gardenandhome.co.za | SEPTEMBER 2019 115
SOURCE The Hobby Shop 021 761 3070 thehobbyshop.co.zaTIPS FOR ASPIRING
COLLECTORS
“Choose a railroad system that suits
your budget. In the world of models,
smaller isn’t necessarily cheaper. HO
scale is the most freely available and
quite reasonably priced,” says Pierre
Bezuidenhout of The Hobby Shop
in Cape Town. “Join a local model
railroad club – it’s a great way to meet
other enthusiasts who are happy to
share information, and often like to
swapandselltheirusedpieces.”
“Unfortunately, you can’t mix and
match systems with Märklin because
of their unique Direct Current (DC)
electrics. If you choose an Alternating
Current (AC) like Lionel, Lima and
Hornby, you can add to your set-up
system with just about any maker’s
locomotives,” says Kevin McCarthy.Märklin produces the finest replicas
of just about every full-size European
railroad prototype from the past 100
years or so,” he explains. “My two
favourites are probably a WWII German
tank transporter, a steam train with
steam condenser tender, and the highly
detailed and desirable Kaiser’s train.”
With his technical background,
Kevin enjoys working on the setup,
laying tracks, wiring and programming.
“Most of the newer locomotives are
digital, and the Märklin system is
powered by a unique 6V DC, so it takes
quite a lot of in-depth knowledge to
get it running smoothly. I’m not really
creative so I’m grateful to my good
friend Hector Macbeth who helps me
out on the scenery and artistic side of
things,” says Kevin.
CARINGFOR YOURCOLLECTION
Although model railroads might be toys, as new locomotives cost a few thousand
rands,they’reforbigboysonly.Keepthemoutofthehandsofsmallchildren.
Enthusiasts will tell you that dust is the biggest enemy of a setup because once
tarnished, the tiny details are very difficult to clean. Protect your setup with a
dustcoverwhennotinuse.
Store locomotives and coaches in their original boxes to keep them dust free and
maintaintheirvalue.Boxedmodelsaremorevaluableifyoudecidetoresell.
An occasional spray with a silicon-based lubricant helps keep metal parts
from rusting.THISPAGE,CLOCKWISEFROMTOP: Appelpfeildomecoachproducedinlimited
numbersin2004. WestGermanDeutcheBahnelectriclocomotiveclass 111 from
the1970s. Vintagetinplaterailbusdatingfromthe1950s. Model of WWII German
militarytanktransportersteamlocomotivewithcondensertenderincamouflage
wintergrey. Falk Adler scrap metal car with rusty Porsche 356 from Märklin Collectors
Club, 2015.