Modelling Hornby Dublo in British N Gauge

[Mr Sprue]

You'd have to paint the track yellow to replicate the Dublo tinplate stuff!

That's a good point, sod having to do that job! 

I reckon a light dusting with suitable umber / ochre mix would help, then over the top lightly with a dark weathering/dirt. 

I'm tempted to have a go if I can find a spare bit of Fleischmann.  I've got some code 40 for the centre rail.  I've got a few bits of old HD track for a guide.   I could sit my Ibertren 3-rail locos on it 

Or maybe Adam could make some vinyl overlays, but on second thoughts that might lift from track cleaner etc and cause a major derailment!

[Paddy]

I raised the following question on the A4 slide and wonder if anyone can answer it?

Found a photo on Google of a Farish (Poole) - Kingfisher, BR Green 60024, Late Crest, No side valances but no other details.  Was this released?

No sign of it on page 10 of the attached, Paddy

Hi @Newportnobby,

Thank you for the document - what a great resource.

You can see the Farish (Poole) A4 Kingfisher here:

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/graham-farish-a4-kingfisher-br-green-313754051

May be it is a renumbering?  It is very well done though.

Kind regards

Paddy

[Paddy]

@Paddy

One thing that got me scratching my head as I remember Hornby Dublo track had three rails, are you going to model Kato track and replicate this feature to make it look authentic?

Regarding the signal box and other features I just come across this video that may help you further.

Good luck with the project. 

Hi @Mr Sprue,

Great video and Hornby Dublo at its finest.  Just to be clear, my plan is not to build an Dublo layout (although that is an interesting idea!) but rather recreate their rolling stock in RTR N gauge.

Kind regards

Paddy

[Paddy]

Hi Folks,

OK, I have completed the review of the Hornby Dublo locomotives and whether they can be modelled in N gauge.  What have I found...

1. I am very surprised by how few locomotives Hornby Dublo actually released.  It is only when you go through Michael Foster's book you realise the slim pickings the folks in the 1950/60s had.  We are definitely very spoilt even in N gauge.

2. British N gauge can represent several of the Hornby Dublo classes i.e. A4 (with and without valances), Coronation Pacific, 4MT Tank, Castle, 8F and West Country (sort of).

3. We do not currently have RTR versions of the N2 Tank, R1 Tank or West Country (although Dapol have announced their desire to release this model in the future).

4. Sadly, despite (2) we are less well served with actual N gauge representations of released (or planned) Hornby Dublo locomotives.  We can match 5 x A4s, 4 x Coronations and 1 x 4MT (but this is the terrible LIMA model).

For completeness, I have added a set of the slides to this post (if anyone would like this in PDF format then just let me know).





















Next task will be to review the Hornby Dublo rolling stock.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Many thanks

Paddy
Dream | Believe | Achieve

[Train Waiting]

Thank you very much for this, Paddy.  Your data sheets are exceptionally good.

You make a very good point about the range of Hornby-Dublo locomotives being small; eight steam and four (I think) diesel.  I suppose that the range covered every Christmas from, say, age seven until being sold to finance the purchase of a motorcycle at 16!  I have a notion that today's enormous ranges, especially in '00', are as a result of the hobby having moved in the direction of what the boxes call, 'Adult Collectors'.

I look forward to the rolling stock ones in due course.

And @Mr Sprue , thank you so much for that film.  The layout captures the very essence of why I became interested in model railways.  I'm going to watch it again this evening!

Best wishes.

John

[ntpntpntp]

Just to be clear, my plan is not to build an Dublo layout (although that is an interesting idea!) but rather recreate their rolling stock in RTR N gauge.

Aaaaww... I had visions of something like @Train Waiting 's Poppingham but with a 3rd rail added 

[Bealman]

Yeah, me too! 

[Paddy]

Thank you very much for this, Paddy.  Your data sheets are exceptionally good.

You make a very good point about the range of Hornby-Dublo locomotives being small; eight steam and four (I think) diesel.  I suppose that the range covered every Christmas from, say, age seven until being sold to finance the purchase of a motorcycle at 16!  I have a notion that today's enormous ranges, especially in '00', are as a result of the hobby having moved in the direction of what the boxes call, 'Adult Collectors'.

I look forward to the rolling stock ones in due course.

And @Mr Sprue , thank you so much for that film.  The layout captures the very essence of why I became interested in model railways.  I'm going to watch it again this evening!

Best wishes.

John

Hi John ( @Train Waiting )

Thank you for reminding me - totally forgot about the diesels. 

These will be done BEFORE the rolling stock.

Please accept my apologies for the oversight.

Kind regards

Paddy

[Paddy]

Just to be clear, my plan is not to build an Dublo layout (although that is an interesting idea!) but rather recreate their rolling stock in RTR N gauge.

Aaaaww... I had visions of something like @Train Waiting 's Poppingham but with a 3rd rail added 

Hi Nick ( @ntpntpntp ) and @Bealman

It is a lovely idea but I am still very committed to completing HOLLERTON JUNCTION before starting another layout.  Mind you, I do like the idea of Poppingham very much as it is just fun.

Kind regards

Paddy

[icairns]

Paddy

Thanks for your link to the Linda Products auction.  I had not seen that before

I believe that the green diesel in the foreground of the picture (copied below) in the link is the Linda / Blue-Box version of the prototype Deltic.  Although Lone Star made a baby Deltic, the Hong Kong version probably owes more to the Hornby Dublo "Crepello" Deltic with front headlights added.  Note that the Hong Kong version is a Bo-Bo rather than a Co-Co.

Ian

[ntpntpntp]

Just for fun.... 

[railsquid]

@Mr Sprue  yeah, as I suggested back near the start of the thread. I actually think Fleischmann track would be a better basis, with something like FineTrax'  code 40 rail used for the centre rail.  It would give the right look but the not interfere with running or cleaning.

[edit] Alternatively the Tomix track might be good, it has a narrower footprint than Unitrack so the sleepers are closer to the edge like HD track.

Tomix track was originally manufactured with an orange-brown-ish base which looks fairly close in colour to the HD track pictured. They switched to the grey base 15~20 years ago. The old track is available in copious amounts on the second hand market, though shipping it would be a bit of a challenge at the moment.

(Very early Kato track used to have a brown-ish base as well, but that's much harder to find).

[ntpntpntp]

Tomix track was originally manufactured with an orange-brown-ish base which looks fairly close in colour to the HD track pictured. They switched to the grey base 15~20 years ago. The old track is available in copious amounts on the second hand market, though shipping it would be a bit of a challenge at the moment.

(Very early Kato track used to have a brown-ish base as well, but that's much harder to find).

Interesting, wasn't aware of brown Tomix. I do have a set of Unitrack points in brown, they came from Rails of Sheffield's "Vault".

The brown stuff always reminds me of the brown Triang TT track a friend had.

[railsquid]

Tomix track was originally manufactured with an orange-brown-ish base which looks fairly close in colour to the HD track pictured. They switched to the grey base 15~20 years ago. The old track is available in copious amounts on the second hand market, though shipping it would be a bit of a challenge at the moment.

(Very early Kato track used to have a brown-ish base as well, but that's much harder to find).

Interesting, wasn't aware of brown Tomix. I do have a set of Unitrack points in brown, they came from Rails of Sheffield's "Vault".

The brown stuff always reminds me of the brown Triang TT track a friend had.

As I had a length of rail to hand...

[Newportnobby]

Thank you for reminding me - totally forgot about the diesels. 

@Paddy  Here is a resource for checking the N gauge diesels
http://ngauge.org.uk/index.php