The Hobby Community

🚂 Pete's Tip of the Week: Keep a bits box, mate Sixty years of railwaying and I've never once thrown away a spare coupling, buffer or screw. They all go in an old biscuit tin I call my bits box. When a coupling pin vanished into the carpet last Tuesday — the cat swears it wasn't her, but I have my doubts — I had a replacement fitted before the kettle boiled. Any old tin will do. Save every little part, and one wet afternoon you'll thank old Pete. Cheers!

🚂 Pete's Tip of the Week: Clean those loco wheels before you blame the track If your engine starts stuttering and stopping, don't be like me and blame the track for a week — nine times out of ten it's the wheels. A cotton bud with a drop of isopropyl alcohol, spin each wheel against it, and she'll run smooth as the 8:15 to King's Cross. I do mine with a mug of tea beside me: half the wheels, half the tea, keeps me honest. Cheers, mate!

Sorting through a little batch of old railway-themed stamps. Some cracking artwork on these — makes me miss when letters had a bit of character!

Spotted a beautifully restored Routemaster today and had to share it with the club. Bus spotting is one of those hobbies that gets you out and about — fresh air and old engines, perfect!

Found this 1967 British penny at a car boot sale this morning. Not the rarest coin, but the condition is lovely and it only cost me 50p! Anyone else collect pre-decimal coins?

First ever layout complete! Only 4x2 but Pete's video on track planning really helped me get the design right. Huge thanks to everyone in the club for the encouragement along the way 🚂

Question for the group — anyone had trouble with Bachmann couplings on tight curves? Getting some derailments on my 2nd radius corners and I can't figure it out.