There have been several scenecraft toilet block releases in the last year or so, often in the more sparse announcements for Farish, that have lead to comments, some tongue in cheek, some not so much, about where the Bachmann N gauge priorities are.

I guess that, with another being released this time, someone must by buying them.

Yes it was light for n this time, and that seems to be the way it is every second announcement. But three new tooled locos on their way including the EFE class 23 that were previously announced means still a fair bit to look forward to (provided any fit your area of interest of course) I wouldn't be at all surprised if the next one at the beginning of August is quite light too, or just reissues, but hopefully followed by a video just before TINGs revealing something entirely new or upgraded for sound.

What is the running toilet block gag?

I'm glad I didn't have to watch much, given the lack of anything interesting.

Hi Guys!

Not sure why, but I thought of a couple of points from the OP....

Quote from: Michanglais on May 07, 2026, 07:29:48 AMIt would be great if there was someone to 'champion' N gauge like him. Is there anyone? (If not, would anyone be willing? I'd put myself forward but my modelling skills are pretty basic and I don't have a YouTube channel yet...).

YouTube is a bit of a funny place, as most of it depends on the algorithms it detects from your content. I've had a couple of channels for a few years now (one for modelling, the other for films of the real railway) and it can be hard to get noticed. I've had videos that have had a high number of views, and then the next video bombed! There does seem to be some interest in N Gauge modelling, but as the majority are OO gauge, most of the 'bigger' channels are in that scale.
 

Quote from: Michanglais on May 07, 2026, 07:29:48 AMJust wondering. I'm a fan of the Model Rail Replacement Podcast and there's lots of talk about TT120, but very little for N. Seems there's lots of publicity out there for TT120.

I listen to 'MRRP' too and I do know what you mean about this, but this I think is more down to there own opinions as to what they prefer. One of their last episodes was about what would make them model in N/O and showed that (in my opinion) they have nothing against either of those gauges. James did used to model in N and Tom does produce stuff in N, so its more that TT120 is just a common scale among them.

Stu

As a TT:120 collector (no layout yet) I quite enjoy Peachy's videos despite not being a fan of YT model railway evangelists in general. He does help to summarise new releases and has some interesting interviews with other industry players.

I appreciate the efforts he went to with TMC to come up with the 24 pin to 18 pin decoder bridge to accommodate HM7000 decoders in Heljan locos - though of course that is now superseded by "official" product expected from Accurrascale/Heljan. 

These seem to have passed the forum by.

Not much, 12t vans and conflats, both now with NEMs, some EWS hoppers(?) and a bit of Scenecraft.

Bachmann buying into the running toilet block gag was amusing.

Probably just 2-3 wagons here for me but encouraged that we may see planked opens and 16t minerals getting the NEM upgrade too in due course.

I have a couple of 20s on the horizon plus Halls for those of a steam persuasion so personally quite happy despite the small nature of this time's announcement.

It can cut two ways. Nothing puts me off taking TT120 seriously as a welcome addition to the range of modelling scales than the "zeal of the convert" rabid enthusiasm of the Hornby shills who seem to be promoting the scale as if all other scales are now irrelevant and anyone not adopting the "perfect" TT120 is a reactionary fossil. 

And then in reality all the TT120 layouts I've seen so far have either been tedious glorified train sets running one of everything produced in the scale round and round and round...or micro-layouts carefully designed to hide the limitations of what's currently available.

The best advocates for N (and 2mm FS) are lots of varied layouts at exhibitions and in magazines and online showing what the scale can do and how much railway it allows you to get in a modern home. (Ironically, those TT120 micros might also be the best way forward for that scale as well.)

Quote from: njee20 on May 07, 2026, 08:49:45 AMI think you probably over estimate the influence Peachy has. Everyone has "access" to manufacturers. He has interviewed folk at Hornby, yes, but I'm not sure that he's really made any meaningful difference aside from creating content. I'll be honest I sincerely hope that manufacturers aren't swayed by someone with 3000 YT subscribers.

I really dislike consuming content via YT, just doesn't work for me. There are some successful ones out there for sure, but I'm not sure we need to aspire to having some champion of N gauge in the YT "community".

Totally agree.

Yeah, heard that it's good!

Perhaps not the same vein as Peachy, but try:
James Hilton's blog:
https://paxton-road.blogspot.com/

and Michael Scott's Chandwell:
https://www.youtube.com/@Chandwell
https://chandwell.wordpress.com/

Much the same as the OP, I often find myself spending too much time thinking, researching and planning rather than actually building something. A ~1 foot square T-TRAK module has taken me more than 3 years to get anywhere near completion.

I've come to the conclusion my actual hobby is looking for inspiration on Flickr and re-organising my stock storage boxes.