Newbie/returniee saying hi

[bulleidboy]

Welcome back Alex - This is a great forum - lots of help, information and fun - not always in that order.

[Mountain Goat]

How about something different which can fit in a small scale and is fun! Take a look at 7mm narrow gauge (0-16.5). I use cheap Hornby 0-4-0 chassis for some of my locos and Smallbrook Studio body kits (Listed as 0e which is basically 0-16.5).
The advantages are the kits are easy to make and though they are a larger scale, being narrow gauge, as long as one keeps to smaller prototype models they can turn in quite tight corners. Both myself and Pinknosedpenguin are slowly making small sized layouts. His is 2ft x 3ft and mine is 2ft x 7ft. We both have an oval of track and have different ideas about how we go about building things, but each is developing into something with character which adds to the fun side of things.
My take on the hobby is along the lines of "Budget" where I scratchbuild using everyday items if I can. Coffee sturers are ideal in this larger scale. My couplings are made from drawing pins and paper clips. My nameplates made from soft drinks cans.

Hi mountain goat, I like the idea of that but sadly I am just getting into all this and after one failed foray into a different gauge I think I'd like to stick to something I have some familiarity with. I have just sold some 009 stuff on facebook because I am not the biggest fan of modelling narrow gauge, Id be interested in seeing what you have done, what is your thread in the forum called i'll look for it.

My locos and stock can be seen in the narrow gauge section with the heading "Mountain Goats Wagon and Carriage Works" (Or something like that!) I have just noticed I don't have my "No where near finished" layout on there. I used to have some photos but then the site was renewed. I will put a few up soon.

Just put a few pictures up in the narrow gauge section. Just to say Pinknosedpenguin is on a different site I am on. I thought he was on this one. Some sites look similar so it gets confusing.

I find 7mm narrow gauge modelling quite liberating, and ideal for those on a tight budget. It does require a little thinking on how to make things. Probably the easiest and cheapest way to start is to convert a Hornby 0-4-0 which as models go, can turn very sharp curves if one needs them to.
Some 0-6-0's can turn on sharp curves also but they may need the centre wheel flanges filed down to do so. Short wheelbase 0-6-0's should be fine.
Anything with a short wheelbase usually works. Couplings can restrict how sharp one can take things round curves. Standard tension lock couplings will work with the wider types allowing for sharper curves. Usually one coupling hook needs to be removed. I made my own as when I scratchbuild a waggon, it cost me around 80p each for the wheels and 80p each per coupling. By designing and making my own couplings, I only need to pay for the wheels. Other materials are either very cheap (E.g. drawing pins, paper clips, coffee sturers, lollypop sticks etc) or free. In this way I can build a waggon for less then £2, and if I rescue some plastic wheels that other modellers don't want, I can make waggons cheaper then that. Some could cost me less then 50p each to build (In theory) if I don't take time into consideration.
Smallbrook Studio and Slimrails do some nice kits. For a decent starter kit for a loco, take a look at the Smallbrook Studio Ceto. I have not bought one, but they are very simple. Just a cab and a chimney to add to a Hornby 0-4-0 saddle tank (The cheaper ones Hornby do).
Painting is not too difficult. If one is nurvous, buy a tin of humburol enamels and a small paint brush along with brush cleaner. Black is a nice colour to begin with. Grey will look good with waggons. There is no set rule in regards to colour though. I just find these colours look nice and are easy to apply. An all black loco looks good. When I paint a loco green, it normally looks a bit bland until I add some details like basic lining in black. With an all black loco, one can add red name and number plates and it will look ok, so it is easier in this way.

[alexjhill1987]

Thanks MG(I had a look people seem to call you by that moniker)
I had a look at that site, it has some great stuff on there, for now I think until I feel more adventurous I would like to stick with RTR models, and branch out into weathering and kit building down the line at some point.

I am still in the process of deciding where I want to do my railway, I was tempted very much by 70s-80s br blur diesels with a heritage line allowing me to run steam and older diesels in the old colours but as I am thinking all I can really afford is a 10x8 shed I may be limited, but then I dont want to over do it too much.
Small TMD, small yard, and a 2 platform station maybe a 3rd that serves the heritage line.

All just plans at the moment as I am taking a break from the hobby due to my depression and anxiety.

[Mountain Goat]

Regarding depression/anxiety. You could do with projects to look forward to. Something achieveable.
I like the very late 1970's to early 1980's myself. I habe quite a collection in 00 gauge. However as I found myself enjoying scratchbuilding in 7mm narrow gauge I have hardly looked at the 00 gauge, let alone had anywhere to run them. In 00 gauge a four coach train with a loco would take up quite some space but as I keep to short 4 wheel coaches and short locos in 7mm narrow gauge, I find that train lengths don't need so much space. I could probably have a loco with an 8 coach train in the same length as a loco and a 4 coach train in 00.

Just for fun, do you have any spare 00 gauge wheels? Why not make a little 0-16.5 waggon? Just for a little project. Nothing complicated. Nothing that costs much money. It gets the mind thinking of ways to do this. I found that when I did this myself, any depression would fade as my mind was then in its own little railway world and concentrating on designs of trains or waggons etc... For me it was a way to relax and blot out the stresses of life. (I know what works for me may not work for others but I may as well share just incase it does). While it would be easy to say to copy my designs (And feel free to do so if you desire), by trying your own designs you get to enjoy the process of learning what works and what doesn't work, which is an adventure in itself. If you need any bits and pieces and I happen to have some spare I can send you some to start you off.

If you decide in 00 gauge I will be slowly selling my collection a bit at a time. For me, I find I lost enthusiasm when the prices went up in regards to 00 gauge and I found them out of reach of my budget. This is not to put you off as we all have different circumstances... You could be a rich millionare! (Ok, you don't need to be rich to model in 00 ).

Whichever way you choose, it is nice to dream of ideas and various modelling projects. Most of my modelling is in dream land! I hope you have enjoyment when you get the trains out. (And enjoyment even when you don't).

[alexjhill1987]

Thanks MG.

I actually sold off all my old 00 from when I was a kid, should tell you a bit of my financial situation there. I went whole hog into N when I really shouldn't have, but we learn from our mistakes.

I will probably stick with 00, I have a nice little project in mind after visiting the Rainhill MRC Exhibition earlier today I am refuled with enthusiasm for 00 and what can be done in a small space. I also have my eye on a br blue 03 too, I am thinking that is an era I would like to model in to be honest, when shunting was still round but the steam was relegated to heritage lines.
I will be sticking with my DCC as my control system (z21) will work on multiple scales so I am fine with using that, I like the control systems for it as it is on my phone.

I do have 3 sets of 00 gauge wheels in my toolbox, I may have a play with the idea over the next week whilst I am off work.
I appreciate the ideas MG, as you said we are all different but some of your ways may work for me and maybe not, only way to find out is to try.

[Mountain Goat]

No amount of experience is lost. In order to find out that N gauge wasn't your preferred scale you had to try it. I have tried N, 00 (In 2 and 3 rail forms which I still have, and tried 2 rail modelling in a mixture, and then concentrated in GWR, and then went to BR blue era), a little H0, H0e (No RTR 009 back then), SM32 and 0-16.5. I think that's the lot. I was able to use other peoples 0 gauge to get the gist of that and it is very nice. While over the years I may have spent more then I aught, it still gave me pleasure.
I think looking back, that I needed to try different avenues and there is no right or wrong. Yes we may occasionally lose a little (Sometimes a bit more then we would have liked) but it is by trying things that we find what we enjoy.
I am currently enjoying the little tools (E.g. Unimat 6 in 1 kool tool) I have purchased partly from selling some of my surplus 00, and the 00 I sell gets enjoyed by others. It is fun when I see the occasional loco or item in pictures on other peoples layouts which I used to own. I find I love the challenge in making things from scrap or cheaply obtained bits and pieces. Waggons are my speciality at the moment! (0-16.5 is ideal as I don't have to follow a prototype which makes building them easier. No one can tell me that I have done it wrong as I can reply "It's meant to look like that! )

Class 03's. I have a few myself. I used to watch them when I was young as they triple headed lengthy coal trains. (One direction would be triple headed. The return was double headed with the third loco next to the brake van at the rear).

[alexjhill1987]

Wow, you have gotten around

I have 3 sets of 00 wheels from some wagons I got for £1 at a car boot, so how would someone go about making them into 0-16.5 wagon?

[Mountain Goat]

Are they plastic or metal?

[alexjhill1987]

2 metal and 1 plastic

[Mountain Goat]

Metal are easy, as they can be seperated and slotted into holes made in a wooden chassis. You could even glue lollypopsticks together in pairs to form the basic internal structure for a chassis frame.
Plastic wheels can be used in two ways. They can either be used as they are so you need to make or obtain an external frame (The same way that 00 gauge wagon chassis are made) or if you have a way to drill a hole in the centre of the wheel you can cut the individual wheels off and use an old bicycle spoke as an axle. The wheels can either be used with an internal frame or used withan external frame in a similar way as the old Triang waggons were made with their cast metal chassis.
Take a look at my H chassis design. Those little waggons are easy to make. I used thin wooden dowel to make the chassis for them. A minidrill is a great help.