I know a lot of you are probably thinking what has this got to do with Modern Image O Gauge, well... We've been asked recently what we could consider to be 'modern image' and the guys have agree'd that we aren't anti steam, and that we would welcome any layout/steam loco that is currently preserved or made it to work on the mainline after the 1968 'BR Farewell to steam' 

Hattons are attending the Alexandra Palace this weekend for the London Festival of Railway Modelling this weekend, and they've taken along with them the first painted samples of there commissioned LNER A3 & A4 loco's and we've attached some photos of 'The Flying Scotsman' below so you can see these fantastic models in there true form.

Hattons have these listed on there website for pre-order now from there website here, with an RRP of £750 they certainly look like they're shaping up to be worth the money!

Northumbrian Painting services have just released a brand new Portable Cabin kit for the 7mm Market, made from an MDF kit. They had these on show at the Kettering show at the weekend and they were flying off the stand to the point where I believe they'd only got the demo one left!

A few details on the kit are below provided by NPS;

'​MDF Kit
O Gauge Porta-cabin
Width - 24cm
Depth - 6cm
Height - 7cm (includes feet risers)

Comes as a comlete kit with acetate for the windows
Door can be open or shut
£15'

These kits are now available for purchase over on there website below;

www.paintinghistory.co.uk

​I've also attached the images provided below so you can see one ready built.

Although it has been very quiet on the exhibition front, we've been busy working away getting all the details refined. We've also been out on the road visiting no less than 4 exhibitions since we launched our show and venture at the beginning of January.

Since our last update we've managed to extend the list of traders further by getting the guys at Easy-build coaches to sign up to the exhibition. They only tend to do Gauge O Guild shows so we see this as a step in the right direction in getting a great list of traders/layouts together for our exhibition.

Also now confirmed to be attending are PRMRP although previously announced on our webpage we've not really made a big deal about them until we had some concrete information from them!. These guys supply a massive amount of different kits for the Modern Image modeller, and we are delighted they have agree'd to attend the show.

Our third and final trader to have confirmed for the show, is Dapol. We are over the moon that the guys at Dapol see our venture as a viable thing to turn up and support. Since making the Class 08 Dapol have made a massive impact on the 7mm Market with there constant stream of Steam/Diesel appearing, especially with there very reasonable price structure on stuff. 

We feel that we are working our way towards getting a solid line up of traders to go alongside our layouts, comments and suggestions are always welcome as to who you'd like to see. We are now trying to finalise our floor plan within the coming couple of months to help continue us adding traders to our lists.

Thats all for now!
​

Steve Beattie of SBT Developments has today released a massive gap filler that has been seen since the demise of Just Like the Real Thing, was the Air Tanks for the Class 26/27 that were note-able on the air-braked versions of the Class. 

Taken from SBT Website
'Contains pack of 3 loose resin air tanks and two 3d printed angles to represent the air tank modification to Class 26 and 27 Locomotives.' 

They're priced £7.50 a pack and are available from there website now, so head over and get yours!

https://www.sbtdevelopments.com/product-page/class-26-27-air-tanks?fbclid=IwAR3XKraxK2BXztTYwSsIG4E5KVbI1dmC_ZxdO9zmTL2_PbeesYORFCR711Q

We spent the day at the Kettering Gauge O Guild show, after being invited to help promote our show ahead of the exhibition in November. It was a long drive there and back being up to 3 hours for some of our team. Our trade stand was a constant hive of activity with a steady stream of people popping in to have a chat and see what we were up to. We had a great selection of stock on view to try and give a varied and balanced selection to view, including Chris's 37175 in Colas livery.

It was a venue packed to the rafters with a good selection of traders/manufacturers and full of surprises, and announcements. Dapol, Easybuild just to name a couple;
​
Dapol were present with there painted samples of the Class 08's for the next batch due sometime during 2019. The liveries present were Freight-liner Green, Intercity, and 3TG (Trainload Grey). These models were view-able on their trade stand. Along side that they also had a working copy of the 7mm Semaphores which we have been told are due to enter production anytime within the next 2/3 months. These feature working servo's which unlike the early 4mm version of the signals give you the realistic signal bounce when you lower them. We've also been advised that the Class 121/122 DMU's are aiming to be released and into the shops by the end of April. Which for anyone waiting on these they are a bargain at the prices people are advertising them at. Unfortunately there were no samples present at the show.

Easy-build also announced there BR MK1 Metro-Cammell Pullmans and they we're on display also at the show, please see the article below for detailed write up on these!

We've also confirmed our next show to be attending which will be the Gauge O Guild show in Doncaster on the 1st June. We'll update you more on that closer to the time. We've also got a couple of announcements to make over the coming week regarding the exhibition so keep your eyes peeled for that.

Thanks for now the MIOG Team

Today we attended the Gauge O Guilds show at the Kettering conference centre, and there was a great selection of traders/demonstrators in attendance. Whilst there we spotted 'Easy-build' were in attendance at the show and showing off their latest coach kit to be hitting the market soon. These coaches were built in the the 1960's by Metro Cammell based on the original BR MK1 Design for use on Pullman services up and down the country. 

Easy-build have told us today that they intend to have the Kits ready for purchase by the Telford Exhibition at the end of August. We've attached a couple of images of the first sample below. They'll certainly be something to behold!