Posts Tagged ‘model railways’

Win Hornby Trains in the Modelzone Christmas Competition

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Opening the Hornby 'City Industrial' train set!

Modelzone have just announced their latest competition, timed to coincide with the James May Toys Stories Hornby railways episode.

In the Hormby trains episode James May, of Top Gear fame, and around 400 volunteers put together 10 miles of model train track to connect Barnstaple and Bideford in Devon. It took around 19,000 pieces of Hornby 00 gauge track to span the 10 miles between the two Devon towns.

Now Modelzone are giving you the chance to win one of two fantastic Hornby model train sets. The superb Eurostar train set comes complete with a whole load of train track as well as a Eurostar locomotive and passenger coaches.

And the City Industrial train set takes us back to a time when trains like the City Industrial hauled freight and passenger coaches along branch lines throughout the British Isles. This train set includes a 7 plank wagon, a 4 wheel coach and a 12T vent van as well as track and accessories.

Constructing model railways is a whole load of fun and very educational. Children can learn a lot from construction toys that stimulate their minds. Also, building and operating a model rail system provides a great way to spend some time with your children. You can spend many hours together with your children, planning, building and operating your own model rail system. Children enjoy the stimulation that model railways provide to their imagination and they love the sense of achievement when the system is built and working.

So why not give yourself a chance of winning one of these fantastic train sets by visiting the Hornby competition on the Modelzone blog and submit your entry. All you need to do is answer one simple question which asks: What is the distance between Barnstaple and Bideford Stations – 8 miles, 10 miles or 15 miles? (BTW – The answer is 10 miles). Here’s wishing you lots of luck.


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James May’s Timeless Toys are Ideal Gifts

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Will our children reflect on the toys and computer games that they have today with the same enthusiasm that James May exhibits for Plasticene, Meccano and Scalextric?

In the TV series ‘James May’s Toy Stories’ we see Mr May revisiting many of the classic toys that he enjoyed as a child. They’ve concocted a series in which Mr May builds a full-size plastic Spitfire plane, a full size house from Lego bricks, a full size bridge over the Leeds and Liverpool canal built entirely from Meccano and a 3 mile replica of the Brooklands banked racing circuit built entirely from Scalextric.

The playthings that Mr May favours all involved construction. These toiys come from a time when toys inspired youngsters to develop interests in engineering and construction rather than blowing people away.

His TV series comes at a time when many of us are thinking about buying more computer games and consoles for our children’s Christmas presents. Computer games have been at the top of their gift list for many years. Last year they demanded a Wii Fit and Guitar Hero. This year they want Santa to bring them DJ Hero.

I’ve been wondering which form of plaything is actually most beneficial to their development? Computer games and modern games consoles or inspiring, creative construction toys like Meccano, Scalextric or Lego.

I belong to the same generation as James May. I grew up with Action Man, Lego, Bicycles and Model Airplanes. It baffles me why computer games have grown to become as popular as they are today. Personally, I would get a lot more enjoyment and satisfaction from building a model railway circuit than I would from pretending to be a disk jockey or pretending to play guitar. But I suppose that by building a model railway I’d be pretending to be a railway construction engineer and train driver. Choo choo!

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Win a Scalextric Street Car Race Set by answering just one simple question in this free-to-enter competition. Competition ends 29th Nov.


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Educational Benefits of Train Sets

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

Young and old alike can enjoy building model railways. Both parents and children can get a lot out of building and operating model rail systems.

Hornby railways have been with us since the end of the first World War. This early guage ‘0′ model was originally powered with a powerful wind up clockwork motor. These were soon replaced with an Electric model that required a high mains voltage of 100 to 250 volts. Hornby subsequently developed a far safer system that used a potential of only 6 volts.

There is a Hornby model train set for every level, from beginner to rail enthusiast. Building a railway system with your children is a great way to interact with them. It will provide stimulus for communication, promote cooperation and will be an effective aid to education. When parents play with their children they reinforce the parent-child bonds.

Once built a model railway provides a fantastic stimulus for creative play. Children can imagine all sorts of stories unfolding around the railway system. Add a few trackside accessories like model people and buildings and you can really bring the train system alive.

All children need to play, its an essential part of the natural learning process. When parents play with their children it is particularly good for developing bonds. By playing with your children you will learn a whole lot about them. There is much that you will learn about your child including what interests them and what they are good at. Encouraging your child to make up stories that involve their model railway system is a great way to stimulate their creativity. It’s also an excellent way to see how your child is developing.

I recall the fun I had building a model rail system with my father. He clearly enjoyed the process of setting up the track and getting the system working and his enthusiasm was infectious. He and I would make up elaborate stories involving the people around the track, the stations and the trains.

So if you are looking for a way to interact with your young children I suggest that you consider a little train set.


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