Quote from: scottmitchell74 on January 27, 2026, 03:22:16 AM

Video unavailable.

I'm calling the layout Oakesbridge as a tribute to my local model shop which closed a couple of years ago. I must have been a customer there for around 60 years. Here is the current state of play.


This might look good but it isn't. The backscene is just a mock up blue tacked in place. I will get it properly printed and pasted in due course. Love the loco though.



Another loco on the bridge showing clearly that there is not any scenery in place. The bridge is there because it has to support the track base.



Same photo but with added AI. This has given me an indication of what it should look like and the inspiration to try to do as a good a job as AI has.



I do like a railcar. I didn't mention that bridge is dual gauge so I have a bit of 00 as well. Compared to N and 009 it does look a little "orribly oversized". 

I recently started an 009 layout. Its very much in its early development stages. I do like the 009 locos as they are cute. I somehow feel a little more relaxed about sticking to prototype with 009 than I do in N. For instance, all of my N gauge layouts have had working signals as I think that is essential for realism but this one may or may not. Also all my N gauge stock is weathered but I am undecided even about weathering the 009 stock. We shall see how I feel in due course.

Two things I have found so far. First. 009 couplings are absolutely useless and certainly unfit for purpose. They uncouple all to easily when you don't want but are often difficult to couple when you want. I find the N gauge standing couplings work much better. I did try fitting N gauge couplers to my 009 stock as they have NEM sockets. N gauge couplers do fit but there is no up and down movement so I couldn't do the fingerless shunting that I am so fond of. There are alternatives but I'm told they are a bit "hit & miss". In the end I have opted for Hunt magnetic couplings on everything. Yes they have to be prised apart for shunting but that is easier than trying to uncouple standard couplings. What I do like is the way when you back up to a train with magnetic couplings the loco and train come together with a satisfying clunk.
Second thing I have found, and was very surprised by, is that 009 is far more finnicky and fiddly than N gauge. I thought I would have no issues as I was used to N but I have found 009 to be more "testing" than N. I have even bought one of those re-railer thingies. Something I never needed in N.
Having said all that I am enjoying 009 so far. 4mm scale does seem very big after 2mm but of course the 009 stock is quite small. It certainly has its own charm. This move to 009 does not mean I am abandoning N gauge, far from it. Dawlish Warren is still up and running as is Cwm Bach but with all 3 layouts up in my 8 by 4 shed it is a bit tight. Dawlish Warren will be out at Abingdon in March but that is the only planned outing for any of my layouts this year.

I agree, and it's really just a simple matter of posting it in the general section.

This is the first time I have dipped into this thread. It has to be said that, whilst N gauge is great and by far the best scale for many of the things I want to do, other scales do have their good points. I am sure that many of us here have layouts in other scales.

My current project is in 009 and I also have a G scale garden railway. I haven't posted any photos of my 009 layout here (yet) but I am sure I have posted the odd photo of my garden railway over the years. Whilst I would agree that this forum should always be primarily N gauge I hope Bob carries on with this thread as it is interesting. It is also good to see what other non N gauge railway modelling is being done by fellow N gaugers.

Quote from: Bob G on January 26, 2026, 04:02:30 PMI'm closing this thread and asking for it to be locked, because some of the NGF users don't like me talking about my interests in other scales.

As can be seen, this has not yet been locked. I have mailed Bob asking whether he'd like me to move it to General Discussion (excellent solution @weave ) or to lock it as he requested. I fear it may be too late and we have lost a valuable source of knowledge and a very good modeller.
We can only see what Bob says

I think it is an excellent idea. Hope you're reading this, Bob!

Quote from: weave on January 26, 2026, 05:25:03 PMI can understand some people thinking/saying "it's an N Gauge Forum" but the "General Discussion" thread does say "Other Scales" so perhaps you could post it there (I think Tank posted his garden railway there).

Cheers, weave 

I haven't seen that area of the forum but that may be the optimal solution?

cheers

Ben A.

Quote from: port perran on January 26, 2026, 11:05:53 AM

Quote from: Newportnobby on January 26, 2026, 10:46:29 AMUsed in many an advert, this may strike a chord with some. I couldn't get on with the rest of the album, though

Sounds like the sort of music played before a funeral service to me.

It was actually played all day on the radio in Montenegro when a coach crashed Killing many of the occupants

Regards,

Alex