I hope this is in the right section. If not, please move it.
I need lots and lots of short wheel base wagons, for coal, wood, equipment, and other goods. Mostly coal, since the area I'm modelling was renowned for their coal, so much so, that the station master was a reseller.
I was wondering if the best approach to this would be to buy used wagons and turn them into what I need, or to buy wheels, and build my own from scratch in card (or wood or plastic or what you suggest).
As for coupling... it will be close coupling the DIY style, once I decide on what kind will work best for me.
You could buy second-hand or make kits.
Peco sell RTR wagon chassis, they also sell wagon kits.
The NER (a main constituent of the LNER) used hopper wagons for coal from quite an early date, as opposed to other companies who used traditional 5 & 7 plank wagons for coal.
Regards,
John P
Definitely try the Peco wagon kits. They're fun to make (very simple), easy to modify if you want slightly different ones and relatively cheap.
It might be worth keeping an eye on eBay. I search 'job lot' under n gauge model railways, and you can quite often see quite large collections of wagons for sale. Some may need a bit of attention, and you may have to accept a few items you don't really want, but you can get a few bargains that way.
Cheers,
Chris
Quote from: Papyrus on June 25, 2021, 03:31:21 PM
It might be worth keeping an eye on eBay. I search 'job lot' under n gauge model railways, and you can quite often see quite large collections of wagons for sale. Some may need a bit of attention, and you may have to accept a few items you don't really want, but you can get a few bargains that way.
Cheers,
Chris
This (and Peco kits) was how I built up most of my collection. You'll get a few duffers like the old Lima ones, but even they work and look half decent if you swap out the wheels.
As Chris said, you'll get a few in each bundle that aren't ones you want, but you can always take the body off the chassis and use the chassis as the basis for a scratch build.
Another vote for Peco wagon kits from me.
Cheap as chips from Hattons.
https://www.hattons.co.uk/stocklist/1000407/1000589/1000637/0/peco_products_n_gauge_wagons/prodlist.aspx] [url]https://www.hattons.co.uk/stocklist/1000407/1000589/1000637/0/peco_products_n_gauge_wagons/prodlist.aspx (http://[url) [/url]
Quote from: Chris Morris on June 25, 2021, 06:33:54 PM
Another vote for Peco wagon kits from me.
Cheap as chips from Hattons - corrected URL
https://www.hattons.co.uk/stocklist/1000407/1000589/1000637/0/peco_products_n_gauge_wagons/prodlist.aspx (https://www.hattons.co.uk/stocklist/1000407/1000589/1000637/0/peco_products_n_gauge_wagons/prodlist.aspx)
Will this help https://www.hattons.co.uk/stocklist/1000407/1000589/1000637/0/peco_products_n_gauge_wagons/prodlist.aspx (https://www.hattons.co.uk/stocklist/1000407/1000589/1000637/0/peco_products_n_gauge_wagons/prodlist.aspx)
The Hatton website is very good for references, but with brexit... I'm not sure buying from them would work. I hate to pay doulbe on taxes; once in the UK and once in customs in Sweden.
I'll see if I can find the Peco kits somewhere easier, but thanks for the tip.
Is there anyone else that makes kits?
I might be wrong Reptilian Feline but if you live outside of the UK, I don't think you pay their VAT - I know I have never paid VAT when buying from Hatton's ??
The N Gauge Society make kits, but it is my understanding that they are only available to members.
The Peco kits are available in the Netherlands:
https://www.dtswebshop.nl/en/search/Peco%20knr/ (https://www.dtswebshop.nl/en/search/Peco%20knr/)
I purchased wagons from the N Gauge Society, and very good they are. I always find that hand painting (not got on to airbrush yet) kits rather than RTR seem to look more realistic. Maybe just me.
Also nice to see wagons on your layout that you have built.
Quote from: markie on June 26, 2021, 07:41:18 AM
I purchased wagons from the N Gauge Society, and very good they are. I always find that hand painting (not got on to airbrush yet) kits rather than RTR seem to look more realistic. Maybe just me.
Also nice to see wagons on your layout that you have built.
Making things yourself is so much more pleasing isn't it?
I'm fine with RTR on locos, if I can find the right ones, because of all the tiny details, but the rest... I'm happy to build from kits.
I have a few more questions about the kits.
Do they have all the parts needed including the wheels, or do I need to find chassis separately?
Could I 3D print some? I have a 3D printer now.
What would be the best options for buying wheels?
Quote from: Reptilian Feline on September 26, 2021, 05:14:53 PM
I have a few more questions about the kits.
Do they have all the parts needed including the wheels, or do I need to find chassis separately?
Could I 3D print some? I have a 3D printer now.
What would be the best options for buying wheels?
The Peco kits come with everything needed other than paint and transfers. They also do the various chassis separately (with wheels) so if you want to 3D print or scratch build bodies, you can use those.
Most other kits usually come with all the mechanical bits too.
If you want to be up and running quickly I'd consider buying a chassis and printing bodies for them. Printed chassis are entirely possibly, but expect lots of iterations, and they likely still won't run quite as well.
Edit: and to back up a bit you won't pay UK VAT from Hatton's. They're well regarded by a number of overseas users.
Quote from: njee20 on September 26, 2021, 07:07:45 PM
If you want to be up and running quickly I'd consider buying a chassis and printing bodies for them. Printed chassis are entirely possibly, but expect lots of iterations, and they likely still won't run quite as well.
Edit: and to back up a bit you won't pay UK VAT from Hatton's. They're well regarded by a number of overseas users.
I'd agree on that. I'm having a lot of fun trying to design and print my own chassis, but it's taken months and I still don't have one I'm perfectly happy with :)
Yep, I've printed well over 1,000 bogies, and probably 90% haven't made the cut!
Quote from: zwilnik on September 26, 2021, 06:23:10 PM
The Peco kits come with everything needed other than paint and transfers. They also do the various chassis separately (with wheels) so if you want to 3D print or scratch build bodies, you can use those.
Most other kits usually come with all the mechanical bits too.
Thanks! It's sometimes hard to find out exactly what a kit contains.
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I'll try Hattons as well as the Dutch shop, see who has the best price.
With a few kits made, it will be easier to make changes to used wagons when I start working on what I already have in mostly German models. Fleishmann is very popular in Sweden, so there are plenty of goods wagons available, they just doesn't look quite right... a bit long in the pictures. With a few in the right size, the conversions will be easier.
Quote from: Reptilian Feline on September 26, 2021, 10:59:04 PM
Quote from: zwilnik on September 26, 2021, 06:23:10 PM
The Peco kits come with everything needed other than paint and transfers. They also do the various chassis separately (with wheels) so if you want to 3D print or scratch build bodies, you can use those.
Most other kits usually come with all the mechanical bits too.
Thanks! It's sometimes hard to find out exactly what a kit contains.
-----------
I'll try Hattons as well as the Dutch shop, see who has the best price.
With a few kits made, it will be easier to make changes to used wagons when I start working on what I already have in mostly German models. Fleishmann is very popular in Sweden, so there are plenty of goods wagons available, they just doesn't look quite right... a bit long in the pictures. With a few in the right size, the conversions will be easier.
That's another option. I've taken old continental wagons and recycled their chassis to put new bodies on. So whatever you can get hold of cheaply can probably be reworked to something useful.
Join the N Gauge Society and buy and build their kits as well as the Peco ones. The NGS kits generally use a Peco chassis so you are assured of reliable running and they usually include the decals too!!!