We’ve just received advance copies of the coming July edition of NGDU, out in the last week of June.

This issue is a ripper – last year we visited master modeller George Sebastian-Coleman’s wonderful On3 layout. George has followed the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad for many years, and his modelling captures the vast and arid scenes along the Alpine Tunnel line. Our photographic tour visited some iconic sites in 1:48 scale, including the “Palisades” rock wall, Alpine Station, Sherrod Loop and more. George has captured the ‘feel’ of the DSP&P better than anyone we know.

The new edition includes plenty more also – from simple projects like a large-scale stand-pipe; an On30 stock wagon; building boxcars in styrene and a neat solution to soldering supplies. Watch out in your mailbox or local stockist….

I hope that most NGDU readers have the chance to tackle some refreshing projects over the holidays. My own project has been another foray into live steam – a 7/8″ Hunslet called “Jack”. This combines parts from Roundhouse engineering and several hobby-based manufacturers, with plenty of brass soldering, tinkering and occasional bad language. I’m delighted that Jack is already steaming, although the cab and detailing is yet to be added. Check out our Facebook page to see some snippets of Jack’s steam tests on my garden railway…

We’re just waiting on supplies for the January edition, which will be out prior to the Xmas break.

What’s in store for your holiday reading? January’s issue features “Tracks to the Trenches” – Ian Shiels’ atmospheric WW1 layout. We also build a dilapidated D&RGW stock car with Hans Hirblinger; make some forest trees using simple methods; adapt factory kits in O and N scales; and cover the history of the iconic Canungra Tramway. And more!

Work is also well advanced for our 2017 editions, with some great features lined up: a scenic VR narrow gauge layout; a massive operation-focussed garden railway; and a visit to famed Alpine Tunnel in On3.

Here on the website, we’ve updated the ‘all articles index’ again – it has a nifty “search” feature, so key in a few words to list all the back-reading you might have missed.

Watch out for the January edition, out soon.

A quick cross-post here, and a plug for the newly-arrived “NQR” Victorian Railways open wagon from Haskell Co in On30. Initial impressions are very positive – these injected-styrene RTR wagons have excellent and crisp detailing. We’ll be sure to do an in-depth review for the January edition of NGDU!

See NGDU’s Facebook page for more info, and for sneak-peek photographs.

Issue 63 – October 2016 – is now available; copies will be mailed to subscribers this week.

This edition includes a semi-portable On30 layout by Laurie Green and John Hunter – see how their desire for easy transport influenced the design and construction of this exhibition display. There’s also a step-by-step project to model a VR narrow gauge wagon; a neat kit bash for a UK-outine OO9 engine; an N scale scratch build project and plenty more.

What caught our eye: It’s hard to think of a more interesting prototype for a micro shunting layout than the “Gasworks”, covered in detail by John Dennis in this issue’s “Off the Beaten Track”. We’ve included period photos and a track plan, together with a description of the line’s unusual point operations.

Get your copy of the October edition for some practical projects, great layouts and prototype inspiration…

Great to see many of NGDU’s US-based subscribers and authors at the Augusta National Narrow Gauge convention this week. The convention went really smoothly, with some great visits to Maine narrow gauge museums and sites.

We enjoyed catching up with NGDU’s US-based network, and to see some brilliant home layouts. While George Sellios’ F&SM rightfully generates headlines, Stan & Deb Ames’ outdoor railroad was a fantastic visit; and George Sebastian-Coleman’s DSP&P Alpine Tunnel layout captures the stark loneliness of the high country.

There were also some exciting new products – from Bachmann’s latest G scale 2-6-0 engines to diminutive Model-T railcars in HOn30. We’ll feature more of these items in coming editions

Thanks to everyone who hosted and chatted with us during the convention.

The 12th Australian Narrow Gauge Convention was held in Bowral over Easter 2015. A great job by the organising committee, volunteers and presenters made for a wonderful weekend. Attendees got to see NGDU’s current feature layout, Geoff Potter’s “Hoyt Clagwell Tractor Co” in person – and comments confirm what a great layout it is. Grab a copy of the April edition to see for yourself…

The January edition of NGDU is now available. Regular subscribers will have received copies by mail for some holiday reading. Copies are also available through stockists and hobby stores, and through selected newsagents.

January’s issue features some neat layouts and excellent scratch build articles. There are plenty of holiday project ideas – building an old-time bridge; techniques for brass diesel locos; a neat OO9 kit bash; and two lovely small layouts.

The October 2014 edition is also still available, via our online store.