N Gauge Forum

Hi all,

Well, it's been confirmed that there will be a Series 2 of this popular but controversial tv program from Channel 5.

With that in mind....

Would there be sufficient interest from the forum members to put together a team with the intent of producing an entry in N Gauge?

Thoughts, ideas, etc......

Have your say! Yes/No/Maybe

Thanks

Well.
I have to say that I have enjoyed the show so far (warts and all).
I'd tentatively say yes to having a go , it could be great fun as long as you give it your best shot but don't  take it too seriously.
I wouldn't like to commit a definite yes at this stage but it's very much worth considering.
Lets see what others think.
I guess ideally you need a mix of skills electrical,carpentry, track laying, scratchbuilding, scenery etc.

Quote from: port perran on November 05, 2018, 07:57:25 PM
Well.
I have to say that I have enjoyed the show so far (warts and all).
I'd tentatively say yes to having a go , it could be great fun as long as you give it your best shot but don't  take it too seriously.
I wouldn't like to commit a definite yes at this stage but it's very much worth considering.
Lets see what others think.
I guess ideally you need a mix of skills electrical,carpentry, track laying, scratchbuilding, scenery etc.

Hi PP,

I have the advantage of having taken part in the first series.

SO - yes, just having a positive mental attitude to agreeing to turn up and take part is the starting point.


First things first - get some people willing to commit to taking part IF the producers agree to a purely N Gauge entry.

Then, get the people who volunteer to list the skill areas they have.

It's a matter of process and progress things steadily.

Thanks

But this series ends with 5 layout s joined together!

Would they stand for an all N entry ?  Could we field 10 N gauge teams??

Quote from: Railwaygun on November 05, 2018, 08:34:59 PM
But this series ends with 5 layout s joined together!

Would they stand for an all N entry ?  Could we field 10 N gauge teams??

Hi there,

These are questions that have already been submitted to the producers.

Hence why I used the words IF etc....

Only time will tell, but I understand there are several changes to the rules that have yet to be finalised.


You know what they say?

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

So lets not fail at the first hurdle

Count me in if Channel 5 pays me airline ticket  ;D ;)

Quote from: Bealman on November 05, 2018, 11:55:58 PM
Count me in if Channel 5 pays me airline ticket  ;D ;)

They'd probably love it. "And this chap has flown all the way from Oz just to take part....."
Might not be so keen to cough up for the ticket though.

Worth a try, you reckon?  ;D

Quote from: Bealman on November 06, 2018, 08:28:51 AM
Worth a try, you reckon?  ;D

Go for it

At least I can solder stuff  :worried:

Hello

I emailed them on Friday after the show asked for applications for series 2.

I'd be happy to join an NGF team :)

I'm happy working in any scale - currently building O Gauge rolling stock...

Cheers
Michael

Cool! See you on TV here in Australia series two!  :thumbsup:

As soon as I saw they were making a season 2 I had the same thoughts, could we get an N-Gauge Forum team together. I'm sure we all have the skills to model in other scales too if the need arises.

I'm up for it if you are collecting names.

The TV Production team have just posted on RM web (Post 1689) for invites to the next series..
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/138126-great-model-railway-challenge-channel-5/page-68 (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/138126-great-model-railway-challenge-channel-5/page-68)

Quote from: The Q on November 06, 2018, 01:29:07 PM
The TV Production team have just posted on RM web (Post 1689) for invites to the next series..
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/138126-great-model-railway-challenge-channel-5/page-68 (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/138126-great-model-railway-challenge-channel-5/page-68)

Yep - knew all about that before it was posted and was told I got to them first!

OK - The idea of having a purely N Gauge layout as an entry has been accepted as a good idea.

Now it's a case of the production company doing the background and potential supplier checks for it to become a definite 'Yes - you can take part' decision.

I've addressed all the initial list of potential hurdles that they threw at me to their satisfaction.

Now - the only hurdle I was unable to address is the On Train Camera situation. Hence my posting elsewhere about it.

Their current set up is too big to either fit in, or ride on top of, any N Gauge van, wagon or carriage.

So - gird your loins, start collecting your thoughts, and post your ideas and suggestions on here.

Time it is flying along! Next May will be here before we know it.

Thanks

Quote from: Only Me on November 06, 2018, 09:32:26 PM
There is an n gaue camera in proper hd available its built by a proper company and it is in a bogey wagon with a big lens on the front.

@Ben A (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=94) had a review sample a couple of years ago, not to be confused with the rubbish available on ebay..

Hi Only Me,

Thanks - that is exactly why I asked the question - I will look further and see what else I find.

I will also ask Ben if he has one and if it can be borrowed!

Thanks

Quote from: Bealman on November 05, 2018, 11:55:58 PM
Count me in if Channel 5 pays me airline ticket  ;D ;)

OK - did ask.....

The answer is no. But if you get to the UK then they would cover the expenses of getting to the venue as a team member and pay accomodation.....

Quote from: Michael Shillabeer on November 06, 2018, 08:53:34 AM
Hello

I emailed them on Friday after the show asked for applications for series 2.

I'd be happy to join an NGF team :)

I'm happy working in any scale - currently building O Gauge rolling stock...

Cheers
Michael

Hi Michael,

I made a succesful pre-emptive strike.....

Once things get firmed up - then we can see what/who is possible.

Knowing your modelling I'd be delighted if you were to take part!

Thanks for trying!  :beers:

Quote from: Bealman on November 06, 2018, 09:40:44 PM
Thanks for trying!  :beers:

It costs nothing to ask...

They were interested in the fact that someone might come from so far away to take part.

But not so interested when I said it would need the airfare covered!

If there were to be an n gauge forum team, I wish someone luck trying to choose the members  :o
Having said that, the team would require an enigmatic captain who has excellent wide ranging modelling skills, someone who is at the foundation of the forum, I think there is only one candidate, step forward @Tank (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=2)

Now all he needs is a top track layer/wirer, an electronics/animation genius, a scenic guru and someone to make the tea/general modeller.

All kitted out in forum tea shirts with Going Large on the back as the team actually builds a OO layout and whips the big boys.

Crikey Lawrence, I don't think I'm that good!   ;D  I appreciate the praise though.  :thumbsup:  I think my model making days are over, thanks to the time I spend on this forum!!! :o :D

Hi All,   I was in a dialogue with Daniella (part of the production crew) before this series was made, and she was told that our club were an N gauge club and thats all we were interested in building with. She went back and checked with her boss who gave us the all clear to apply. It seemed that they were willing to consider it back then, maybe if they didn't get enough oo entries?
My club members backed out dramatically when it looked like we could possibly get selected  :worried: so it became history.

But a forum team would be a great idea.... :hmmm:

Quote from: Lawrence on November 07, 2018, 07:08:00 PM
If there were to be an n gauge forum team, I wish someone luck trying to choose the members  :o
Having said that, the team would require an enigmatic captain who has excellent wide ranging modelling skills, someone who is at the foundation of the forum, I think there is only one candidate, step forward @Tank (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=2)

Now all he needs is a top track layer/wirer, an electronics/animation genius, a scenic guru and someone to make the tea/general modeller.

All kitted out in forum tea shirts with Going Large on the back as the team actually builds a OO layout and whips the big boys.

I would be up for the role of 'Tea Maker' or happy to make up numbers, would all depend on when the event would be held etc but would be happy to help if needed.  I'm not an expert but would do what I was told and keen to learn from some of the pros on this here forum!

QuoteNow all he needs is a top track wirer, electronics/animation genius

sounds like a job for @Newportnobby (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=264)  :D

Not so much that, but the GOING LARGE bit is quite apt :-[

Hi all,

Sounds like a fantastic idea. I won't volunteer myself as am pretty crap and very slow.

Also, I'd be suggesting DC Kato Unitrack with a teetotal expert airbrusher so we could have all the track down and wired by 11 am on day 1 and leave him/her to make it look prettier while the rest us have a boozy lunch  :)  :no:.

Seriously, hope this goes ahead, it would be great to see.

Cheers weave  :beers:

Would they let you have the same size baseboard as the 00 lot?

Actually, if they do an N gauge programme, Kato track would be an excellent idea for tracklayng in a hurry!

Hi all,

Thanks for the interest shown - so far!

To answer a couple of questions...

It's a bit early to say much as the actual rules for Series 2 are still under discussion

There will not be a separate GMRC competition for N Gauge layouts

The rules for the N Gauge entry will be the same as for all other entries.

I've had to submit a proposal to the same casting email address as everyone else - no preferential treatment.

I had to decide on a name for the entry - 'The N'gineers' was the name I preffered to use.

Nothing much else I can say until a few things happen.

1 - The Rules are fixed and circulated and the themes decided

2 - The Venue and Dates are announced

3 - The proposed entry is confirned as participating.

So - time to dream. thinks of a few things to incorporate on a potential layout entry.

Thanks

Thanks for getting it this far.
I guess it's a wait and see now but , of course, the problem will be in selecting a team from amongst the NGF membership.
I suppose , as has been mentioned before, it is good to have a team made up of people with specific skills and interests eg specialists in
Layout planning
Track laying
Electrics
Scenery
Buildings
On-layout gimmicks eg something other than trains that moves or does something interesting (the judges in Series 1 appeared to like that).
Anyway, let's wait and see for now.

Quote from: weave on November 08, 2018, 12:08:11 AM
Hi all,

Sounds like a fantastic idea. I won't volunteer myself as am pretty crap and very slow.

Also, I'd be suggesting DC Kato Unitrack with a teetotal expert airbrusher so we could have all the track down and wired by 11 am on day 1 and leave him/her to make it look prettier while the rest us have a boozy lunch  :)  :no:.

Seriously, hope this goes ahead, it would be great to see.

Cheers weave  :beers:

I have been thinking right through the current series how great kato would be for this!  The production team seemed to make quite a thing of the sponge ballast, what they would make of kato?  I think it would be another level!  I do think it would be a great advert for the N gauge side of the hobby, if the baseboard was the same size as the OO you could do some serious length trains, HST, Freight and steam tours.  Imagine the channel tunnel layout with a full sized Eurostar instead of the deltic? they were using with only a few coaches.  It would also show people new to the hobby what can be achieved with N gauge and something like kato.  It could also prove that you don't need masses of space to make an impressive layout.  Would be good for the team members to also push this across all the time and really promote N as the go to scale for new modelers.

Hi Phil,

When you say 'think of things to incorporate on a potential layout entry' can I ask when they give you the subject theme. Sorry if asked before.

cheers weave  :beers:

My modelling skills are still in their infancy so I won't put my name forward for the team, but if Italian coffee and homemade cake takes your fancy then I'm the man  ;) :D

Quote from: ScottishModeller on November 08, 2018, 02:31:10 PM
..
I had to decide on a name for the entry - 'The N'gineers' was the name I preffered to use.
...

The N'gineers. Yes! :thumbsup: Got a nice ring to it that Phil. :beers:

Quote from: weave on November 08, 2018, 08:35:14 PM
Hi Phil,

When you say 'think of things to incorporate on a potential layout entry' can I ask when they give you the subject theme. Sorry if asked before.

cheers weave  :beers:

Hi Weave,

Once the rules are set up - the production company will decide the themes.

But - think outside of that prospective box and see what ideas come along.

Incorporated ideas as part of the layout don't have to match the producers spec - they would be added extras!

One thing I learned from series one is....

Have all the working gizmos you can incorporate!

But build them all as 'plug and play' or ready to place, complete items.

Thanks

Quote from: ScottishModeller on November 08, 2018, 09:09:34 PM

Quote from: weave on November 08, 2018, 08:35:14 PM
Hi Phil,

When you say 'think of things to incorporate on a potential layout entry' can I ask when they give you the subject theme. Sorry if asked before.

cheers weave  :beers:

Hi Weave,

Once the rules are set up - the production company will decide the themes.

But - think outside of that prospective box and see what ideas come along.

Incorporated ideas as part of the layout don't have to match the producers spec - they would be added extras!

One thing I learned from series one is....

Have all the working gizmos you can incorporate!

But build them all as 'plug and play' or ready to place, complete items.

Thanks

Off the shelf level crossings and turntables would be  a doddle with Kato - and any excuse for a Shinkansen?? ( or an armoured train..)

You're not going to get to use Kato track... Teams were provided with a budget together with Hornby, Bachmann/Farish, Peco and Metcalf catalogues.

Similarly, plans to fill layouts with full length HST may come unstuck if all trains have to be bought within the budget. Most of the layouts on the current series could have managed much longer trains but I'm guessing the teams chose to spend their money on scenic items too.

Perhaps Phil can fill us in on what was provides/allowed for series one before we get carried away with spending the whole budget on a Kato turntable.

I can imagine Steve Flint spitting feathers if Peco track isn't used :hmmm:

Good point (!)

But then we're reduced to Peco Setrack

Quote from: weave on November 08, 2018, 12:08:11 AM
.............. the rest us have a boozy lunch  :) 

Cheers weave  :beers:

I can organise this part  :beers: :beers: :beers: :beers:

Hi

Just like to flag up interest in this if it happens.  My main interest in in the electrics side of railways and i do like make these animated feature which seem  to be a feature of the comptition.  Keep up the good work!. 
It will be interesting to see the rules i wonder if stock is not included in the cost because the last one i saw the winner had maybe 12 DCC locos whereas the others had just one or two?

Quote from: Steven B on November 09, 2018, 09:15:28 AM
You're not going to get to use Kato track... Teams were provided with a budget together with Hornby, Bachmann/Farish, Peco and Metcalf catalogues.

Similarly, plans to fill layouts with full length HST may come unstuck if all trains have to be bought within the budget. Most of the layouts on the current series could have managed much longer trains but I'm guessing the teams chose to spend their money on scenic items too.

Perhaps Phil can fill us in on what was provides/allowed for series one before we get carried away with spending the whole budget on a Kato turntable.

Hi Steven,

My understanding is that Series 2 will be different to Series 1.

The product list for Series 1 may not be relevant to Series 2 - especially as this will be an N Gauge entry.

There was very little N Gauge in the Series 1 product list.

So - as I said, it's a case of waiting patiently to see what happens regarding the rules and the product list.

I don't have a crystal ball and would not like to pre-empt anything to do with Series 2!

Thanks

Quote from: rhysapthomas on November 09, 2018, 02:30:36 PM
Hi

Just like to flag up interest in this if it happens.  My main interest in in the electrics side of railways and i do like make these animated feature which seem  to be a feature of the comptition.  Keep up the good work!. 
It will be interesting to see the rules i wonder if stock is not included in the cost because the last one i saw the winner had maybe 12 DCC locos whereas the others had just one or two?

Hi Rhys,

We will need someone like yourself who is good at creating animated scenes. The cost for these would be built into the overall budget.

Stock is a different situation. For Series 1 a certain amount of stock was listed in the product list and some teams did buy stock.

However, as there was nothing in the rules to prevent it, some teams (including mine) brought there own stock to run on the layout.

Doing this allowed more money to be spent on the layout itself.

How this will work in Series 2 is unknown

I keep saying it, but - you have to wait to see what rules and product lists are supplied for Series 2.

Thanks

Absolutely We must wait and see what the rules for the next series is.  They may not even allow N I suppose

Phill

Count me in I am good at being general dogsbody go-for and hopefully come up with some good ideas and operation.

I know you are waiting for the rules but would N Gauge be allowed for heats only and OO gauge for the final and what do folk here think if that was the case

Dave

Quote from: scottishlocos on November 09, 2018, 07:40:06 PM
Phill

Count me in I am good at being general dogsbody go-for and hopefully come up with some good ideas and operation.

I know you are waiting for the rules but would N Gauge be allowed for heats only and OO gauge for the final and what do folk here think if that was the case

Dave

Hi Dave,

Good to hear from someone else willing to take part - the more the merrier in my view.

There is nothing yet about the rules for Series 2.

All I can say is that I have been advised that the rules are changing- in exactly what way - no idea.

I was fairly precise in my email interchange about it would need to be N Gauge all the way, heats and final, as I don't see a way to make it work for us otherwise.

If they come back and say N for Heats and OO for Final - I will be withdrawing the entry as is does not match what I have proposed to them.

As I said - there is nothing we can do except wait.

That doesn't mean we can't put ideas down ahead of time and then work out how to make them fit the rules!

Thanks

Quote from: Steven B on November 09, 2018, 09:15:28 AM
You're not going to get to use Kato track... Teams were provided with a budget together with Hornby, Bachmann/Farish, Peco and Metcalf catalogues.

Similarly, plans to fill layouts with full length HST may come unstuck if all trains have to be bought within the budget. Most of the layouts on the current series could have managed much longer trains but I'm guessing the teams chose to spend their money on scenic items too.

Perhaps Phil can fill us in on what was provides/allowed for series one before we get carried away with spending the whole budget on a Kato turntable.

Hi Steve,

I do not have the production company permission to post the various order sheets they compiled and sent out for Series 1.

What I can say, without breach of confidence is that we recieved the following as guidance.

Hornby - a list of products we were allowed to purchase from the budget.
Bachmann - a blank sheet to order what we wanted from their ranges from the budget.
Peco - a blank sheet to order what we wanted from their ranges from the budget.
DeLux Materials- a list of suggested products from their ranges to purchase from the budget.
Gaugemaster - a blank sheet to order what we wanted from their ranges.

Each of these had been allocated a fixed maximum budget by the production team.

Hopefully this makes it a bit clearer about why I have to be pretty vague about how things worked/may work in the future.

Thanks

Quote from: ScottishModeller on November 09, 2018, 07:47:57 PM

If they come back and say N for Heats and OO for Final - I will be withdrawing the entry as is does not match what I have proposed to them.

I can't see them allowing both N and 00 for any team as that effectively doubles the expenditure per team.
If, and I say "If" as the rules are unknown yet, they decide the final will be a layout composed of modules from each team then they'd all have to be the same gauge.

Quote from: Newportnobby on November 09, 2018, 09:30:50 PM

Quote from: ScottishModeller link=topic=43432.msg538237#msg538237

/quote]

I can't see them allowing both N and 00 for any team as that effectively doubles the expenditure per team.

or halves what they have available for each gauge.. if you have a fixed budget you choose what to spend it on..

Quote from: Newportnobby on November 09, 2018, 09:30:50 PM

Quote from: ScottishModeller on November 09, 2018, 07:47:57 PM

If they come back and say N for Heats and OO for Final - I will be withdrawing the entry as is does not match what I have proposed to them.

I can't see them allowing both N and 00 for any team as that effectively doubles the expenditure per team.
If, and I say "If" as the rules are unknown yet, they decide the final will be a layout composed of modules from each team then they'd all have to be the same gauge.

Hi

At least two of the layouts in the series featured both N and OO to provide a forced perspective, however, they did keep referring to N as Narrow Gauge.

Cheers

Paul

Quote from: PaulCheffus on November 13, 2018, 02:35:30 PM

Quote from: Newportnobby on November 09, 2018, 09:30:50 PM

Quote from: ScottishModeller on November 09, 2018, 07:47:57 PM

If they come back and say N for Heats and OO for Final - I will be withdrawing the entry as is does not match what I have proposed to them.

I can't see them allowing both N and 00 for any team as that effectively doubles the expenditure per team.
If, and I say "If" as the rules are unknown yet, they decide the final will be a layout composed of modules from each team then they'd all have to be the same gauge.

Hi

At least two of the layouts in the series featured both N and OO to provide a forced perspective, however, they did keep referring to N as Narrow Gauge.

Cheers

Paul

Hi Paul,

You are correct - even the Mrs commented that they had got the things wrong.

Ah well - we are here to educate as well as entertain.

https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/brm/reviews/others/video-pat-doyle-producer-of-the-great-model-railway-challenge?utm_source=Communicator&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=buttonLink142&utm_campaign=BRM+launches+our+new+RMweb+Gold+service+%2b+news+and+reviews+%2b+the+new+Cake+Box+Challenge.&_ccCt=UpQeURrWX8mXSbWZYRTx_9_8FQlf8c36eQhpdiEOJUDri3GcTcAt7d%7egqpRqXqVn (https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/brm/reviews/others/video-pat-doyle-producer-of-the-great-model-railway-challenge?utm_source=Communicator&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=buttonLink142&utm_campaign=BRM+launches+our+new+RMweb+Gold+service+%2b+news+and+reviews+%2b+the+new+Cake+Box+Challenge.&_ccCt=UpQeURrWX8mXSbWZYRTx_9_8FQlf8c36eQhpdiEOJUDri3GcTcAt7d%7egqpRqXqVn)

Hi all,

My idea of an N Gauge entry was not taken up by the producers for this 2nd series.

I have been asked to think about the idea if a 3rd series is commissioned.

Thanks
Phil H

Well I was looking forward to Series 2. Now, I'm really excited about and can't wait for Series 2! :bounce:

The knockout format is a great improvement. The winner is really going to be tested many times, so should be worthier of the title.

The change that I think is the best upgrade, is the extra 15 minutes. Dedicating that time to what I hope will turn out to be a kinda 'Master Class' series-within-a-series covering various aspects of the hobby in detail, is fantastic. That should add some real meat to an improved skeleton (that was already ok to be fair).

Excited! :bounce:

Just watching Legomasters here in Oz.

It has some similarities to the Great Model Railway Challenge, and I love Lego....

I was given one of the first sets from Denmark for Christmas 1960. The engineering of it is brilliant. Literally, EVERYTHING fits to everything else.

You can click a 1957 brick to the latest Marvel Avengers Endgame specialist set!

However, eek, the plastic! They smother the studio in the bloody stuff!

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack this thread. There may be a thread elsewhere for Lego.

On phone and watching TV while having a beer  ;)

Quote from: RailGooner on April 12, 2019, 07:32:03 PM
Well I was looking forward to Series 2. Now, I'm really excited about and can't wait for Series 2! :bounce:

The knockout format is a great improvement. The winner is really going to be tested many times, so should be worthier of the title.

The change that I think is the best upgrade, is the extra 15 minutes. Dedicating that time to what I hope will turn out to be a kinda 'Master Class' series-within-a-series covering various aspects of the hobby in detail, is fantastic. That should add some real meat to an improved skeleton (that was already ok to be fair).

Excited! :bounce:

agree entirely, though for me the biggest turn off, apart from the cheats, in the last series was the lack of actual knowledge of the subject among the talking heads. I assume we'll get the same ones this time, but hopefully they may have at least learnt the difference between narrow gauge and n gauge.