Any model railway enthusiasts on here ?

I used to be back in my younger days and have a decent Hornby collection in the loft just waiting for the right time (and space) to be brought back in to service. I may have added a few over the last couple of years too, but don't tell my wife I have not had them since childhood!

Can't tell you much about the digital stuff except you can run multiple units on the same line, where as the older gear was one at a time so the modern kit will be better for a smaller layout. Guess it comes down to how deep your pockets are as the digital stuff is no doubt brilliant, but very expensive where as you can pick up the old style kit off ebay for relatively little. I payed around £20/30 from memory for a very tidy Class 47 and 86.

Once I stop messing around with 80's Tamiya I might get round to a bit of layout building.

Posted a similar question last year after someone bought me a 00 starter set (Flying Scotsman). Got some more track & 2nd hand locos and have a little setup in the garage but haven’t put too much time/money into it yet as had layout design paralysis! (Don’t want to dedicate too much space to it)

Then a few months back Hornby threw a hand grenade into the established order by announcing a new scale (or bringing back an old one) that sits in-between N and 00 which means you can get a much more interesting layout into a smaller space, but is just as usable as 00 (most seem to agree N is far too fiddly). It’s also cheaper than both. Still only available to pre-order, this is definitely the way I’ll be going though!

If starting from scratch I would definitely go digital (if you can stomach the cost), so much easier to wire up, you drive the loco rather than the track and plus added interest of sound and light fitted locos if they tickle you fancy.

Don't automatically plump for oo gauge, have a look at smaller and larger scales too, all depends on what sort of layout you want and how much space you have?

If starting from scratch I would definitely go digital (if you can stomach the cost)

@munrobiker

Hi @brownsauce, it is a great hobby, especially when the days are long and dark and wet!

There is an excellent forum with lots of helpful (usually!) folk at

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/

we even have a cycling thread 🙂

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/168177-cycling-chat/#comments

A popular book of late is

https://wildswanbooks.co.uk/Books/Small-Layout-Design-Handbook.htm

Advice depends too what interests you most really, is it building stuff or running stuff, or both?

Any particular type / era of railways you'd like to recreate in model form? Steam, diesel/electric etc? British, overseas, US, European etc? Standard gauge or narrow gauge, or both? etc etc

How much space do you have for the layout and can you set it up permanently or just for running sesssions?

all the best,

Keith

@zilog6128

You evil evil swine. I've been looking at getting a new set up on and off over the last few years, see if the kids enjoy it, used to have a HO/OO set up when i was a kid, but don't have spare space for that now, and N gauge is (as you say) fiddly and expensive. Something like tt120 can be pretty much portable...

Fortunately, christmas and Kids birthdays are all fairly recent, so no purchase for a while. But i have a full online shopping basket already.

Thanks for the replies so far.

My preference at this stage is for N gauge as its smaller size will allow me to fit more into any given space compared to the regular Hornby / 00 scale.
Would like to go DCC digital from the outset for the ability to run multiple locos indepentantly on the same track and flexibilty in programming additional features / effects
Size wise I'm looking at 8' x 4' layed onto two 4' x 4' boards that can be split into 2 pieces ( so it can be moved out of the small upstairs bedroom where it would be set up )
The general style / asthetic would be modern and up to date , not really interested in steam engines , cottage style stations and olde world heritage railways.
Scenery and backdrop would be evenly split between open countryside and urban town setting
Track features would include decent sized modern station with longish platform , level crossing ( an actual operational version woud be awesome ) and some kind of iron framed bridge.
As I'm writing this it's becoming rapidly apparent how costly this enterprise might become... 🙂

Great @brownsauce, so something like this perhaps:

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/171645-finnbrough-n-gauge-modern-image/

N is great for running full length trains, though as you say, can get expensive with all the rolling stock...

At least N is well established and has a lot of good trade / enthusiast support and potential for s/h.

Good luck with the build!

cheers,

Keith

I tried model railways a decade or two back but found the space required just didn't work and the whole thing was unsatisfying.
Ended up restarting (Airfix) model making last year and really enjoy that.

Where are you ?
Model Rail Scotland is soon -
Hall 3 at the Scottish Event Campus, Exhibition Way, Glasgow G3 8YW on Friday 24th, Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February 2023.

Worth wandering around to get a feel for what's out there. Smallest layout was O gauge - shunters rolling just a few feet making whooshing noises 🙂

@mert 😃 you've probably found it already but for the rest of the month it's free to sign up to the TT:120 club which then gets you 15% off everything!

The general style / asthetic would be modern and up to date ,

...complete with picket lines and trains parked up in sidings!? 🙂

I'm a pretty dedicated N gauge modeller. OO takes up too much space for the modern trains I like to run.

I find the magazines helpful for inspiration - if you can get a copy of Model Rail magazine's Great British Model Railways, it contains only articles on other people's layouts. That'll give you an idea for what kind of thing you like the look of. Exhibitions are great for the same reason.

I hang about on RMWeb and the N Gauge Forum. They're very helpful.

I don't bother with digital - I use some new Bluetooth controllers from Hornby. They're great - they offer loads of control including realistic acceleration and deceleration without the extra cost of digital.

I actually have an N gauge layout I need to move on that needs a little work if you fancy that as a starting point.

[url= https://flic.kr/p/2n9J9Sc ][img width=600 height=310] [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2n9J9Sc ]DSC_9451[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/183377889@N06/ ]Luke Bradley[/url], on Flickr

This thread was pretty good -

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/model-railway/

Here's a thread on my current layout build-

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/165133-shanford-n-gauge-in-edinburgh/#comment-4975086

@zilog6128
I shall have to resist the urge to press buy now...

Is N gauge really "too fiddly"? I've seen quite a few layouts at exhibitions and they look ideal for houses where space is tight. I'm looking to start building one myself.

Anyone have any advice on a make of digital controller to buy. Something simple to use is the main criterion. At most I'll want to run about four trains I reckon.

Off at a slight tangent... This returns for Season 2 tonight!

https://uktvplay.co.uk/shows/hornby-a-model-world/watch-online

As you were...

Is N gauge really “too fiddly”?

It depends. In terms of handling locos and stock, not at all. In terms of making sixty odd 2mm tall chimney pots, a bit.

Slight thread hijack - I'm planning to build a garden bar/BBQ shack over the next year or so and have always wanted a garden railway - might be nice to combine the two.. any pointers on where to start regarding where to buy the track/trains from???

Thanks to @tractionman for the useful links and general positivity.
And thanks to @munrobiker for uploading some great pics and for the offer of supplying some spare layout.
Now I've drawn out my track plan and would gladly upload it so the more experienced chaps can check that can be actually be constructed but I've no idea how with this sites 3rd party picture hosting bollox.
Happy to PM / email it to anyone willing to have a look ( its in both pdf or jpeg form )

Now I've downloaded the free anyrail 6 software , which in theory should provide a complete track parts list of my chosen brand ( Kato Unitrack ) in order to build the rail layout once you've drawn in your plan.
The problem is you need a fair bit of familiarity with the products to use it.
For example if I want to build a section of curved track around the edge of the baseboard there's at least a dozen different types of curved track sections of various lengths and gradients and its very difficult to know which is the most appropriate part to chose.
Any pointers ?
TIA

Hornby just announced a load of new Bluetooth stuff yesterday which looks very interesting. Backwards compatible with both analogue and existing Digital but actually an entirely new system which does not require a separate controller (you just use your phone/tablet) which immediately lowers the barrier to entry for digital. They haven't released too many details nor can you you actually buy it yet but it does sound really good, giving it serious consideration for my own new layout!

I started my new 00 layout 2 years ago in the loft. Can’t afford digital and beyond track work, I’m doing my best to use second hand stuff wherever possible, supporting a variety of railway preservation groups along the way.
Not done any railway modelling since 1977 until now. No rush and thoroughly enjoying something to do when it’s more wet and cold or dark than I really want it to be playing out !

I'd really recommend SCARM as a tool to design a layout if you're a beginner. It's much, much easier than Anyrail!

A couple of questions about N gauge track for those of you who have experience:-

I've been doing some reading up and come to the conclusion Peco code 55 is the way I'd ideally like to go. The only worry is that it's all flexible track (Streamline I think they call it). It's obviously more fiddly to cut and lay etc, so my questions are:-

1. Is the added realism from getting gently flowing curves etc worth it?

2. Is it difficult (for a complete beginner) to cut and lay? I gather joining sections on corners can be tricky, and you have to drill and fit pins every few inches?

Cheers in advance.

Old Hornby Stephensons Rocket 3 1/2" gauge. Runs on Butane.

@kennyp - I've used Code 55 for the first time on my latest layout. It does look better but how much realism do you think you can achieve with the rest of the layout?

It is a bit more of a faff - I used a pin vice to drill holes for pins every ten or so sleepers. Using a proper pair of track cutters from DCC Concepts really helped with the joins.

My layout is an oval, with the two 180 degree bends hidden away behind a backscene. For those I used regular set track curved pieces on code 80. Peco Code 55 is just Code 80 track in thicker sleepers so the two can be joined. This was much easier than doing those sharper curves with set track. The flowing Flexi track through the main section looks much more realistic than the straight track on my old layouts.

I like it and would use it again but it was occasionally a little frustrating to lay.

@munrobiker many thanks for that, largely confirms what I'd thought. The layout I have in mind sounds similar. It's to be an oval with 180 degree bends at either end with the track disappearing into tunnels halfway round each bend to be hidden away behind a backscene. Your idea of using code 80 setback for the hidden stuff is a good one.

And yes, having long gently flowing curves on the visible section is what I'm after so I guess I bite the bullet and learn to lay flexitrack. It's a two year project anyway so I'm in no rush.

This was much easier than doing those sharper curves with set track.

Was that a misprint and you actually meant streamline rather than set track?

Oh and I've seen photos of your layouts on other threads here. They look stunning.