Small Scale Military Headquarters

Hi guys,

I’m Andy and the wife’s Jo and we’re new to the forum!
Jo wants to build a garden railway and base it on a Welsh narrow gauge railway in the 1940’s. To supplement this we want some US forces over here and of course over paid! Joking aside we have begun a small collection of 1:18 scale WW2 US army. Our collection will be used around the railway to portray US forces exercising in preparation for the assault on fortress Europe (please feel free to have a look at our blog: https://sites.google.com/site/andyrobin ... en-railway). I’m hoping to find lots of useful ideas as I explore the forum.

Best Wishes
Andy and Jo

Welcome to aboard. I'm sure you'll be able to draw plenty of inspiration from any number of the other members. Some of them do some really impressive dioramas and custom work. I joined at the beginning of this year and I've benefitted greatly from the wealth of knowledge and talent. It has inspired me to really expand my own collection and my skill set. Judging by your blog and photos it would appear your off to a great start. Once again, welcome and I hope you enjoy it.

Very cool garden (and shed)! I'd been looking at garden scale railways a lot recently wondering how to get some good track for a 1:18 diorama. If you have any sources or suggestions please post.

Great setup, can't wait to see how it progresses!

You know those crazy people in the UK and their crazy awesome train sets!

I have a few UK buddies who do the same thing (Garden Trains). It is, without a doubt, a very awesome hobby in itself! GLad you signed up!!!! Can't wait to see more!!!!!

welcome aboard.... sounds cool!

Nice work there! Did you make the "Dads Army" figures yourself?

Welcome!

You need some Germans attacking the train!

Welcome aboard !!

Welcome aboard. We have members from all over the globe here.

Hi Andy & Jo Welcome aboard...its looking good guys

All Aboard!

I mean Welcome Aboard.

The Brits are pretty famous for collecting trains, and the most impressive diorama's I have ever see, have always been train diorama's.

Cheers guys, thanks for the warm welcome!

The garden railway is actually 1:19 scale (16mm: 1ft). So our 1:18 scale armour doesn’t quite fit, but we’re happy to mix it up a bit.

Track - we use:
Peco SL-600 SM-32 Flexitrack.

This type of track uses a nickel rail on plastic wood effect sleepers, great for use in the garden, but perhaps not for a diorama. It is possible to buy bull head rail and produce your own wooded sleepers. I haven’t researched this myself however a good place to start would be the Association of 16mm Narrow Gauge Modellers:

http://www.16mm.org.uk/newsite/informat ... fault.html

I’m afraid I didn’t make the Dad’s army figures they are produced by a small firm called Busy Bodies:

http://www.robbennett.org/

I’d love to justify the purchase of a Tiger tank but to my knowledge the Germans never landed in North Wales! Now a Junkers Ju 88 or a Heinkel He 111 on a bomb run would stir things up in Porthcastell!

Best Wishes
Andy