Malkara Scale Model Exhibition 2012

We are just back from Malkara Scale Model Exhibition 2012. Bad photos deleted and then the rest uploaded to the PC and a cup of coffee to sip in the balmy 16 degrees inside versus 12 outside. So this year, for reasons unknown to me, no boats and pool at Malkara :-( Cars n trains but no boats. Also seemingly less vendors but maybe more exhibitors, not that I have compared the programs to be sure, just a gut feeling.

Purchased two razor saws (42 TPI and 52 TPI), some Kadee bogies and some whisker #148s for me. Why the razor saws? Tried to, "remove the moulded vacuum cylinders, 'V' hangars and battery boxes" from my OO scale Dapol Autocoach with my usually trusty FatMax blade. The hardest part, "not to break the truss rods or damage the sole bar" They didn't mention thumbs but managed to damage all three :-( So hopefully, less damage will occur with the razor saws and with some styrene painted black to repair the truss rods, all will be back on track (pun intended) to continue with the detailing kit

Would have loved a camera that had a more customisable flash (able to be angled for bounce for example) and/or a wider aperture for low light while keeping shutter speeds short. Some shots I am happy with can be found below.

Trying to find information about US prototype seems much more of a challenge compared to UK prototype, or at least without resorting to Kalmbach resources, not that there is anything wrong with that but I do wonder if they have somewhat of a monopoly on published material on trains big and small.

The 1200 * 1200 layout for 16.5mm guage continues to progress with a better wood saw to cut the uprights: it seems good tools help make work easier and or better, who would have thought?