With butterflies in my stomach I pushed "complete" and changed my future in model railroading.
When I finished my first (and only) layout I said "never again". I was happy with what I have. However, model railroading's siren song sucked me back in.
So, I was debating T-Gauge (really, really close on that), Z Scale and British N Gauge. No matter what, I wanted to do a British scene.
Well, Z Scale is mostly devoid of British. T Gauge has it, but it's tiny and the diesels I want are 3d right now and I'd have to paint them. British N Gauge models are gorgeous, exotic (to me) and my visit to the UK in 09 made me fall in love with the place, so the stars seem to have aligned.
The final piece to this was help from you guys. I've been around here a few weeks or so chatting, researching, learning, etc...and this has been one of the two friendliest forums I've ever been to. You guys really helped me come to the conclusion I have.
These were my first purchase from Ehattons (hands-down the best prices and service I've come across):
Graham Farish 371-079-LN Class 25/3 diesel D7638 in BR two-tone green
Graham Farish 371-587 Class 46 diesel D186 in BR blue
Graham Farish 372-920 Deltic Prototype DP1 Blue & Cream
Graham Farish 377-079A 7 Plank End Door Wagon 'Firestone Tyres'.
Graham Farish 377-310A 20 ton brake van in LMS grey)
Graham Farish 377-926 PCA Metalair Bulk Powder Wagon Grey.
Peco Products NR-P57a Pallet van "Ford" B787044
Peco Products NR-P57b Pallet van "Ford" B787047
Peco Products NR-P57c Pallet van "Ford" B787398
I have leftover supplies from my first layout and everything else will be added over time as funds become available. I'm completely sold on Union Mills and will add to my roster from them. As you can see, I'm mixing eras. I'm going to apply Rule One liberally.
Thanks again, guys! Thanks for the help. It's nice knowing I have a new home here to continue to learn, share a little of what I know, and just chat about other things.
Woo! :Class37:
:welcomesign: we look forward to seeing how your layout progresses. I agree with you, this is one of the friendliest forums out there :D
Regards
Veronica.
Congratulations buddy! Welcome to British Railways! You're gonna have to get a new passport! ;D
Look forward to hearing of developments!
George
:claphappy:
Thanks for all the compliments, Scott and, as a BR transition modeller, I am sure you'll have a great deal of enjoyment with your new purchases. Much has been said about the possibility of getting a 'lemon' over the water and having to return it, so I suggest you ask the NGF collective their thoughts on any loco you intend to purchase before committing to it.
Well done Scott and I really hope you love BR N Scale as much as you seem to have loved Britain. Cheers, Bill.
Congratulations for taking the plunge! What track are you running it all on?
Well done that person you will not be disapointed.
Welcome to British N Gauge Scott..... :NGaugersRule:
The Class 25 you have bought,whilst basic in design is a really good running loco.
The Deltic is a lovely "weighty" model and a nice runner.
I don't have a 46 to compare i'm afraid.
I am sure you will enjoy your purchases when they arrive from Old Blighty.... :thumbsup:
:beers:...Ste
Thanks again everyone for the kind words and advice. Some great advice about VAT and someone mentioned in the Class 46 thread (I think) about calling the CC company ahead of time to warn them about foreign transactions. Great tip!
I'm really excited about seeing my purchases when they come. As far as track, I haven't gotten that far. I'm going to try and set up a running-in oval with my leftover
Atlas track, but what I end up with will be determined in the future.
I'd love to run the British models on my current layout, but I have this one extremely tight squeeze where 1:160 barely passes by (and some of my stock rubs) so I don't know if the 1:148 will make it through that section.
No matter what, it's the journey that's the most fun, isn't it? I think that's why we never stop fiddling, planning and dreaming about trains.
Scott
even though the 1:148 scale is nominally 'bigger', the locos and rolling stock in real life are much smaller so you should be fine to run the models straight onto your existing layout.
I had to send the tunnelers into my British tunnels to widen things to let my American box cars through.
Donald
Quote from: mr magnolia on February 16, 2014, 05:41:13 PM
Scott
even though the 1:148 scale is nominally 'bigger', the locos and rolling stock in real life are much smaller so you should be fine to run the models straight onto your existing layout.
I had to send the tunnelers into my British tunnels to widen things to let my American box cars through.
Donald
Ah, that's good info, and makes perfect sense. I hope they do fit, because during the eternity it will take to plan and build a new layout I'll get to have my new British stock interloping on B&O rail, confusing all those looking on.
Hi Scott,
While you wait on your bumper box of fun from eHattons, if you wished you could make up some tyres for your Graham Farish 377-079A 7 Plank End Door Wagon 'Firestone Tyres' by following this tutorial I did a while back.
http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=2496.msg26334#msg26334 (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=2496.msg26334#msg26334)
cheers John.
Nice choice Scott.
Did you model US stuff before?
I'm just starting a new layout too. Looking forward to some pictures.
Quote from: Raymond on February 16, 2014, 06:43:50 PM
Nice choice Scott.
Did you model US stuff before?
I'm just starting a new layout too. Looking forward to some pictures.
Yes, I have a basic Scenic Ridge (WS) layout that is a very late 50s US scene set somewhere in the tri-state areas of Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. B&O is the main theme, with C&O, Chessie and a little Conrail for fun.
Scott (I'm assuming your name is Scott) - If you are getting your stuff from Hattons I'd be interested to know how long it takes to reach you from when it is "picked" and "despatched".
It normal takes on average 10 days to reach Tenerife where I live.
The currency here is Euros so I pay Hattons (VAT free) by Credit Card which means I get full commercial exchange rate, I assume you will be doing something similar.
Being a Classic Car owner I have always had a fascination for Classic American models (eg. '67 Pontiac GTO and old Chevys etc.), what car do you drive - a Classic by any chance?
Quote from: Tdm on February 16, 2014, 07:00:31 PM
Scott (I'm assuming your name is Scott) - If you are getting your stuff from Hattons I'd be interested to know how long it takes to reach you from when it is "picked" and "despatched".
It normal takes on average 10 days to reach Tenerife where I live.
The currency here is Euros so I pay Hattons (VAT free) by Credit Card which means I get full commercial exchange rate, I assume you will be doing something similar.
Being a Classic Car owner I have always had a fascination for Classic American models (eg. '67 Pontiac GTO and old Chevys etc.), what car do you drive - a Classic by any chance?
I'll let you know that transit time, for sure. Yes, I used my CC and called first as advised to avoid them freaking out on me and also they didn't have a foreign transaction fee, so I was happy all the way around.
And you nearly nailed it...I drive a Classic...reborn. When they came out with these I couldn't resist. 2011 Challenger (with some Union Pacific MOW)
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t287/scottmitchell74/Train%20Stuff/P1010200.jpg) (http://s163.photobucket.com/user/scottmitchell74/media/Train%20Stuff/P1010200.jpg.html)
I like the "retro" look Dodge Charger, much better looking than the retro Mustang which in my opinion doesn't work. Here's a pic of my 1977 Triumph Stag - still with it's original Triumph V8 engine outside a local Bar - owned it for the past 20 years and still love driving it.
The hardtop comes off by the way as it has a tonneau & softop as well. As the weather is warming up somewhat now (it is nearly always Sunny here), I am about to remove it.
(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Car%20Photos/IMG_0036-1.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Car%20Photos/IMG_0036-1.jpg.html)
So nice! That's a beautiful off-white. What'S the color, exactly? And, I'm so jealous of where you live!
Yes, the "retro" look is what did it for me. In my opinion, Dodge absolutely hit a home run ( A Six?!) with the design. Every time I look at it I just growl to myself a little.
Quote from: scottmitchell74 on February 16, 2014, 09:06:50 PM
So nice! That's a beautiful off-white. What'S the color, exactly? And, I'm so jealous of where you live!
Yes, the "retro" look is what did it for me. In my opinion, Dodge absolutely hit a home run ( A Six?!) with the design. Every time I look at it I just growl to myself a little.
The colour is Triumph paint code 19 (a slightly creamy white). The 1st Triumph Stag off the production line in 1970 was a white one (code 19), and I can still get a colour match today more than 40 years later and in Tenerife. Can also still get virtually any replacement parts I need, but have to send to the U.K. for them, or pick them up on one of our visits.
I notice from your profile you like Travel, well so do I (and the misses of course).
Have visited many European Countries, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand and the Polynesian Islands, but when it comes to the USA have only passed through LA en-route to Hawaii (Ohau & Maui), and spent just a day in San Francisco on the way home. When in Maui hired a Camaro convertible to get around in.
Perhaps we should arrange a house swap sometime whereby I have use of your Dodge, and you my Stag!, and of course we could each play with each others trains! ::)
Quote from: Tdm on February 16, 2014, 09:21:42 PM
Quote from: scottmitchell74 on February 16, 2014, 09:06:50 PM
So nice! That's a beautiful off-white. What'S the color, exactly? And, I'm so jealous of where you live!
Yes, the "retro" look is what did it for me. In my opinion, Dodge absolutely hit a home run ( A Six?!) with the design. Every time I look at it I just growl to myself a little.
The colour is Triumph paint code 19 (a slightly creamy white). The 1st Triumph Stag off the production line in 1970 was a white one (code 19), and I can still get a colour match today more than 40 years later and in Tenerife. Can also still get virtually any replacement parts I need, but have to send to the U.K. for them, or pick them up on one of our visits.
I notice from your profile you like Travel, well so do I (and the misses of course).
Have visited many European Countries, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand and the Polynesian Islands, but when it comes to the USA have only passed through LA en-route to Hawaii (Ohau & Maui), and spent just a day in San Francisco on the way home. When in Maui hired a Camaro convertible to get around in.
Perhaps we should arrange a house swap sometime whereby I have use of your Dodge, and you my Stag!, and of course we could each play with each others trains! ::)
Done!!!! And I promise you I get the better end of the deal all around...place, layout, climate, car. You can't back out now! :claphappy:
Yeah, me and my wife share our greatest common interest in traveling. We've been knocking off the old Bucket List when we can.
Yep, the bucket list.... me too. Our paths may yet meet!
George
Bealman...was that your scenic trip from the UK (ridin' the rails edition) that I was envying?
Yeah, it's funny how paths cross sometimes, especially in niche interests like ours.
If you mean 'Bealman's Excellent UK Adventure" then yes, I plead guilty, I'm afraid. I an currently in the process of putting the finishing chapters to the Euroadventure which will include photos of Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg.
Thanks for the kind words!! :thumbsup:
Quote from: Bealman on February 16, 2014, 10:24:17 PM
If you mean 'Bealman's Excellent UK Adventure" then yes, I plead guilty, I'm afraid. I an currently in the process of putting the finishing chapters to the Euroadventure which will include photos of Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg.
Thanks for the kind words!! :thumbsup:
Looking forward to more pics of your trip :thumbsup:
As long as there is no sign of a Blue Pullman :D :dighole:
dave :thumbsup:
:laughabovepost: :laughabovepost:
I'll try my best!!
George