I think I have quite a lot of SPAM material in my collection ... mostly wagons but a few locos as well. Wren-Lima, Hornby-Minitrix, some early Graham Farish/Grafar ...

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmXcBvXe
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmX8S4mz
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmX7hj5n

I have always regarded the "Modern Era" of N Gauge starting in 1980, with the Farish 08, Mark 1 coaches and then a year later with the 47, 37, HST and so on...

For me that was when the hobby really took off instead of relying on whitemetal kits and Mehano GP-40 chassis.

I think that under current era generations anything prior to 2000 is old so perhaps prior to 1980 will be ancient.

I'm in the Club with some ancient models.

GE

Assuming it's a UK made model, all looks correct bar the one missing screw. The thread is 8BA for the larger countersunk screws with the smaller cheesehead one being 10BA. The fixing screws on either side of the chassis will be 1/4" long. The other one will be this length if it's  just holding the keeper plate to the chassis, if it goes through into the chassis it's either 3/8 or 1/2", can't quite remember which.

Quote from: mikepaling on February 17, 2026, 03:26:22 PMHi Alan ... well for a start the larger Csk headed sticks up as it is too big for the hole it goes in unlike the one next to it which is obviously a cheeshead screw seating in a counterbored hole.

Thanks for the tip about Farish Spares. I will see what they say,
Cheers Mike

Then unfortunately you will be disappointed because the Spares that will be supplied - which are the same spec as original Factory-fitted - will be the same as the (what you consider) "incorrect" screws currently fitted... 

Who knew Farish had been using "the Wrong Screws" for 40-odd years... 


The cheese-head is deliberately different and serves a different purpose as an electrical conductor, rather than securing the chassis.
On those Jinty Chassis, TBH the rear corner screws are not strictly necessary.

Quote from: mikepaling on February 17, 2026, 03:26:22 PM

Quote from: PLD on February 17, 2026, 02:54:17 PMAs Alan says....

Hi Alan ...

P.S. Sorry Eric, I'm not Alan... 

Quote from: Newportnobby on February 17, 2026, 04:19:38 PM

Quote from: EtchedPixels on February 17, 2026, 04:17:15 PM

Quote from: Firstone18 on February 17, 2026, 03:18:58 PMWould Hornby Minitrix count as Ancient?
Can someone suggest a date/year after which this description would not be applicable please.
Cheers!

I think it depends how old you are. To some "it's so old it doesn't even have a DCC connector" is a thing

Oh dear. I have a lot in that category

Those of us who have been modelling in N for a while probably all have Mick. Even though I have been a DCC convert for many years now, I have a fair number non DCC models including some of my old kitbuilds, a couple of Jubs the late Fred Hempsall repainted into BR green for me, some early Farish, a mint Lima 2-6-4T, Minitrix A3 and A4......in fact quite a list and I simply couldn't part with them.

Roy

Quote from: EtchedPixels on February 17, 2026, 04:17:15 PM

Quote from: Firstone18 on February 17, 2026, 03:18:58 PMWould Hornby Minitrix count as Ancient?
Can someone suggest a date/year after which this description would not be applicable please.
Cheers!

I think it depends how old you are. To some "it's so old it doesn't even have a DCC connector" is a thing

Oh dear. I have a lot in that category

Quote from: Firstone18 on February 17, 2026, 03:18:58 PMWould Hornby Minitrix count as Ancient?
Can someone suggest a date/year after which this description would not be applicable please.
Cheers!

I think it depends how old you are. To some "it's so old it doesn't even have a DCC connector" is a thing

Quote from: Moonglum on February 17, 2026, 03:26:04 PM@EtchedPixels , has your kit built J63 featured somewhere else - it looks familiar?

Tim

I may have posted it somewhere ages ago - I don't remember.

Quote from: Firstone18 on February 17, 2026, 03:18:58 PMWould Hornby Minitrix count as Ancient?
Can someone suggest a date/year after which this description would not be applicable please.
Cheers!

The relationship with Hornby ran from around 1973 to early 80s I think.  There were Minitrix British models before and after the period when Hornby was involved. 

There is a clue with the boxes, as the Hornby period models have red/yellow labels and box lids with "Hornby" in the branding   , whist they are green/yellow labels before and after. 

Do they count as ancient?  Well  the chassis for the class 27, Warship (older chassis version), Britannia, Ivatts, and the dock tank go back to the late 60s.   I think the 9F was a little later.  All based on German loco chassis  The class 47, Flying Scotsman and A4 models are later still, pretty sure those later  steamers came along post Hornby.

This was the chassis used for the class 27. (this set dates from around 1968).



The Warships used these chassis (older above and later version underneath)


.. and the 9F used this chassis