N Gauge Forum

General Category => N Gauge Discussion => Topic started by: earlofsodbury on August 16, 2025, 02:36:44 PM

Title: Lowmacs & similar
Post by: earlofsodbury on August 16, 2025, 02:36:44 PM
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!
Title: Re: Lowmacs & similar
Post by: Steven B on August 16, 2025, 03:02:39 PM
Have you seen the N Gauge Society's kits? There are a couple that might be suitable.

Ngsjoin.com
Title: Re: Lowmacs & similar
Post by: earlofsodbury on August 16, 2025, 10:24:44 PM
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.
Title: Re: Lowmacs & similar
Post by: Steven B on August 17, 2025, 10:41:37 AM
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.
Title: Re: Lowmacs & similar
Post by: Bealman on August 17, 2025, 10:43:27 AM
I did one and documented it here on the forum. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Lowmacs & similar
Post by: Newportnobby on August 17, 2025, 11:18:26 AM
Quote from: Bealman on Yesterday at 10:43:27 AMI did one and documented it here on the forum. :thumbsup:

@Bealman Link please?
Title: Re: Lowmacs & similar
Post by: cmason on August 17, 2025, 11:36:11 AM
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.
 
Title: Re: Lowmacs & similar
Post by: Bazza on August 17, 2025, 02:18:03 PM
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.
Title: Re: Lowmacs & similar
Post by: thebrighton on August 17, 2025, 03:45:01 PM
I believe Fleetline offer a whitemetal one you just add wheels and coupling to.
Title: Re: Lowmacs & similar
Post by: tunneroner61 on August 17, 2025, 04:00:42 PM
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.
Title: Re: Lowmacs & similar
Post by: icairns on August 17, 2025, 04:15:18 PM
Quote from: thebrighton on Yesterday at 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

Title: Re: Lowmacs & similar
Post by: Jollybob on August 17, 2025, 08:44:17 PM
Quote from: thebrighton on Yesterday at 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.