Model Railway Village - partwork magazine 00 gauge

pape_timmo · August 29, 2013, 06:34:27 PM

The issues are fortnightly, so four and a half years to build!!!!

Bought the first issue to have a look, as I have a 7year old grandson, and another on the way, but at that price and timescale I'd rather just go buy a starter set and do it myself.

If it had been N gauge, I may have been tempted.

Cheers, Timmo

pape_timmo · August 29, 2013, 08:12:27 PM

Just seen the ad on tv too, and you don't get the loco or controller...

Defrost not gonna get the series now

Oldman · August 29, 2013, 08:17:17 PM

Quote from: MikeDunn on August 29, 2013, 06:08:00 PM
Next you're in town, check out WHS ...

Plenty in my local one (and I reckon my local town is a similar size to yours).

Tried WHS in Horsham today. May try Dorking tomorrow.

MikeDunn · August 29, 2013, 08:19:08 PM

Quote from: pape_timmo on August 29, 2013, 08:12:27 PM
Just seen the ad on tv too, and you don't get the loco or controller...

Oh, you do ...

Just not free - you buy them as extras ...

Pete Mc · August 29, 2013, 08:22:47 PM

Even my layout will be done by the time the last copy has dropped through someones letterbox and I'm a master in putting stuff off till another day.

It doesn't really put our hobby into a light where people want value for money now does it?

People will no doubt just carry on with their gameplaying online rather than model railways which is sad really.

Pete

Dorsetmike · August 29, 2013, 08:40:41 PM

I can just see Ebay in a while snowed under with the models in much tha same way we get Del Prado rubbish all over the N gauge Locos pages, if you do a search excluding Del Prado and them B****y transfers you reduce the page count by nearly half.

painbrook · August 29, 2013, 08:46:53 PM

Quote from: lionwing on August 29, 2013, 01:29:31 PM
I suppose if there is a positive to this it is that is exposes the hobby to a wider audience who will quickly understand that there is a better and more cost effective way to building a layout.

Or put them off for life. Cheers john.

lionwing · August 29, 2013, 09:08:32 PM

Quote from: painbrook on August 29, 2013, 08:46:53 PM
Quote from: lionwing on August 29, 2013, 01:29:31 PM
I suppose if there is a positive to this it is that is exposes the hobby to a wider audience who will quickly understand that there is a better and more cost effective way to building a layout.
Or put them off for life. Cheers john.

E Pinniger · August 30, 2013, 02:20:45 PM

As others have said, the overall cost represents very poor value (even by the standards of these partwork magazines) and over 4 years seems to be a ridiculously long time to build what amounts to a basic 6x4 trainset oval type layout (albeit one with nice buildings + scenics). A better idea might have been a collaboration with Woodland Scenics who already produce very effective "layout scenery in a box" sets with foam track elevation, hills, etc., which would give a more inspiring end product than a flat baseboard with an oval going around a central village!

However, some of the individual issues might be a worthwhile source of bits for OO modellers. Certainly the starting issue with a Mk1 coach is great value - I picked up a couple of copies as my OO micro-layout (which is stored on a shelf under my N gauge layout when not being run) could do with some Mk1s. Not sure which manufacturer produced the coach (there are no marks on the underside) but it's a pretty decent model, with good moulded detail on the sides and roof, a reasonable representation of flush glazing, and quite fine metal wheels. There are no markings for door markings, stencils etc. but decals for these are easy to get. Pity it's not N gauge or I'd have bought half a dozen!

The next couple of issues (£5.99 each) contain the parts for a plastic kit of a rather GER-looking brick station building which, judging by the photos looks pretty good and could be an excellent model with some weathering and added detail (gutters etc.); not bad for £12 if you're modelling this region. I don't plan to buy it as my layout is LMS/MR and already has a (scratchbuilt) station in any case!

For anyone in the Maidenhead, Berkshire area, WH Smiths has a stack of these issues for sale (near the tills, not with the rest of the magazines)

H · August 30, 2013, 02:44:09 PM

Just to be clear I got the impression from seeing the advert the other night that it is for an OO scale model railway VILLAGE not an OO scale model railway LAYOUT.

Is that right?

H.

MikeDunn · August 30, 2013, 03:35:32 PM

The village is part of the layout ... draw your own conclusions !

steambay · August 30, 2013, 07:36:27 PM

They "drag it out" for far too long and the value is highly debatable, but as one poster says it may be a way of introducing new hobbyists and the old saying no publicity is bad...

Newportnobby · August 30, 2013, 09:50:56 PM

Quote from: H on August 30, 2013, 02:44:09 PM
Just to be clear I got the impression from seeing the advert the other night that it is for an OO scale model railway VILLAGE not an OO scale model railway LAYOUT.

Is that right?

H.

I believe it's the model railway layout. Did they not show the first issue as having a piece of track and a coach

H · August 31, 2013, 06:49:58 AM

Quote from: newportnobby on August 30, 2013, 09:50:56 PM

I believe it's the model railway layout. Did they not show the first issue as having a piece of track and a coach

Track and a coach is mentioned but somehow I doubt that they are going to include the most basic and fundamental part of a model railway layout - a decent, firm baseboard (the starting point). Nor, I doubt, any locomotives and controllers. It probably gives 'part works' a whole new meaning. But it's got them frothing on other Orribly Oversized enthusiast forums.

H.

steambay · August 31, 2013, 10:30:37 AM

Absolutely right regarding baseboard

But I think they must include a controller at some stage surely