The Guest Tutor is Kevin Wilson bringing his skills to tutor 7mm LOCOMOTIVE KIT CONSTRUCTION

Bob Alderman will be taking a new workshop MAKING BUILDINGS IN PLASTICARD in which he will show his method of constructing lightweight, rigid stable structures in plasticard. It is a simple and suitable for all scales. The finish in brick or stone is applied to the exterior of the basic structure to suit the   requirements of the builder. There will also be advice on making slate or tile roofing details such as doors and windows.

ELECTRONICS FOR RAILWAY MODELLING has now part of a major weekend gathering.  The electronics is divided into two areas according to participants' knowledge and experience:

1.  "Electronics for the Bewildered" with Howard Watkins.  This is specifically aimed at modellers with little or no knowledge of electronics or layout wiring. This will be very much a mixture of theoretical and practical. (Click for more details.)

2.  "Electronics for Initiates" includes 'Basic Layout and Train Control' with Pete Brownlow, 'Advanced Train and Layout Control' with Mike Bolton and 'Programming Microcontrollers' with Gordon Hopkins.  (Click for more details.)

Other Autumn Weekend workshops cover the following popular aspects of railway modelling.

4mm LOCOMOTIVE KIT CONSTRUCTION, the perennially popular course, offers detailed practical support with issues that challenge even experienced modellers – preparation, soldering, chassis construction, compensation systems, motor  mounting, assembling valve gear and fitting pickups. leads the 7mm group, with Tim Shackleton in charge of the 4mm modellers. The aim is to take home a model that not only works reliably but is well on the way to completion. 


THE CRAFT OF SCENERY offers a structured programme of scenery making. There is no finer scenic modeller in the UK than Barry Norman and he’s been presenting this popular course since 2007. During the weekend you’ll learn the core skills of scenery-making from one of the real experts as Barry steers you through diorama-based projects using such materials as expanded polystyrene, polyfilla, bleached carpet felt, flock, rubberizedhorsehair, sea moss and wire – he’ll even show you how to paint a convincing backdrop.

BOOKING and other details are on the 'Dates and Prices' page.  Please enrol for the Autumn Modelling Weekend.  Nearer the time of the Weekend, you will be sent further details including an invitation to opt for the course (listed above) you wish to follow during the weekend.

If you have any queries, please contact Chris Langdon through the 'Get in Touch' page.

A Missenden Abbey Railway Modellers’ Weekend is an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded people from all over the UK and beyond. Deep in the Buckinghamshire countryside but within easy reach of the M25, the Abbey provides excellent food, comfortable accommodation, free broadband access and real ale in the bar. As well as honing your modelling skills you’ll enjoy – as a recent attendee pointed out – a whole weekend free of domestic interference, sponging kids, dogs that want walking, gardens that need tidying and trolleys to push round Sainsbury’s.

Not one whisper of this domestic hell will be allowed to intrude on a highly focused weekend of quality modelling . . .

'It's good to know the expertise is there in the room if you need it'

‘Each time I learn something new . . . Missenden offers me a fantastic opportunity to work on my modelling skills with tutors on hand to point out how I could have avoided the mess I’d got myself into and what I need to do next.’

'Thank you for once again organizing an extremely enjoyable weekend at Missenden Abbey. Both Daniel and I got a lot out of it. Tim was a very good tutor and extremely patient with Daniel . . . I know I will be coming back for more and Daniel is trying to persuade his mother that summer school would be a good idea and a way of her getting a break from us both.'

'Having an expert on hand to help with that particular problem or uncertainty is a huge advantage.'

'Great fun, great company and a relaxing environment, what more could you need?'