Inherited N gauge stock - the way forward?

[railsquid]

Can I offer an alternative view......if you have a great new space in your loft or garage to design and build a new layout with nice new code 55 ballasted track why not sell these antiquity's and invest the cash in some brand new DCC ready current models....I understand the fun that can be had bringing back these old locos from the grave but why spend hour upon hour resurrecting these relics when that time could be spent designing your lovely new layout !!!...I await the torrent of horror from my fellow NGF members at the mere suggestion of going "new" !!!

glances at my stash of semi-defunct Lima, Poole Farish and heaven help us Piko locomotives
Indeed, unless you enjoy messing around with locos, or they have some sentimental value, no point in keeping them around. Though it's nice to have an old Lima at hand whenver you get frustrated by the new stuff to remind you how much things have progressed.

[railsquid]

Will come in handy if the attic is infested with vampires

[Bealman]

Can I offer an alternative view......if you have a great new space in your loft or garage to design and build a new layout with nice new code 55 ballasted track why not sell these antiquity's and invest the cash in some brand new DCC ready current models....I understand the fun that can be had bringing back these old locos from the grave but why spend hour upon hour resurrecting these relics when that time could be spent designing your lovely new layout !!!...I await the torrent of horror from my fellow NGF members at the mere suggestion of going "new" !!!

There is a certain amount of sense to this, and it appeals to the efficient scientific part of me brain.

However, the other side of me says that I don't like throwing stuff out as per our 'throw away' society. Remember when folks used to darn socks?

I think that Nemo's photo of his excellently weathered and detailed 9F says it all.

Sure the wheels are too little, 'cos it's from a German prototype, and the flanges are huge, as they were in that vintage, but heck, from normal viewing distance on the move, not a big deal.

I think that there is a case for bringing these old locomotives back to working life, even if for historical reasons.... sorta like restoring old valve radios (which, by the way, is quite lucrative). 

George

[NeMo]

I think that Nemo's photo of his excellently weathered and detailed 9F says it all.

Sure the wheels are too little, 'cos it's from a German prototype, and the flanges are huge, as they were in that vintage, but heck, from normal viewing distance on the move, not a big deal.

Just to be clear: it's Elvinley's 9F, weathered by Grimy Times. Not mine!

On the other hand, Bealman's point is, I think, worth thinking about. Plus, the Minitrix 9F will have absolutely no problems hauling the sort of load the real 9Fs could move; the same cannot, unfortunately, be said about the Dapol 9F. Look like 9Fs; haul like Terriers.

Cheers, NeMo

[railsquid]

Can I offer an alternative view......if you have a great new space in your loft or garage to design and build a new layout with nice new code 55 ballasted track why not sell these antiquity's and invest the cash in some brand new DCC ready current models....I understand the fun that can be had bringing back these old locos from the grave but why spend hour upon hour resurrecting these relics when that time could be spent designing your lovely new layout !!!...I await the torrent of horror from my fellow NGF members at the mere suggestion of going "new" !!!

There is a certain amount of sense to this, and it appeals to the efficient scientific part of me brain.

However, the other side of me says that I don't like throwing stuff out as per our 'throw away' society. Remember when folks used to darn socks?

I think that Nemo's photo of his excellently weathered and detailed 9F says it all.

Sure the wheels are too little, 'cos it's from a German prototype, and the flanges are huge, as they were in that vintage, but heck, from normal viewing distance on the move, not a big deal.

I think that there is a case for bringing these old locomotives back to working life, even if for historical reasons.... sorta like restoring old valve radios (which, by the way, is quite lucrative). 

I don't think anyone's suggesting throwing them away  Even Lima locos can go for 20 or 30 quid on eBay. Don't ask me how I know...

[Bealman]

I think that Nemo's photo of his excellently weathered and detailed 9F says it all.

Sure the wheels are too little, 'cos it's from a German prototype, and the flanges are huge, as they were in that vintage, but heck, from normal viewing distance on the move, not a big deal.

Just to be clear: it's Elvinley's 9F, weathered by Grimy Times. Not mine!

On the other hand, Bealman's point is, I think, worth thinking about. Plus, the Minitrix 9F will have absolutely no problems hauling the sort of load the real 9Fs could move; the same cannot, unfortunately, be said about the Dapol 9F. Look like 9Fs; haul like Terriers.

Cheers, NeMo

Ooops! Apologies to Elvinley! 

[Bealman]

And in further response to Nemo's post....

I have no experience with Dapol 9Fs, but have heard similar complaints. The real deal used to haul coal out of Tyne Dock to Consett.

You certainly don't want a Terrier!

[MikeDunn]

I have no experience with Dapol 9Fs, but have heard similar complaints. The real deal used to haul coal out of Tyne Dock to Consett.

Modified 9Fs did, yes - are the Dapol ones suitably modified with Westinghouse gear   If not - you shouldn't use them on a replica of this service (not that you can get the correct wagons in this gauge anyway, AFAIK)

[gorebridge2001]

I'm with those suggesting selling and buying new. There is still a lot of demand for older locos running on DC, and I'm sure they will all fetch a fair bit of money. I did the same, when I decided to change to DCC, and have never regretted it.

[davidinyork]

Can I offer an alternative view......if you have a great new space in your loft or garage to design and build a new layout with nice new code 55 ballasted track why not sell these antiquity's and invest the cash in some brand new DCC ready current models....I understand the fun that can be had bringing back these old locos from the grave but why spend hour upon hour resurrecting these relics when that time could be spent designing your lovely new layout !!!...I await the torrent of horror from my fellow NGF members at the mere suggestion of going "new" !!!

Actually Sparky, I for one agree with you. I would maybe try to make the locos runners again to be able to sell them as such, but some like the Lima diesels are really not (IMHO) worth investing too much time on.

Indeed I will shortly be having a cull on some of my older stuff and investing the proceeds in (hopefully) one or two more sound locos. The game has moved on from the 70s when I started modelling in N and with the possible exception of the legendary Peco Jubilee not much can hold a candle to today's models.

Roy

Yes, don't disagree. For those of us interested primarily in diesels, most of the classes have now been done relatively recently to a much higher standard than the old models. The only ones left which I can think of are 40s and 50s (both of which are in development by Farish and Dapol respectively) and the Peaks - but with Farish doing the 40s it seems likely that the Peaks will follow as the chassis is nearly the same, and actually the current Peaks are quite good - they were one of the last pre-DCC Farish new models and the bodyshell is fairly accurate although they don't have lights or DCC sockets, and the bogies are a bit wide.

[BramptonBranch]

Regarding the Lima models, I'm aware the Deltic was huge as I believe the shunter was, but scale wise what about the rest? particularly the "clayton class 17" Obviously not a 17 but any use scale wise?
Most interested in the class 85/86 in as much as how much was it to long/short/wide?

Cheers!!
Andy

[railsquid]

The "class 17" is a German V100, and seems to be more-or-less to scale (at 1:160).

The 86 (no 85, and the 86 was erroneously labelled in at least one catalogue as class 81) is about 10% too short and 5% too wide. The 31 has the same chassis dimensions as the 86, which makes me think Lima were somehow using common parts to save money. I've collated a bunch of information on the 86 here.

[NeMo]

Even though it isn't a great model (and bear in mind the lovely Dapol 86 can be picked up for as little as £50) I still think the Lima 86 oozes character.

Obviously it could stand some improvement if you wanted to. The most jarring flaw in my opinion is the deeply recessed glazing at each end, which would be easily fixed by removing the plastic windows and replacing with, for example, Glue'n'Glaze. While you've got the plastic windows out, a respray into BR blue would be easy to do and worthwhile, then some subtle weathering to add some detail. Renumbering would be easy as well. I suppose you could even replace the pantograph using the Dapol equivalent, but that'd cost you an extra £6!

Cheers, NeMo

The 86 (no 85, and the 86 was erroneously labelled in at least one catalogue as class 81) is about 10% too short and 5% too wide. The 31 has the same chassis dimensions as the 86, which makes me think Lima were somehow using common parts to save money. I've collated a bunch of information on the 86 here.

[railsquid]

Even though it isn't a great model (and bear in mind the lovely Dapol 86 can be picked up for as little as £50) I still think the Lima 86 oozes character.

Oooh, I fully agree with you on that.