Innholdsfortegnelse for No. 104 i Voie Libre international

0/22.2 SCHNELLENKAMP : TRANSPORTWAGEN Michael Schnellenkamp has released a reproduction of the «transportwagen» (carrier wagons) built in large numbers for German metre gauge railways by Both&Tillmann in Dortmund. This industrially-built model, in 1/45 scale for 22.2mm gauge, is made of metal with injected plastic detailing parts and RP25 code 110 wheels. They are designed to carry standard gauge wagons with a maximum wheelbase of 6m. The locking chocks are magnetic and work very well. When tested, on normally laid track, they can run through 400m radius curves. Herbert Fackeldey SCHNELLENKAMP / spur-0-kaufhaus.de / Price: 150€ H0-12 LEOPOLD HALLING : AN ARTICULATED TRAM From the Leopold Halling range, here is a fine, articulated 5-segment model, three of which have wheels, based on a Brussels trams prototype. The model is made of…

It was with great surprise and sadness that we heard about the passing, on 17th November, of Cyril Ducrocq, following a long illness. A gifted and innovative modeller, Cyril had decided once retired to create Trains d’Antan, developing over the years a large range of metre or narrow gauge kits. With his engineering qualifications, he opted from the outset for novel techniques, and was probably the first artisan in France to call on CAD and 3D printing for his master models. His friends and customers will remember his warmth and generous advice. The Editorial Team of Voie Libre expresses its deepest sympathy to his spouse and children.…

Production started in 1970 and ended in 1972. Marketed more as a toy than as a scale model, offering the legendary Märklin ruggedness, the Minex range could have, should have lasted... The concept of reproducing, in 1/45 scale, 750mm narrow gauge track, commonplace in Germany, meant that H0 scale driving chassis could be used – even though that wasn’t really the case – or at any rate the main components thereof, making the production of original models quite affordable. Back to basics For many years, I browsed the Märklin catalogues – to the point where they were worn out, but I still have them. I dreamt of this stock, beyond my budget at the time and not widely distributed. My interest was re-awakened a couple of decades ago, when I…

François Fontana: Principe - Granarolo… Let’s have the story! Erwan Josset: At first, I had no preconceived idea. I hesitated between a layout with whimsical scenery, like those built by Akihiro Morohoshi, or inspired by a real site, which is more my cup of tea. A photo of the lower level station on the Fourvière funicular in Lyon, as well as some videos of the Principe - Granarolo rack railway in Genoa, for which I have a soft spot, provided the basis. An urban setting, gardens on different levels, narrow alleyways and the charm of small local halts tipped the scales. FF: How is the layout built? EJ: The layout consists of two wine boxes and of a central fiddleyard. On the lower level, the line is 6cm above the…

The box is tiny and cute: a kraft cardboard package with a fine green label carries us away at once to a rural dreamland. As is now customary, the Train’in Box team, Christian Fournereau, François Fouger, Eric Fresné and François Fontana suggest you build a narrow gauge layout from A to Z. IT’S ALL IN THE BOX! Seven 3mm thick MDF boards to build the baseboard and the trackbed. All the sectional lengths of track and the turnouts, from the Peco 009 range. Kraft paper to build the relief, and glue to assemble the various parts. But also: coloured paints for decorating the structure, pouches of ballast, sand, flock materials for decorating the ground. The trees are also supplied, as well as fencing for the meadows, not forgetting figures who…

Irrespective of your preferred modelling scale, if you want to apply Sébastien Crouzille’s recipes, Voie Libre has selected some essential ranges of figures. SMALL SCALES The N and H0 scale markets are completely dominated by the Noch and Preiser ranges, which are also available unpainted. We are not aware of any artisan unpainted figure ranges in these scales. In 00 scale, Monty’s Models 00 has a selection of white metal human and animal figures at prices ranging from 1.80 to 9 £. The figures used in the previous article were from this range. 0 SCALE MODELLERS ARE SPOILT 0 scale enthusiasts are probably more accustomed than others to painting their own figures. Besides the unavoidable Preiser, three brands in 1/45 scale seemed worthy of our attention. In the U.K, Phoenix…

In 1939, Minex was a Märklin Meccano-like construction system, but in a smaller scale. Things could be built in the same size as the 0 scale trains. History put a sudden end to this, and this construction sytem was never reissued. A Minex construction set in its original condition is therefore very rare indeed. The Minex name was resurrected in 1970 with the 0 scale narrow gauge range. At first, Märklin mainly targetted modellers. This is obvious from the illustrations of the early catalogues and from the pages of the Märklin Magazine, the track used is from the more realistic K range. New releases were few and far between, over just two years : the box van in 3 liveries and the hand-operated semaphore signal, both in 1971. Afterwards, Minex…

Don’t get the idea that I have abandoned my layout since applying static grass to most of its surface last year. In the meantime, some projects had to be slotted in. And above all, I wanted my ideas to mature before diving into the deep end. It must be kept in mind that Quittancourt is a rural layout, with few buildings. Vegetation is therefore an important part of the scenery, and I didn’t want to get it wrong! Finally, I was inspired by what I see every day around me in Western Britanny: I opted for modelling an area of hedgerows, and divided my scenery into small plots of land surrounded by hedges. This option also enabled me to create a backscene of vegetation whose fairly significant height compensates the…

MATERIALS REQUIRED 1 Java moss (Vesicularia dubyana) is a fast-growing aquatic plant with small leaves, much appreciated by aquarium enthusiasts for its strong covering potential. If you can manage to find some, it is well suited to representing undergrowth on a layout. Don’t expect it to preserve its attractive light green shade. It will inevitably bleach and dry out over time. 2 To use it and preserve it, I coat it with moss green acrylic paint from an aerosol can, with shades of fern green. This job must be performed out of doors with a filtering mask. 3 To give a bit more depth to my green moss once in place, I treat the other side with light brown paint. 4 Once spread along the hedgerow, Java moss provides an…

Bahia de Naroco, a lockdown layout on a remote island, where everyone lives happily in the sunshine… H0-9 Layout Ambre Chovin: Hello Fred. Tell us what inspired you? Fred Mottet: During lockdown, I needed to keep myself busy while having fun. What is better than a layout to keep the mind clear and travel without having to move? My only constraint was having to manage with whatever I had in my cupboards. I felt that my layout had to take a stand against the pandemic, so I created Bahia de Naroco, a place where the sun shines permanently and illness is unknown. AC: Tell us about this fine layout. FM: It’s a micro-layout (measurements: 41 x 62cm) which I designed to fit into a Train’in Box package, meaning it could…

A moniker that was not unjustified, as the very first derailments took place not only during construction work, but even on the very day of the opening of the line, when the rails sagged under the weight of the train! HISTORY It was in August 1894 and in 1896 that the creation of the various lines of the Tramways de l’Indre network was approved: Issoudun to Vatan and Vierzon, Châteauroux to Valençay and Le Blanc to Argentonsur-Creuse, with a branch to Chaillac. Unfortunately, the decisions taken and the choice of materials to be used were governed by economics, and this was the source of all future troubles. Low-quality sleepers, shoddy earthworks, track laying before the expropriated land had been duly paid, etc. The system wasn’t even completed before problems cropped…

Located in the Trentin region of northern Italy, the line was built - when this area was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire – by the Stern & Hafferl company, which still operates railways in Austria nowadays. Electrified from the outset in 800V DC, it was very reminiscent of a long suburban tramway. Over a total length of 59.6km, only 17 were built on the line’s own right of way, the remainder running along the roadside or down the street when running through villages. Along the Noce, the original route From Trento (alt. 192m), the line runs up the valley of the Noce river as far as the terminus at Malè (alt. 726m). Over some 30km, the line is mostly on the level in the Piana Rotaliana, then becomes a typical…

1 The MBR model trees are supplied carefully packaged in transparent plastic boxes, but slightly compressed to prevent them from moving. The first step is to give some air to the branches. So I unfold them and give a realistic shape to the tree. A chestnut tree, with its large leaves, generally looks quite bushy when it grows on its own. 2 In summer, the foliage of a chestnut tree is far from being uniform. The pale shade of its clusters of male flowers contrasts strongly with the darker green of the leaves. This effect can easily be reproduced by applying touches of matt acrylic medium using a stiff paintbrush. 3 The next stage consists simply in sprinkling lighter shaded leaves than the basic foliage, shaking the tree regularly to…

MATERIALS REQUIRED MBR model undergrowth ref. 50-5001 and 50-5002 Scissors Brass wire White Cléocol glue 1 Sold as square blocks, 15cm x 15cm, in various shades, the MBR model undergrowth is an attractive product, but does require a bit of work to give truly good results. 2 The simplest approach consists in removing the quantity needed by tearing it off the mass. This undergrowth is made up of 4cm long fibres, part of which is not flocked. Using scissors, I cut this bare basis. 3 It is also possible to make small bushes by tying a few twigs together using metal wire. Using scissors enables me to vary the height of the small shrubs I create. 4 The base of each clump of undergrowth is coated with wood glue, and…

The idea of this layout actually came from a project drawn by Christian Navello: a pleasing perspective showing part of a small rail-served port in Britanny. What was more, it only required two turnouts and a few lengths of track. As the project was small, it didn’t require very much in terms of raw materials, and Pascal happened to have some plywood offcuts in stock. So his mind was made up: despite living in one of the most scenic parts of France, the mountains of Forez, he would create a small part of Britanny – another region he is very fond of - in a corner of his study. Designed for short rolling stock Pascal has been fond of trains since his childhood, since his godfather gave him his first…

Some modelling bits and bobs lying around the bottom of a drawer, a long-standing urge to model a trackplan and a sketch from an old special issue of Loco-Revue, and the challenge suggested by my friend Fred… Nothing more, in fact, than friendly reactions and a strong need to create something to escape weird times. Scraps and jetsam The MinitrainS steam engine is shunting a few Peco V-tippers, while the small crane is an Artitec model. The fiddleyard is located on the right-hand side. The layout features one turnout and three straight sections of track, and fits into a fruit crate. The base consists of three pieces of Styrofoam, covered with plastic sheet imitating paving stones, and a blend of plaster for the bottom of the canal. What Gérard enjoys…