Little trains

[philmco]

A local model train exhibit.



Taken with Nikkor 35-70mm F2.8 and SB28 flash
Fuji Superia 400

[Randy]

Oh boy, that's another one of my vices, I'm a Model Railroader. Nice shot!

[philmco]

Randy
I shot several dozen pics at the show. It was quite delightful with one of the members had a minature video camera giving a live feed from the front of his HO engine as it went around the course. Very Neat!


Here is another one done with the same stuff.

[Randy]

Phil, what Victoria are you from, those trains look American to me?

[PeterW]

Hi Phil,

Glad you got the picture posting sorted out, you've posted some nice shots.

Randy, I'm going to make a wild stab and say Phil's in Victoria British Columbia (at least it used to be called that). Never been there, but I think the black and white Rollei pic is part of the well-known Hatley Castle built in the English late Victorian style when a sort of Elizabethan revival design was popular with the landed gentry and wealthy industrialists who built 'stately home' mansions, mainly in the north of England. Of course, I might be barking up the wrong tree completely!!

I used to be into model railway building (takes up so much room!) and at one time in making model cars and super-detailing them (and restoring antique clocks, old sewing machines and ancient typewriters but heck, you can't do everything, more's the pity)

I still go to model railway exhibitions occasionally and sometimes try to take a few pics, but even with a big Metz hammer-head flash with diffuser and a small stop I can't seem to get the lovely depth of field you got here, Phil.

Peter

[Randy]

Guys, I ran my own hobby store for over 15 years. Of course I'm no longer in business, I couldn't compete with the big chain stores. I've been building models and collecting diecast cars since 1957. I had a huge train layout in my store with over 200 feet of main line. I really miss that. I don't have a layout right now, but I still have all of my trains. Right now I'm really into collecting 1/18 scale diecast cars. I kind of figured Phil was in B.C. My Mother's side of the family came from Saskatoon and Northern Montreal.

[philmco]

Randy
You guys have it right on. I was born (and mostly raised) in Victoria BC Canada. I have always had an interest in model RR although I have never collected them.
Interesting my parents were both from Saskatoon and my grandfather was a watch maker there. I also used to be fascinated with the old watches. I must photograph an old packet watch for the site. And thanks for the help with the photo posting.

[PeterW]

Hi Randy,

Shame you had to close the store. Two model shops fairly near me closed down a year or two ago, one in Canterbury and one in Maidstone. The big chain stores sell models, things like Burago and so on, but not kits, nor modelling bits and pieces.

We still have a model shop in Ashford, a sort of lock-up in a garden centre complex. I was very disappointed when that shut recently, but now I see it's re-opened under a new owner. He's very much into radio controlled flying model planes, and he's gradually running down the old stock of trains and cars. But he still stocks lots of useful things like brass and aluminium strip and tubing in loads of small sizes, some very useful small tools, and a large selection of model paints.

Recently I've been trying out some Tamiya acrylic black paint from him, gloss and semi-gloss, for touching up chips on camera bodies. After rubbing down with metal polish it blends beautifully, but I haven't yet tried using it in an airbrush for full repaints. Big advantage of course is that you can wash brushes and guns out with plain water.

Peter