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00:00This is Britain's biggest model-making company, home of four iconic brands, Hornby, Airfix,
00:13Scalextric and Corgi.
00:15That's terrific, that really does look good.
00:19Here it comes!
00:22In this series, we'll follow the designers as they strive to shrink a new generation
00:27of mighty machines.
00:28Literally the real thing, in miniature.
00:31This is where as a kid I used to spot, I thought, if we could recreate that, that's what model
00:36rowers are all about.
00:37And everybody knows this logo, don't they, it's iconic.
00:41And it's running absolutely beautifully, in the wrong direction.
00:45From century-old steam engines, to cutting-edge racing cars.
00:49It's going to be really exciting to be able to put that onto that smaller scale.
00:54This is what we do, we make pieces of art.
00:58I think we press the button, we go into production, let's get them in.
01:01And we'll marvel at some of Britain's best home builders.
01:04This is our layout, four seasons in one rotation.
01:08I think everybody likes something in miniature.
01:10There is my grandmother's shop.
01:12Creating entire worlds fit for these mini masterpieces.
01:22This time...
01:23Oh my God!
01:24Here we go.
01:26A unique trade fair is a rollercoaster for Simon and Montana.
01:30That's 20 quid.
01:31As sales go up and down.
01:34We need a strategy.
01:35We need something.
01:38One enthusiast strives to take model rail to the next level.
01:42What I'm really hoping is for people to understand the vision that I have.
01:47Whilst another wants to create a legacy with her grandkids.
01:50I didn't see any point in having it if they weren't going to have fun with it.
01:56And the team flirt with all kinds of difficulties.
01:59I'm trying to obtain the best sounds possible.
02:02On one of the world's most modern trains.
02:05Bit of bad news.
02:07Bad news?
02:08They're not good enough.
02:14In its hundred year history, Hornby has produced thousands of locomotives.
02:18That's it.
02:20Look at that motion.
02:22And whilst traditionally the company may have been associated with classic steam, it boasts
02:28an extensive back catalogue of diesels and passenger services.
02:34As commuter train design evolves in the real world, product director Simon Kohler is keen
02:39to follow suit.
02:42You've got to have items in the range that add strength, add diversity, add something
02:47a little bit different.
02:48And I've got plans now for something more to do with, if you like, regional railways.
02:55This is right at the beginning of its life.
02:59It's called the Flirt.
03:02The Fastlight Intercity and Regional Train, or Flirt for short, is a new environmentally
03:08friendly passenger express running throughout East Anglia.
03:14So Simon has sent Chris to Norfolk to record its sounds and Sam to take photos.
03:23A lot of people obviously they love the steam and stuff like that, but this is the trains
03:27we have now and we're glad to be modelling it, so just going to make sure it's as good
03:31as we can get it.
03:33Greater Anglia's Juliet Maxim is their guide to this cutting edge train which can run on
03:39diesel and electric.
03:42People just love them.
03:43They've gone down really well.
03:46So where there is electricity they can just pop the pan up and take the power from the
03:51wires.
03:52But, you know, a lot of our rural lines are mainly diesel, they're not electrified yet.
03:57But they're future proof as well because there is room in the power pack for them to be battery
04:02powered.
04:03OK, the power pack's not a small thing is it?
04:05No, and you know, you can walk through that.
04:08However, in terms of powering the model version, Sam's already noticed a potential problem.
04:15The windows being so large is good for passengers, but in model form it's hard because you can
04:19see pretty much all the way through.
04:21So it's going to be interesting to conceal things like lights and the motors as well.
04:30This will also be required for a speaker system to play everything Chris records.
04:41But it's a case of all aboard to obtain a full repertoire.
04:46This is the throne room.
04:52These are where the diesel engines are, here, down the end and then each side.
04:57So, in order to obtain the best running sound, this is going to be the best place to do it.
05:03All sounds make their way into Chris's library.
05:10The Flirt's dual power capability will also have to be accounted for.
05:16I'm standing here between two coaches, I'm hoping that I can get a good noise of the
05:19traction motors, but we'll see.
05:23For the untrained ear, the sounds may not be dramatically different, but modellers have
05:27come to expect this level of accuracy.
05:31Sounds are massive.
05:32The difference between a good sound set or a standard sound set and a sound set on the
05:36next level, that's what we want to obtain.
05:39So the pressure's on for the team to deliver not only a stunning looking replica, but also
05:44one that hits all the right notes.
05:48Right on cue.
05:49Where was my recorder?
05:50I missed that opportunity.
05:51Across the UK and Wales, the future of model railways is also the focus for Gwion Davies.
06:13He is the deputy chairman of the Swansea Railway Modellers Group, who boast over 70 members,
06:21a giant multiple gauge test track, and highly detailed scenes that are ideal for interaction.
06:28I get so much enjoyment out of playing with this layout.
06:33I say playing, I literally mean playing, it's hours of fun.
06:39Although he loves locos and layouts just as much as any other enthusiast.
06:43You've got this train going above and you've got this train coming underneath, that's fantastic.
06:49His ambitions for model railways go further.
06:53One of the things I want to do is just, you know, a bit more fun and entertaining for
06:57members.
06:58I want to try and introduce them to a new aspect, bringing my ideas of technology into
07:02the hobby.
07:04A former phone app developer, electrics whiz Gwion has thought up many bespoke creations.
07:10This is, for example, a radio controlled steamroller, it can steer and drive on your layout, as
07:16well as this lorry here, and it's all motorised with a radio receiver.
07:23It's just a whole new dimension to interacting with a model railway world, because that's
07:28how I see it.
07:29It's not just a model railway, it's a model world.
07:33Ever since I was a little boy, I loved tinkering.
07:36I liked taking things apart and learning how they worked, putting them back together.
07:42As I've gone older and I've got better tools and 3D printing and laser cutting and all
07:48these new technologies, it's just so much more accessible for us to make all these interesting
07:54and wonderful items.
07:56This is what I call the nano layout, it is an actual working little railway.
08:01I originally saw an idea like this in a video from someone in Japan who'd made one that
08:06worked off the top of a pen, and I thought, that looks really cool, I'd love to have a
08:10try at something like that.
08:11It's kind of a dream of mine to see my own things being used and implemented in other
08:15people's model railways.
08:18Being at the heart of a modelling community, there's no shortage of volunteers to test
08:22Gwion's prototypes.
08:23He's very adept, he's got magic hands.
08:28We really look forward to him coming out of his little workshop with a new idea, seeing
08:33how effective it is.
08:37Gwion's latest development is his most ambitious yet, using virtual reality to immerse users
08:44in their own layouts.
08:47Today's plan is to get the VR all set up so we can showcase it.
08:52Club member Richard already sees the potential.
08:55This has never been done before, so if Gwion can do this, I think it's going to be the
09:00next stage really in the evolution of the hobby moving into the 21st century.
09:05You've got a lot of faith in me, I see there.
09:07OK, fair enough, I mean, that's put a huge weight on my shoulders now to prove they are.
09:16So can Gwion deliver when he presents his bold new concept to the club?
09:26The pressure is also on for Simon and marketing manager Montana, who are on a field trip,
09:35attending one of the most intensive sales events on their calendar, the Dorset Steam Fair.
09:45Right, you ready?
09:46Yeah.
09:47Let's do this.
09:49Five days of trading will start in the morning.
09:52I'm stuck in all these boxes.
09:54And before then, there's literally a tonne of stock to unpack and displays to create.
10:01The product we have are basically end of lines or items that have been returned from stockists.
10:07They're open, but you can't put those back into stock.
10:10And some models that we've had for too long, somebody's discovered in the warehouse.
10:17Oh, Simon!
10:19Wait there, I'll help you.
10:23Do you know what?
10:24I was being so clever.
10:27That's not the right way.
10:29Yes, it is.
10:30No, it isn't.
10:31It is.
10:32Oh, look, it's up.
10:37It's not the right way.
10:38It is.
10:39It's not the right way.
10:40It's not the right way.
10:41It's not the right way.
10:42It's not the right way.
10:43It's not the right way.
10:44It's not the right way.
10:46Five days and counting.
10:49The daunting task ahead of them is to try and flog the lot.
10:55At HQ, the team are determined to capture the latest developments in train technology on a miniature scale.
11:04And they don't come newer than Greater Anglia's Fastlight Intercity and Regional Train,
11:09or FLIRT for short.
11:13The team are determined to capture the latest developments in train technology on a miniature scale.
11:19And they don't come newer than Greater Anglia's Fastlight Intercity and Regional Train,
11:24or FLIRT for short.
11:27I think it's probably one of the most modern trains in the UK at the moment.
11:30Steve's using Sam's research trip photos to create his replica.
11:35I think this is easily the most detailed loco that I've worked on.
11:39There is so much going on on the roof, especially the little power pack.
11:43Formerly working in the plastic moulding industry,
11:46Steve got his foot in the company door thanks to a certain tutor on his design course.
11:53I've known Phil Morley for 16, 17 years, where I met him through college,
11:58and he told me about a job coming up.
12:01They gave me a project to do. After four weeks, I'd finished that,
12:04and they then gave me another project to start, and 12 and a half years later, here I am still.
12:09Steve will need all of this experience for the FLIRT.
12:13I've never done anything like this before.
12:15Especially when it comes to integrating the motor.
12:19Here's a photo of the actual power pack on this train.
12:22I was hoping to get the motor in this power pack,
12:26but we've got these Jacobs bogies here, which is making it more difficult.
12:33A Jacobs bogie is shared by two carriages,
12:36which helps spread a train's weight to make the ride smoother,
12:39but in modelling terms, restricts the available space.
12:44I'm struggling to get a motor in there, and to get the articulation to work.
12:48I'm going to have to look at trying to hide it somewhere else,
12:51and the last thing you want to see is a motor sitting in the middle of a carriage,
12:55because it doesn't look appealing.
12:57While Steve tries to get his head around one of the newest trains to appear in the real world,
13:03Gwion's about to reveal his virtual reality invention to the club in Swansea.
13:11The concept is that you take the camera unit,
13:14and then what you're getting is the view from the lens here.
13:21And it's taking that video feed, and we're going to put it into my programme,
13:26which is giving you a video feed,
13:28And it's taking that video feed, and we're going to put it into my programme,
13:31which is giving you that virtual reality, first-person perspective of a driver in front of a train.
13:38With the equipment set up, Gwion has a trial run.
13:43Oh.
13:45Close.
13:46I can see on the screen here, we're just about to hit some coaches.
13:50What I'm really hoping is for people to see this,
13:53and immediately understand the vision that I have.
13:59Gwion hopes to win over senior members Rob and Ian with his futuristic vision.
14:05Pop that over.
14:07Just tighten up the back as well.
14:09They don't suffer with travel sickness, do you, Rob?
14:13Hopefully not.
14:15Right, so just starting off from station now, this is effective.
14:19OK, we're just coming up to a level crossing.
14:22There's a bend coming up.
14:24Am I travelling too fast here? No.
14:26Wow, this is amazing.
14:28It's really unusual, because normally you're looking at a model train going around the track,
14:33but now you're actually riding with it, and you're controlling its speed.
14:38So, you've got the live feed coming from the actual moving train,
14:43and then you've got the two left and right eye images of the cab.
14:49Yes.
14:50So the software is making this model of a cab,
14:53and is rendering that, and it's working out how it's supposed to show for each eye.
15:00You just passed a signal at red.
15:03After a quick driver changeover...
15:05Well, that was amazing, Gwion. Fantastic.
15:08My turn. Wow.
15:09Ian takes control.
15:11God, that's amazing.
15:14I want to turn the wheel.
15:16I want to turn the wheel.
15:21It really is quite an extraordinary view.
15:25Oh, that rainwater pipe's crooked.
15:28Oh, you want to lean with it.
15:32Slow down. Oh, my Lord.
15:37God, that was close to the wall.
15:41That is quite extraordinary. Absolutely extraordinary.
15:46My eyes are playing tricks on me.
15:49Certainly, from my viewpoint, the experience was far in excess of what I thought I was going to experience.
15:57From what I've learnt here today now, we can do a bit more work on it, make it even better, refine it.
16:04The train spot is on the end of the platform.
16:08At the Dorset Steam Fair, Montana and Simon are hoping to sell a marquee load of cut-price old stock and end-of-lines.
16:17The company has been coming here nearly two decades.
16:21But this is no ordinary model rail trading event.
16:25This show is unique, you know, because of, obviously, the steam, traction engines and all the rest of it.
16:31And there are slightly different people than probably go to a model rail exhibition as well.
16:38Thank you very much.
16:40An early rush presents some teething problems.
16:43Oh, hang on. No, that's not right.
16:45An issue connecting... Shall we cancel it and start again?
16:49Oh, is it jammed?
16:52Fortunately, a more experienced engineer has come up with a solution.
16:56Oh, is it jammed?
16:59Fortunately, a more experienced salesman has dropped in for a browse.
17:04How long have you been in retail?
17:0642 years.
17:07Yeah, so you're getting the grasp of it now?
17:10Just getting the grip of it.
17:11Yeah, good.
17:13That's lovely. Thank you very much.
17:16Hello.
17:17Thank you.
17:19After a steady stream of customer...
17:21There we go.
17:22Thank you.
17:23Perfect. Have a lovely day.
17:24Simon takes a break.
17:25Oh, finally, gone.
17:28This is home. This is where I'm going to be for the next five nights.
17:32Got the bar.
17:34The duo may be able to escape each other in their caravans,
17:37but there's no getting away from the fair.
17:41Now, what the wake-up call in the morning is they start serving breakfast round about six o'clock.
17:46What you hear is a charming lady just shouting out a number.
17:52Number 28!
17:53And then she'll go, number 29!
17:57So we call it breakfast lottery.
18:00Right, I'd better take those lazy shits.
18:03Coffee.
18:06The caffeine kick hits the spot.
18:09This coffee's really nice.
18:13And spurs the duo on for a flurry of activity all afternoon.
18:18All right, thank you.
18:20Hello.
18:21She's got a smiley face, so everything's all right.
18:23Would you like a receipt?
18:26I've classed this as chaos.
18:28But, yeah, no, it's good chaos.
18:30Have a lovely day. Nice to meet you.
18:31And you. And you.
18:32Look, there's a doggy.
18:33I know.
18:35Montana's a regular little dynamo, and she just works.
18:40And so it then becomes a challenge between her and I.
18:43You know, who's going to sit down first?
18:46After being on their feet over nine hours, it's time to shut up shop.
18:51It's been a really good day.
18:53We're hot and dusty and dirty, but it's been really successful.
18:57We've been really busy, and it's only day one.
19:00Before retiring to their caravans,
19:03Simon wants to show Montana what the fair is all about.
19:07I might take a little video of this.
19:09What this is, it's a heavy tractor.
19:13What this is, it's a heavy traction area.
19:17The town I was born in, they had an old steamroller like this that they still use.
19:23And I'm talking about 1950s as well.
19:27You're seeing real, real history in front of you.
19:33And you just see the sunset glistening on all the machinery.
19:36It's fabulous.
19:38While Simon looks to the past in Dorset.
19:46Back in Margate is all about the future.
19:50And Steve's hoping 3D prints of Regional Express The Flirt will impress Carl.
19:56That's a bit fiddly.
19:58Who's testing a TGV produced by the international arm of the company
20:02that runs on the same bogey arrangement as in Steve's design.
20:08So I'm just looking at how close these two closures are to each other
20:13as they go around the bend.
20:16So I think we can take that and try and improve upon it really
20:19and make it even more realistic.
20:23So will Steve's configuration be even better?
20:26Here you are.
20:27Oh, hi Steve.
20:28Hello.
20:29Bit of bad news.
20:30Bad news?
20:31Yeah, bad news.
20:32These are the 3D prints that we've done internally and they're not good enough.
20:37Some of the detail on top has come out fine,
20:39but you look down the bodies and they're all over the shop.
20:43An on-track comparison is a no-go for today.
20:46But Steve has still made significant progress.
20:49That's the pivot for the jacob's bogey that runs in this slot in the bottom of the carriage.
20:53I've tried to get as much detail and depth of detail on these as possible.
20:59As for the difficult motor placement, Steve's managed to hide it inside a passenger carriage.
21:05Can't see that motor.
21:06No, OK.
21:07We're fortunate enough that there's a row of fold-down seats each side, so I've hidden it below.
21:13The positioning has created space in the power pack, which gives Carl an idea.
21:18If that's not having a motor in it, then maybe we can put one of those big bass speakers in there.
21:22This could be the best way to reproduce the sounds Chris recorded on the research trip.
21:27But Steve's not convinced.
21:31Carl dropped the bombshell about wanting this super-duper large speaker put in the power pack
21:37so we can generate the sounds of the diesel engines.
21:40I think the speaker that Carl wants is a definite no-no.
21:43For any model-making company, strong sales and promotion are vital to long-term success.
22:05And the Dorset Steam Fair has played host to Simon and colleagues over the years
22:10as a venue to shift stock that has stagnated.
22:19But with numbers down on day two, Montana's doing a solo shift.
22:25Which gives Simon a chance to get a closer look at traction engines
22:29like the ones he used to see when he was a kid.
22:33I've been coming here for years. I've never had time to do this.
22:40These were replacing horses.
22:43Can you imagine the noise and the smoke and all the rest?
22:47It is so different. It must have been a real shock to the system.
22:51You come here, you immerse yourself in nostalgia, living museum, really.
22:58And you forget, honestly, you forget everything else that's going on in the big wide world.
23:07Thanks very much. Yeah, appreciate it. Yeah, thank you.
23:10Simon's ride down memory lane has been a poignant one.
23:17Just turns the clock back.
23:21Wonderful. Yeah, yeah, lovely memories.
23:25However, Simon can't dwell on nostalgia for long as he returns to a virtually empty tent.
23:32Tell you what, I'm not going to lie.
23:35I'm not going to lie. I'm not going to lie.
23:38I'm not going to lie. I'm not going to lie.
23:41I'm not going to lie.
23:44Tell you what, it really is quiet.
23:47To make matters worse, Montana's been summoned for a progress report with CEO Lyndon Davies.
23:54Who, due to the fair's importance to the company, is regularly in attendance.
24:00So, how's the sales going?
24:02So, not as strong as yesterday. We've still had people coming in, still had people buying.
24:07Just haven't had so many crowds. It hasn't been as constant.
24:10We're not taking that stock back, alright, under any circumstances, alright?
24:15Because if that stock goes back, it's going into Simon's garage.
24:18I'm sure Montana and Simon will do it. They just need a little bit of a kick, that's all they need.
24:22A little bit of a kick to just get them over the finish line.
24:25I mean, they're working hard, but, you know, they can sell more.
24:29If they talk to people, engage with people, they'll sell more.
24:33Anyway, if you get back, get selling.
24:35Yeah, OK, OK. It's going to be fine. We're going to sell it all.
24:38Lyndon has laid down the law, but back at the stall, it's dead.
24:44I've never been in this position before at this show.
24:48It's always been a steady flow, people coming in, looking, buying, etc.
24:53So, Simon and Montana must start attracting the punters fast.
24:58We need a strategy.
24:59We do need a strategy. We need something.
25:09A speedy solution hasn't been forthcoming for Steve either.
25:14How are you?
25:16Trying to integrate a new bass speaker into regional express train The Flirt.
25:21If I put it in the body, it's taking up a lot of room.
25:24It's as wide, if not wider, than the chassis.
25:27But my biggest concern is that, being such a small carriage,
25:31that it's going to become top-heavy because you're going to start building it up.
25:35The only option we've got is clipping the body on.
25:38As you can see from the 3D print, it's so thin
25:41that you're not going to end up with very strong clips there.
25:44So that's one of the reasons why I was screwing the whole lot together.
25:49Any redesign means weeks of work,
25:52but Steve won't be doing it as he's due a hernia operation.
25:56You can take your computer to the hospital, can you?
25:58I could, but probably not.
26:03OK, right.
26:04Unfortunately, I'm going to miss the final assembly and running of the 3D print.
26:10I'm devastated, actually, by the amount of time and effort we've put into it.
26:14I want to see this thing running.
26:16I want to know that it works how I intended it to work.
26:19I'll send you a video anyway.
26:21Oh, thanks.
26:23While Steve may be stopped in his tracks...
26:27..in West Yorkshire, Carol Flavin is steaming ahead with her layout.
26:32Her model rail-making inspiration started with her grandkids.
26:37Her grandson wanted to have a model railway,
26:41so we got a trestle table, ran the trains a couple of times,
26:45and went, eh, it's a bit boring.
26:47Josh said, but we need things on it, Grandma.
26:50So that's when it started.
26:52Carol began the Edgehay and Strines Railway with her family,
26:56but Covid threatened to derail their progress.
27:00The agreement was that I would build it,
27:03and each week I did a short video telling them what I'd been doing.
27:08Hello, kids.
27:10Week 21.
27:12So I actually did 52.
27:14This week, I've done some work on the track, the viaduct,
27:18I've done some work on the track, the viaduct,
27:21and the track across it have got fences now.
27:24As I made something, I'd say, right, any ideas?
27:27What do you think I should do? What do you think of this?
27:30And then they'd all respond back, and then I'd carry on.
27:33It took Carol a year to mould everyone's ideas
27:37into her continually evolving world.
27:48Lots of track, because kids like that.
27:50Lots of roads, because Josh's younger brother James likes cars.
27:55Water, because another grandson likes boats.
27:59And Carol couldn't resist personalising the whole thing.
28:05My grandson, the one who started all of this off,
28:09is now doing agriculture.
28:11I have him herding some sheep.
28:13My son is a rock climber,
28:15so there are rock climbers on the cliff face.
28:20That's me sitting on the bench.
28:22That's my daughter, Hebe, running towards me.
28:25And then we've got Josie and Paddy paddling,
28:28but setting off to do some wild water swimming.
28:34After lockdown, Carol couldn't keep the grandkids away,
28:37as the layout sprawled to 20 by 15 feet.
28:42Bearing in mind that I made this for the grandchildren,
28:45I could hardly turn round and say, you can't use it.
28:48Now, that doesn't always work in my favour.
28:51One of them, I would say he'd be nameless,
28:55but actually it's Jodie, used to make the most enormous trains
28:59and set them off, change all the points
29:02and wait till they crashed into each other.
29:05Now, 99.5% of model railway people
29:09wouldn't think of letting kids do that.
29:12I didn't see any point in having it
29:15if they weren't going to have fun with it,
29:18because that was the whole point of it.
29:21Undaunted, Carol's agreed to let Jodie loose on the layout
29:25with a new design idea.
29:27He and I decided we should have a peloton of cyclists
29:31through this village.
29:33But will they overcome any creative differences?
29:40A contrast of methods has also come to the fore at HQ.
29:45I'm a sound engineer, and to me, I'm trying to obtain
29:48the best sounds from each locale as possible
29:51by using the biggest space available as possible.
29:55With Steve now away for his operation,
29:58Chris wants to see how the sound reproduction for the flirt
30:02could be improved by using a bass speaker.
30:06As we can see, the speaker fits physically size-wise,
30:09but the issue we've got and that Steve was having
30:12is that the securing lugs have been mounted,
30:15as we can see here, pretty much in the middle,
30:18which restricts the use of them fitting this sort of speaker.
30:21So what we're going to try and do is remove that lug,
30:25remove that lug, and then the same in here,
30:28remove those two securing lugs as well,
30:31so that the body, instead of being secured by screws,
30:35can be secured by clips down the side.
30:40Steve was worried using clips could compromise
30:43the structural integrity of the model.
30:46But Chris wants to prove that at least from a sound perspective,
30:50it's a compromise worth making.
30:52So I've got double-sided pads here,
30:54and what I'm going to do is just put the pad at each end
30:57and mount the speaker top-down, like that,
31:01so the sound is emitted out through the bottom.
31:04Look at that, fits great.
31:06Right, OK, now it's test time,
31:08just to see how it sounds in this body.
31:18Sounds good. I mean, you can tell how good the sound quality is
31:21because the vibration's moving the body.
31:24With a diesel engine, you get a lot of low-end rumble,
31:29and a speaker such as this highlights that low-end rumble.
31:35The alternative to the bass speaker would be a sugar cube,
31:39which is smaller and easier to fit.
31:42But the sound quality could be affected.
31:45I can tell that straight away.
31:47The depth in sound, the bass response.
31:49I mean, the sugar cube's good for what it is,
31:52but you're talking next level with this big speaker.
31:55It's comparable from a foam speaker, which is fine.
31:58It'll play your songs or whatever,
32:00and then you go home and you've got your hi-fi.
32:02Completely different level.
32:04I think the big speaker is the way to go,
32:06providing we can make the necessary modifications
32:09in getting the chassis to hold to the body accordingly.
32:23In West Yorkshire,
32:25the owner of this layout can't resist adding to her creation.
32:31And Carol Flavin has plenty of tricks
32:34to transform the mundane into something special.
32:37This is a building that came in a job lot.
32:40I've already put the smoke on the chimneys,
32:43but I'm going to add some greenery on it
32:46and just generally make it look a little bit more interesting.
32:50So I'm going to put a layer of glue
32:53where I want to put this.
32:55Take this bit of green and put it in place.
32:59And you can see instantly
33:02that what you look like you've got
33:04is something like ivy growing up it.
33:07I'm going to put a little bit of colour on this.
33:10So I'm just going to drip, literally,
33:12a little bit of yellow on it.
33:14Now, that looks like quite a lot,
33:16but when you tap it like that,
33:18then it looks like there's flowers growing up it.
33:21Once you've developed a few techniques,
33:23it's surprising what you can do quite easily.
33:28After adding a dry stone wall, she can populate her scene.
33:32This is the bit I like doing.
33:34I'm going to put people in it now.
33:36Her stash of tiny figures goes beyond miniature humans.
33:40This horse has a foot up,
33:42so that's the one that's being shooed,
33:44and that's the black horse.
33:46I like figures. I think figures make it come alive.
33:50One thing's missing.
33:52In a spark of inspiration, Carol's using a tea light.
33:56If I set this up, put it in there,
34:01that's the blacksmith's fire.
34:06Right, so...
34:09Oh, it fits perfectly.
34:11I'm quite pleased, really, because, you know,
34:13sometimes you do doubt what you've done.
34:20But will her creation impress
34:22one of the layout's toughest critics, grandson Jodie?
34:26Hi, Grandma. Hello, darling.
34:28That's what we've just been making.
34:30Oh, that's nice.
34:31It's a blacksmith's forge.
34:33Ah! I see there's a light in there.
34:36Yeah, well, the light is where it's fire,
34:38and they're heating up all the metal.
34:40Yeah.
34:41Ready to make the horseshoes.
34:43However, Jodie's itching to create a more contemporary scene...
34:50..based on his own keen interest and participation in cycle racing.
34:57OK, so there's going to be people that have attacked off the front,
35:02so we've got, like, a team of two,
35:04and then another rider up in the front.
35:07Then I'll make a peloton here.
35:09All right, and the peloton's on that edge there.
35:12And then there's going to be a train crossing.
35:15They've got to wait.
35:16No, that wouldn't happen, because these gates would be open
35:19if it was a proper race, wouldn't they?
35:21No, Grandma, it has happened before.
35:23Has it?
35:26It may be a world away for most model rail scenes,
35:29but a crossing barrier has stopped elite races
35:32in France, Italy and Belgium.
35:35These people have broken away from the pelotons to try and catch these,
35:38but the policemen are here because they have just sneaked through
35:42before the trains got here,
35:44and the pelotons are having to stop because the train's coming.
35:48It's fun to do it together, isn't it?
35:50Yeah.
35:51It was his suggestion that we put some cyclists on it,
35:54and I'm actually looking at it now.
35:56It just brings that village alive.
35:58I'm really pleased with it, actually.
36:00But Carol might not be so happy about it.
36:03But Carol might not be so happy with Jodie's next plan.
36:08I think we should make a cave-in on this tunnel here.
36:11What, that one?
36:12Yeah, like it's caved in on a train.
36:17So it looks like Carol won't be putting her feet up any time soon.
36:26Back in Margate, the decision has been made
36:29to use a bass speaker in Steve's regional passenger express.
36:34And while he remains off work,
36:36all four carriages and the power pack have been reprinted.
36:41Look at this, eh?
36:42Love it.
36:43It looks absolutely fantastic, doesn't it?
36:45Design team Chris and Sam are here to inspect it.
36:49So these have got Jacob's spoke on them, haven't they?
36:52The way he's designed it, it's actually really easy to get the coaches apart.
36:57But they'll make sure Steve doesn't miss the big moment.
37:01It's a real shame that Steve's not here to see this.
37:04Yeah.
37:05We'll take a video and send it to him, shall we?
37:07Yeah.
37:09The finished model will have a scaled speed
37:12to match the train's real-life 100mph.
37:15But Carl mustn't go gung-ho with this version.
37:19It's actually running really smoothly.
37:21I've got to be a bit careful because the gearbox is quite delicate
37:24and it may have really pretty parts, but it's looking really good, actually.
37:27It flows through the points and around the corners.
37:31Steve's Jacob's bogies are performing well
37:34and the so-called flirt may even start to turn the heads of modelers
37:38with more traditional tastes.
37:42I'm not a modern-era modeler,
37:44but even I can appreciate the level of detail
37:48and the accuracy of the model for the prototype.
37:51I'm really, really, really impressed with it.
37:54Because it's quite an open train,
37:56you can see through it the windows are sitting quite low,
37:59which gives you less element of room to actually model the motor
38:03and design the bogie and running gear and everything.
38:06Because it's got windows along the full length of it as well.
38:08Yeah.
38:09What's been a real struggle for Steve is hiding all the mechanics.
38:13And you can't see any of it, can you?
38:15Without impacting on the detail.
38:19It's been a long time coming.
38:21Steve's put a real big effort into making this.
38:24It will be one of the most detailed models we've done to date.
38:27The running looks good,
38:29the way he's hidden all of the mechanisms inside under all the seating,
38:34it's brilliant.
38:36It's a shame Steve couldn't see the prototype when we first run it,
38:39but we've got to keep the project moving while he's not here,
38:42but he'll be back hopefully next week.
38:44He'll be able to move it, I know him.
38:47But Steve may not be so overjoyed
38:49when he discovers he'll have to make some tweaks to the chassis
38:52to incorporate that speaker.
39:03At the Dorset Steam Fair, sales have dried up.
39:07The end of the line stock is going nowhere.
39:10At the end of the day, we have to turn a profit
39:12and we have to sell the product.
39:14And if it's not going to sell,
39:16then it's been a bit of a wasted few days.
39:19We need to see a bit of an upturn.
39:23With CEO Lyndon's threat
39:25to store all the unsold stock in Simon's garage,
39:28the situation is desperate.
39:32Have you got any ideas?
39:34I've got a few bubbling away. Have you?
39:36Montana acts on a brainwave.
39:39I was going to have a use for one of those, but anyway, what's your use?
39:43You'll soon find out.
39:47Filling up this stationary box with water for all the dogs
39:50to lure the animals in, as well as the owners,
39:53and hopefully we'll maybe generate some sales that way.
39:58It may not be in any business school textbooks,
40:01but it's worth a punt.
40:03I think that's just the sort of thing I would have come up with.
40:07See, I actually do have some good ideas.
40:10You do? And it's so nice that it hasn't cost me any money.
40:14And sure enough, thirsty hounds are closely followed by curious owners.
40:20Have you got a catalogue? There you go.
40:22Thank you very much. That's all right.
40:24You'll thank me at the end of the day because it's heavy.
40:27Simon would probably like to think
40:29that he's generated all the sales from talking to everyone,
40:32but I actually think that the dog bowl, bringing in the owners,
40:35bringing in all the animals, has helped as well.
40:38This out-of-the-box thinking results in a steady procession
40:42of custom for the remainder of the festival.
40:45We actually haven't got them here at the moment,
40:47but they are going to be delivered tomorrow.
40:49It's been a cracker, actually. It's been really good.
40:52We had a brilliant start.
40:54I was a little bit worried on the second day.
40:57There was a bit of a wobble there, a shortage of people coming in,
41:00but that's strained itself out,
41:02and it's really proven to be a classic show.
41:06So, having covered all their expenses,
41:09made a decent profit and shifted most of the stock,
41:13it's time to celebrate.
41:15Oh, yeah? Yeah. Cheers.
41:17To you. To me? To you.
41:19Thanks for everything. Oh, really?
41:21Now you're being nice.
41:23And finally, they can sit down.
41:26Oh, my God! Here we go.
41:28A lot faster than what it looks.
41:31Oh, wow. Oh, my God!
41:33I don't know if I like this.
41:36I don't think I really like rides.
41:38Do you?
41:40My knuckles are white.
41:46You know, you're up early.
41:48You're on your feet all the time.
41:51It's been tough, but it's been really worthwhile.
41:55We've sold a hell of a lot of products.
41:57It's been really, really lovely speaking to so many customers.
42:01We'll definitely be here again next year.
42:03Some may pass this as work.
42:05And in some instances, of course it is.
42:08But this is so enjoyable.
42:10It's almost a syndical at work, to be honest.
42:13I feel almost guilty, because I enjoy it so much.
42:21For Simon, Montana, Guion and Carol,
42:25the world of model railways continues to thrive,
42:29both in the industry and in the world.
42:32Both in the industry and community,
42:35with new ideas and a new generation.
42:40Next time, in a special episode...
42:43By far the best we have ever, ever produced.
42:47..we ask some passionate modelers...
42:50This, at the time, was state-of-the-art.
42:53..collectors and designers...
42:55For us, it was a bit of a watershed moment.
42:58..about their favourite miniature masterpieces.
43:01It was something that people said couldn't be done.
43:04You may have your own views...
43:06It's pretty exciting stuff.
43:08..but join us for their top ten innovations in modelling.
43:31Ooh-ooh-ooh