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Wheeltapper Competition 2014
This year’s Wheeltapper Competition took place on Friday the 7th of March when invited guest judge and speaker Tim Watson from The Model Railway Club's Copenhagen Fields layout came along to Judge the models on show and then to come up with the overall winner. Copenhagen Fields is a 2mm finescale layout of the approaches to Kings Cross Station in the 1930s with all the complications inherent to engineering the real railway into a capital city. For more details of the Copenhagen Fields layout see Copenhagen Fields
Wheeltapper Trophy
Roy Norton (left) receiving the Wheeltapper Trophy from Tim Watson for his model of a London to Paris ‘Night Ferry’ CIWL Sleeper Coach.
The model of the ‘Night Ferry’ CIWL Type F (ferry) Sleeper Coach is as it was outshopped in 1936. from 13th October 1936 the Southern Railway and the Nord Railway (later SNCF) ran nightly through services London to Paris and Paris to London. Passengers remained in the coaches (hopefully asleep!) as they were shunted onto specially constructed rail ferries at Dover and Dunkerque. Based on the continental CIWL sleepers, the F type coaches were reduced in size to meet the UK loading gauge and to make up for lost space they included a 'blind vestibule end' to accommodate a pantry and car heating boiler. The last Night Ferry ran on 31st October 1980. The model is 4mm/OO scale, based on a MARC Models brass kit and are largely soldered construction. It has been improved with added detail including scratch-built underframe and roof detail.
Chairman's Cup
Michael Lane(right) receiving the Chairman’s Cup from Paul Wright for his model of a set of telegraph poles for the club’s Okehampton layout.
Michael writes,
One Friday night at the Club, many moons ago, someone said “who would like to take over making the telegraph poles for Okehampton?” When I volunteered to undertake the task never in a million years did I think that it was going to be such a challenge, but with thanks to help from Russell Burridge, things have been made a little easier.
When I started making the poles, I made them the same diameter at the base as at the top. Someone then pointed out that this is not how the real poles were. At the next meeting I was presented with an 8 page dossier on telegraph poles. For the next few months I had many happy hours making them. Each pole has been tapered from bottom to top, which meant that the grooves that I had cut previously had to be re-cut. In the box of goodies I was given, there were brass cross arms which were all different, some with 4 pots up and down, some longer with 8 pots up and down, and pots with longer arms so that these could be turned up.
There are 16 poles in total, 11 of which are different types. Removing unwanted pots both top and bottom was not hard but bending the bottom pot round and up was difficult until someone showed me a technique which eventually turned out to be easy once I knew how. The steps on the side of the poles proved to be the hardest part as the poles had to be kept flat while drilling. I used my new Proxxon Vertical Stand drill which helped in getting the fixing holes spot on.
All the cross arms and steps had to be sprayed with a primer first before fixing. All the items had to have 3 layers of paint, but the poles have still to be made into the finished article which will carried out at a later date.
Although I made the telegraph poles, this would not have been possible without the help from many Club members.
Steam Locomotives
The winner of the Steam Locomotives competition was Phil Baxendale for his model of an LNER 2-10-0 WD in 4mm Scale numbered and weathered as it would have been in the immediate post war period. The model is a Dave Bradwell kit with Alan Gibson P4 wheels, tender drive and a sprung chassis. It has been fitted with DCC including sound.
Diesel & Electric Locomotives
The winner of the Diesel & Electric Locomotives competition was Mick Moignard for his HOn3 RGS Crew Speeder (1/87 scale, 10.5 mm gauge). This is a scratchbuilt model of a 3 foot gauge Fairmont crew speeder (US equivalent of a Wickam trolley) accquired by the Rio Grande Southern around 1945. It has a brass and lead body, with brass detailing, Arnold Kof frame and gears, modified wheels and a new motor. It is fitted with DCC with working lights and sound.
Another entry was Graham Bucknell's Class 86/5 no. 86501. This 4mm scale OO gauge model is a repainted, detailed and weathered Hornby loco which is fitted with working lights.
And finally another entry from Graham Bucknell was his EE Type 1 (Class 20) No D8073. This 4mm scale EM gauge model is a detailed and weathered Bachmann model which has been fitted with DCC sound.
Coaching Stock and NPCS
The winner of this category was Roy Norton for his model of a ‘Night Ferry’ CIWL Sleeper Coach, which also won the Wheeltapper Trophy.
Apart from Roy Norton’s model of a ‘Night Ferry’ CIWL Sleeper Coach, there was an entry from Adrian Harford of a SR Maunsell 2-set for the club’s Okehampton O gauge layout. These vehicles were originally 48ft wooden coach bodies, which were subsequently refitted onto longer bases with a metal guards compartment for post war service until late 50s. This model is based on CAD drawings which have been printed onto 10 thou styrene sheet. These were cut out and mounted onto a styrene shell and various metal parts have been added. An aluminium roof has been added as have Roxey castings for the bogies, Slater's wheels and various other fittings. Just transfers are required to complete the model.
Freight and Engineers Stock
The winner of the Freight and Engineers Stock category was Richard Turner for his Private Owner Coal Wagons - 4mm Scale (P4). These were built using a combination of kit and scratch built components. The basic Slater's body has been enhanced, customised and detailed using plasticard and brass strip to complete the internal planking and strapping detail, end door hinge and top plank cover strip. Frames, axle boxes and springs are adapted from the Slater's kit but all the iron work has been replaced using the Craig Welsh etches. The wheels were replaced with Alan Gibson. Painted with acrylics, oil wash and pigments.
This is James Aitken's LNWR Open Wagons. These 7mm scale O Gauge wagons have been scratch built except for the underframe which is an old 3H moulding. The body is made from styrene which has been scribed with planking. The buffers were turned up on a lathe and the lettering was added using Letraset.
This is Mick Moignard's HOn3 Denver and Rio Grande Western Derrick OP and idler car. The OP was a light lifter mostly used in track maintenance and wreck clearance work with steam power provided by an adjacent locomotive. This is a 1/87 scale model, 10.5mm gauge which is a scale 3 feet. It is a wood and whitemetal Rio Grande Models kit, but with many replacement parts, upgrades and extra details. Note the scratchbuilt winch inside the house.
This is Richard Turner's SR Brake Van, which has been constructed from a 7mm Parkside Kit. It has been built as per the kit with the primary focus on producing an image of heavy use, not like the picture on the box! Photographs were used to determine the desired effect and paint was added and removed through many layers, using a mixture of painting methods and materials. With a base coat of the primary veichel colours, the following layers added wood fading and rust, bleached paint and flaking and colouration from rain, rust and general grime. Painted with acrylics, enamels, oil wash and pigments.
Finally, here are David Lane's Contractors’ Wagons. These have been built using a RT Models white metal kit with extra detail added and Exactoscale wheels.
Road Vehicles, Boats, People, Animals etc
The winner of The Robbie Robinson Award for road vehicles, boats, people, and animals was Paul Wright for his Diesel Tug Boat. This is a 2 mm scale model constructed from a resin and plastic card kit by Sylvan Models of Canada, painted in acrylics. The 6 figures are by Preiser. The ropes are made from rigging cord soaked in dilute PVA.
Another entry in this category was Paul Wright's Devon Red Cattle. The Devon Red is a breed that was local to the Okehampton area of Devon in the 1950s and can still be seen there today. These are 1/48 scale, which is prefect for younger animals in 1/43 scale. The plastic animals have had horns added from track pins (this breed of cattle has cows and bulls with horns) and have been painted in acrylics to show the variation in the red colour of the breed. These cattle will be living on the club’s model of Okehampton station, possibly in the cattle dock!
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 model of the Aylesbury Water Tank, which is a Braithwaite Design. This is a 4mm scale model using Gibson etched tank sides on a Plastikard box. The supporting structure has been made using angle brass which has been soldered together. The ladders are by Mike Clarke. Plastikard pipes and boxes and etched hand wheels have been added from the 51L range. The model has been painted in simple grey enamels and it has been weathered.
The runner up was Mick Moignard for his HO scale P Corns Photograph Store. P Corns is, in reality a friend of the builder who makes a living as a press photographer and also a breeder of chickens, which is why there is a set of stepladders in the shop for getting that ultimate photo, and the notice outside. The model is made from a 1/87 (HO scale) resin kit with Tichy windows. It has been painted using the theatre technique of painting all black first then adding colour on top. A complete interior has been provided in the shop and the studio and also LED lighting. The photos on the walls are a mixture of photos taken from pictures on the walls of the builder’s own home, and “wild west” photos sourced from the Web.
Dioramas & Figurines
The winner of the Dioramas & Figurines category was Graham Bucknell for his Diorama of 50149 undertaking Powerunit repairs / exchange. This model was built for a competition run by Rail Express magazine Dec 2004 to Jan 2005 with a limit of 100 sq inches. The Class 50 was a Lima product and now features a detailed interior with the power unit and crane by Herpa, 4mm/ft, OO gauge.
Okehampton 7mm Wagon Project
The winner of the Derek Turner Trophy for the Okehampton 7mm Wagon Project was Ian Gearing for his BR 12T Pipe Wagon. This is a 7mm (O gauge) model made using a Parkside Dundas Kit for the club’s Okehampton layout. The model has been painted using enamel paints for the outside of the wagon and then acrylic paints in various shades have been used to create the weathered wood inside the wagon.
Trophy Winners
Paul Wright (right) receiving the Robbie Robinson Trophy from Tim Watson
Tim Peacock (right) receiving the Jack ClineTrophy from Tim Watson
Ian Gearing (right) receiving the Derek Turner Trophy from Tim Watson.
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