Kettering 2023

Spent today at the Gauge O Guild Spring Show at Kettering representing the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association. A good day with plenty to see and tempt the wallet, below is a selection of photos of the things that caught my eye. 

Dapol had on display samples of the forthcoming Chelfham station building, gents urinal and signal box kits that will be coming out to complement the Lynton & Barnstaple locos and carriages. Very nice they look too with opening doors, they have great possibilities for freelance modellers too.

Alongside samples of the Stroudley carriages, there were also samples of the Austerity tank loco to admire.

Amongst the layouts, there was an immaculate model of Tetbury with some impressive buildings.

On Denton Sidings, I admired their means of disguising the entrance to the fiddle yard.

In particular, some detail features to draw the eye away…

One feature about seeing layouts at shows rather than photos in magazines or on the web is that you get a feel for the whole layout rather than just what is chosen through the viewfinder. Plus some of the tricks and methods of construction. One being Templegate Wagon Works and the method of operating their sector plate using a window latch, ingenious.

Finally, my eye was drawn to the micro layout Dunwich Tramway, tiny but with some super little detail features in the car and the cat amongst the people on the platform. Made better by the use of a wheezing old Manning Wardle on its last legs.

A grand day out.