Moving away from N gauge need some advice please

[GWR_XC]

Probably in the wrong part of the forum so i do apologise in advance

I have decided im moving away from N gauge with regret, i have spent years obtaining a collection (never did get a layout built)

Im thinking of going to OO gauge for one reason, its possible to buy a class 442 wessex ready to run and not possible in N gauge

So my question is where is the best place to sell my N gauge stuff (ideally would prefer to aviod ebay)

Or better still would prefer to do a trade of some sort.

Any advice much appreciated

Thanks

[nookfield]

There are a couple of Facebook groups that you can sell/swap N Gauge models that I've used

https://www.facebook.com/groups/theukngaugemodelrailwayclub/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Nporium/

[RailGooner]

Nooooo! :'( Don't do it!

But if you must, you can also alternatively list on here.

[Leon]

I've no experience selling models but am very pleased buying from Hatton's. They do buy entire collections, I believe.

Leon

[PLD]

So my question is where is the best place to sell my N gauge stuff (ideally would prefer to aviod ebay)

Or better still would prefer to do a trade of some sort.

Bear in mind that selling en-bloc to the trade or trading-in while the simplest option for you, will be likely to realise only 40-50% of what you would get selling items off individually through e-bay or listings on forums such as this.

I'd concur with trying on the forum first - not the mass audience of e-bay but more focussed and knowledgable.

[Leon]

Bear in mind that selling en-bloc to the trade or trading-in while the simplest option for you, will be likely to realise only 40-50% of what you would get selling items off individually through e-bay or listings on forums such as this.

Good advice from PLD. I've two 00 GWR Steam locomotives I could trade, but I suspect we're modelling different eras. I'll be visiting Somerset in May and in the meantime will be happy for you to contact me at the email address in my profile.

Leon

[njee20]

Before you change... You emphatically cannot and never have been able to buy a RTR 442 in OO gauge.

You can get resin cab fronts on eBay, Hurst models used to do conversion parts, but it's harder to do than in N because the MBLS requires major surgery or the brass overlays from Hurst which are very hard to come by these days. You also can't get the Fox transfers with all NSE livery elements in OO or the Electra vinyls for all the other liveries, so you have to properly paint the whole thing, and none of the liveries are particularly easy.

I'm sure we discussed this before, which livery are you after?

[red_death]

Yep, what Nick said: you can't get a RTR 442 in OO!

[PWayman]

The lack of being able to buy one particular train in any scale seems a thin reason for leaving that scale when you already have a lot of stock in that scale.
    If a particular train is not available and hard to build yourself then surely there are other trains that can be modelled for your particular era and location. I model West Coast Main Line starting with classes 86,87 and 90 electrics and despaired that a Pendolino would never appear but thanks to Ben and Mike that did happen and two were purchased but the lack of a Pendolino in the early days did not stop me enjoying my chosen subject to model.
   I suspect that many modellers continue enjoying their layouts despite the fact that the train they always wanted is still not available.
    Your move does seem to be more than a bit drastic.

[GWR_XC]

Thanks everyone for the replys and advice

Yes it is a bit drastic moving over to OO gauge and ideally i would prefer to stay with N gauge

But the class 442 you can order a ready to run which a choice of liveries dcc ready oo gauge and looks superb but the 5 car unit costs £950

Then you have the NSE vep from hornby etc.

Im just trying to model something i grew up with in the mid to late 90s around Southampton central

And the class 442 is essential for this, i am aware people do have them in N gauge, but i can't build one, impossible...

I would buy one and pay a good price for one in N gauge but where from?

I did think about going to ally pally in the hope of finding one but its such a long way to travel and probably very unlikely i would come across one.

And i have been searching on and off for over 10 years, never seen them listed on ebay.

So thats why im thinking of going to oo gauge, its a deal breaker for me, as the 442 is something i have always wanted since i can remember

Or i may even decide to leave the hobby altogether if i cant find a solution soon, i dont know but the way things are going with this hobby is more frustrating then enjoyable for me.

Thanks everyone for the replys always appreciated

[stevewalker]

If a 442 is so important to you and you are unable to build one yourself, why not pay someone else to kit or scratch build one for you in N-gauge?

[bluedepot]

maybe someone on here will build you a 442 in n for under 950 quid... worth asking anyway. maybe you can get two to run as a pair in n as space for longer trains...

tim

[Leon]

Or i may even decide to leave the hobby altogether if i cant find a solution soon, i dont know but the way things are going with this hobby is more frustrating then enjoyable for me.

I'm unsure of your meaning, but I can't resist commenting on what you may have meant. There is far more detail in models today than ever before, due to technological advances. In N gauge, the detail is so good that many of us can't even see it with clarity. The cost of this detail is driving up prices for models that perhaps only a small percentage of potential buyers even want or need. There is an option, sometimes. Union Mills is a case in point. UM locomotives do everything I want them to do and look great! Too bad they don't build wagons and coaches; the prices of which seem to be unnecessarily expensive.

In appreciation for the modellers demanding high quality, high detailed models, their pressure through societies and sites like this is largely responsible for what appears to be a healthy model railroad manufacturing industry. The hobby has always been very expensive, so I suppose one has to judge prices as a percentage of gross national product (something I'm not able to do, but I'm sure someone has). As a younger man, I was unable to participate in this hobby, but I was also unable to golf - for the same reason!

Leon

[GWR_XC]

If a 442 is so important to you and you are unable to build one yourself, why not pay someone else to kit or scratch build one for you in N-gauge?

If i knew of someone that would, of course i would be interested but unfortunately i dont, have asked around other places in the past with no avail

If there is someone who is willing to build one or sell one etc please do let me know

[daffy]

Good morning Euston.
I do hope someone can help you here. The Forum has had a number of posts about the 442 over the years, as a search results page shows. Just do a search for '442 Wessex' .

Might be well worth a scan through the posts listed.

As suggested, if you can't make one yourself then perhaps one of the many knowledgeable and creative folks here can give some positive advice or assistance.