More Garden Railway Rallies - 3 meetings in only 4 days

Shortly after a very busy week described in this blog post, our members were involved in running Garden Trains on several occasions again. These times there were not the usual 'Trains & Coffee' or 'Trains & BBQ' meetings, but meetings with some sort of other purposes.

Swap Meeting at Pletten Railway

First out was Thomas who invited the public to a 'Garden Railway Swap Meet' and a running session (to set the scene) at his Garden Railway; Pletten. 

I've experienced that my Heeresfeldbahn HF130C Diesel has reduced battery capacity since I mounted the rechargeable battery 2 years ago. Ok, I've used this loco for about 13 hours the last 10 days on very wet and slippery rails or a hauling a heavy rake, both on inclines, which again is taking a toll at the running time between each recharging. -But from about 3 hours to 2 ???!!!???

-So  for this session I decided to bring my Heeresfeldbahn Diesel for another outing, but with a shorter and lighter train this time to see if the length and weight of rake in combination with steep inclines and slippery rails was causing this problems. An armed and empty goods this time, for a pick up goods close to the demarcation line are getting ready in the fiddle yard:

A nice thing with the combination of swap meeting and running session is that you can try the 'goods' before buying them. I found a heavy model of a Caterpillar tractor with rotating metal belts. I think it's been kept outside as it looks 'naturally weathered'. I tried it as a load, and found that it looked so much like a 1917 5 ton Artillery Tractor that I decided to buy it as I got a good price. So the question is to paint it and weather it, or not? Since it's loaded on a German train on the Eastern Front it's probably some captured Soviet lend - lease equipment originally from the U.S. that my empty goods train picked up this day. Now my 'empty' wasn't so light anymore:

Since this was a swap meet, did I buy anything else except for that '1917 Artillery Tractor'? I got these couple of wagons as a real bargain. They're very well used, missing some pieces here and there and awfully painted. It looks like I'm having some (Heeresfeldbahn-) projects this winter:

Thank you Elaine and Thomas for the invitation and hosting this swap meeting and running session and for your hospitality!

Did the running time improve much on the battery? It's inclines on Pletten Ry. too, but the weather and tracks were dry, and the rake not too heavy, so I'd expect running time close to 3 hours. In 2 hours and 15 minutes the battery was discharged. Luckily I have another one, so I can swap when needed. 

Running trains for a Reportage at Opsundbanen

Heine was asked by the Swedish model magazine Allt om Hobby if they could come and make a reportage and article of his Garden Railway. He was delighted and wanted to add traffic to his layout while the journalists was there, so he invited to an 'early bird' running-session. I don't think I've ever been up this early before just to run trains in a garden before. According to the fiddle yard there were many early birds this morning:

Since this 'audience' is new to it, it would be another re-appearance of my trusty Heeresfeldbahn train again. This time my Heeresfeldbahn Diesel ran flawless on only one charging for the 2+ hours of this venue:

I'll also added my Live Steam War Department locomotive to add some variation and interest. This time loaded with my newly acquired Artillery Tractor I bought 2 days earlier:

I let the editor of the magazine run my W^D train, which allowed me take some photos and videos of it while running. It takes so much concentration to run a Live Steam locomotive, so this is actually the train I have less photos and videos of whilein action:

There was actually more trains on the line that I could record them all this morning, but here are some impressions:

This Rätische Bahn work train is scratchbuilt by Arne. It has a lot of functions, just like the real thing:

The Main Character today was naturally Heine who has constructed this amazing garden railway, and keeps inviting us over for running sessions and are actively contributing to this active garden railway society:

Heine served coffee and breakfast in the garden this morning:

Thank you for inviting us over and for your warm hospitality Heine!

Running trains at Gylmer's Garden Railway during an "Open Garden" arrangment

The following day Gylmer was having a nearby 'Garden Society' over for a visit and an 'Open Garden' arrangement. This was coincidentally the same day as our regular club-meetings so Gylmer invited the members over for a running session to add traffic to his Garden Railway. One of the purposes by this arrangement was to show the members of this 'Garden Society' that trains can be added to a lovely garden just to make it even more spectacular. The weather was also lovely for running trains outside.

3 days earlier Gylmer acquired some G-scale buildings from the 'Swap Meeting' described in the first paragraph in this blogpost:

He had already serviced them and placed them on his layout ahead of the 'Open Garden' arrangement. It looked really good! Just compare these recent photos with photos from last time we visited Gylmer's Garden Railway:

Even if we've been to Gylmer's lovely Garden Railway before, I haven't made any Cabview video of it. Yet. But here it finally is, both the outer and inner circuit:

Since the outing in Heine's garden the day before, I didn't have time to unpack my trains at home (like several other members). So this was another outing with my German Heeresfeldbahn- and my British War Department trains. They were 'new' to this audience anyway. The W^D livesteam locomotive seemed popular among the spectators:

The Mallet locomotive in the foreground is actually also a German ex-Military Heeresfeldbahn locomotive. 20 were built during WW1, but all were scrapped. A 'replica' was made in 1925 and is the only one left. I wonder when Heine is going to paint his locomotive 'Grey'...

This time I kept my rake light and short and combined with that there isn't so steep inclines on Gylmer's layout, my Heeresfeldbahn Diesel was close to 3 hours of running time again. It didn't actually discharge at all during this day out.

I was so busy driving trains that I almost didn't have time to take photos or videos this time:

There were about 50 people visiting Gylmer's garden this afternoon:

It's really 'hard' to run trains in the garden, so refreshments were received with gratitude:

And it was not only the 'scale staff' our hosts cared for:

Trains & Coffee (and 'LuftwaffLe'). -And actually it turned out to be a 'Trains & BBQ' arrangement as well: 

This day was actually also the 'International Dog Day', so this is to honor our pawed friends:

This time I noticed a small scene or cameo on Gylmer's layout, reminding me of our accommodation at the small mountain farmhouse during the Grand Opening of Hummelfjellbanen in Dalsbygda. It's a prototype for every thing 🙂

Thanks for the invitation and your hospitality Gylmer. We had a great day out in your garden!

The members in our model railway club have attended 3 garden meetings and running sessions in only 4 days. -And the weather has been warm and sunny and perfect for such outdoor activities! We usually run trains no matter weather, but it's always nicer to be outside when it's hot and sunny. -We were lucky, because the day after the last running-session in this blogpost it startet to rain for a period. 

I guess these meetings was also to mark the 'Seasonal Finale' for our running sessions.

This Blogpost is dedicated to Thomas, Elaine, Heine and Gylmer who has invited us and hosted these days out. Your hospitality is warm and highly appreciated! I am grateful!! Thank you!!! 

Blog PostScript 

At the final stages of writing this blogpost there was another phenomenon that was about to trend Facebook again. This time it was AI generated images of box art from "what-if" Airfix 1/32 figure sets, never actually made. There are surely a lot of creative people out there, but there was 'one set I missed', so I decided to make a contribution my self. Too bad Airfix never made this as it would be nice to add along Z-scale and T-gauge model trains:

I tried to 'stretch this phenomenon a little further' by trying to add some contents to the suggested Airfix box of 'Garden Railway Enthusiasts':

Benchy Battle

This summer I visited the Norwegian Naval Museum in Horten, and got inspired to do more maritime modelling or wargaming. As with most wargames I play I wanted the rules to be free and easy however. I am a member in a Fb-group called 'Super Cheap Wargaming', which is right up my alley regarding my interest for wargaming on a budget. Earlier this year another member uploaded his home brewed naval rules called 'Benchy Battle'. I've never tried naval wargames before, but this seemed so easy that I decided to give them a go. Besides the rules was based on 'Benchies', which you're going possess some of if you're into 3D-printing (which I am).

What is a Benchy?

A 'Benchy' is a 'tugboat' and is likely to be the most 3D-printed object in the world as it is a model to test accuracy, calibration and print-quality of 3D-printers. 'Benchy' is described as "the jolly 3D-printing torture-test" by it's creator (Creative Tools). The 'Benchy' is actually 10 years old these days.

Preparing the game

I needed a ocean battlefield. -On a budget off course. I could have used ordinary blue cloth or fabric for this, but I found a dead cheap plastic tablecloth with printed ocean pattern and wanted to try that for this wargame:

It looks like the 'Battle mat' is approved by Linus

Even if I do have some Benchies after calibrating my own 3d-printer, I decided to go fancy here and 3D-print some naval-versions of them as this is originally a naval wargame. These are certainly not 'scale models' and I wanted to print them quickly, so these are 3D-printed with a lower resolution (0.18mm layer height) than I usually use for my print-settings (<0.10mm). I think they turned out just fine:

With these results of a 'Benchy calibration test' I'll guess some of my readers will tell me that the settings on my 3D-printer are all wrong... 

I think there is a new company owning the licence to the original Benchy now, and a lot of Benchy re-mixes, like those I printed, are removed from some sites for free 3D models and files. So get them while you can.

I wanted to add some 'islands' that one of the sides has to defend and the other navy tries to take control over. Here I just used some rocks I 3D-printed back in 2021, but I wanted to add a little 'scenery' and visual interests to them so I 3D-printed a couple of buildings to place on one of them. Printed in white PLA  and simply just 'blackwashed':

Now I was ready  for my very first naval wargame.

The Rules

The rules seems to be 'home brewed' and a 'father/son collaborative' by John Christopher Sr. and Jr:

The Scenario

The rules suggest that each player can activate up to 3 Benchies each turn, so to keep it simple I decided to do it easy and play this wargame with 3 Benchies each side. Navy B are protecting the water of the coast of 'Benchy Islands', while Navy A will try to defeat them and gain control of 'Benchy Islands'.

Forces:

• Navy A

From left to right; Gunboat, Corvette and Battleship 

• Navy B

From left to right; Battleship Corvette and Gunboat 

Mission:

For both navies; To eliminate the opponent to gain control of the coast of 'Benchy Islands'. Navy B in top of the photo and Navy A below:

The Game

Time:    36 minutes

Turns:   7

Result:  Navy A by achieving both it's mission and by points (7 pts. vs. 0 pts.)

As Navy A was keeping a steady course towards 'Benchy Islands'...

...Navy B was hesitating and slowly maneuvering into defensive positions to meet the potential threat:

When coming into firing range, Navy A immediately opened fire... 

...and scored a (unsaved) hit:

Excited by the success, Navy A became more offensive:

Navy B was still hesitatingly moving into engaging positions:

- When Navy A suddenly opened fire again...

...and scored another (unsaved) hit:

The entire Navy A flotilla was now changing course for the last remaining Navy B ship:

Aroused by earlier success both ships from Navy A opened fire at the same time against the last Navy B ship. One shot missed and the other was 'saved':

When trying to move into a even more favorable position, a ship from Navy A accidentally rammed the last Navy B ship bow to bow...

...Successfully (!)

This was a superior victory for Navy A which without any losses now controlled the waters of Benchy Islands:

Pros

• The rules are free.
• The rules are very fast to learn and easy to play.
• Despite the name of the game, you don't actually need Benchies to play it as you can substitute with other ship models.
• Fewer miniatures and terrain items takes less time to set up.

Cons

• Limited maneuverability. Activated Benchies can only move in a straight line, and must move the full number of inches you rolled on your D6. Therefore it can not stop before an obstacle ahead as an island, reef, mine-field, a sinking ship or the edge of the tabletop, but will run straight right into or over it. I belive a ship commander would adjust speed and course to get into a favorable position for his mission,  and at the same time try to avoid other problems instead of steering straight into them. For instance getting close to an obstacle (because it can provide some cover), stop, and maneuver around it the next turn.
• No different stats for different ships  regarding weaponry, firepower or armor (health)

The Race

These wargame rules also opens to play this game as a 'Race' between ships, so I'd thought I should try those parts of the rules as well in this review. Here it is an advantage to move the 'Fully D6" move' since all vessels are going in the same direction as fast as possible. I'll let my 2 navies race each other, and at the same time be able to ram and shoot at each other during the race:

Time:    19 minutes

Turns:   7

Result:  Navy A by achieving both it's mission and by points (7 pts. vs. 0 pts.)

Ready, Set, Go!!

Navy B gets the initiative by sailing it's Battleship at full speed and letting the 2 other ships protecting it's stern. Navy A accidentally and successfully rams into Navy B's rear guard and sinking one of the ships:

While the second rearguard ship from Navy B is hit by fire from Navy A:

Now there was only one way to win this, or break even by points, for Navy B; And that was to go full ahead:

But Navy A was closing in, and soon the last ship of Navy B was in shooting range. Navy A opened fire...

... and scored another unsaved hit:

The Race was now become an internal race within Navy A to see which ship would be first. So no more shooting at each other as they were all on the same side:

The Battleship already had the most favorable position: 

But after a short while the smaller Corvette was closing in:

Really close on the end...

...But the Battship finally won at last!

Conclusion

Making larger 'Battleship Benchies' for the initial wargame was a tactical blunder as all ranges are short and probably fits the original small Benchy better. The larger ships simply became bigger targets and easier to ram. 

The limitation in the maneuverability which can force you to run into objects you normally would have avoided is such a big 'Con' for me, that I'm less likely to play these rules again. But even if I made Naval Benchies for this wargame I might use them again for trying out other easy to play (and not too serious) naval wargame rules. Time will show, so please follow this blog to find out.