Someone asked this on the Facebook group, but as Facebook is a very empheral medium I thought I'd ask it here as it intrigued me - what's the oldest prototype represented by a commercially available N gauge model (RTR and/or kit)?

Good question... I fondly remember the OO Rocket that Triang introduced in the 1960s, and the Airfix kit. Bits of the latter still exist on my layout today!

However in N gauge, dunno. I suspect it may be a Continental model by Arnold, or Fleischmann or the like.

Hmm, I'd be interested in the oldest British outline model as well, even if it's not the oldest globally.

Maybe that "Toby" kit that is currently available? Almost makes me think about dabbling in kits....

Probably not.

Possibly Minitrix's Der Adler boxed train pack.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINITRIX-N-GAUGE-LIMITED-EDITION-DER-ADLER-SET-/131051237714

Der Adler was built in 1835 for the Nürnberg-Fürth railway.

As far as UK steam locos are concerned I suspect the oldest protoypes for N gauge models are:

Royal Hampshire pewter model of Rocket, constructed 1829
Dapol LB&SCR A1 Class Terrier, constructed 1872
Del Prado Highland Duke F Class, constructed 1874
Union Mills Midland Rly Johnson 0-6-0, constructed 1875

Dapol Terrier of 1872 would get my vote, for a tender loco the Union Mills  Ex LSWR 0395 class 0-6--0 of 1881 is probablya runner up after the Midland Johnson 0-6-0. The Dean goods possibly comes 3rd at 1883 (I'm not sure of the chronology of the other UM offerings)

Quote from: Arrachogaidh on October 09, 2015, 09:49:57 AM

Designed and built in 1835 by the British railway pioneers George and Robert Stephenson in the English town of Newcastle.

I think you will find it was built in the British City of Newcastle.

Quote from: scotsoft on October 09, 2015, 11:06:53 AM

Quote from: Arrachogaidh on October 09, 2015, 09:49:57 AM

Designed and built in 1835 by the British railway pioneers George and Robert Stephenson in the English town of Newcastle.

I think you will find it was built in the British City of Newcastle.

Actually, Newcastle didn't become a city until 50 years or so after 1835, and at that time the word English was used to refer to anything from this island.

Quote from: msr on October 09, 2015, 08:22:58 AM
As far as UK steam locos are concerned I suspect the oldest protoypes for N gauge models are:

Royal Hampshire pewter model of Rocket, constructed 1829
Dapol LB&SCR A1 Class Terrier, constructed 1872
Del Prado Highland Duke F Class, constructed 1874
Union Mills Midland Rly Johnson 0-6-0, constructed 1875

Plus a sideways example - Vulcan Foundry 2-4-0T of 1870, exported to Japan around 1880, now preserved in Japan.  And (was?) available from MicroAce in N.   In common with many Japanese models, the scale is adjusted so the track gauge is about right.  The scale of the model is around 1:120 (so oversize compared to 1:148), which works for 3ft6in gauge running on N (9mm) track.   The model is a decent runner, as are most Japanese models.


- Nigel

In US outline there is the 4-4-0 American from 1875.  Pretty much ubiquitous in cowboy and US Civil War films.  http://www.spookshow.net/loco/atlas440.html

Quote from: Nigel Cliffe on October 12, 2015, 03:25:25 PM

Quote from: msr on October 09, 2015, 08:22:58 AM
As far as UK steam locos are concerned I suspect the oldest protoypes for N gauge models are:

Royal Hampshire pewter model of Rocket, constructed 1829
Dapol LB&SCR A1 Class Terrier, constructed 1872
Del Prado Highland Duke F Class, constructed 1874
Union Mills Midland Rly Johnson 0-6-0, constructed 1875

Plus a sideways example - Vulcan Foundry 2-4-0T of 1870, exported to Japan around 1880, now preserved in Japan.  And (was?) available from MicroAce in N.   In common with many Japanese models, the scale is adjusted so the track gauge is about right.  The scale of the model is around 1:120 (so oversize compared to 1:148), which works for 3ft6in gauge running on N (9mm) track.   The model is a decent runner, as are most Japanese models.

Hmm, I must keep a look-out for that one.

However: "In common with many Japanese models" -> "In common with many early Japanese models" would be more correcter.

Quote from: gc4946 on October 09, 2015, 06:54:24 AM
Possibly Minitrix's Der Adler boxed train pack.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINITRIX-N-GAUGE-LIMITED-EDITION-DER-ADLER-SET-/131051237714

Der Adler was built in 1835 for the Nürnberg-Fürth railway.

http://youtu.be/ucAxCSgujew

Cheers  Jon   

The Del Prado version is cheaper!

As has already been pointed out ...