N Gauge Forum

Has anyone ever made any R2R Lowmacs or similar drop-centre wagons I can use in mid/late 1960s PW / Electrification trains?

As usual OO is rife with them, but The Superior Gauge is inexplicably barren!

Have you seen the N Gauge Society's kits? There are a couple that might be suitable.

Ngsjoin.com

Quote from: Steven B on August 16, 2025, 03:02:39 PMHave you seen the N Gauge Society's kits?

Thanks. I don't really have the skills - or equipment - to do them justice, so had a faint hope there might be something R2R out there.

There's no British outline RTR lowmac or well wagon as far ad I know. You'll find some continental ones from the likes of Minitrix or Arnold.

You don't need many tools for a NGS kit, just a craft knife, a suitable glue and some patience. They're not that complicated - you might surprise yourself.

I did one and documented it here on the forum. :thumbsup:

Quote from: Bealman on August 17, 2025, 10:43:27 AMI did one and documented it here on the forum. :thumbsup:

@Bealman Link please?

Back in lockdown times I attempted to represent both a MAC-L and and a MAC-NV using the NGS Loriot kit.

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?msg=685368

Not too difficult at all as beginner level kit bashing.

There are also a couple of 2mm association lowmac kits ( one ex-GC and one ex-GE ) which are a bigger challenge that I might attempt one day - if I decide I can handle the smell of burnt flesh (BBQ?) as I solder them up,

Cheers,

Colin.
 

Didn't Skytrex used to do a cast white metal RTR lowmac in N? I appreciate it was a good number of years ago now and that they subsequently dropped their N gauge range, and now only produce OO and O gauge kits, but it might be possible to find one.

I believe Fleetline offer a whitemetal one you just add wheels and coupling to.

Yes Skytrex did do a cast RTR lowmac back in the 1980s - I still have a couple.

I found the NGS lowmac very difficult to get to run - it's very light and needs a a lot of weight adding.

Quote from: thebrighton on August 17, 2025, 03:45:01 PMI believe Fleetline offer a whitemetal one you just add wheels and coupling to.

The Fleetline range of kits has been acquired by John Day Models (along with ABS/Beaver and others):

https://www.johndaymodels.co.uk/

The Fleetline Lomac is shown here:

https://www.johndaymodels.co.uk/wagon-and-crane-kits/#jp-carousel-1934

Ian

Quote from: thebrighton on August 17, 2025, 03:45:01 PMI believe Fleetline offer a whitemetal one you just add wheels and coupling to.

The only trouble with the fleetline one that I found was you needed to find a way to secure the wheels in place so that they don't fall out.

Quote from: Newportnobby on August 17, 2025, 11:18:26 AM

Quote from: Bealman on August 17, 2025, 10:43:27 AMI did one and documented it here on the forum. :thumbsup:

@Bealman Link please?

Love to, but I can't find the post! :-[

Hello George

Does this jog any memories from covid lock down times please?

@Bealman

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=54403.msg718991#msg718991

Thank you, Chris. :thumbsup:

Quote from: Bealman on August 19, 2025, 03:03:23 AMThank you, Chris. :thumbsup:

Welcome. Hope you found the missing buffers!  If not somebody could advise correct ones whether 2mm association, NGS, BH enterprises etc.

Here's a couple of pictures of the NGS Lowmacs that I threw together for an IOW-themed plank.

(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/154/9-190825090115.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=154361)

(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/154/9-190825090447.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=154363)

Hope all ok, mine was not totally successful. But, it was my first attempt at an N gauge kit.

It's rather light.

To be honest, mine will probably be static as one is a bit wonky and falls off the track all the time! I may have another go at some point and actually try to build them square next time.

The kits are OK but there are no proper guides for the sides to click into, making it easy to build them on the wonk, like I did...

Yes, exactly. It's not an easy build. Things are falling off it all the time. Resigned to a siding, I'm afraid.

Just another couple of photos of the NGS 'Loriot' model.  I built this kit many, many years ago.


As others have said, this is a fiddly kit to assemble.  The hardest part is getting the two sides absolutely square so that the wheels run true (an inherent problem with any kit where the sideframes are separate pieces). 


As can be seen, I added two pieces of lead sheet to the underside of the wagon which has helped the running qualities.  Adding a load with some weight (like a diecast tractor, for example) will also help this. 

I don't remember installing brass bearing cups, but it was such a long time ago.  The wheels are metal. 

Ian

 Thanks all for your thoughts, looks like an NGS membership will be on my list for Santa!

Quote from: cmason on August 17, 2025, 11:36:11 AMBack in lockdown times I attempted to represent both a MAC-L and and a MAC-NV using the NGS Loriot kit.

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?msg=685368

Not too difficult at all as beginner level kit bashing.

There are also a couple of 2mm association lowmac kits ( one ex-GC and one ex-GE ) which are a bigger challenge that I might attempt one day - if I decide I can handle the smell of burnt flesh (BBQ?) as I solder them up,

Cheers,

Colin.

Hi

Having built both of those they are not too bad to do. You may have issues with finding suitable wheels though as the axle length needs to be 12.25mm.

(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/117/982-141221105151.jpeg)

(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/154/982-240825162209.jpeg)

Cheers

Paul

Edit: having realised the pictures I'd posted originally were of the NGS kit and the 2mm SA kit I've now removed the NGS one and added the other 2mm SA one.