A BOROUGH miniature railway club has made a remarkable scale model of St Paul’s Church, Wokingham.
The Wokingham-created Berkshire Group of the N Gauge Society has been meeting for 25 years, first in Bearwood, and since the pandemic in White Waltham, West Berkshire.
Its 25 or so members have been working on a project to build not only Wokingham’s historic Victorian station, but also the buildings that surrounded it.
“We’ve been modelling buildings that were present from around 1965 until 1973 when the original station was pulled down,” said group member Richard Percy.
“Our most recent creation is a 3D model of St Paul’s Church.
“It’s been made from plastic resin, built to a scale of 2mm to each foot, or 1:148, by one of our members, Rob Evans.”
A 3D printer has made the model possible.
“Rob is a drone pilot, and was able to fly over the church, with permission, to take aerial photos of the building,” said Richard.
“He was then able to feed the information into a 3D printer, and layer by layer it has created the church.”
An embedded sound chip in the miniature even makes it possible to play hymns, and the group is understandably proud of their latest addition to their Wokingham model railway.
The project has special resonance for Richard, who grew up in Oxford Road, close to the station, and was baptised in St Paul’s Church.
The Wokingham miniature railway is 17 feet long, built in four foot sections for transportation.
Models of other buildings now no longer standing have been recreated thanks to Wokingham Borough Council’s Planning Department which has given the group access to documents to help with their model-making process.
This being the group’s 25th year, they will be showing their Wokingham model railway, and a number of other models at White Waltham this weekend.
A Push’N’Play Brio Corner will also be available to keep young engine drivers entertained.
The exhibition takes place at Woodlands Park Village Centre, Manifold Way, White Waltham, Maidenhead, on Saturday, April 19, from 10am until 4pm.
Admission costs £7 for adults, £4 for children, and £12 for families.
For information, search for Berkshire Area Group – N Gauge Society’s Facebook page or visit: bagladdies.weebly.com
