Hi from Far North of NZ

12915 Views 55 Replies 11 Participants Last post by kristopher1805, Sep 12, 2021

Kiwibarge

Discussion Starter · Mar 9, 2020

My previous hobby of RC planes has folded (as the nearest airfield is now 3 hours drive) so I need a new method of squandering time and money

. Model rail appeals as it is suitable for wet and/or Winter days, but I am not a 'modeller' so will be buying in most of the rolling stock etc. Rather than leaping in with both feet I am researching what I can first, but expert advice is helpful (again the nearest Club is 3 hours + away). A couple of questions (may be wrong sub forum):

- My baseboard space will be 10' x 3' - accessible from long side and one end. I could go a little wider but my arm length doesn't reach 4'. Is this width going to be a major constraint in OO/HO given I was hoping for a double oval +. The alternative is N gauge but would prefer not to.

- My initial idea is to go with a British period setup (to have more fun with the scenery

. I will go straight to DCC if possible to save money later. Should I standardise on Hornby or Bachmann - thinking cost, quality, DCC system....? I will be mainly buying from Amazon (Hornby from UK or Bachmann from US). In terms of shipping the US is probably easier. Appreciate this is a personal preference (which I don't have yet).

Any other advice appreciated - I am a blank slate

.

Regards

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Sol

· #2 · Mar 10, 2020

Welcome Kiwibarge.

Firstly 10' x 3' is perfect for a simple shunting layout but not for a double track oval in 00/H0 as even the smallest track requires 29" diameter & the next size up #2 requires 35" diameter and that is the smallest that some Bachmann & Hornby locos will traverse .

Note that even with 35" diameter curves, long coaches look slightly ridiculous - one modeller in the US only uses 36" radius curves - I assume he has more room.

That is where N scale stands out with diameters from 18" then upwards to 21" and nearly 24" diameter. These figures for both scales, are Peco Setrack

Secondly. DCC is the way I would go as it allows a multitude of things that DC can only dream about - of course it is dearer.

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Sol

· #12 · Mar 10, 2020

If you can find this book by Iain Rice,
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4638513...ilway-modelling

from this list
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/754636.Iain_Rice

it IMHO, is a good purchase

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Sol

· #17 · Mar 10, 2020

Hornby don't do N scale but there plenty of USA & European outline from other manufacturers.
Bachmann Graham Farish do UK N scale http://bachmann.co.uk/category/model-railway/graham-farish

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