Another week, another van. Well, actually, not just another van. Mink G’s stood out. They were the largest four-wheeled goods vans ever constructed, and their length gave them an elegance that was far from the boxy look sported by the GWR’s run-of-the-mill vans.

You can read all about the Mink Gs and their history here. But suffice it to say our Minks have all the things you love about a Clark Railworks freight creature, from intricate die-cast chassis to brass bearings to ‘ultraflex’ bufferbeam pipes and a body you’ll want to ogle at. You can pre-order yours now, and have it running on your layout by spring next year.

It's fascinating the lengths modellers will go to when creating their own slice of reality - and one of the great things about this hobby. There are no rules. Except that it’s your layout, your train, your world…so you can go wild. 

We’ve picked up a fantastic pre-owned OO gauge collection this week that includes a large fleet of custom-detailed and decorated ex-Lima coaching stock. What’s extra-special about them is that many have been professionally converted to portray ‘What if…?’ liveries from the late 20th century – that nonetheless look entirely convincing.

They're a prime example of why we love pre-owned model railways so much. They’re like the proverbial box of chocolates – you never know what you're gonna get!