Another exciting year will soon pass and another fresh year begins. I thought I take this opportunity to reflect on my H0 model railroading journey in year 2023 and a bit further back since 2022 when I first started, and a reflection of what I would like to do in 2024.

Märklin Insider Stammtisch 61 (MIST-61) Makes My Journey Possible

Looking back for the past 2 years, my model railroading journey would not be possible without the support from my family as well as from the local Märklin Insider Stammtisch 61 group. In my past experience in Malaysia, the modelers keep to themselves and rarely share their knowledge on model railroading. This hobby is niche and expensive in Malaysia: thus, many modellers are not keen to show the models in case the visitors break them. This is not the case in Germany, where clubs can be found in big cities and small towns. Märklin is pretty dominant in the German-speaking markets; so are other non-AC systems such as Roco, Trix (which is the DC cousin of Märklin), Piko, Brawa etc. As I decided to own a Märklin steam locomotive, I found the MIST-61 group and felt instantly welcomed. My mentor René Goy assisted me with my module construction and gave many good advices on Märklin system. Others in the group were equally helpful.

In the end, it is important to have a support group in this hobby. It also helps you to assimilate not only into the hobby but the German culture.

Loewenherz Growing But At Slow Pace

As much as I wanted to spend time on my Loewenherz modules, I could not really dedicate that much time given work and other personal matter taking priority in the last 12 months. Not having a permanent space for modelling does hinder a little bit of the progress as I would need to assemble and disassemble my modules and tools whenever I would with them,

The good news is less bluish area now. I finally solved the greatest “engineering mystery” on my module i.e. how to create the gradient between module 1b and module 1a. As you can see below, the gradient is now in place with the park railway track passing in the middle of the ramp. This is the project before the next operating session in end February 2024!

Overall, I am happy with what I have learned from building the 2 modules and creating the landscapes using XPS foam and cork in order to keep the modules lightweight. The drawback of using such materials especially foam is you need to be extra care in handling them. They could break or warp easily especially at the edges. Nothing could not be solved with strong glue.

My goal in 2024 is to “finish” Loewenherz modules including lighting and electrical connections. building the park railway workshop and a lighted rooftop for the visitors train viewing platform. Besides that, the park should be populated with (permanent) miniature figures!

Collections Growing

From my first Märklin Baureihe 53 0002 Borsig steam locomotive in November 2021 to my latest Rivarossi RailAdventure LUXON viewing car, my collection has grown exponentially in the last 2 years. My fleet of locomotives concentrated in two areas – steam locomotives mainly from Epoch 2/3 and modern locomotives from Epoch 6; predominantly RailAdventure fleet.

Why the extreme spectrums of the collection, if you were asking. When I started my Märklin H0 journey in late 2021/early 2022, I had a clear decision that I will focus only on steam locomotives. For my eventual permanent layout (don’t know what this will happen), it will be a layout in Epoch 2/3. Some of my present collection fits into these epoch and some might not. It won’t be 100% true to the epoch but more or less capture the feelings of the era. I have stopped acquiring model steam locomotives. What I already have is sufficient. Likewise for the passenger and freight cars from the era.

As for the other extreme, I chose RailAdventure, a Munich-based special rail transport and rail test operator with operations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Netherlands, France, Spain, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia as well as in the United Kingdom. They are a leading special rail transport operator in Europe. I saw their baggage car for the first time in 2022 and became extremely curious about their fleet and operations. I have dedicated pages germaN87AC x RailAdventure on them in this blog.

I do not plan to own all the H0-scale RailAdventure traction models. Peter Fuchs from my MIST-61 group shares that same interest for RailAdventure. He owns almost all the RailAdventure models. Between us, it would be sufficiently to display and run our RailAdventure trains during the operating sessions.

Other Aspects of Hobby – Scale Modelling and Weathering

I enjoyed working on my current modules albeit not spending enough time on them. Sometimes you are inspired, sometimes you are not. Basically, I am happy with the progress of my modules. I do not want to rush on them and not getting the results that I wanted. So far, I am happy with the completed sections. The final section needs my immediate attention which I hope to complete before my February 2024 session.

The exciting part of the hobby now is weathering the modules and some of my rolling stocks. Last few months I spent quite some money on air brushes and consumables. I am of course pleased with results of my beginner weathering projects.

Besides weathering, I want to dabble into the scale modelling world – be it scratchbuilding or kitbashing. All structures on my Loewenherz modules are scratch built: the train viewing platform, pedestrian tunnel, exhibit plinths etc. My next project is to complete the cut-out model of Baureihe 01 steam locomotive using Revell kit. The tender is completed, and the next work is on the boiler.

Resolution for 2024

Why make resolutions in the new year when you can’t keep it? Well, I want to make one this year.

Stop Starting, Start Finishing!

Agile Thinking

This quote is popularised by the agile thinking movement to encourage team work in finishing up the work in progress. On an individual level, I guess you can say that finish the work on hand before starting a new one. Therefore, my goal for the first quarter is: complete the rest of Loewenherz module first.

The to-be-completed blue section consists of a ramp, an open space in front of the ramp including the staircase, pedestrian tunnel (some redo on the tunnel roof) and the park railway workshop at the corner. You may follow my progress report here.

Once that is completed, the cut-out model of Baureihe 01 001 steam locomotive will be next.