Hello all,
Some months back, in my endeavour to bring the online N gauge community together, I decided to create a website that would include as many N gauge websites as possible. These will be based on certain categories: Community, Manufacturers and Retailers (maybe others if needed). This will give us a single point to find what we need, as well as help us to find out about websites that we may not already know about.
So, I have made a start, but please let me know your suggestions.
www.NGauge.uk (http://www.ngauge.uk)
As a side note, I'll add companies that aren't online at some point as well.
Thanks! :thumbsup:
There is a list although I'm unsure if up to date here https://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=12775 (https://www.newrailwaymodellers.co.uk/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=12775)
Thanks! A few on there that I haven't got. The list is 14 years old though.....! :D
Keep them coming. :)
Thank you, Chris. This is an excellent idea.
Union Mills, please, when you do the not on-line list.
Osborn's of Bideford and Harburn Hobbies of Edinburgh are two excellent manufacturers and retailers with really great service.
Quality Backscenes and K&M trees are both terrific to deal with.
Gaugemaster controllers work well and have a wonderful guarantee.
I recommend all the above and they are British firms - I like that!
Thanks again and best wishes
John
More up to date https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/ (https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/) Ken and Heather at John dutfield are a pleasure to do business and endeavour to help
www.yorkmodelmaking.com (http://www.yorkmodelmaking.com)
Excellent service and advice.
How about Modelu for figures & detailing bits. I've bought a few bits from them & can highly recommend them.
https://www.modelu3d.co.uk/ (https://www.modelu3d.co.uk/)
Cheers, Stu
Also N brass I've found excellent
https://www.nbrasslocos.co.uk/ (https://www.nbrasslocos.co.uk/)
Not forgetting Mike @maridunian (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=2947) on here with his 3D printed models via Shapeways :thumbsup:
https://www.shapeways.com/shops/maridunian-models (https://www.shapeways.com/shops/maridunian-models)
Cheers, Stu
TrainTrax.co.uk as a retailer. First point of call for Kato stuff. Also, while Kato themselves aren't UK based, their track is popular in the UK (and they now do some British trains)
Is this limited to UK based entities, or entities that deal in UK outline N Gauge models, or a resource for UK based modellers in N Gauge, or something else?
e.g will Kato make the list of manufacturers or not?
Thanks,
John P
We're an online retailer!
www.penninewagons.co.uk (http://www.penninewagons.co.uk)
Not that we've got anything to retail at the moment, but watch this space. Normal service will be resumed asap.
PW
I think @jpendle (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=3871) 's comments are relevant - obviously the URL being .uk, is this just a repository of UK based companies, or companies that sell UK stock?
I think it's a great idea, but personally I'd avoid yet another list of retailers unless they are truly N gauge specialists. Some of the small cottage industry suppliers (who do n) would be good though!
More power to your elbow but I worry about your sanity in the face of the enormity you confront and your longevity but I'll help in whatever way I can.
By Online Traders do you include traders with a web site but who don't actually sell online (but do accept telephone trading I believe, as well as mail order of course)
If so, you could include this Bognor Regis outfit whose stock of tools etc., is enormous http://www.squirestools.com/catalogues.htm (http://www.squirestools.com/catalogues.htm)
. . . . and not forgetting Plusdaughters.co.uk
How about the Wagon Yard they do a nice line in custom 20t wagons .
http://thewagonyard.co.uk (http://thewagonyard.co.uk)
Quote from: OffshoreAlan on January 07, 2022, 12:40:47 AM
By Online Traders do you include traders with a web site but who don't actually sell online (but do accept telephone trading I believe, as well as mail order of course)
If so, you could include this Bognor Regis outfit whose stock of tools etc., is enormous http://www.squirestools.com/catalogues.htm (http://www.squirestools.com/catalogues.htm)
See I definitely wouldn't include shops like Squires (useful as they are). Where does that end? Why not include Screwfix? I think for this to be valuable I would focus on leading N gauge suppliers, rather than 'companies that can sell you stuff to build a model with.". It's not my list though, so it'll depend on Chris's sanity. You can probably add 100 suppliers of 'stuff' though.
Me!!! :D
www.electrarail.co.uk (http://www.electrarail.co.uk)
Neville Kent's 'N Drive Productions' should be there for his various 9mm gauge 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 chassis. - https://www.n-driveproductions.com/contactus.htm (https://www.n-driveproductions.com/contactus.htm)
@Sven (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=6993) for his N Gauge replacement motors and kits for Farish, Dapol and UK outline Minitrix. Https://Tramfabriek.nl (Https://tramfabriek.nl)
Also on Shapeways,
2A Rail - https://www.shapeways.com/shops/jl-design (https://www.shapeways.com/shops/jl-design)
Newman Miniatures - https://www.shapeways.com/shops/newman-miniatures (https://www.shapeways.com/shops/newman-miniatures)
N Train - https://www.shapeways.com/shops/ntrain (https://www.shapeways.com/shops/ntrain)
Rue d'Etropal - https://www.shapeways.com/designer/rue_d_etropal (https://www.shapeways.com/designer/rue_d_etropal)
Siop y Wageni - https://www.shapeways.com/shops/siop-y-wageni (https://www.shapeways.com/shops/siop-y-wageni)
I see the questions around 'what UK means'. Shapeways is American with a factory in Holland. Tramfabriek is a Dutch registered website of a business based in the UK.
How about manufacturers of UK outline N Gauge models and components?
Mike
May I suggest the following?
Manufacturer - www.rapidotrains.co.uk (http://www.rapidotrains.co.uk)
Your link to BR Lines just gave me a warning so I'd recommend changing it to
www.farishnspares.co.uk (http://www.farishnspares.co.uk)
www.pdmarshmodels.com (http://www.pdmarshmodels.com)
www.langleymodels.co.uk (http://www.langleymodels.co.uk)
www.five79.co.uk (http://www.five79.co.uk) (Chivers Finelines)
Lee at lprails is an authorised repairer farish Bachmann https://www.lprails.co.uk/ (https://www.lprails.co.uk/) very knowledgeable friendly
Thanks for all of your suggestions so far. I've made a list, so I can update it when I'm home from work.
As for the UK part.....I knew that some of your would make this difficult! ;D I think, for now at least, we should keep this as suppliers of British/UK models, as that is the majority of the market on here. In the future I can create pages (on the same website) that cover continental and other countries - time dependant (what have I created?!). :D
Quote from: Tank on January 07, 2022, 10:18:34 AM
(what have I created?!).
A behemoth? But an admirable idea and much appreciated. :thumbsup:
I was going to update this tonight, but I'm going to hold off. The software I'm using for the website stopped being supported many years ago, so I'm going to bite the bullet and buy a new one tomorrow, and therefore start afresh. :)
Quote from: Tank on January 07, 2022, 05:43:25 PM
so I'm going to bite the bullet and buy a new one tomorrow,
Bang goes the January goal!! ;). I'm joking - I am sure a few of us will chip in a fiver. :)
Addit: In fact, I have just sent mine. I used the different way of donating as suggested a few weeks ago, via PayPal direct, so I hope it has worked okay.
Yes, you're right...more money! :D Not too bad though, £55 for the basic. I used to use Serif Webplus 6, which was great for small websites. Saves so much time.
Thanks for the extra funds, always appreciated dannyboy, especially straight to Paypal F&F.
Under 'Community' you might want to add
https://digest.dapol.co.uk
Quote from: njee20 on January 07, 2022, 04:25:01 AMSee I definitely wouldn't include shops like Squires (useful as they are). Where does that end? Why not include Screwfix? I think for this to be valuable I would focus on leading N gauge suppliers.......
Yes, that did cross my mind when I put it forward. On reflection, I think you're right. Focus on N Gauge.
I would add Severn Models if they are not already on your list. They do some lovely etched N Gauge accessories
https://severnmodels.com
Thanks for the NGN add!
Tom.
I hope this becomes a useful directory of the smaller suppliers, but rather than attempt to list all the model shops, would it not be better to link to https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/ (https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/) ?
Under "Community", I'd add the two IO Groups sites:
https://groups.io/g/ngs/ (https://groups.io/g/ngs/) (Official N Gauge Society)
https://groups.io/g/ngauge/ (https://groups.io/g/ngauge/) (general N Gauge group)
Steven B.
I hope it's useful as well! ;D ukmodelshops is a great resource, but lots of those listed on there don't sell N gauge, or at least, don't have a good range. N Gauge UK should be more helpful in being more specific to N.
Thanks for the links, I'll add those as well. I'm hoping to find some time this weekend to do some more work on it. There is a problem with the coding, which I need to sort out.
Heard that Keith Blanchard is retiring today and his TrainTrax website now has a new owner ...
I have put a post under 'General Discussion' -
https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=55882.msg744799#msg744799 (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=55882.msg744799#msg744799)
Quote from: Shipley43 on January 14, 2022, 05:03:19 PM
Heard that Keith Blanchard is retiring today and his TrainTrax website now has a new owner ...
See under 'Shops Online'
Have Hatton made up with farish they have new stock for sale
Quote from: Newportnobby on January 14, 2022, 07:54:31 PM
Quote from: Shipley43 on January 14, 2022, 05:03:19 PM
Heard that Keith Blanchard is retiring today and his TrainTrax website now has a new owner ...
See under 'Shops Online'
Have to say I have received excellent service from them this last weekend. :thumbsup:
Quote from: Toothman on April 12, 2022, 03:52:51 PM
Have Hatton made up with farish they have new stock for sale
They get batches of excess stock from 'somewhere' periodically, but I'm pretty certain they're not an official retailer still.
Ok thanks
The site was down for a couple of weeks, but it's back online now. www.NGauge.uk (http://www.ngauge.uk) :NGaugersRule:
The company N Gauge Modelling (aka Engee publishing/Howard Foy) may also be a candidate for your website.
Dedicated 100% to N gauge modelling they publish a quarterly magazine (N Gauge Now) and various collector's guides for British N gauge locomotives, and passenger and freight rolling stock. I have found these collector's guides very interesting and informative (although not 100% accurate but still very useful). They are updated from time-to-time.
Ian
Great suggestion Ian, thank you.
There's one slight error in the manufacturers list. For Sonic Models you say "see Revolution Trains". That was, and still is, true of the VEA vans, but the remaining models are exclusive to Rails of Sheffield.
Worsley Works for etched brass loco, wagon and coach kits/scratch aids.
With the demise of Union Mills is there likely to be another source of tender drives starting up? Or could any established company add them to their line? Motors, mechanical bits and wheels should be available, all it needs is somebody to cast a white metal chassis and install the other bits. I suggest white metal for the weight to aid traction although possibly 3D printing might work.
I'd like to see 6 and 8 wheel versions or possibly a basic 6 wheeler with a "bolt on" additional axle (which is how I've been doing 8 wheelers with the UM drives)
Quote from: Dorsetmike on June 04, 2023, 08:28:59 PM
With the demise of Union Mills is there likely to be another source of tender drives starting up? Or could any established company add them to their line? Motors, mechanical bits and wheels should be available, all it needs is somebody to cast a white metal chassis and install the other bits. I suggest white metal for the weight to aid traction although possibly 3D printing might work.
I'd like to see 6 and 8 wheel versions or possibly a basic 6 wheeler with a "bolt on" additional axle (which is how I've been doing 8 wheelers with the UM drives)
I've been thinking about it.
My solution would involve a chassis made from a combination of photoetched parts (for excellent bearings and electrical pickup) and 3D printed resin, with bodies made from 3D printed resin. They would be supplied as a very-easy-to-assemble kit, unpainted, but including all parts needed to make a working powered tender, including NEM couplings and detailing parts.
My key requirements are to replicate many of the same features that made UM so popular - excellent traction, powerful motor (Tramfabriek, perhaps), quiet, relatively heavy weight (I'm thinking of just using small lead weights) and ease of adaptation to allow modellers to make them work with many different loco's.
I would also want them to be DCC ready.
I haven't started on this project yet, but given the ongoing demand for UM products, I believe this would be a good product. I would greatly appreciate it if folk with any interest would take a moment and let me know by PM.
Perhaps a highly detailed GWR Class 3700 "City of Truro" might be of some interest?
Ross.
Hi Ross, I would certainly be interested in an easy to assemble tender drive kit. In my case to power smaller LNER types. I would not personally be interested in a super detailed City of Truro.
Edit: DCC friendly would be fine for me, I would not need a DCC socket, if I am soldering in one of those I may just as well save space and hardwire a chip. The option of a separate removable weight section to provide space for a speaker may also be worth considering, I would see traction tyres as an important consideration.
Regards
Roy
Good news Ross; height is a consideration for me as is ease of adding a 4th axle, as the Southern did not have any water troughs, 8 wheel tenders were common from Drummond, Urie and Maunsell.
Another consideration would be to fit into available white metal kits, for example the Langley S15 kit is designed to fit a Fleischmann 8 wheel chassis, these are not cheap (new motor £40+) and becoming rare on Ebay.
Thanks for the feedback guys.
If anyone else is interested in a new replacement for a Union Mills-style tender-driven product, please let me know by PM.
I shall now return Tank's thread to him!
Ross.
I regularly use The Model Centre (TMC) and have been happy with the service.
https://www.themodelcentre.com/rail/n-gauge (https://www.themodelcentre.com/rail/n-gauge)
Quote from: Offramper on July 05, 2023, 02:17:38 PMI regularly use The Model Centre (TMC) and have been happy with the service.
https://www.themodelcentre.com/rail/n-gauge (https://www.themodelcentre.com/rail/n-gauge)
Agree....have purchased from them several times, always excellent service.
Quote from: RBTKraisee on June 06, 2023, 05:09:51 PMThanks for the feedback guys.
If anyone else is interested in a new replacement for a Union Mills-style tender-driven product, please let me know by PM.
I shall now return Tank's thread to him!
What Roy said, please, Ross.
But probably only one or two.
Martyn
Ross.
Quote from: martyn on November 17, 2023, 06:28:38 PMQuote from: RBTKraisee on June 06, 2023, 05:09:51 PMThanks for the feedback guys.
If anyone else is interested in a new replacement for a Union Mills-style tender-driven product, please let me know by PM.
I shall now return Tank's thread to him!
What Roy said, please, Ross.
But probably only one or two.
Martyn
Ross.
???
Martyn?
Ross.
Quote from: RBTKraisee on November 17, 2023, 08:53:57 PMQuote from: martyn on November 17, 2023, 06:28:38 PMQuote from: RBTKraisee on June 06, 2023, 05:09:51 PMThanks for the feedback guys.
If anyone else is interested in a new replacement for a Union Mills-style tender-driven product, please let me know by PM.
I shall now return Tank's thread to him!
What Roy said, please, Ross.
But probably only one or two.
Martyn
Ross.
???
Martyn?
Ross.
Sorry for the confusion. I misquoted Roy L S previous post #45.
I would be interested, as he was, in one or two group standard LNER tender drives.
I don't think the 3500 gallon version has ever been produced RTR, only in a couple of kits. Just changing tenders would open up more renumbering of RTR Locos, eg the LNER J39 class.
I might also be interested in a GCR tender to suit the O4 class.
Hope that makes it clearer and also details it a bit.
Martyn
Quote from: martyn on November 17, 2023, 09:09:54 PMSorry for the confusion. I misquoted Roy L S previous post #45.
I would be interested, as he was, in one or two group standard LNER tender drives.
I don't think the 3500 gallon version has ever been produced RTR, only in a couple of kits. Just changing tenders would open up more renumbering of RTR Locos, eg the LNER J39 class.
I might also be interested in a GCR tender to suit the O4 class.
Hope that makes it clearer and also details it a bit.
Martyn
I've been giving this idea quite a bit of thought recently and once I've got a number of other projects out of the way (Coronation Scot loco & coaches and the Consett wagons before Xmas, followed by the N15 King Arthur loco, a specific commission job I'm doing for someone, and maybe Sleeper/Restaurant coaches and post office coaches too) this heavy, high power, good traction tender idea will be next up.
I think I've already solved the high performance motor, excellent traction and fitting the optional DCC control aspects. The biggest remaining difficulty is getting the weight up as much as possible (to aid traction) with a fundamentally 3D printed design.
I'm considering various weight options, but I'll need time to experiment before selecting a final solution, and the other projects above, just come first.
You mention the LNER Standard 3500 gallon tender, but are you also interested in the 4200 gal too?
But this thread is Tank's and I don't want to hijack it.
Ross.