Continental Modeller September 2025

One of the pleasures of compiling the magazine is dealing with the wide range of geographical subjects, and the scales and gauges used to represent them, evidenced as usual in this issue with features that range from Belgium to Australia and from Switzerland to Canada. Within the constraints of what is submitted – remember we can only reflect what modellers are doing – it is a pleasant and constant challenge to try and ensure a balance of topics in each issue and over time. The range extends not only to the very varied subject matter but also the location of the modellers. With electronic communication this is no longer as immediately apparent as it used to be in the days of post. Of course it is much more convenient, as…

In the western part of Belgium, in West Flanders, we have a saying Goestinge which means “to pursue something wholeheartedly.” What began in 2019 as a simple sketch for the Belgian Modelspoor Magazine’s bi-annual mini layout competition evolved during the Covid period into something far more ambitious. Initially constrained by the competition size limits, the delays to future exhibitions encouraged me to dream bigger. A fully realised station with its surrounding neighbourhood became essential. What started as a small diorama transformed into a fully-fledged exhibition layout. My original sketch featured just two modules. In 2019, I decided to transition to a different scale: O. The possibilities of that opened up a world of new opportunities. Most of my HO collection was sold, except for a selection of my favourite items,…

In addition to painted advertisements, in ‘the old days’ shop fronts were sometimes adorned with other advertising elements, such as large enamelled plaques and even posters glued to zinc supports. There is no shortage of examples of all kinds when looking at old iconography. You can still come across accumulations of these faded relics today, which might inspire many model interpretations, either individually or by aggregating different real-life situations. This colourful scene was inspired by many shop fronts photographed over the years, with a common thread: the general condition of the structures, the closed up windows and doors, and the presence of old posters. “Chocolate & Co.” sums up this state of affairs quite well. 1 and 2 Whether on walls or old doors, such advertising plaques can still be…

Why Swiss and the RhB? Since I started my railway modelling journey aged 6 with my first British OO layout, I have been a bit of a magpie moving across scales and continents. An early ‘experiment’ in 009 included the random purchase of a solitary Bemo short coach (with swapped HOe wheels) at the Kivoli Centre, Bala, whilst on holiday. As it dwarfed the British outline stock, I wondered what sort of railway this coach ran on and was it in Germany or elsewhere? Being a callow youth I did not really dwell on this question after the layout was broken up and stock sold off until, as an adult I discovered the Swiss Railway Journeys shows on the Travel Channel via satellite TV. Upon watching the episodes covering the…

My modelling odyssey commenced in 1958 when my parents bought me a Hornby Dublo three-rail train set. My modelling skills were honed over many years with various layouts built in spare bedrooms, sheds, and garages. In 2002 I visited the USA for the first time and on the journey from Orlando airport to our accommodation I saw a long CSX freight train. Wow! Subsequent visits to the USA enabled me to explore Florida and Southern California railroads. These rail-fanning days inspired me to buy a locomotive with sound, a Lenz DCC system, and become a member of the NMRA. Retirement, downsizing when the children flew the nest, and the sale of my existing British layout enabled me to start an American layout in my garage. Planning I wanted to build…

Gremberg is a large freight yard just outside Cologne. After parking a train, the locomotives are serviced and stabled at the depot, which is equipped with a traverser. The presence of colourful locos at this depot had already triggered my imagination. Between December 2008 and December 2019, Belgian TRAXX locos were also based here: first the green-grey series 28, then from 2017 the Lineas locos in RailPool colours. When Modelspoor Magazine announced the conditions for their third mini-layout competition in 2010, this turned out to be the ideal moment to build a miniature version of this depot, for the following reasons: – in addition to the DBAG traffic red locos, many private operators also come to Gremberg, which makes the loco fleet very varied and colourful; – the presence of…