The Third Rail

29/12/2025

I am busy with the 32 classes. In the pics you will see the difference between the 16.5mm gauge 32-200’s and the sole 32-000 in 12mm gauge.

It’s one loco where the difference in gauge is very noticable. Maybe because the wheelbases are so short.

Lovely looking things. I love the 32’s.

28/12/2025

How to apply them and what to expect. Some dos and don’ts.

You might have your own way and that is cool. This works for me. Keep your eyes peeled. We will open the site on here tomorrow.

Lekker julle!

22/12/2025

One of the jobs I detest doing. But it has to be done.

19/12/2025

Speaking of decals……. Neo just did a couple of sets for Brian Nixon. As she goes along, we will grow the portfolio. If there is anything you as a modeller would like to see that is not custom designed items, let me know.

For now we are printing on white paper. We tried the blue and had to send all of it back. Something about the film not being added. But its not a problem. I have used the white paper for years and prefer it. It reacts beautifully with softener.

Lekker julle!

18/12/2025

I was asked at both shows what I use for making dirt roads and how I faded the class 34GE that I did last.

The single most difficult weathering is indeed fading. It needs a lot of control. It needs very specific colors.

I am making my own color pigments now. Idea is to be able to tell you what pigment to use to fade what color. On the 34 I used GSW pigments. But hell man, the red oxide is too rusty red. The dark oxide is almost purple. Light oxide is orange. I was never really satisfied with it.

So…… I got pigments in raw form from a variety of places. But these things are brutally concentrated. Using my scale and the whole bloody day, I carefully mixed my first pigment. Lol, it looks like a proper laboratory here. Little cups full of s**t everywhere.

And I had precious little white left. I ordered some titanium dioxide just now to use as a filter. Will see how that works out. Rather expensive.

My first pigment is a toner to fade Gulf Red. It works on the wagons in oxide too but I am not entirely satisfied with the latter. You will see in the pics. The Oxide one needs to be lighter. There is a picture of a clas 32-000 woth one side faded and the other side not so you can see the difference. I took apicture of the roof as well so you can judge the contrast.

I will do blue for Spoornet blue, orange for Spoornet orange and dust for dirt roads. Soon I will do browns for the sideframes and bogies too. All under my brand new Honey Badger Railcraft moniker. This will also include decals for South African Railway layouts. The flux and all the SAR, TFR, Rovos, Spoornet, Prasa, Sheltam and Traxtion paints too. We are busy with a website.

What do you guys think? Will there be interest?

Lekker julle!!!!

18/12/2025

Ek skryf in Afrikaans want dit is gepas.

Ek het my “Spore oor die veld” boek deur Boon Boonzaaier gekry. Pragtige boek.

Wat my vernaam verras is die feit dat dit nie oorheers word deur stoomtreine nie. Soos soveel ander publikasies. Hierdie boek konsentreer meer op die diesel en elektriese eenhede. Die fotos in hierdie boek is besonders. Die storie is ryk en lekkerrrrrr en goed nagevors.

Enige mens wat nog verkies om papier tussen sy vingers te voel, hierdie boek moet jy net hê. Jy kan hom óf in Afrikaans óf in Engels koop.

Adri Esterhuizen, oom Boon se dogter, het honderde van hierdie boeke ge-erf en sy het die geld nodig. Haar nommer is nul agt twee agt nege drie vier nul een nege.

Gee haar ‘n luitjie. Jy kan niks beter koop vir R650 nie. En sy verskeep vinnig met Courierguy en die prys sluit die koste in.

Lekker julle!!!!!

15/12/2025

15/12/2025

It is not often that I get excited about a commercial model any more.

But sometimes something so pretty comes out that it stirs me. The Insider club model for 2026 from Marklin is the unclad BR06. Interesting fact, it never ran without streamlining, so it is a “what if” model.

It is exceptionally pretty. A big bastard too. 31cm between couplers. Dynamic smoke, all metal, digital with a 32 function sound decoder. It does not get better than this.

Its expensive though. A cool R20k. I ordered two and they sold within an hour. Marklin is alive and well. If you want to see it on Youtube, it is item no 39661.

Lekker julle!!!

08/12/2025

The Hobby Show was a testosterone affair! Guns, knives and tools. I could not help to wonder where the shops like Jix and GP models were. I did not see a single plastic model, drone or model car.

I also learned that there are still Rivet Counters out there. People that don’t just play trains but actually make Model Railroading a hobby. People that openly desire what I build. And they are prepared to pay.

These are the guys that make me get up in the morning. Make me burn the midnight oil. The dudes that see a different colour door on a car model.
Those that see loose leaves on a shrub. Spoked wheels on a 8E. The elegance of a large loco with a low belly crawling over points like a class 44 does. People that came back the next day, paid again, just to see it one more time.

I love these people. They get excited over the same things I do. Inevitably they become friends.

I am glad I did this show. Now….. it’s back to work. Thank you to EVERYBODY.

08/12/2025

I have a face for radio but thank you to The Hobby Show for the plug.

07/12/2025

Probably the best money you can spend if pleasing crowds is your thing. People love the Luxrailer. I reckon 4 class 44’s with a manganese train will not beat it for drawing a crowd. Unbelievable!!!!

I will invest in SARMODEL Wickham trolleys in future.