Latest News
26/02/24: Late addition to exhibitions:
Tony’s Forest will be attending the Sodbury Vale Model Railway Exhibition in Yate on 9th March. This is a late addition due to a cancellation. See the Exhibitions page for more details.
02/01/24: Happy New Year:
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year. My last show of 2023 was at West Camel on the 30th December and was great fun. A video of the show has been produced and is available here:
Tony’s Forest starts about eight and a half minutes in.
02/11/23: Portable Forge:
I have added construction details of an “Alldays and Onions” portable forge to the Tony’s Forest Scenic Details page. It is something I have wanted to model for a long time and a chance discovery of one in the cellar of a National Trust property provided me with the details that I needed.
23/10/2023: Successful Uckfield Show:
I had a great time at Uckfield and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I had two great operators helping me on the Saturday which enabled a continuous service and simultaneous operation of the quarry. It was a bit harder on the Sunday but the public were obviously impressed enough for me to win their votes!
A video of the show has already appeared on YouTube:
20/09/2023: Next show is at Lydney:
After a successful show at Bala on the 16th and 17th September I am attending the Forest of Dean Model Railway Club’s show this coming weekend at Lydney, 23rd and 24th September. More details here:
https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/event/y2023/25603-ForestofDeanModelRailwayClub_Exhibition
Just a few maintenance things to sort out beforehand and a new controller before everything is ready.
02/09/2023: New Scenic Details Page:
I realised that I hadn’t added a page for all those little details like people and wildlife for Tony’s Forest. This is now rectified following recent acquisitions of more figures and animals. The page is available here: Tony’s Forest Scenic Details
06/08/2023: New Locomotive Projects:
Not exactly new as the pages have been there for a few weeks now but I have only now got around to adding this news item! I have been working on a Chivers WDLR Hunslet 4-6-0T for the last couple of months. Progress is slow and I managed to get side-tracked with adding detail to a Worsley Works WDLR Dick Kerr Petrol Electric loco. Depending on progress these may appear at the next show at Bala.
31/07/2023: Now booked for Lydney in September
September is turning out to be quite busy now with an invite to the Forest of Dean Model Railway Club’s show in Lydney the week after the show at Bala. More details on the Exhibitions page.
12/06/2023: Mendip 2023
I had a great time at Shepton Mallet over the weekend. I was surprised but very pleased to be awarded the “Best feature layout”. There was a good selection of layouts and I’m glad that I didn’t have to make the judges decision!
Things mostly behaved themselves. The SDR hoppers worked well until just before the end of Sunday when the axles became stiff. Hmmm. The Kerr Stuart diesel is performing much better and was running all weekend. The Hudson Go-go was great and got even better with running in. Star of the show was my new Ruston from Bill Flude which ran extremely well right from the start. Now I need to finish weathering it – I have no excuse as the next show is September.
Here are a few photos from my phone so the depth of field is not great.
02/06/2023: Now booked for Bala in September
A change of plans for September meant I was able to offer Tony’s Forest for the Bala Model Railway Show in September. Fortunately for me, they have been able to squeeze me in and my booking has been confirmed. I am particularly looking forward to this show as I was a volunteer on the Bala Lake Railway for a few years in the 1970’s and it will be great to see how it has developed over the past 40+ years.
22/05/2023: Jarrow was a great show
Back safely from Jarrow – my farthest exhibition to date and I had a great time.
Looking forward to the next show in Shepton Mallet in June.
13/05/2023: 1 week to go to Jarrow
I am pretty much up to date and as ready as I can be for the first show of 2023 at Jarrow. It is quite a trek from Gloucestershire and will be the furthest I have traveled with an exhibition layout. They were very keen for me to attend and it sounds like it will be an excellent show (despite my attendance!).
I should have a couple of new things putting in an appearance unless they don’t behave. So far they have performed well during testing but who knows what will happen under exhibition conditions.
19/03/2023: More 014 locos added
For a layout that can’t handle more than about 4 train formations you might wonder why I need so many locos? The honest answer is that I don’t but I do need some spares as two-day exhibitions can be particularly challenging when there is little time for maintenance or cleaning. The sad fact is that while I have collected a number of kits over the years, I still can’t resist new products. Some of the recent 3d printed loco bodies in particular are beautifully printed and well detailed making them very hard to resist!
It is also true that some of my early builds no longer perform as well as I would like. This is partly due to the design and performance of the mechanisms but also down to my poor track work. There are areas where the gauge is a bit tight and while fine for the original Roy C Link standards, some of the RP25 wheel profiles can struggle a bit. I also have some rail breaks which have moved slightly where one rail is higher so that some of the lighter locos struggle, particularly if the pick-ups have become dirty. All very poor excuses for a need for more stock – not that I need any excuses!!!
The two latest loco builds are a Ransomes Rapier 4wd and a Hudson Go-Go Fordson Tractor. These may put in appearances throughout 2023 depending on their performance.
05/02/2023: Provisional list of 2023 exhibitions added
I have a number of other personal engagements this year which has meant that a few shows have had to be pushed into 2024. Some of the 2023 shows haven’t been confirmed yet so the list on the Exhibitions page may change as the year progresses.
29/05/2022: Next show at Hucclecote on 11th May.
Less than two weeks to the next show which is a local one for me, only a few miles down the road. More details are on their web site including the programme which includes details of all the exhibits. The exhibition runs from 10am to 5pm.
24/05/22: SWING 2022 – an unexpected award.
I had a very enjoyable day at the SWING show and I would like to thank everyone who helped me.
The surprise “icing on the cake” was receiving the Ernie House award for the most popular exhibit as voted for by the exhibitors themselves. Most unexpected given the wide choice of excellent exhibits at the show. The most popular exhibit as voted for by the public went to the excellent and entertaining St Petrock Quay.
19/04/22: Not long to NG South and another show too.
Not long now to Narrow Gauge South on Saturday 23rd April. A superb looking line up of narrow gauge layouts and trade support too. Meanwhile I have been invited to the next SWING exhibition on Saturday 21st May at Durrington High School, The Boulevard, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 1JX. It looks like a busy year of exhibitions making up for lost time.
15/03/22: First Show was a success!
The first show for Tony’s Forest for 2 years was Narrow Gauge North on 12th March. I can’t easily set the layout up at home so I was a little nervous that it would be okay since a couple of months ago when I cleaned and tested it. Fortunately everything behaved and the only problems were down to my operation or my stock building. The layout was very well received and it was good to see so many people out enjoying themselves. I am working through the usual snagging list which is mainly sorting out couplings now that I know which way round the more recent stock runs best and some loco pick-ups. I’m now looking forward to Macclesfield in a couple of week’s time and Narrow Gauge South towards the end of April.
09/02/22: Exhibition update:
With just over four weeks to go to my first exhibition for two years I am starting to get things ready (and panic). The first show this year is Narrow Gauge North followed by Macclesfield and then Narrow Gauge South. A couple more shows have been added to the list with Ross-on-Wye in August and Fareham in October. Bookings are starting to come in as confidence in holding exhibitions increases but there is quite a bit of catching up to do as everything has been shunted (pun intended) a couple of years!
13/10/21: Wrightlines under new ownership:
David J Parkins have acquired the Wrightlines range together with many of the other ranges produced by ABS Models and are in the process of re-introducing them. Their news release is available here. This is great news as many of their kits have been used on my various 016.5 and 014 layouts.
11/09/21: Exhibition update:
I have received a number of invitations for exhibitions in 2022 which are now listed on the Exhibitions page. These should be considered ‘Provisional’ at the moment but hopefully it is an indication that things are starting to return to some sense of normality.
26/08/21: Website update
I’ve taken the opportunity of a free day to update the Tony’s Forest loco pages with the latest project of an Andrew Barclay Class A 0-4-0T from Wrightlines. I am progressing an Andrew Barclay Class E from S&D Models but this is taking me a bit longer and I keep getting side-tracked.
A few tentative exhibition invites are coming in for 2022 and the site will be updated when these become firm bookings. While some exhibitions are going ahead in the latter part of 2021 a lot depends on venue availability and confidence in attendance. Understandably no exhibition wants to run at a loss and it may be a few more months before there is enough confidence to start planning and booking layouts.
13/05/21: Exhibition update
I was booked for a local show at Hucclecote in June 2020 which was deferred to 2021. They have reluctantly cancelled and transferred the booking to 2022. Whilst we are due to relax social distancing towards the end of June 2021 very few exhibitions are being planned until there is a bit more certainty. Some shows have been cancelled as their venues are required as vaccination centers while other venues like schools and sports centers are limiting their bookings due to the potential cleaning requirements.
Whilst I am in no rush to start exhibiting it does give me an opportunity to test out new builds as it is difficult to set the layout up at home. I could end up with a long snag list to resolve after the first ‘post-lock down’ exhibition!
05/03/21: Latest lockdown loco – Muir Hill Fordson
Lockdown progress with the expanding loco fleet for Tony’s Forest continues with the latest project, a Nonneminstre kit for a Muir Hill Fordson tractor conversion. Build detail are on the Muir Hill Fordson page. I did think that recent warm weather would distract me to the garden but then it went cold again and I was able to progress this quirky loco through the workshop. I have a number of builds bubbling away in the background but keep putting off a couple of them as they involve walschaerts valve gear and I am still building up the courage to tackle them! I will need to start them soon as I am running out of other things to do.
16/02/21: A long overdue update
2020 and the first part of 2021 have proved productive in terms of rolling stock for Tony’s Forest and I realised that a web site update was long overdue. Early in 2020 I completed an old Roy C Link channel framed Simplex on a KB Scale chassis. This prompted a discussion at one of the few shows that I attended in early 2020 as to whether the body would fit a transverse motor chassis from Locos n stuff. I accepted the challenge but the surgery required is not for the faint hearted! Both locos are on the Motor Rail page.
In between these two projects I finished a David Malton 3d print of a small Ruston and a Nonneminstre Hudson-Hunslet 4wd on a Locos n stuff chassis. A discussion with Mark Clarke of Locos n stuff resulted in a 3d printed chassis for a Wrightlines de Winton.
An etched brass Roy C Link/Wrightlines Bagnall 0-4-0ST was next but I also found time to improve the finish of some of the rolling stock including a brake van that accompanies the bogie coach. The next project was a bit of a challenge as I decided that I would do something different with my Keykits Kerr Stuart 6wd No 4415 by including a representation of the diesel engine within the cab. I have to admit that I am really pleased with this model.
A long term project of a Wrightlines WDLR Simplex “Tin Turtle” on a Locos n stuff chassis finally saw completion at the end of 2020 and was followed by another WW1 loco, a Neil Sayer Baldwin 50hp gas mechanical.
Finally a Roy C Link workshop van was started which ended up as a train of three bogie vehicles!
So yes, a web site update was long overdue!
02/01/21: Happy New Year!
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year with the hope that 2021 will be better than 2020. Despite various lockdowns I haven’t had much time to update the web site as I have been concentrating of finishing off a number of rolling stock projects. The site will be updated in due course and I have already added a page on my Roy C Link/Wrightlines Bagnall 0-4-0ST.
01/11/20: An interesting year!
It has been an interesting and somewhat different year. I was very fortunate to get in three exhibitions in January and February before Covid-19 lockdown resulted in the cancellation of all the remaining shows booked for 2020. The break from exhibitions has meant that I could concentrate on a few more locos and rolling stock and a bit of maintenance on the layout to improve performance. I need to update the Tony’s Forest rolling stock pages to reflect the additions. This is something that I hope to do over the next few weeks if I get a chance in between all the other projects that I am planning. I have started a new On30 layout, something that I have had in mind for quite a few years. This will be a bit different and will allow me to run the collection of stock that I have amassed over the years. More details will follow in due course.
24/05/20: Lock-down locos
I have managed to progress a couple of locos during the lock-down and have updated the Tony’s Forest pages accordingly. The first is a Wrightlines de Winton 0-4-0 VB body kit mounted on a 14mm gauge chassis from Locos n Stuff. The second is still in progress and is another channel framed Simplex but this time on a Locos n Stuff chassis.
19/05/20: Hucclecote and Ross shows also cancelled
It will come as no surprise that the Hucclecote show in June and the Ross on Wye show in August have also been cancelled. Fortunately Tony’s Forest has been re-booked for both shows in 2021.
19/03/20: Exhibition cancellations
The next two exhibitions, Narrow Gauge South and Stow Rail have been cancelled due to Coronavirus restrictions. It is possible that more exhibitions will be cancelled during this difficult time.
02/02/20: Next show is NWNG at Rainford, 15/02/20
See the Exhibitions page for more details. Meanwhile, I had a very successful show at Yate yesterday and Callum (SDJR7F88) was out with his video camera (as well as exhibiting) and has already loaded a video of the layouts.
Very impressive and some particularly good editing to show Tony’s Forest as apparently running trouble free!
24/01/20: Further Web Site update
I have been tweaking the Tony’s Forest loco pages to make it easier to workout which loco is which. I felt this was necessary as I am now getting around to finishing quite a few long term projects, as well as starting some new ones and there was a chance I would get thoroughly confused!
12/01/20: Web Site update
I’ve been slowly updating the Tony’s Forest loco and rolling stock pages to reflect the progress I have been making building more stock. These are more or less up to date now and include some WDLR bogie wagons from Locos n stuff and a Peco Hunslet 0-4-0 tank loco. As I can’t easily set the layout up at home I will have to wait until the Bristol O Gauge Group show in a couple of weeks before I will get to see how reliably these new items perform. Fingers crossed!
19/12/19: Even more exhibition invites
I started off with good intentions to limit the number of invitations to exhibit Tony’s Forest to about 5 of 6 each year. However, things have got a bit out of hand for 2020 with up to 10 shows (at least 7 of these are firm invitations). A couple of these have been last minute additions and are either reasonably local or just too good an opportunity to turn down! I am now taking bookings into 2021 and trying to balance existing commitments and holiday plans to suit.
The latest show to be added is Narrow Gauge South at Eastleigh on the 18th April 2020.
05/12/19: Bristol O Gauge Group Show 26/01/20
I have had a last minute invite to this show as a layout has had to withdraw. Their web site is here and has an impressive list of traders:
http://www.bogg7mmexhibition.com/
25/08/19: SING Exhibition video featuring Tony’s Forest
Martin Edwards (no relation) took some video at the recent SING show in Stratford upon Avon which included Tony’s Forest:
10/08/19: Great news for O14
Great news from KBscale and Narrow Planet.
Narrow Planet is pleased to announce that we will shortly become the exclusive stockist of the KBscale O14 narrow gauge range (7mm:ft scale running on 14mm gauge track). KBscale proprietor David Janes has been working to restock the range following a busy period of family life, and has decided to partner with us for fulfilment to ensure a smooth supply.
It is anticipated that virtually the full range of locomotives, rolling stock and track parts will be available. All stock status enquiries should be made via Narrow Planet in the first instance, and an accurate stock level will be maintained on our website, www.narrowplanet.co.uk.
What is now the KBscale range was formerly marketed by Roy C Link, who researched and established track standards for accurate 2′ gauge modelling in 7mm:ft scale. David has subsequently added his own products, with possible future developments to come.
Online sales are expected to begin around the end of August, and items will be also be available from our exhibition stand. Upcoming exhibitions this year include Uckfield MRC, Expo Narrow Gauge® in Swanley, and the Warley NEC show.
Get in touch by email at info@narrowplanet.co.uk, or write to us with a SAE for price list at:
Narrow Planet, PO Box 297, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN40 9HF, UK
29/07/19: Part 2 of Tony’s Forest (locos & rolling stock) featured in the Review
Once again I am really pleased with the superb way Editor Roy C Link has presented my photos and words on the locos and rolling stock for Tony’s Forest. The words were written at the beginning of the year so you would have thought I would have built lots more stock by now. Sadly, my modelling speed is very slow, but a number of long term loco projects are beginning to see completion. Some of these may be seen at the next exhibition, SING – at Stratford Upon Avon on Saturday 3rd August. See the Exhibitions page for more details.
28/04/19: Tony’s Forest featured in Narrow Gauge & Industrial Railway Modelling Review
I am really pleased with the superb way Editor Roy C Link has presented my photos and words on the trials, tribulations and successes during the building of Tony’s Forest. It feels particularly fitting that the layout inspired by Roy’s range of O14 products should feature in his magazine. It is also great that it features in an issue that is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association. Whilst not one of the inaugural members, I have been involved with the Association since 1982 and have thoroughly enjoyed how it has developed.
Don’t forget that Tony’s Forest will be attending the 7mm NGA’s 40th Anniversary Show at Burton On Trent in June.
12/04/19: Successful Debut for Tony’s Forest
My new O14 layout ‘Tony’s Forest’ was very well received at Cheltenham Model Railway Show on the 6th and 7th of April and I received 4 invitations. The layout performed reasonably well but there were a few things that need to be resolved, like the quarry loading system. Overall I am very happy and looking forward to the next show which is the 7mm NGA 40th Anniversary Show at Burton on Trent on the 8th of June.
01/02/19: Yate show Cancelled
Unfortunately my first show with Tony’s Forest has been cancelled at short notice due to snow and ice making the paths around the venue too dangerous for the public.
19/01/19: Last push to get Tony’s Forest completed
A web site update for Tony’s Forest will follow in February after the inaugural show for this layout at Yate on the 2nd of February.
17/11/18: Long overdue update.
I have completed a long overdue update to the Tony’s Forest pages. I decided to split the Scenery page into a ‘Landscape’ page to cover the ground forming and basic landscaping and a specific ‘Scenery’ page to cover the more detailed aspects of creating a scene.
I have managed significant progress with Tony’s Forest as it’s first exhibition is in early February 2019 – about 11 weeks away!!!!!! Further web site updates may therefore have to wait until the layout and rolling stock are finished.
28/04/18: Site updated (finally)
I have finally got round to updating the site with progress on the Tony’s Forest pages. I have added a new page on structures as I found it easier to split these out from the scenery page and it will help on future updates.
Progress with Tony’s Forest has slowed due to commitments helping my wife organise an exhibition for her local patchwork group and I have had to relinquish the garage as it is need to store the borrowed display stands. I will then need the space to prepare Ashcross for the 39th 7mm NGA AGM & Exhibition 9th June 2018 at Burton-on-Trent Town Hall, King Edward Pl, Burton-on-Trent, DE14 2EB.
19/04/18: Web site update due soon – honest!
Whilst I have been making progress with Tony’s Forest I haven’t been keeping this web site up to date. I hope to be able to do this during the next couple of weeks.
16/03/18: More progress!
Despite the lack of any update on this site, I am making steady progress with Tony’s Forest and i am committed to shows from early 2019.
Ashcross Industrial Museum has not been out since the final Small & Delightful show in 2017 but it is due to appear at the 7mm NGA Convention Exhibition at Burton on Trent in June.
Tony’s Forest has been booked for the following year, the 7mm NGA’s 40th year celebration.
05/06/17: Finally some more progress to report!
It is quite alarming how quickly time goes by when you are busy with all sorts of projects! Whilst progress with Tony’s Forest has been slow, I have actually made some and this is reflected in an update to the Track & Electrics page. I also had a month in New Zealand (very nice) in January/February, getting back (literally) just in time for the last ever Narrow Gauge South West.
I have started some of the structures for Tony’s Forest and made some progress with the rolling stock, both of which will be reported in due course.
31/12/2016: Ashcross invited to the final NGSW show.
I am very please and honored to have been invited to exhibit Ashcross Industrial Museum at the final Narrow Gauge South West show at Shepton Mallet on 18th February 2017. Ashcross made its debut at this show in 2000 where it appeared in a ‘just about finished’ condition. Seventeen years later and I embarrassed to say that it is still not quite finished!
02/10/16: Web site progress.
The electrics on Tony’s Wood are taking a bit longer than I had hoped so there is not much visual progress to report at the moment. However, I have managed to find some time, whilst on a recent holiday, to start on the locomotive, coach and wagon pages for Tony’s Wood. These new pages might suggest a greater degree of progress than has actually been achieved as most of the work was done in 2015!
10/09/16: I am making progress!
I know things have been a bit quiet on this site since May. Progress has been limited over the summer for a mixture of reasons and I have been concentrating on the layout itself, rather than reporting it. Progress has been made with the track laying and electrics which is more of the same that I have already reported on. I will be tweaking the track page shortly just to bring it right up to date. Meanwhile I need to get on with the wiring and construction of the control panel so I can test the running!
26/05/16: Links page started.
I have started adding sites to the Links page. They are in no particular order and i guess I should try to sort them at some point (probably after I have finished adding to them).
22/05/16: Tony’s Wood Track & Electrics page started.
Why only started? Well I haven’t finished the track or electrics bit of the layout yet – so this is very much a progressive update of where I am up to and the rather tortuous route I have taken.
21/05/16: Tony’s Wood Sector Plate page ready.
I have finished a page detailing the construction of the sector plate and have added individual galleries for both the baseboards and sector plate. I realised that I had just too many photos for a single gallery and I will be keeping the main gallery for photos of the finished layout.
20/05/16: Tony’s Wood Baseboard page ready.
I have finally found time to get the baseboard page ready. I still have a few tweaks to make but it is largely there. A couple more pages should be joining it soon.
13/05/16: Web site goes live!
This is very much work in progress and many pages including those for my new layout Tony’s Wood have no content in them yet. However, the pages for Ashcross, Dyffryn and Abergwesyn are pretty much finished.
I am finding my way a bit with this site and couldn’t decide on the best way to present all the information. I have tried to break it down into manageable (and hopefully logical) chunks.