Railway modellers have been honing their skills at Missenden Abbey Railway Modellers’ unique Weekends for more than 50 years. We offer hands-on, practical courses with some of the best known tutors in the hobby, covering the many and varied skills you need to build the model railway of your dreams. Our weekends and the week long Summer Retreat give you the opportunity of uninterrupted time indulging yourself in your hobby. In the company of like minded individuals with a wealth of knowledge to call upon if needed.
The courses
Our courses are constantly evolving , here are a few of the things we offer
If don’t see what you are looking for, Contact Us to discuss your needs.
Course Format
We run two weekend courses a year, in Spring and Autumn. The weekend starts Friday evening and runs on until Sunday afternoon. A range of topics run in parallel in different rooms. Courses offered vary from weekend to weekend, a typical weekend timetable can be seen here. You sign up to a particular course but are free to visit other courses as you wish. We also offer a number of short demonstrations or talks throughout the weekend.
The week long Summer Retreat is slightly different in format and is aimed at modellers who have projects that wish to pursue. The week is not run as a tutored course, however we have a few of our tutors on hand to offer advice and assistance with your project. As always there are other modellers working alongside you to offer help and share in the social side of the hobby.
Courses are either residential, on a full board basis, or you may choose to attend without staying at Missenden Abbey. Non-residential attendance includes lunches, evening meals and tea and coffee throughout the day.
Aims
We aim to help you build a working model or develop a project that’s well on its way to completion by the time you go home – and, above all, to enjoy yourself. Though not generally suitable for the outright beginner, the courses are ideal for the modeller with basic skills or knowledge wanting to make further progress or who feel their working methods need refreshment. This is an ideal opportunity for existing modellers to enhance their skills etc. If you want to ask about the suitability of any course please do use the contact page. We particularly welcome modellers returning to the hobby, keen to make up lost ground after years devoted to family and career.
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