I am 77 and I have had a OO layout for 60 years and although I have lived in a variety of houses and places have always had a room to myself.
Most recently a layout based on Paddington Station and roughly 14ft by 10ft (it can be viewed here ! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zuukN9Ynyo#) )
The realities of advancing years has meant we have now moved into a flat and the maximum space I can claim is 44 inches by 100 inches -about half the third bedroom.
I am pondering whether to stick with OO and perhaps build a depot layout and sell all my other rolling stock :confused2:
OR
Sell everything and switch to N scale ;)
On another forum where I think the majority of users are OO gauge modellers the overwhelming advice was to stick with OO because I am too old for N gauge, it is too fiddly, I couldn't see it etc etc.
Are there users here who have switched in generally similar circumstances?
I was thinking along the lines of going for a continental type layout using mainly non-British locos etc which I have the impression are better made and less likely to give me reliability problems.
What are the views on this forum?
Brian Martin
Welcome to the forum Martin, great to have you join and that looks a cracking layout. As for N gauge, there are quite a few older modellers on here who have had to down size so you'll be in great company and I'm sure you'll get lots of support in your new scale.
:welcomesign:
It does have to be said that N gauge can definitely be a bit fiddly. If there's an aspect that you really enjoy, such as building kits, it might be worth just trying something before jumping with both feet one way or the other.
The detail that's now possible on the latest locos and rolling stock is fantastic, which is what persuaded me to take it up, but I use a massive magnifier with a lamp to look at anything requiring fine work.
Hi Brian, and welcome to the forum :wave:
In a recent poll about age groups, 41% of those who responded gave their age as 60 and over
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=29395.msg329015#msg329015 (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=29395.msg329015#msg329015))
Many of us (and not just us oldies) have all sorts of ailments but still love our N gauge stuff as, to us, 00 seems somewhat 'toy-like' once you've gone down the N gauge route :sorrysign:
I appreciate it's a huge decision whether or not to sell your stock so take your time to have a look around the forum and I'd especially recommend the 'search' button on the main menu and that you read many of the excellent product reviews, too.
Might be an idea to get to a decent model rail shop, & have a 'play' with track, rolling stock & engines ... See how you get on with them, whether they are too small for you these days or not ...
Advice is all well & good, but you can't beat first-hand experience - and only you know how good your eyesight is, let alone handling items in this scale ...
Good luck, whichever way you decide :thumbsup:
Quote from: MikeDunn on October 25, 2015, 08:24:02 PM
Might be an idea to get to a decent model rail shop, & have a 'play' with track, rolling stock & engines ... See how you get on with them, whether they are too small for you these days or not ...
Advice is all well & good, but you can't beat first-hand experience - and only you know how good your eyesight is, let alone handling items in this scale ...
Good luck, whichever way you decide :thumbsup:
Thanks Mike good advice but I do not have a decent model shop within easy reach but it does seem a good idea to try it out in a small way and I will look into obtaining "a starter set" before burning all my boats!
Brian
Brian,
You don't (I think ?) give a location where you are, so this may work out the same cost as a starter set; but maybe head to the Warley show & have a play there ?
But if you select the right starter set & decide you don't like it etc, you could always (with 10 posts under your belt) sell it on here ...
Mike
Hi Brian,
Welcome aboard.
You obviously have a lot of skill and knowledge (which I don't :() (lovely layout by the way) but I'm going to say 'go for it'.
I think in that space, unless you go n gauge, you'll get frustrated with how little room you've got.
Also you mentioned 'continental', we need more members on the continental team. They are pricey but very reliable and shops like DM Toys and Modellbahnshopp Lippe in Germany are always doing bargains. Not sure what era or country you are thinking about but you'll have a massive choice including their older brand new stock that sometimes they're just flogging off.
I haven't really heard a bad word said about the likes of Fleischmann, Arnold etc. but Graham Farish and Dapol seem to get a moan on here most weeks.
Kato unitrack easy peasy to connect, in built point motors, but you might think too plasticy but can be weathered well.
N gauge is fiddly but the only real problem I've had in my limited efforts is changing/replacing couplings and their springs. It is the Devil's work or maybe a punishment from God.
Anyway, am sure you'll get much more constructive advice but my vote is 'yes' :NGaugersRule:
Cheers weave,
PS Message to Caz, you can call Brian, Brian, it's not public school :D
Quote from: weave on October 26, 2015, 12:52:37 PM
PS Message to Caz, you can call Brian, Brian, it's not public school :D
:laughabovepost: :laughabovepost: :laughabovepost:
Quote from: weave on October 26, 2015, 12:52:37 PM
I haven't really heard a bad word said about the likes of Fleischmann, Arnold etc. but Graham Farish and Dapol seem to get a moan on here most weeks.
Funny you should say that, I was just dismantling a fairly new Brawa DMU to work out what ailed it (was bought cheaply as a non-runner), turns out it has not one but two split gears. A quick bit of research in German forums indicates this is not unusual. On the plus side, Brawa do have a good reputation for spares availability. The first (and only) brand new Fleischmann loco I bought also turned out to be a dud... For reliability Japanese stuff (Kato and Tomix) are hard to beat, but going off-topic maybe.
Hi Brian,
:hellosign:
much like the others it depends on how good your eyesight is etc. i am going to inveat in a magnifier and some of those fancy holding stands ( I dont know what they are called but they grip ypur models etc) for when I get down to changing couplers etc.
as for starter sets peco do a set track starter that will get you a basic oval with a siding or passing loop but when youadd in a loco some stock etc can get pricey. I started that way and used ebay to save money. but I had some old war game stuff to sell.
The thing about n gauge is that you can do so much more in a small space so well worth a go.
Cheers
Biggy
I spent years collecting 4mm scale kits (locos, wagons, coaches etc.) with a view to building an EM gauge layout when I retired.
Come the dreaded retirement day, I belatedly decided that 4mm scale, or EM gauge, or OO gauge just would not give me what I wanted in the space I ultimately had available. So after much humming and haahing about how much cash I would lose if I traded all the 4mm stuff in, I decided to just do it and go for N gauge instead.
So here I am now with the base boards and control panels built, loads of locos and stock bought and track laying just commenced and I've thoroughly enjoyed the experience so far, especially with the help of this knowledgeable and good natured Forum.
You'll find that ready to run stock in N gauge is very detailed and looks so good and you don't really need brilliant eye sight for ready to run stuff and to lay the track. Ok some locos can be a bit iffy for quality but you can get them replaced/repaired in most instances.
So my advice is just go for it - try a small layout first and get some experience and something running.
I made the mistake of planning a biggish layout and diving in the deep end, so its taken me a long time to get the track laying started. Small is good to start with - as I now know.
:NGaugersRule: :beers:
Some good posts there to which I can add little but I too would trial a small layout initially to see how you get on.