach is a Maunsell era coach mounted on a new 48 ft underframe stock during 1934-37, as described in M King Illustrated History of Southern Coaches p 120. This model has been scratch built from styrene (using Nick Baines article in the Gauge O Guild Gazette, Nov 2002) – also with an aluminium roof as suggested in a more recent gazette article. The model was a learning exercise with these materials and in CAD drawing/printing. The bogies came from Roxey with Slaters wheels and other moulded bits.

The winner of the Coaching Stock and NPCS Non-UK competition was Roy Norton's SNCF Night Ferry Baggage Van, a 4mm (OO gauge) model. This has been based on the class of 25 baggage vans built by the Nord Railway for the Night Ferry service. The Nord adapted their standard van by fitting dual brakes and removing the stepboards to allow running in the UK (step boards were replaced by a fabricated metal step). The model is a MARC Models brass kit with added details and modifications. This was Roy's first brass kit and construction was largely solder-based. It has been modelled for the period immediately following the French railways nationalisation in early 1938 and has been painted and lettered for SNCH ownership. Pipework will be added as part of the semi-permanent coupling arrangement when construction of the Night Ferry rake is complete.

Another entry in this category was Roy Norton's SR Night Ferry Baggage Van, another 4mm scale (OO gauge) model. This has been based on a set of 3 baggage vans that were built in 1935 by the Southern Railway for the London to Paris Night Ferry service. The Southern painted these to match the train's CIWL sleepers. The baggage vans travelled with the coaches across the channel via Dover train ferry. They were dual-fitted for UK and continental running. The prototype was essentially an extended version of a standard SR PLV with an extra 10ft added to accommodate the Guard's compartment. The standard roof profile was lowered so that the birdcage lookout remained within the loading gauge. The model is a MARC Models brass kit with added details and modifications. Construction was largely solder-based. It has been painted and lettered for 1938. Pipework will be added as part of the semi-permanent coupling arrangement when construction of the Night Ferry rake is complete.

Freight and Engineers Stock

The Freight and Engineers Stock category was also split into UK and Non-UK elements.

The winner of the Freight and Engineers Stock UK category was Graham Bucknell for his 20T Grain Wagon, B885072. This is a 4mm/ft, OO gauge model based on a stretched Dapol grain wagon body with scratch built detail on a modified Parkside chassis to give a scale length wagon.

The winner of the Freight and Engineers Stock Non-UK category was Mick Moignard's D&RGW Boxcar #04444. Scale/Gauge: HOn3 scale, 3 foot gauge, 10.5mm track gauge. #04444 has been modelled as it appeared as the Block car in the Salida, Co wreck train in 1951. It was used to carry rerailing blocking, tools, jacks and so on for use in dealing with derailments and other incidents. The model has been scratchbuilt using styrene with a small number of Grandt Line details: bold heads, handbrake wheel, retainer value, stirrup steps and some brake parts - modified for the split-cylinder brake setup. It runs on Grandt Line trucks and uses Kadee couplers. It has been painted in the D&RGW gray MoW (Maintenance of Way) colours as used after the 2nd world war to use up excess US Navy warship paint and lettered in the post-1939 flying Rio Grande lettering style with minimal detail lettering (no dimensional data) as it was not used in interchange service. Weathered was based on prototype photos.

A further entry in the Freight and Engineers Stock category was James Aitken's Fina Tank Wagon. This has been built from a Meteor Models brass kit and lettered with their transfers. The cast parts are whitemetal and suffered from variable shrinkage. The two tank ends are different sizes and appear even to be from different masters, Very Odd! The tank supports are also a bit of a funny shape but when the tank is fully assembled this is not all that noticeable. The model has been lightly weathered.

Another entry was James Aitken's GW Lowmac Wagon and Crusader Tank. The wagon has been built from a Connoisseur brass kit which is very simple to make, with one minor exception. The clearance between the wheel flange and the floor is tiny and needs careful assembly to make sure it does not rub when running. The model has been lightly weathered. The tank is a Tamiya plastic kit to 1.48 scale, which although a bit small is quite convenient for O gauge. The kit comes with a finely cast underside to give the model weight. Complicated parts included the tracks which are individually made up from about 15 separate pieces some as small as a single track section. The tracks were a bit of an effort to assemble especially when trying to keep them separate from the wheels for painting. The model has been painted in slightly dirty 1943 desert livery.

Another entry was Ian Gearing's SR Lowmac Machinery Wagon. The wagon has been built from a Dragon Models Lowmac kit to be part of an engineering train.

Another entry was Graham Bucknell's 13T 7 Plank Open Mineral Wagon, P308263. This is a weathered Dapol 13T RCG 7 plank open mineral Wagon, 7mm/ft.

Road Vehicles, Boats, People, Animals etc

The winner of The Robbie Robinson Award for road vehicles, boats, people, and animals was Graham Bucknell for his RB19 Crawler Crane. This model is a repainted and detailed Corgi RB19 Crawler Crane, 4mm/ft.

Another entry for the Robbie Robertson Award was Paul Wright's Dutch Shrimp Cutter. This is a 1:160, Dutch Shrimp Cutter built from an Artitec resin and etched brass kit painted in acrylics. The masts are plastic rod, and rigging is cotton cord with some brass rod wire in the fishing gear.

Another entry was Paul Wright's Builders Crane. This is a 1:160, the crane built using a plastic and metal kit from DM Toys. Additional pulleys and ropes have been added along with controls and motor housings. Painted in acrylics.

A further entry was Paul Wright's group of people for the club’s Okehampton layout. The group comprises passengers and railway workers made using 1:43 white metal figures from Aidan Campbell and painted in acrylics.

Scenic Models: Buildings, Trees, Signals etc

The winner of The Jack Cline Trophy for Scenic Models: Buildings, Trees and Signals was Tim Peacock for his Southern Concrete Hut for Okehampton Coaling Stage. This is a scratchbuilt hut built using Plastikard with Ambis corrugated roofing and foil wire for the ridge.

Okehampton 7mm Wagon Project

The winner of the Derek Turner Trophy for the Okehampton 7mm Wagon Project was Roy Norton for his EX SR 12T Mineral Wagon. This is a 7mm (O gauge), model built for the Okehampton layout from a Slater's Plastic kit fitted out as it would have looked late in its life in BR ownership. It has been weathered as a somewhat careworn wagon.