I have added this in other forums and people are enjoying it so much I thought it is good to add here as I love this forum.
The basic idea is for all to share their Triang or Hornby 0-4-0's in their various forms. It is not just for complete factory made models, but for those who have used Triang or Hornby 0-4-0 parts to make other creations.
I look forward to seeing your pictures.
Happy modelling! Moderators. If this is in the wrong section feel free to reposition it and ammend or change it etc. Thanks.
Mod Note.. All posts moved to the recently created Hornby forum area.
I will make a start. This loco was once a different liveried "Smokey Joe" type Hornby saddle tank. It was converted into 7mm narrow gauge and then back again into 00 gauge using an old Triang cab. Later the cqb was removed and it sat waiting. It then had a different chassis so it could have diffeeent coloured wheels as the origional wheels suited a different loco better... It was then rebuilt in this form. It is not quite finished yet but there's not a lot to do... So here it is. The start of this thread. Feel free to add your Triang or Hornby 0-4-0's.
I bought this Triang RS24 "Connie" set earlier this year. It was missing the yellow inner divider/spacer so a visit to Hobbycraft found some suitable card and this is the result.
The request for 0-4-0 loco photos did not specify steam only so here are three of my other 0-4-0 locos from Triang/Hornby.
Left to right.
Triang R254 Steeple Cab Electric.
Triang R253 Switcher.
And as Rivarossi is now part of Hornby a Bedoni Electric shunter. The real Bedoni shunters were Diesel only so this is a Fantasy model produced in limited numbers by Rivarossi.
Now that's an 0-4-0 and a lovely loco it is. My loco number 3 started off as being one of those in that livery (Or very similar) but mine once had dull red wheels.
OK chaps - I'm new to this forum and new to this hobby (after a 35 year break) so I will be bumping a few threads if that's ok. Here's my little Southern 0-4-0. I bought this a couple of weeks ago in my mad beginners enthusiasm, noticing that its detail and build quality certainly placed it in 'tier 2' of Hornby's apparent 3 - tier quality grading. Although a lovely model, subsequent research turned up a blank when I tried to find the original vehicle. Could it be that this is a fictitious engine, and does it actually matter?
The origional vehicle was built in the early 1900's and they did not have a very long life. They were used on the Great Western Railway. They were made to a Holden design and I believe they were numbered 101 to 105 when they were used by the GWR. I do not know if the GWR then scrapped them or if they were offered for re-sale. Hornby have used modellers licence with a few of their budget locos, but to be honest, this can add to the charm of ones layout, as to me, if one can make the scene look convincing by its atmosphere, one has captured the feel of reality. I think we often miss this element and try for modelling perfection which is an ever moving away goalpost... As one buys the latest models only for the manufacturers to up the standards making ones old models seem obsolete, and one gets no where!
So my advice is use it as a lovely light duties engine. The real railways would have done this had the company had one. So what I am saying is that I very much doubt the Southern would have had one of these, BUT using it would be in keeping with a Southern Railway scene if one made its use "Make sense". It depends on your outlook. If you are trying to make a convincing scene, or if one wants to model an actual historic scene. Take a look at Glencairns layout "Steam Trains To Sovereign Street" to see what I mean. It is mostly fictional but has a real sense of realism as the trains make sense. The whole scene makse sense and has consistancy.
Consistancy is key. To help achieve consistency, try not to mix too many standards. So if you buy a card kit, try to stick to card kits. If you buy a plastic kit, then use plastickits...(I am only giving this as an example of consistency. I am not saying you can't mix card kits and plastic kits).
I will say that I have seen model railways built to exact scale down standards in every detail, and to be honest, most of them were uninviting and boring, as somehow it does not quite capture the atmosphere. One could stand by the lineside of a rwal railway and watch a train thunder past and think "Wow!" One can re-create a perfect scaled down replica and the train slowly trundles through and the whole atmosphere and excitement has gone.
So what we need to aim for is build a layout that develops a charm and atmosphere of its own so the railway can come to life. We need to give out railway a purpouse and out locomotives a reason to be there.
I hope I have not said the wrong thing in my answer as my concepts may be different to yours. But in my view absolute perfection is hard to capture, but a three dimentional artistic representation of an atmosphere is certainly possible to capture. Some tallented individuals can capture both and that is amazing, but rare.
Many thanks, Mountain Goat, for your very informative response. The fact that this loco existed in at least some form is good enough for me - and as no one (as far as I am aware) produces an actual historical Southern 0-4-0 I feel reassured by your advice and will indeed use it for shunting, light duties etc. As far as buildings are concerned I intend to scratch build my own using foamboard and Metcalfe or superquick brick and stone papers. I will be doing my best to keep the buildings 'Southern' of course! Even though I am a Northerner...
