Following early retirement, to enable me to look after my wife, Susan, it was suggested that I put my past engineering skills to use and make some model locos, living near to the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway (LBLR), induced me to construct models of the LBLR.  Susan chose the “Outline “ name, she said that “what we produced was an outline of the real thing”, our models being “outlines” of the real things, the name stuck. For the 1st year we only made 16mm gauge models, but soon people were asking for different locos and in different gauges. We progressed into producing articulated locomotives, Garrets, etc. because these types of loco having a particular interest for me. The turning point came when that well known and well liked, smooth talking ex Major of ordinance, Richard Ough came to me and inquired if I was interested in producing a batch of models for that new and marvellous 7/8th scale.  Richard reassured me that the great and the good would flock to the banner and that he felt that our line of models would lend themselves very nicely to the Scale

We chose as our primary model, our very popular plate sided Motorail, widely known as the “Simplex”.  These locos had been the mainstay of the light industrial railways of the UK and were the type of locomotives selected by the wartime government for service during the First World War in Flanders, France. With the larger size of 7/8" scale, we were able to reproduce greater and better detail than with our 16mm model. We decided that we could include proportional speed control, prototypical chain drive, and lots of lovely detail at we what we hoped was a moderate retail price. Therefore we progressed with the trail batch of 25 models based on the prototype “Arkle” which is preserved on the LBLR That was a little over a year ago and things have really moved up a few notches, we introduced our 16mm scale variants of the Simplex into 7/8ths with moderate success, the “Open” version, the “Tented” version and my favourite the “caravan” version.  In addition we have produced a Protected Simplex of the Great War, for a special client, and we intend to introduce two new models in 2002 from the LBLR. In addition, we delved into the fascinating world of early American logging railways, following the acquisition of a partly converted Bachman Shay loco. The loco was completed and displayed, named the “Lady Susan” after my wife.

I enjoy running the Shay very much and along with the later conversion of a Bachman Climax geared locomotive, has, in its turn has lead to adding a 7/8" conversion service to Outline’s offerings. At this moment we are undertaking the conversion of 3 variants of the Bachman Shay and 2 of the Climax. Clients are requesting the fitment of onboard power with proportional speed control, fitting of sound systems and in 2 cases the duplication of power supply, to enable either track pick up or battery power. The incorporation of Radio control has also been requested for two of these locos, I would add that all these locos reside in the UK so American logging locomotives and railways have an active following here in the UK.

I have my own offbeat interest and have constructed a 7/8ths Listowel & Ballybunion Hunslet locomotive and tender to play with during the long cold winter coming. The real problem is that I have to make my own track as well.  We are prepared to construct unusual types of locomotives for our clients and at this moment I am researching a converted Russian lorry running on a Cuban narrow gauge sugar cane line. This has to be the most unusual request for a model to date; I will post some more details and possible pictures, (with the clients permission) at a later date in the New Year.

In closing I think that this scale has a great lot to offer to railway modellers of all ages and persuasions and the interest shown to date is very encouraging.

Rod Dangerfield