Does anyone make such a thing?

Hi

I simply love RoyP's narrow gauge 'Crackington Quay' layout - magnificent, add this to Gary's 'Linden Ford' as a fine example of what can be achieved with a simple plank (or an old wardrobe) and you have the sparks which have inspired certain flames of enthusiasm within me to have a go at something new. I'm seriously considering a plank! which, dependant upon how it goes, may eventually replace my permanent 12' x 12' loft layout. Early days yet and with old age, arthritic fingers and failing eyesight not as easy as it may at first appear, so softly, softly catch a monkey is the development phrase and my starter could be a simple plank.

My current layout is a roundy roundy 00 loft layout which is not complete by any stretch of the imagination and the above mentioned afflictions go someway in explaining the reason(s) why. The layout is 'plumbed in' and cannot be moved but I've always wanted something '0' gauge always eventually concluding I didn't have enough room. However, what was a want now seems to have progressed into a need to 'up size' and, therefore, having all my rtr and handbuilt 00 trackwork, it seems logical (to me) to move into 0-16.5mm narrow gauge. I could use my current 00 track and any future modelling would be at the larger 0 gauge size, I could also make it in stages to be dismantleable (is there such a word?) if I decided the plank needed to grow.

So, with consideration to all of the above, I started researching 0-16.5 and almost immediately hit the buffers. Where can you buy such items? are such items manufactured ready to run? Apart from using 00 track do you have to make the rest yourself? I'm not averse to 'getting my hands dirty' and making bits myself so is it more a case of acquiring a 00 loco chassis and building the top end yourself, with a simlar scenario being required for the wagons and coaches or can you actually buy them rtr - I simply don't know, so any help or pointers you can offer would be gratefully received.

It may also help keep the flames of enthusiasm lit if I could get hold of a loco ready to run…..

Thanks

Hi Mike

Don't know if you've seen this, or it's any good.

The 7mm Narrow Gauge Association

Ed

Hi Mike, Bachmann do American outline O16.5 rtr locos and rolling stock, I am not sure where you would look for them but I guess if you Google it you should get some answers.
Pete.

Mike,

I know they're not R-T-R, but Peco do a range of 0-16.5 kits, both loco and rolling stock.
I guess it's all down to what era/area you want to model.

Jeff

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your kind words about Crackington Quay, much appreciated.

Roy.

You're very welcome Roy. Modelling of your high standards deserves all the praise we lesser mortals can bestow.

I'm despearetly searching for a track plan for my intended 0-16.5mm - is the correct term On16.5 ? - but so far have found nothing that inspires me as much as yours. I hope you're not too offended should I ultimately borrow your plan or create something along similar lines.

Also, has anyone hands on experience of Mercian Models as they appear to produce some nice looking kits.

MMmm… can't seem to find a button to insert links so here is their web address - http://www.modelrailways.tv/

EDIT: Oh I now see the system creates the link automatically when you type in a web address - learn something new everyday.

Hi Mike,
        I belong to the 7mm NG society, and, i can tell you now that, it has such a wealth of RTR pre used locos and stock items of any/all types, and at very good prices BUT, you will need to join which is very little outlay P.M. and, you get 6 issues of the mag that supports the gauge and gives the listings of the models for sale, the sales manager is a friend of mine who i rarely see tho, but, he is a very helpful guy; the mag can be received either via the post or as i do, as an PDF, which is better for all the plans you get so as to print off for building etc etc etc, hope this helps you out, but, this is a 100% way of getting what you want my friend…………

                                              Very best regards to all…………….Tom..:);-):cool:


PS………….also joined the 009 society to get a greater spread of things!!!!!!!……….

Hi Mike,

 Be my guest if you wish to use my layout plan, I believe others have, such as the great Allan Downes see http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=11933&forum_id=21&highlight=crackington.
Allan used a larger baseboard, a door.

If I can be of any help please ask.

Roy.

Hi Mike,

Tom is spot on, join the 7mm NG Society. I used to be a member, great resource. Be prepared for modifications to HO/OO and O stock for engines, passenger cars and freight cars. An OO 0-6-0 with a new aftermarket O cab and fittings (chimney, domes) looks realistic. The Bachmann O-30 range is easily modified with aftermarket bits (both steam and diesel). A Simplex petrol or diesel 0-6-0 can be done with styrene sheet and a suitable chassis. Same goes for a Baldwin WW-1 2-6-0 or 2-6-2 (use a Bachmann OO Prairie chassis). Not as detailed as a white metal kit, but they will look the part, will run reliably and are readily converted to DCC, with plenty of room for a decoder and speaker.

The U.S. eBay site has many offerings, and several large model stores will ship to the UK. PM me for some suggestions if interested. The Bachmann O-30 range is available from UK suppliers.  

A  visit to Buzzrail at Leighton Buzzard will give you plenty of inspiration. 

Nigel

Thanks for your offer Roy - also thanks to everyone else for their useful ideas, advice and helpful contributions…

Thanks also for the link to Alan Downes - it must be said 'that man is an absolute scenic magician'…

I've been looking at my 00 loco stock for possible 'donors' but I don't unfortunately have any 0-4-0's (am keeping a wary eye out for used 'Smokey Joes' in the local press and swap meets), but I have come up with three which may, or may not, be suitable. The first two are chassis from 0-6-0 3F tender locos and the third is the chassis of a 0-6-2 LNER N2 tank engine.

In your opinion(s) would any of these be useable on On16.5? and, if so, is it a case of just freelancing a body or could there possibly be body kits available that may fit? 

Another thing that springs to mind is track radii. Some layouts I've read up on seem to have impossibly tight bends but I've always in the past concentrated on 'larger the better' avoiding minimums and have absolutely no idea as to minimum radii for the various wheel configurations.  To save me buying some 1st radius track on which to try these I've an idea that 0-4-0's will cope with almost anything but, what is the minimum for an 0-6-0 and indeed an 0-6-2? Will short(ish) bogied carriages work with small radius track or, is the rule of thumb to keep everything 4 wheeled? What knowledge can you impart from your varied experiences please?

Also, (sorry) I use DG auto couplings with delayed action - ideal for shunting - on my 00 layout with same brand electromagnets. Has anyone used their 7mm sized coupling on an On16.5 layout and, if, so were they succesful?

Thanks for any and all information you can offer this humble NG beginner.

PS: I'm reading, reading, doing more reading then yet more reading, trawling the web into the wee small hours almost 'til exhaustion - enthusiasm running at about MachIII….. so, once I get a track plan, hopefully I'll be on my way…..

Watching with interest, I have a V1/3 2-6-2 chassis and an Electrotren 0-6-0as a donors with a similar project in mind.

I have thought of buying  Hornby 0-4-0 with o/s cylinders, like the 'Caledonian' t practice on first when I am back in UK for a week in June.

Doug

Hi Mike,

Tempting as they are, in my experience (6 conversions over 10+ years of On30 modeling) try not to use Smokey Joe's. Cheap, but more trouble then their worth. The wheels are too big for On30. The new ones are OKish, the older ones tend to have 2 speeds - off and 180 scale MPH. Rumor has it that Scalextric motors were used when supplies for the 0-4-0's were low. Branchlines in Westbury do a chassis kit with more prototypical wheels.

If you do venture down the kit road, the IKB/Wrightlines range has some interesting models. Taken over by Adrian Swain (ABS models), no website as far as I know, but he does take orders and attends shows. You'll need to master the black art of white metal soldering though.

Bachmann Europe 0-6-0 and 2-6-2 chassis's (GWR Pannier and Prairie for example) have a nice wheel diameter for On30, reliable mechanisms, good slow running, and easy DCC conversion. It can be as easy as removing the cab, and scratch building an O-scale one from brass or styrene. Add an O-scale chimney and dome, et voila! Building a Baldwin 2-6-2 ex-WD pannier is an easy start. There is an article on this in the 7mm narrow Gauge magazine (and one if if memory serves in NARROW GAUGE & INDUSTRIAL Railway Modelling REVIEW). The other one that is easy to model is the Simplex petrol, either 0-6-0 or 0-4-0. There are plans on the web.

The Bachmann America Davenport 0-4-0 side rod diesel offers opportunities for steam or diesel modifications. Expensive compared to a Smokey Joe, but well worth it.  Their Porter steam range can also be made to look "British". Their HO Porter steam range is also very amenable to up-scaling to O. Backwoods Miniatures have lots of kits and bits for narrow gauge (including conversion of HO/OO scale engines to O-scale). Don't forget the Thomas range. Toby and Diesel are good candidates for up-scaling to O. Percy gives a more realistic wheel set for an O-scale 0-4-0 than Smokey Joe and in my experience better slow running capability.

Try Smallbrook Studio for kits and bits in resin that go on proprietary chassis's.


I think you mentioned you will be using 16.5mm  track, which corresponds to a gauge of 2'4". One thing to keep in mind is that because of the narrow gauge, many steam engines were outside-framed with cranks for the rods.

Nigel