N Gauge Forum

General Category => N Gauge Discussion => Topic started by: montyburns56 on November 11, 2024, 04:18:14 PM

Title: Hornby/Minitrix building kits
Post by: montyburns56 on November 11, 2024, 04:18:14 PM
Does anyone remember those flat pack building kits that Hornby/Minitrix produced many years ago? They seemed to be smaller versions of the OO kits that Hornby produced. I just ask because someone posted a load of N scenic items on Ebay and I'd totally forgotten about them until then. I think they made a Goods Shed and an Engine Shed and possibly some station buildings. Does anyone still use them?

This is what they look like if you don't know what I'm talking about...

https://www.hattons.co.uk/223981/minitrix_n406_goods_shed/stockdetail?srsltid=AfmBOoq0fDBZURmAqf2bAD9_lQvqoC0UquafEUK984S2rI9KUTSL5zZg
Title: Re: Hornby/Minitrix building kits
Post by: crewearpley40 on November 11, 2024, 04:53:04 PM
Thanks for raising this. I've a signal box N403

Remember
404 Engine Shed
405 Water Tower
406 Goods Shed
412 Booking Hall
464 Platforms


Be interesting topic


Title: Re: Hornby/Minitrix building kits
Post by: ntpntpntp on November 11, 2024, 05:03:26 PM
Yes they were mini versions of some of the Hornby 'Orribly 'Oversized  items, pretty obviously they were Hornby produced rather than Minitrix. 

I don't recall ever seeing any produced after the Hornby tie-up ended and Minitrix continued to sell the locos and stock directly.
Title: Re: Hornby/Minitrix building kits
Post by: icairns on November 11, 2024, 08:09:14 PM
I believe the complete list of Hornby/Minitrix buildings is as follows:

N403   Signal Box
N404   Engine Shed
N405   Water Tower
N406   Goods Shed
N412   Booking Hall
N460   Straight Platform Pack
N464   Platform Ramp Pack & Fencing

All the above were introduced in 1982 and came in Hornby/Minitrix boxes.

Ian

Title: Re: Hornby/Minitrix building kits
Post by: Bealman on November 11, 2024, 08:58:54 PM
I have quite a few on my layout, mostly kitbashed into other things. They weren't kits or flat packs, but ready-made plastic structures.
Title: Re: Hornby/Minitrix building kits
Post by: montyburns56 on November 12, 2024, 03:55:22 PM
Quote from: Bealman on November 11, 2024, 08:58:54 PMI have quite a few on my layout, mostly kitbashed into other things. They weren't kits or flat packs, but ready-made plastic structures.

I did have an OO gauge version of the engine shed many years ago so I just presumed they were the same and you had to assemble them.
Title: Re: Hornby/Minitrix building kits
Post by: Steven B on November 12, 2024, 04:34:43 PM
Pictures of the range on the last page of this catalogue:
https://www.ness-st.co.uk/pdf/Hornby_Minitrix_Cat_N640-85.pdf

As mentioned above, they were sold ready built. Photo on The Model Train Shop's website shows the egg-box type plastic shell that held the building safe in the box.
https://themodeltrainshop.co.uk/product/boxed-n464-platform-ramp-pack-with-fencing-see-notes/


Steven B
Title: Re: Hornby/Minitrix building kits
Post by: crewearpley40 on November 12, 2024, 04:39:36 PM
Peter's Spares out of stock

However Hampshire models, vectis and e bay



Title: Re: Hornby/Minitrix building kits
Post by: montyburns56 on November 12, 2024, 04:52:09 PM
Quote from: icairns on November 11, 2024, 08:09:14 PMI believe the complete list of Hornby/Minitrix buildings is as follows:

N403    Signal Box
N404    Engine Shed
N405    Water Tower
N406    Goods Shed
N412    Booking Hall
N460    Straight Platform Pack
N464    Platform Ramp Pack & Fencing

All the above were introduced in 1982 and came in Hornby/Minitrix boxes.

Ian

Thanks for that list. I see that unlike their Lyddle End range, Hornby wisely stuck to the basic railway items.

I tried to find information on the internet about the range and I found the Minitrix.org.uk site, but it doesn't seem to have any information about the buildings range.

https://minitrix.org.uk/AnIntroduction/UKHornbyMinitrix/1967BritishMinitrix/

Also I noticed that someone has a nice collection of the range on Ebay if anyone is after some pieces.
Title: Re: Hornby/Minitrix building kits
Post by: ntpntpntp on November 12, 2024, 06:24:52 PM
@montyburns56  minitrix.org.uk is a site created by one of our forum members.  It has some great info on the locos and their servicing.

Here's a Hornby/Minitrix catalogue with the buildings
https://www.ness-st.co.uk/pdf/Hornby_Minitrix_Cat_N640-85.pdf (https://www.ness-st.co.uk/pdf/Hornby_Minitrix_Cat_N640-85.pdf)
Title: Re: Hornby/Minitrix building kits
Post by: Bealman on November 12, 2024, 10:50:27 PM
Hornby/Minitrix water tower:

(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/106/255-270221045914-1069801468.jpeg)

Half an engine shed:

(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/albums/Bealman's_Album/Dir_7/main_17472.jpg)


(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/94/255-310520082105-945681105.jpeg)

Raw goods shed awaiting conversion to something else:

(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/94/255-280520113027-943602328.jpeg)

Signal cabin with Ratio slate roofing and carved Milliput walls:

(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/albums/Bealman's_Album/Dir_7/main_17466.jpg)

Another bit of a water tower on top of a kitbashed Heljan thingy:

(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/albums/Bealman's_Album/Dir_7/main_17470.jpg)

I bought this Hornby stuff second hand in the nineties, and always considered it as raw material for something else. I've even got the original boxes somewhere!
Title: Re: Hornby/Minitrix building kits
Post by: Newportnobby on November 13, 2024, 09:36:02 AM
 :o You're the axesaw murderer of model railway buildings :worried:
Title: Re: Hornby/Minitrix building kits
Post by: crewearpley40 on November 13, 2024, 09:50:10 AM
Kit bashing par excellence or customising as I call it
Title: Re: Hornby/Minitrix building kits
Post by: montyburns56 on November 13, 2024, 04:58:39 PM
Quote from: Bealman on November 12, 2024, 10:50:27 PMI bought this Hornby stuff second hand in the nineties, and always considered it as raw material for something else. I've even got the original boxes somewhere!

I just felt a disturbance in the force, as if a thousand collectors cried out in pain...
Title: Re: Hornby/Minitrix building kits
Post by: montyburns56 on November 13, 2024, 05:03:18 PM
Quote from: ntpntpntp on November 12, 2024, 06:24:52 PM@montyburns56  minitrix.org.uk is a site created by one of our forum members.  It has some great info on the locos and their servicing.

Here's a Hornby/Minitrix catalogue with the buildings
https://www.ness-st.co.uk/pdf/Hornby_Minitrix_Cat_N640-85.pdf (https://www.ness-st.co.uk/pdf/Hornby_Minitrix_Cat_N640-85.pdf)

Yeah, thanks for the link although Steve B has also posted it. It's funny looking at the Minitrix catalogue though as it reminds me of the current stage of Hornby's TT range, especially with the MK1 carriages consisting of only a BSK and CK!