Saturday 7th October 2006

NEWSLETTERS PAGE ADDED TO THE SITE

A new page has been added to the site where all the group's newsletters that are over 9 months old will be made available to non-members of the group as well as members.

Friday 30th June 2006

Sunday 19th March 2006

NEWSLETTER ISSUE #3

The third issue of our newsletter has been published and circulated electronically to all members. This issue includes articles about SouthWest Trains, using etched brass sides, building the latest NGS wagon kit (PHA/JGA bogie aggregates hopper) and how to straighten bent resin kits as well as regular features. A reference copy is available in the 'members only' area of the website. If you would like to receive future issues of the newsletter and to have access to the members only area of this website then you can join free of charge if you are a member of the 'N Gauge Society' at http://www.ngauge-modern.co.uk/join_form.html

Thursday 16th February 2006

PICTURES  ADDED

Two new photographs added to the EMU gallery

Wednesday 8th February 2006

JAPANESE MODERN LORRIES

A short review and pictures of a new range of N gauge trucks has been added to the members only area.

Friday 3rd February 2006

RECENT WEBSITE UPDATES

A number of updates have recently been made to the website including; reviews of the Bachmann and Dapol class 66 in the 'articles' section, an update about modular layouts in the 'Members only' section and new photographic galleries.

Wednesday 25th January 2006

FARISH 2006 RANGE ANNOUNCED

Farish announced at the Toy Fair a range of new models intended to be launched over the next 18th months. Of interest to the 'modern' modeller are a class 150 Sprinter dmu, class 04 diesel shunter and a number of all new modern wagons. For full details see their website at http://www.grahamfarish.co.uk/home.php4

DAPOL ANNOUNCEMENT

Dapol responded with an announcement that they would be dropping the models duplicated by Farish's new range from their intended list. For further details see their bulletin board on their website at; http://www.dapol.co.uk/home.html

Wednesday 18th January 2006

2006 PRODUCT RANGE ANNOUNCEMENTS DUE

Next week will see some important announcements from the two major British 1:148 outline N gauge model manufacturers regarding their product ranges. Bachmann will be publishing information on the Farish website at noon on Wednesday 25th January to co-inside with the press day of the London Toy Fair. Dapol will be making their announcement on their website a couple of days earlier at noon on Tuesday 23rd.

BACHMANN APPOINT NEW PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER

Bachmann have appointed Dennis Lovett as the company's first Public Relations Manager. Previously he was Virgin Trains Corporate Affairs Deputy Director and has an extensive background, experience and knowledge of railways. Encouragingly, not only is he interested in railway modelling, but has researched the history of Graham Farish as part of his studies.

Friday 30th December 2005

NEW ARTICLES ADDED

Two new articles have been added to the 'Articles' section. One is from newsletter issue #1 and the other a resume of the benefits for 'modern' enthusiasts available when joining the N Gauge Society.

Monday 12th December 2005

NEWSLETTER ISSUE 2 PUBLISHED

The second issue of the newsletter was published today and sent out electronically to all members of the group. In addition a copy is included in the archive section for reference and to be available to members joining later. The archive section is in the 'members only' area.

Monday 26th September

Members Area

The members area has now been set up. You should notice on each page on this site, below the regular menus, an area where you can enter your NGS membership number and the password you chose/were allocated when you joined the Modern Area Group. This will take you to the members area where, amongst other things, you will be able to access online the newsletter that is sent out to members of the area group.

Friday 23rd September

MODERN 'N' GAUGE LAYOUTS

Certainly one of the most important and powerful marketing devices that can help promote and push forward interest in N gauge 'modern' modelling is the appearance of quality layouts, representing the genre and scale, at model railway exhibitions up and down the country. Without doubt if people see interesting, well crafted, enjoyable and entertainingly operated layouts they can become inspired and encouraged to 'have a go' themselves.

Unfortunately there is probably an under-representation of all N gauge layouts at exhibitions and in particular those from the 'modern' era. This is usually for a number of reasons including exhibition managers and organisers personal biases and beliefs, such as perception about poor running or favouring particular scales and eras, and there not being a huge number of available quality N gauge layouts to choose from. Certainly there is a dearth of such layouts around and with the retirement from the exhibition scene of 'Acton Main Line' we have lost one of the seminal, most influential and best showcase layouts for 'modern N'.

Yes, there are a some excellent modern N gauge layouts around, such as 'Drem', 'Woodhead', 'Shaweport', 'Stapleforth Mainline', 'Millfields', 'Elgin' and 'Kings Park' but they seem to be rather restricted in the geography of where they appear, tending to be exhibited on a rather parochial basis, are limited in numbers and unfortunately are no longer brand new to the circuit. Without doubt I'm sure that most members of this group will agree that we need to see an increase in the building, development and exhibition of new, interesting and quality layouts that feature 'modern' N gauge.

We (the group's committee) would like to see the NGS 'Modern' group get involved with developing and exhibiting a showcase signature layout and supporting the overall proliferation and growth in numbers of such layouts. However, this is not an easy task for a widely spread group who tend mostly to only be connected electronically through email and the WWW and whose members have their own particular favourites concerning eras and locations
within the generic 'modern' idiom. There has already been a great level of wide ranging discussion and speculation about what the group should do.

After consideration we propose that two parallel 'tracks' (excuse the pun) are taken - we will continue to explore the viability of developing a Group showcase layout, however we will also support those members who wish to take the modular route. There are plenty of existing standards for N gauge modules so we would suggest that there may be little point in the 'group' trying to invent a new one. To that aim we are looking for a volunteer to co-ordinate the modular activities - please contact us if you would happy to fill this position.

Further details about suggestions for a groups showcase layout will be published here on the website in the future. So in the meantime if anyone has any suggestions or input they would like to make please email here.

Monday 19th September 2005

Warley meet

As mentioned in the newsletter is has been suggested that we schedule an informal meeting at Warley to be able to get together, put faces to names and chat about modern N gauge modelling with like minded individuals. However, we would like members to suggest the most appropriate and favourable day - Saturday or Sunday - and time. Please contact us here and let us know your preferance.

Sunday 18th September 2005

Newsletter published

The first edition of the groups newsletter was published and circulated by email to members. Those without email addresses and requesting it by post will have have a hard copy printed and put in the post.