[steam-driven boy]

QUOTE (tom @ 8 Feb 2009, 16:53) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I want to model a section of the WCML and so when dapol release there N 390 I can have a full 9 car set in under 1.5m

!!!

Hi Tom,

Although as a returnee to the hobby I'm not technically swopping scales I did think long and hard about what I wanted and what was realistic in both scales.

I too wanted long trains in a reasonably realistic environment and N will make that possible, although how realistic that environment will be will depend on how well I can model that aspect of things!

Given your comments then 'modern-image' N in ready-to-run is certainly a sensible option (as Edwin points out there's a pretty good balance between the two scales), and as newer steam models come on stream then even the occaisional 'special' may be worthwhile.

It's the older steam models that "in my humble opinion" represent too great a compromise in N for me, and I'm willing to focus on the modern stuff while we await the newer generation of quality steam motive power in depth to become a reality - what's been introduced in the last few years certainly looks pretty decent.

Good luck with your efforts and keep us posted on your progress

Regards.

 

[steam-driven boy]

QUOTE (tom @ 8 Feb 2009, 16:53) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I want to model a section of the WCML and so when dapol release there N 390 I can have a full 9 car set in under 1.5m

!!!

This is Tom's original question and to avoid complication and confusion perhaps that's the topic for debate

QUOTE (BobB @ 8 Feb 2009, 20:43) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>When I returned to railway modelling, I did the reverse, I switched from N to OO. The main reason for me was that with OO I could easily uncouple remotely (no 0-5-0 hand of God from the sky) and could therefore shunt around a station area, just like I used to see as a young bloke who was facinated by the whole railway scene.

It seems to me that N is great for trains in the countryside, full length reasonable representations, but if detail is what you want, then 00/H0 or O is what you want.

Remeber TT - with what we see today in both N and 00, I wonder if the time for TT is upon us.

With respect, where today on the WCML do we see very much shunting activity

(although I'm planning my N layout around such movements so there has to be a workable solution

) Although there can be variation on the length of trains the modern railway mainly consists of set formations, I would guess BobB that you would be modelling an earlier era, the one we remember fondly

There is an excellent 3mm Society (and likewise the N Gauge Society - I highly recommend membership to anyone who chooses to model in N) and some suppliers and it is a very attractive scale - again, I looked closely at what could be done, but sadly we do not live in the particular parallel universe where British r-t-r is anything like a viable proposition, I think

QUOTE (Brian Considine @ 8 Feb 2009, 21:27) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>If you "go European" there is a great deal of rolling stock & accessories produced.

QUOTE (BobB @ 9 Feb 2009, 05:19) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Brian

Yeh, there's load of European, but is there any British stuff ?

Very little, if at all - apart from very dated, mostly ebay sourced tri-ang '60s product. I remember a proposal a few years back for a class 47 r-t-r but it wouldn't have been the basis of an extensive r-t-r range.

QUOTE (Lancashire Fusilier @ 9 Feb 2009, 06:34) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Oh goodness, don't open that can of worms up.....

Some excellent 2mm scale (N gauge) models are produced and some excellent RTR versions are also available. Up to the level of detail and what you actually want to achieve from the hobby and all that.

Yes, the topic wasn't about a whole range of scales, but a question of switching to N from OO. I think that the modern scene N-gauger can expect almost a parity in what he/she can expect in British outline models and it's up to the individual to assess what they want to achieve in the space available - and then they'll be happier when the layout is up and running.

Regards.