Track Panels in H0f

With the continued arrival of Soviet narrow gauge models, the practice of photographing them on the work table or in the garden has become annoying to me. The models will look much better in a more life-like setting and I have now decided to make a small diorama for photo purposes. I have a good supply of 9 mm gauge track and turnouts and have just taken delivery of some nice 6,5 mm track.

Auhagen H0f track with over head loading machine and mine tub.  

I have equipment in H0 scale in prototype gauges of 750 and 600 mm and the little diorama has to have both and I thus need both H0e (9 mm gauge) and H0f (6,5 mm gauge) track. For the 6,5 mm gauge track I decided to use the Auhagen set 41701 'Feldbahngleis - Attrappen' which is injection moulded plastic track panels on steel sleepers. As the track is all plastic it is non-operational in contrast to the Busch track in the same gauge. As I'm not planning any operation on the H0f track the all-plastic Auhagen track suits me fine.

The set includes much more track than I need and I suspect a lot of the contents will end up as a load for a 750 mm gauge platform wagon or a lorry model. The contents are as follows:

• 18 curved track panels 
• 18 long straight track panels 
• 12 short straight tracks 
• 1 left and 1 right turnout 
• 1 Y-turnout 
• 1 left and 1 right crossing for standard gauge
• 1 turntable 

The Auhagen track geometry explained on part of the instructions.

The track is moulded in a dark red-brown colour to look like rusty steel track panels and the parts are moulded with extra height to give strength and to facilitate easier ballasting when laying the track. The track panels are quite tiny and there are limits as to what detail can be fitted to track in this scale. Nevertheless the track looks good and I'm looking forward to lay track this small.

One long straight section of track and one curved panel. It's obvious how the rails have been moulded solidly and with an extra 'web' between the steel sleepers. Probably to obtain strength for handling and to ease the moulding proces.

Close up of the sprue with turnouts and standard gauge crossing.

Regular track panels - straight and curved.

I've already been cutting a basic structure for the diorama that will be a relatively flat area with industrial buildings, concrete plated road area as well as track in 3 gauges.

A Review of 2025

Another year has passed and for me it's time to review this year's progress on my little Nystrup Gravel layout and other railway modelling activities. The year has not been a great leap forward, but rather the usual determined strive for progress.  

The new Fowler in service pulling skips on the Nystrup Gravel layout. 'Finally' some would say!

In my main modelling scale 1/19 2025 became the year when my Fowler locomotive was finally finished with a new paint job, weathering, detailed cab as well as working lights. Seen in hindsight the loco came to play the role as the project that could always be set aside when something easier or more enjoyable came along. But now the long suffering loco is on track to be the main source of motive power on the line.

Rolling slowly toward the refueling site. The pump held only petrol and the diesel powered Fowler had to be fuelled from canisters.

Three more underground skips in 1/19 scale joined the finished rolling stock for Nystrup Gravel in 2025. Some among the readers may ask if I have finally covered Nystrup Gravel's need for skips. My answer must be a loud 'no'. On most Danish narrow gauge industrial railways skips were plentiful and the most normal piece of rolling stock. Thus skips should be the foundation of any model of a small Danish railway like Nystrup Gravel. Many (modellers and others) are drawn to subjects that are unique and colourful, but my model railway is supposed to look like the prototype did in the 1950's - dull, boring and normal. and with lots of skips! 

All 6 underground skips assembled in the Nystrup Gravel yard with loaded skips pulled by loco no. 3. The new ones (numbered 31, 34 and 36) are seen in the foreground.

With last year's addition of timber bogies I looked forward to the rhubarb season that usually includes running agricultural trains in the garden to bring in the first harvest of the year. I wasn't disappointed as with a set of timber bogies the traffic was definately easier to handle than ever before. Even if my tiny Lister R was only able to pull one set of loaded timber bogies it was great fun! Although I have no plans for a permanent model railway in the garden I'm always thrilled that my model trains are sturdy enough to run back and forth outside.

Usually not a big spender on modelling tools and fancy gadgets, 2025 saw me replace practically all my most expensive tools; mini drill, air brush and compressor. If there is one challenge 2026 is not going to present me it should be investments like that!

A recently received Soviet reefer wagon from Ukraine. 2025's last new model to be added to my H0e collection.

With plenty of 1/19 projects ready on my shelves I have been investing a little more in H0 scale narrow gauge. Not that it will ever be my main modelling theme, but the advantage of small, well detailed models of interesting prototypes is too much for me to resist. Consequently my H0e Soviet 750 mm gauge collection expanded during 20205. I have primarily picked up models from Ukrainian manufacturers and I enjoyed detailing and painting a tiny MD-54-2 loco as well as a small underground loading machine. In the other end of the scale spectrum I added a really large scale project to my modelling experience when I built two laser cut 1/10 scale kits from a Dutch manufacturer. They will never become part of a large collection, but they were wonderful models to assemble and paint, and they are great for display purposes.

Easily the largest models I have ever built: Two 1/10 scale laser cut standard skips. Here the finished versions photographed in the garden.

With my professional work increasingly involving projects in Norway, 2025 has been a year with a lot of travelling. Usually there is very little time to spare when working abroad, but I nevertheless managed a ride on the most northerly tram line on the planet in Trondheim. Fortunately I have also been able to visit full size narrow gauge railways in Germany and Hungary. The 33. Internationales Feldbahnertreffen was hosted by the Stumpfwaldbahn in Germany and provided opportunities for networking and trainspotting. As usual very usefull to learn from other enthusiasts' challenges and help them celebrate their succes. 

The year also saw me becoming part of a consortium owning and renovating a Swedish speeder. As a standard gauge speeder it has been regauged to 700 mm gauge, but with a technical setup giving the possibility of changing the gauge as needed. The speeder can thus accomodate gauges from 600 to 785 mm gauge. I already dream of a tour through Europe visiting narrow gauge friends and their railways!

As part of the Feldbahnertreffen I enjoyed climbing a disused standard gauge railway viaduct above the tree tops. Not for the faint hearted. Photo: Robert Sand.

In spring 2025 I visited Budapest again and had the pleasure of a full return ride on the 760 mm gauged childrens' railway. 

The Swedish speeder has arrived at the vintage narrow gauge railway in Denmark. Still in standard gauge condition. Currently the vehicle is under restoration.

2025 has seen the blog's page views rise considerably with an average of 11.000 views pr. month against the last few years' 3.500-4.500 views. I have no idea why and the statistics isn't giving a clear indication. Perhaps the developing multi-scale activity give H0 modellers more incentive visiting the blog? The rising number of visits is not caused by me being more productive as I have managed nothing but a quite moderate production of 41 posts. December (as usual) is the month with most posts - due to holidays, traditional modelling season and of course the 'extra' post of review of the year.

Let me say happy New Year with a short video of the Fowler returning from the lorry loading ramp - with working head lamp and all. Best of luck modelling to the best of your abilities in 2026!

New Cutting Mat

It's rare for me to get modelling related gifts for Christmas, but this year I got a new cutting mat. It was badly needed as the old was neither level nor particularly self healing due to paint and glue residue.

The new cutting mat with a tiny H0e TU-4.

Scratching a surface the first time is always difficult. Something so new and smooth - the first scratch/bend/cut seems like vandalism. I have made the first cut already and even the next 20! The mat is a tool on the way to good looking results. Consequently I had no feelings of sentimentality when the old one was disposed of. It has helped med create great models in several scales.

A last goodbye! Having served me for more than 15 years its retirement is well deserved.

New HOe Wagon Arrived

Ice cooled reefers on Soviet narrow gauge? Yes, particularly the narrow gauge lines located in the agricultural regions of the Soviet Union were equipped with isolated refrigerator wagons. The 1/87 scale model of a Soviet narrow gauge reefer is part of a larger order that will arrive piecemal with irregular intervals from Ukraine. I was so satisfied with the quality of the two platform wagons that arrived in September that I had to have more!

Fresh out of its box. Another item for the Soviet narrow gauge collection.

The model is handbuilt in Ukraine by 'Miniland', the organisation that operate Ukraine's largest 1/87 scale model railway in Kyiv. The reefer is supplied in a tailor made wooden box with a laser cut outline of the reefer on the top of the lid and foam lining cut to fit tightly around the model. 

The prototype 'isothermic' wagon was built by the East German manufacturer 'VEB Waggonbau Bautzen' in 1954. As the term 'isotermic' reveal the wagons weren't exclusively for keeping their contents cool but rather at a constant temperature. In fact, the wagons were equipped with a heating stove and could consequently also keep the freight from freezing. Bautzen called them 'Kühlwagen' and in Ukraine they were known as 'Льодовик' literally 'glacier', so I guess the main role of the wagon would be to keep meat, fruit and vegetable cool in the warmer months of the year. The wagon was insulated with a layer of 20 cm thick insulation material and could carry 2 tons of ice in compartements to keep the freight cold.

As everything on the Soviet narrow gauge railways the reefer wagons were quite large with a carrying capacity of 15 t. Via thermometers the temperature could be monitored from the outside. Ladders on the ends gave access to roof boards that were used when filling the ice compartments.

Works photograph from Bautzen showing a light coloured 'Kühlwagen' - cooling wagon. The wagons were seen in light grey (perhaps white?), green and brown colours. 

A preserved reefer in the railway museum in Anykščiai at the 'Aukštaitijos' 750 mm narrow gauge railway from Panevėžys to Rubikiai in Lithuania. The thickness of the doors are evident. The wagon has lost many fittings, including the end ladders.

The wagon is priced at 116 € and that is only a little more than a pretty standard H0 Danish passenger car  - and the reefer comes with a nice storage box rather than a flimsy one made from cardboard. Being very good quallity, a rare prototype and handbuilt by a craftsman/woman, I don't consider the price high.

Brake cylinder, back up air tank and piping. Hard to believe this is 1/87 scale and hand made. 

Good, clean decal application. Paint has been applied without faults. Nice work.

Roof running boards around one of the openings for filling the internal ice boxes. Notice the drain leading water over the wagon's end.

Delivery was swift and from ordering to delivery a mere 6 days passed. Quite hard to understand how that is doable from a country being the victim of a Russian invasion and suffering devastating air attacks on its cities almost every night. All the more reason to appreciate the careful work laid in the detailed model!

Ladas in H0

With a steady stream of Eastern European railway models in 1/87 scale arriving, I have begun collecting a few matching cars as well. I had no problem selecting the first type of car to buy: Lada. Rugged, practical, and iconic, it symbolised (well, kind of) national pride in the Soviet Union and will continue to outlive the USSR for many more years.

The Busch Lada 1200 loaded on a Soviet narrow gauge flat wagon. Not an unlikely load in a post-Soviet rural area even today.

There is a wide range of Lada models available but I chose two of the models from the Busch range. I decided to have a rather early model and one of the more recent that I remember myself - including a taxi ride in one on some very frozen streets of Leningrad.

The 1971 Lada 1200 is a finished model while the 1976 Lada 1600 is in kit form.

Instructions for the assembly of the Lada 1600. I think I can handle this level complexity...

The Lada 1200 (VAZ-2101 'Zhiguli') was a licence-built version of the Italian Fiat 124, that was heavily modified and tailored for the rough climate and road conditions across the Soviet Union.  The car was widely and successfully exported to the West under the Lada brand for more than two decades.

The Lada 1600 (VAZ-2106 'Zhiguli') was a modernised version of the original model and it became the Soviet contribution to top the Eastern Bloc charts for comfort and prestige during the communist period as the really expensive and luxurious GAZ and ZIL cars, intended for party members and various state officials, were completely out of reach for ordinary people. 

The Lada 1600 was in production 1976–2006 and after the fall and disintegration of the Soviet Union the model was produced by Russian IzhmashAvto in Izhevsk and RosLada in Syzran. There seems to have been a 'shadow production' in Ukraine, but it was most likely nothing but a tax evading assembly of parts imported from Russia.

I'm slowly beginning to settle for a 2000-themed Eastern European in the western, rural part of the area. Consequently the Ladas will be rather old cars and heavily weathered.

Fowler Finished - Nystrup Gravel no 8

Finally a finished Fowler F 30 on the Nystrup Gravel layout! It has been a long drawn out proces, and over the last couple of years the loco has played the role of the project that could always be set aside when something easier or more enjoyable came along. But now the long suffering loco is on track to be the main source of motive power on the line in the coming years.

Bonkers! Having lined up for a perfect shot of Nystrup Gravel's recently arrived Fowler another photographer forces his way into the image. And wearing a bright yellow pullover!

First job, picking up where I left, was to fit the scratch built sandboxes in the cab. The sanding pipes were adjusted to fit and pencil marks added to aid in placing the sand boxes in equal height above the floor. The boxes were glued in place with AC-glue.

Inside the cab I repaired a tiny amount of overspray, where green paint had crept under the masking tape during painting of the exterior, before I weathered the cab interior. Minor details were also added to the cab floor: two whitemetal wrenches and an oil can. Once the cab was painted I could also fit glazing to the front window openings.

Sand boxes glued in place in the cab and some flaking paint on the company name on the cab rear wall as first stage in weathering.

Moving closer to the finish line!

The previously tested front and rear LEDs were unsoldered from the circuit and the tiny LEDs fitted into the lamps, AC-glued, tested and once I was convinced everything worked I passed the thin wires along the inside roof line of the cab and glued them down with AC-glue. Through a hole drilled in the cab front wall the wires reached the Loco Remote unit in the engine compartement, where they were resoldered and protected from short circuits with heat shrink. I couldn't wait getting the bonnet in place, and the loco was tested on the layout a late evening. It worked!

My wiring probably wasn't the prettiest but I got it all jumbled into a 'bird's nest' and crammed away under the bonnet. Everything was tested once more before I fitted the resin lenses in the lamps. I used Humbrol Clearfix to glue the lenses.

Front lamp glued on (for the second time). The tiny LED is just visible a yellow rectangle in front of the reflector.

Late night testing on the layout because I just couldn't wait! Despite dangling wires all worked fine and nothing on the layout got caught in the wires.

Daylight testing. Wires rolled up the best I could and hidden under the bonnet. Exhaust pipe (chminey) fitted and the Fowler is ready for a little weathering.

With the wires tucked away under the bonnet, I fitted the cab and fastened it with the two small screws through the rear buffer plate. From here it was plain sailing with small details painted, scratches and wear applied with fine brush, sharp pencil and graphite powder, oil washes, rust painting and getting some track dust on the lower part of the loco with the air brush. Finally I could fit the driver figure in the cab and take the loco on a tour of the layout. In no time loco no 8 gathered quite a crowd!

Close up of the loco's rear end. I could get tired of the standard screw heads used to attach the buffer plank. They may be replaced with proper bolts in the future. Other than that I'm quite pleased with the busy look of the cab interior showing.

'Looks solid and sound good' says Thorleif Petersen, chief mechanic and workshop manager at Nystrup Gravel while another employee stands ready if more oil is needed. The driver seems quite relaxed despite all the hype...

I managed to get a good shot of the loco pulling skips through the red wooden building, once the other enthusiast had left.

It's being said that a model railway is never finished, and I guess the same is true for any model I build. There is always something that can be improved. I've already found a few things on loco no 8 and more will probably show up. But now it's time for a new project! 

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is here again! It's incredible how fast a year passes by! I can't believe that in two weeks' time I'm going to take stock of the year's modelling progress, I wish all railway modellers and every reader of the blog a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

As always the Nystrup Gravel Christmas card features a tree and lights, but this year a fox has sneaked in as well. The skips almost disappear in the murky background.  

As usual I'm going to celebrate Christmas with my family in Denmark - a small and peaceful country. I'm blessed with manageable challenges. Not everyone is so fortunate. As usual my thoughts go out to people with little time to design model railways; humans hit by powerty, unrest or war. If you are well-off and don't usualle donate to people in need, please make an exception during this Christmas. Most people running a model railway can probably spare a small sum for a donation to a good cause.

Merry Christmas!