Friday Film Club ~ Milton

Welcome to the 2nd Edition of Friday Film Club. This time I visit Milton Station, set against the iconic background of Brisbane's famous XXXX Brewery for a spot of trainwatching.

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Friday Film Club ~ Bowen Hills

Welcome to Friday Film Club, where each week I'll be posting a short Philden TV railfan film on YouTube, starting with...

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2024 TOP 10 ranking

It's time to ask ourselves that annual question... "where did January go?" (Although to be honest, I'm still asking myself where 2023 disappeared to?) However, after a year which saw more changes in my modelling preferences and circumstances than perhaps ever before, the Philden Model Railway Blog has featured in Feedspot's 50 best model railway blogs worldwide list for the third year running, holding its 8th place ranking from last year.

I find that amazing. Firstly because over the past 3 to 4 months I removed close to 150 old posts that were no longer relevant to the direction that my modelling, and this blog, were headed. That in itself caused a small blip in viewership while I archived posts that I wanted to keep, and performed a rolling refresh that included adding new pages that by their own definition take some time to show up in search algorithms. Secondly, because for the best part of 2023 I was busy writing, self-producing and releasing 4 model railway books. That in itself leaves very little time to put towards writing blog posts.

Despite the great news of another TOP 10 ranking, the costs of self-producing 6 model railway books while writing full-time for the past 18 months have financially piled up on the whole Philden Model Railway enterprise. After ensuring that each book was properly financed and then proven to be profitable before committing to anything more than the next one, the whole cost of living shebang necessitated I finish with a 6th and final book.

Not that I didn't have any ideas for further volumes. More so because producing any further books or expanding upon the whole Philden thing, would involve a dedicated 2 car Titan garage to set up a professional photo quality work studio, and also house a larger layout to provide the neccesary material. Since 2021's release of Build a Bookshelf Layout, the numbers say I'm no closer to affording to move out of the 2 bedroom city apartment that my wife and I share. Not that we'd want to anyway, as that in itself would involve risking everything we have on an idea that is essentially a hobby.

Which brings me to January. I like to take notice of the business success within the hobby, and given 2024 saw UK institute Hatton's Model Railways close their doors after 77 years of serving the hobby, there are definitely financial factors at play behind closed doors that most modellers wouldn't be aware of. Trying to project sales figures in advance for models that can take up to 4 years to produce overseas, global economic factors and worst-case war scenarios that can effect supply are all modern day business considerations.

Yet despite being registered as a business, I am just a one person operation. That means that you have to afford everything personally, and returning to studying photography full-time at TAFE this year has seen me hand over money for course fees, a new laptop and a more advanced camera body. On top of this has been the cost of financing the new book Revamp An Existing Layout. After ordering the first advanced copies at the end of last year, unfortunately the entire shipment of books has arrived damaged and now needs to be scheduled to be reprinted. Hopefully that will happen sometime in March.

It's times like these that dictate where your hobby stands in relation to more pressing issues, such as hitting some wildlife on a highway and now also needing to come up with the insurance excess to commence repairs. Instead of drooling over what new models have just been released or announced, you ask yourself what prized models you can afford to part with, which is what I had to do to get through the first few weeks of study. (Hopefully my Indigenous NR Class loco is now being enjoyed by its new owner).

The timing of my new book seems entirely relevant to the modern day modeller, revamping an existing layout for a budget of zero! Producing the book however has come with a huge financial burden, one which I now must attempt to recoup, (along with seeing to some car repairs) before I can look at replacing the few prized locomotives that I sold recently with hopefully just one newly released model that I'd dearly love to get. Then, and only then, can the hobby finally return to being just a hobby. From this point onwards I'll simply leave any future book ideas to any other modeller brave enough to attempt it!

So thanks to everyone for sticking by this blog through thick and thin! I've been told my open style of writing makes each post more relatable to the average modeller. At the end of the day, all this blog was supposed to be was a little bit of fun alongside my initial small shelf layout. Yet somehow it became so much more.

Until next time...

Weathered by Philden Showcase 25

Every now and then I weather a model to the extent where I surprise even myself, such as these Auscision Models NDCH/NDMX Railcorp infrastructure wagons. While Auscision did a great job producing these models, the one colour rust/grime on the inside of the open wagons called for a rust job worthy of the ages. So, over the course of a week using whatever time I could spare, I weathered my set of infrastructure wagons to resemble a late 2000's era works train.

This Auscision Models NDCH spoil wagon is the Rail Services Australia version.

The two different style open wagons were purchased individually on eBay. In the real world however, these infrastructure wagons were all rebuilt from former NSW NOBX open wagons. The NDMX wagon was repainted orange for Railcorp around 2005 along with the NQJX flat wagons, of which a fleet of 20 were made available to be leased to private operators. While the rusty-looking brown NDCH with the ribbed side panels and fresh white painted side-striping was a hold-over from the late 1990's Rail Services Australia era, prior to the formation of Railcrorp.

For my Philden Beach layout, the set of four NQJX container wagons can be swapped in and out of my intermodal service. While two individually weathered pairs of the SB spoil bins will also enable me to fit out a pair of the container flats complete with spoil bins to move across onto my infratructure train, joining the orange NDMX and rusty NDCH open wagon to make a 4 wagon set. This versatality will ensure the set of six wagons stay in constant use on my shelf layout, and now that they are all weathered they look the part.

While this Auscision Models NQJX container wagon has two SB spoil bins positioned on top.

And another example, only with a subtle difference of colour on the axle bearing caps.

The NQJX wagons were weathered separately, so that the spoil bins could be swapped for containers.

The four NQJX wagons can then be moved between my intermodal or infrastructure trains.

Next on my weathering hit list is a small batch of Victorian Railways FX flour wagons I had purchased some time ago with the intention of weathering them up to sell. So I might be able to make a slow start on these between study periods over the next few weeks to keep some new items coming to my eBay store, before I start on my own set of NSW NGGF sugar hoppers for Philden Beach.

I'm particularly pleased with how my set of infrastructure wagons turned out, and if I had the spare money I would probably invest in a couple more sets to make another batch available for sale on my eBay store. Time will tell once I finalise the release date for my next book. More on that to follow.

Click the above banner to view my eBay listings.

All of my weathered models that are still available for sale may be found by clicking on the banner above. As always, each model comes with a signed certificate to ensure that they have been personally weathered by me. It is simply my way of saying thank you for supporting my writing, and this blog, as this is now my main income stream while I undertake a year of full-time study. So thank you to all who have now helped me reach the 200+ models sold milestone. It is very much appreciated!

For my own record...

Models sold 216/249

Weathered by Philden Showcase 24

Another quick weathered update to share the final few Queensland Railways models I have listed for sale on eBay. That's all. Finito. Over and out. My few years spent collecting and modelling Queensland narrow gauge has now come to an end. The only models now sitting beside the spray booth awaiting an airbrushing of grime, are my own. And that is only if I can find the time amidst full-time study and preparing to release another book. Time and money, two things that just don't seem to be my friend!

Right now, after thinning my own personal collection down, and moving on anything that doesn't belong on either of my two current layouts, I really need to afford some new camera gear and update my computer as I move away from writing about model trains, and into studying a new creative field. One that is proving to be just as expensive!

These Wuiske Models QSC tautliner wagons now need to find a new home...

...as does this SDS Models refrigerated container, this one lettered for QR's RACE exchange fleet.

And these Wuiske Models QLX vans will be sorely missed...

...as they were one of the reasons I originally was drawn towards modelling the QR.

Since the beginning of this blog back in May 2015, I've lost count of how many models I have bought and sold as a result of building new layouts and changing eras, not to mention the 140+ models I purchased and weathered as part of writing my Model Railway Weathered Wonders book last year. Along with the weathered models I have listed, there are over 1,000 items in my eBay shop to keep you interested in looking through. Link below...

Click on the above banner to view all of my items listed on eBay.

Each weathered model comes with a certificate of authenticity to thank you for your support.

For my own record...

Models sold 199/239

Weathered by Philden Showcase 23

With every Queensland modeller currently excited about the CGL/SDS Models joint release of the QR 1460/1502 model locomotives, I've gone and done the opposite... I sold my pre-ordered model to a friend, and have just finished weathering up the last of my Queensland 12 mm gauge HO scale models to list for sale this week on eBay.

I guess for me, my QR modelling days are now behind me. The HJS Wuiske Models open wagon (above), and the following QR models I have photographed below, are waiting only for a batch of QLX and QSC wagons that are currently drying downstairs in the garage, for my QR fleet to be dispersed.

A Wuiske Models PCS container flat wagon.

A Southern Rail Models ALY louvred van, painted yellow and stencilled for Poison Spray - Roma St.

Another Southern Rail Models ALY/T van, this one with ARHS stencilling and a subtle yellow side sill.

Once more, I will list each model for sale only through eBay, and each will come with a signed certificate as a way of saying thanks for your support over the past couple of years of writing full-time. Instead of regretting letting my Queensland stuff go, I'll still get to enjoy watching some of my former models turning laps on my friend's layout each time I visit.

As for the rest, I should have the last photographed and listed by the weekend, so be sure to follow my eBay seller page on the link below. With time commitments pressing in 2024, I won't be weathering as many models for sale as I did last year.

Click here to view my latest listings, with all my ex-QR models going live this week.

For my own record...

Models sold 199/234

The Summer of regrowth...

It has been a summer of regrowth on Philden Beach. Both literally and metaphorically. Exactly one year after starting down the path of converting my HO scale Australian shelf layout from its former inner-city Melbourne setting to a slice of railfan paradise on the New South Wales North Coast, the layout's transformation is now complete.

Behind the scenes, it has been an exhausting year of navigating a layout revamp as the focus of a new book, trying to keep a full-time writing career financed, and working through some personal health issues that I previously hinted at in my Philden Street's curtain call post.

I'm glad to say that Revamp An Existing Layout went live on my publishing platform Blurb, in the early hours of December 31, 2023, keeping to my goal of completing book 23 in the year '23 by the barest of margins! Having grown up a huge Michael Jordan fan, there was a feeling of personal satisfaction in being able to call time on a writing career with the same number of books as his famous number 23 jersey. To me, it's as close to perfection as I'm likely to ever get.

My layout now has a clear green signal with it's new North Coast setting.

The layout revamp has turned out to be just as good as I had imagined, and my new book takes the reader through each of the steps in identifying existing problems, costing-up a layout revamp and finally a series of budget-savvy projects that will help you re-imagine your own layout. Philden Beach's revamp cost a total of zero dollars, and didn't involve lifting up a single section of track!

Amongst the many improvements to my layout, the above CTC signal I installed at the exit of the secondary track from staging has really enhanced my switching layout's operations. Trains would need to come to a halt here anyway, beside the former marker post that once stood where the signal mast now does, to wait for a clear track to run around in the yard. Now they have to wait for me to change the signal from red to green before proceeding.

There has been a lot of new growth around the layout, including these Norfolk Island pines.

Around the layout, there has also been a lot of regrowth that has occured since my Welcome to The Coast post back in March last year. With my much-loved NSW Goods Shed now surviving onto its third layout, the former sign to the left of the structure has long gone, and in its place a towering Norfolk Island pine has seemingly sprung up out of nowhere.

These banana trees were rescued from my previous Philden Road layout.

Of course, these latest summer improvements were in addition to my original Trees by The Harbour update from May last year, and needed to be completed for inclusion in the book. Given the dramatic coastal backdrop, it was important for me to tie all the colours in with those of the backdrop. And despite not having room for a banana plantation on the layout, I can't think of Coffs Harbour without picturing banana trees growing on the surrounding hillside. So I added a few wild plants growing alongside the rail corridor just to channel that vibe, including the above examples which were returned to me after being carefully pried off my previous Philden Road module.

It's taken a while for me to finally get to my happy place of simply enjoying some model railroading by the sea. Producing 4 model railway books over the course of 2023 strangely hasn't helped. Not when I've needed to cost every hour spent working on the layout, photographing, writing and then editing the final results. Add to that the time I have poured into this blog over the past few years, and it leaves you with little to no time to actually enjoy running some trains.

Either side of taking a vacation for the first time in three years, there were a lot of days where I somehow survived on four hours sleep while working on my latest book. Knowing that I needed to complete the final instalment before TAFE started in the new year was a big motivator! Yet despite the success of the previous five Philden Model Railway books, self-financing and producing all six have left me mentally, emotionally and financially drained.

Anyone thinking that being able to claim a new model locomotive as a tax deduction sounds like a good thing, would not be aware that my royalty return for self-funding all of this averages out to $4 AUD per book sold. If I simply factor in the costs associated with producing each book, bulk purchasing wholesale stock and covering the distribution costs, then my books have all proven to be succesful. However, once I factor in the income I have lost since winding-up my previous small business to concentrate solely on writing full-time, then I still need to sell another 25,000 copies to be able to fully recover. That is a big ask.

From a summer of regrowth on the layout I now head into a year of regrowth for myself. As I have already mentioned when signing-off on my Author blog, the time of writing as Phillip Overton is now over.

The final revamped view looking back over Philden Beach.

While I hope to keep my occasional model railway ramblings continuing here for the foreseeable future, I'm unsure what that may look like on the other side of all this. Already, in the background I have removed well in excess of 100 outdated blog posts, and completely overhauled the design and layout of the Philden Model Railway Blog to ensure it remains a strong and relevant source of information for years to come.

What I am sure of however, is that in time, I will look back on my series of six Philden Model Railway Books with immense pride. To be able to have combined my two passions of writing and model railways into the one project, and self-fund, self-publish and self-distribute a series of books that proved to be profitable, is a great legacy to leave behind.

The most important project for me to work on at the moment however, is myself. That starts with a return to full-time study of visual arts and photography in the coming weeks. For me, it's a chance to recharge, reinvent and rebrand myself away from writing, and is equal parts exciting, and a little scary, to see where my creative side will next lead me outside of the world of model trains.

News of the new book's official launch date will follow soon, with early pre-order copies available for purchase now through Blurb. Expect copies to make their way into your favourite hobby stores from February onwards.

Now, do I dare say it? Maybe I'll power up the layout just for fun...

Sticking with my plan

Finally the track for my small OO9 Christmas layout has been laid. The day after Christmas! Still, I was thankful for the few spare hours on Boxing Day to glue the final sections of track in place that had been teasing me over the course of the past two weeks. I was supposed to have this layout ready for Christmas. But in sticking with my plan, I now have a 12 month head start on completing this layout in ready in time for Christmas 2024.

The track was glued into position using some extra strength Tarzan's Grip wood glue, I simply ran two thin beads along the outline of my track plan I had drawn onto the plywood layout top.

The set track curve and two small turnouts were clicked together to form one piece, and the the glue was spread evenly with an old flat artists paint brush, not left as you can see in the accompanying picture.

Over the Christmas holiday period I worked on one section at a time. The first curved section to be glued into place included the two turnouts, and I pressed these down firmly to ensure they were embedded in the glue and sitting flush and level on the layout surface.

While waiting for it to dry, I tore a sheet of baking paper to lay across the section...

...and weighed it down using my trusty Michael Portillo Great British Railway Journeys hardcover books. [Insert free, not-paid-for Michael Portillo plug here. You're welcome and I hope you had a very Merry Christmas!]

The books kept the section in place while the glue dried overnight, and once the section was dry and firm, I could repeat the process with the opposite end curve.

Once both of the end curves were anchored firmly in place, I could then join the two curves using some PECO OO-9 flextrack, and follow the wiggly outline of my track plan to create a gentle, winding transition from one end of the layout to the other.

The gently winding flextrack section between each curve will add a lot of visual interest.

The outer passing loop curve shows the difference between the PECO flextrack (outside) and set track.

So with another Christmas in Australia now come and gone, my thoughts now turn to having this layout ready for next year. With a few busy weekends infront of me, I'm not sure exactly when I will be able to wire up the layout and get a train trundling around Bryn Nadolig. Especially given that I am frantically trying to complete the final Philden Model Railway book before I commence full-time study in January. Whether I do or not will determine whether the book's release will be in February, or August 2024.

Too late for Christmas 2023... but I now have a 12 month head start on having this layout ready for next year!

So, if you like what you read, please leave a comment below, or better still... show your support for this blog through any of the suggestions to the right. Come 2024, this blog (and my writer's life), is going to powered solely by your generosity. So, shout me a cup of coffee...

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Till next time...