It looks like DeAgostini (famous for their ridiculously overpriced "collect the parts" magazines with bits on them and in N Gauge for the static loco model collection that was one of them) are making a move into being an actual N gauge manufacturer.
I've noticed DM Toys have been listing more and more of their range in their emails, which includes track, rolling stock, scenic bits and now a couple of locos. What's interesting is they're very definitely aiming at the budget market as their Bo-Bo electric locos are €59.99 each (and they're DCC ready).
Probably not for the extreme detail modellers but good news for the budget conscious and starters. Some of the wagons appear to be ready painted kits too.
Here's a link: https://www.dm-toys.de/en/list/manufacturer/DeAgostini.html (https://www.dm-toys.de/en/list/manufacturer/DeAgostini.html)
Looks like some useful bits.
Yes, there appears to be some useful odds and sods, there, as you say, Ian. :thumbsup:
For some reason, it reminds me of the Playcraft range you could buy at Woollies when I was kid. Nowt wrong with that, cheap and cheerful, but the odd bit of gear was useful.
The sleeper arrangement at the end of the track sections remind me of the old Lima ones that came with my first N Gauge set back in the mid 1970's!
Quote from: 70000 on July 10, 2021, 05:42:57 AM
The sleeper arrangement at the end of the track sections remind me of the old Lima ones that came with my first N Gauge set back in the mid 1970's!
I recall their HO/OO track being like that as well. It's entirely conceivable some of the DeAgostini range derives from old Lima tooling...
Already discussed on at least one other thread on here.
https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=52507.msg718287#msg718287 (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=52507.msg718287#msg718287)
https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=44277.msg552226#msg552226 (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=44277.msg552226#msg552226)
I don't think this is a case of DeAgostini now moving into this area, more like they did it some years ago and maybe it didn't sell well so DMT have acquired the remaining stock of bits.
There was a part-work series to build your own N gauge layout, issued (to my knowledge) in Europe back in 2015/16, maybe at different times and with slight variations in different countries.
(https://www.zzol.de/cover/2017/1/04365_20170071.jpg?h=1200&404=nocover.png)
(http://www.scalatt.it/public/data/v200/2017221124250_IMG_20170221_110030.jpg)
At least some of the rolling stock and the locos were produced by Darstaed who are better known for O gauge I think. I have one of the completed coaches acquired from ebay a while ago. From what I read a while back, the locos are simply made (they have to be assembled from parts in more than one magazine issue after all) but actually aren't too bad.
The points are very similar to Setrack even with Peco style tie-bar and motor mounting slots, but definitely aren't the actual Peco or Farish items.
Quote from: zwilnik on July 10, 2021, 12:11:20 AM
... their Bo-Bo electric locos are €59.99 each (and they're DCC ready).
They're not "DCC ready" in the usually understood sense of having a decoder socket: they are "DCC compatible" in that the chassis design has the motor isolated and wired to the pickups. It'll need a hard-wired decoder installed, which DMT will do for a price.
Ah, the ex-part work stock makes sense. It also explains why only DMT seem to stock them.
Quote from: ntpntpntp on July 10, 2021, 08:36:32 AM
maybe it didn't sell well
Yes, like most 'build it' partworks by and large people get bored with buying the whole set or realise that they could buy a 'proper' ready built model for the same ( or less) cost!
Yes, silly concept, I think. I just look at them in the newsagents and laugh, thinking some mug's gonna buy that, thinking he got something for nothing :no:
I get the appeal of them, and it's basically instalment pricing; so yes you end up paying £900 for a model of the Millennium Falcon or whatever, but at £5.99 a week it's more palatable for many.
Hmm. That works out to be 150 weeks before you've got a Millennium Falcon. Mind you, if you got it half built, you could jump to hyperspace and get the other bits quicker ;)
A mate of mine built the Millennium Falcon. Yes, really (https://www.facebook.com/217088421203/posts/10159523283876204/)!
Mike
That's right - I think the early Star Wars movies were filmed at Pinewood or Shepparton studios. :thumbsup:
Interestingly they seem to have resurrected the old Lima/Darstead blue CIWL sleeper - useful (ish, from a distance, it's not perfect in that it has too many doors and some German writing on it, but it's a start point for bashing) if you want to model the Night Ferry.
Quote from: Capri_sam on July 11, 2021, 04:45:09 PM
Interestingly they seem to have resurrected the old Lima/Darstead blue CIWL sleeper...
Just curious, what makes you think there is any actual Lima involvement with the Darstaed coach? If anything it's very similar to the old Rivarossi CIWL coaches as I showed in comparison photos in previous posts/threads.
Darstead top, Rivarossi bottom
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/73/5885-050219174114.jpeg)
Quote from: ntpntpntp on July 11, 2021, 05:52:07 PM
Quote from: Capri_sam on July 11, 2021, 04:45:09 PM
Interestingly they seem to have resurrected the old Lima/Darstead blue CIWL sleeper...
Just curious, what makes you think there is any actual Lima involvement with the Darstaed coach? If anything it's very similar to the old Rivarossi CIWL coaches as I showed in comparison photos in previous posts/threads.
Darstead top, Rivarossi bottom
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/73/5885-050219174114.jpeg)
You're completely right, and I should have known better, I've got four or five or each!
Quote from: Capri_sam on July 11, 2021, 04:45:09 PM
, but it's a start point for bashing) if you want to model the Night Ferry.
I can't say I agree. These models are very far from a similar style to the Night Ferry sleeping cars (Voiture Lits type F), especially as there are pukka 3D prints available of Night Ferry sleepers in N:
http://www.rue-d-etropal.com/3D-printing/passenger-stock-sr/3d_printed_SR_Night_Ferry.htm (http://www.rue-d-etropal.com/3D-printing/passenger-stock-sr/3d_printed_SR_Night_Ferry.htm)
These looks most like preserved CIWL stock such as that used on the VSOE in Europe
Quote from: Gordon on July 11, 2021, 11:54:36 PM
Quote from: Capri_sam on July 11, 2021, 04:45:09 PM
, but it's a start point for bashing) if you want to model the Night Ferry.
I can't say I agree. These models are very far from a similar style to the Night Ferry sleeping cars (Voiture Lits type F), especially as there are pukka 3D prints available of Night Ferry sleepers in N:
http://www.rue-d-etropal.com/3D-printing/passenger-stock-sr/3d_printed_SR_Night_Ferry.htm (http://www.rue-d-etropal.com/3D-printing/passenger-stock-sr/3d_printed_SR_Night_Ferry.htm)
These looks most like preserved CIWL stock such as that used on the VSOE in Europe
Interesting, I had no idea! Do you know what chassis the brake vans run on? I can't see it written down anywhere and a forum search hasn't given me any luck.
Take your pick! Simon doesn't actually test his prints or design them with finishing in mind. I don't mean that to be disparaging; he produces a huge array of models, but you're on your own in terms of the other bits, they're not designed with any specific bits in mind.
Quote from: njee20 on July 12, 2021, 10:38:48 AM
Take your pick! Simon doesn't actually test his prints or design them with finishing in mind. I don't mean that to be disparaging; he produces a huge array of models, but you're on your own in terms of the other bits, they're not designed with any specific bits in mind.
That is common with 3D. There are lots of other useful bodyshells being produced without a specific chassis in mind. It has held up quite a lot of my European N rolling stock building projects!
Yep, and I get why - some people are just cranking out items because of their utility, but it's slightly poor form to me. I always design a complete kit. That said again I know Simon produces dozens of items in multiple scales, and that'd likely never be possible if they were all 'complete' as it were.
i have always felt that the range of items produced by Simon (rue d'etropal) is intended as scratch build aids but with some of the difficult body bits in one workable piece. Given the breadth of the range and the huge variety of scales it would be impossible to re-jig every design to suit an RTR chassis given that we know that an RTR chassis is rarely the exactly right dimensions to start with so the body would have to be stretched or squeezed to suit. Better, to my mind, that the builder starts with a decent scale body and then fits the other bits around it to suit their capapbility and need.
I have usually taken the route of designing to fit an RTR chassis, and more recently provided a 3D printed chassis option to match up with proprietary bogies and coupler systems. I like Nick's whole kit approach which works well for N, but starts to become more of a problem in larger scales and finer scales where printer size limitations come in to play.
Yes, I totally agree, and I think designing for a RTR (or otherwise available chassis) is very sensible; given how awkward I've found buying wheels and things at times it's even more sensible! Maridunian's kits always look extremely well thought out.
As long as people know what they're buying, ie a body where they'll need to scratchbuild the remainder, then that's fine. But it doesn't always feel like that's totally clear, I know I've seen Simon be asked a few times which chassis would suit x y or z model, and the answer is "dunno".