track used on magnum layout

[portland-docks]

can anyone possibly tell me what track is required for the individual magnum layouts of days gone?

just seeing as i cant get the original track mats, i thought if i had the right track i could remake them and put my own buildings on etc. the plan is to use the main board as a portable test layout, with the option of adding on the other 2 if i go to the club etc.

please and thanks

paul

[EtchedPixels]

can anyone possibly tell me what track is required for the individual magnum layouts of days gone?

Later ones used Peco. If I am right then its Peco plan #15 for the later one.


http://www.osbornsmodels.com/st-pl15-peco-complete-track-package-for-peco-setrack-plan-15-3548-p.asp

[Paddy]

Actually saw a Magnum II layout under construction at the Graham Farish factory in Poole.  The plan used PECO Setrack although the plain track on the one I saw used flexi-track.

It is a fantastic layout in my opinion and sad that it is no longer available to buy.  The plan on the Osborn web site would seem to be similar to the Magnum II but is not an exact copy.

Hope this helps.

Paddy

[ThePurplePrimer]

Can I ask what a Magnum layout is please ?

[Geoff]

Can I ask what a Magnum layout is please ?

Take a look at this.

http://www.ness-st.co.uk/pdf/Graham_Farish_1999.pdf

[ThePurplePrimer]

Thanks

That's actually rather cool

[Paddy]

Hi Folks,

Oops, my mistake.  I thought the second Graham Farish layout was number "II" but in fact it was just called Magnum.

You can view the first layout board here... (simply called Scenecraft Layout Plan and Stand)

http://www.ness-st.co.uk/pdf/Graham%20Farish%20Catalogue%201983%20and%201985.pdf

Mind you, it would seem they renamed this layout to "Magnum" in the 1987 catalogue...

http://www.ness-st.co.uk/pdf/Graham%20Farish%20Catalogue%201987.pdf

The revised Magnum layout plan can be viewed here...

http://www.ness-st.co.uk/pdf/Graham%20Farish%20Catalogue%201994.pdf

In my opinion this is the best version and has a real charm when complete.

Given the ever rising costs of resin buildings I wonder if there is a good case for reintroducing an enhanced version of Graham Farish building kits.  The combination of plastic blocks and printed sheets can work very well in N gauge.

Sorry for any confusion.

Kind regards

Paddy

[taz]

Hi all, I realise this is an old thread, but was doing a search here for the Graham Farish Magnum Layouts to see if anyone else had built one,to get some help as I am just about to start building a Magnum II layout. Has taken me the last 3 or so years collecting the buildings and finally managed to find the layout plan as well. I will document the building as I go along under the layout construction section.
I also sent some scans of the brochure for the Magnum sets and the track layout  to Ness Street.

http://www.ness-st.co.uk/pdf/Graham%20Farish%20Magnum%20Catalogue%201999.pdf

http://www.ness-st.co.uk/pdf/Graham%20Farish%20Magnum%20Layout%20Plan%209702%20September1995.pdf

Anyway will try and get this layout finished as I always  seem to give up halfway through, as it doesn't match what I see in my minds eye or in the magazines and think it's no good. Still time will tell!

[Skyline2uk]

Thanks for resurrecting this thread as I had not found it and reading through it has taken me right back!

I had the Farish Catalogue from 1994 and started with the class 56 size 3 set 

A few of the items in that catalogue and the subsequent ones are still in my collection.

Interesting to see the pages about cutting and shutting the layout plans, didn't know they were designed to do that!

Would love to see a "Magnum" build 

The only time I saw a completed one in person was at the Manchester science museum 

Skyline2uk

[jamspy]

I've just found this thread whilst researching the Magnums - because I've got a MkII and a Mk III that have been stored for a while and I've only just built a shed big enough to put them side by side - a 12ft run!
Yes, they were designed to be linked together.
The Mk II was stripped of buildings when I got it , but has all sorts of stuff - grass mat, sheet cobbles etc - covering parts of the original layout plan. I've collected most of the buildings to re-populate it as per the pictures in the catalogues.
The Mk III seems in almost original condition with all buildings intact - although not too well put together.
It has obviously been exposed to the sun as the paper covering to the buildings has faded; it would look good as a moonlit scene!
Thanks to Taz I now have the trackplan for the Mk II, but I have nothing like it for the Mk III. There are SIX sets of connections but even connecting each in turn and looking for live sectors hasn't solved the puzzle yet.
Has anyone else got a Magnum III?
I've only just joined, but will try to work out how to post photographs soon.

jamspy

[taz]

Hi Jamspy, I don't have the full track plan of the magnum III, just the brochure of the Magnum's II & III this is the link.http://www.ness-st.co.uk/pdf/Graham%20Farish%20Magnum%20Catalogue%201999.pdf

As far as I can tell the idea with the layout planer is to cut them out and try different combinations. Of course it does not help with connections or wiring, but if the Magnum II is anything to go by it's all ST.12, ST.3, ST.11 and ST.1's for the track and ST.5 & 6 for points. Mine is still a work in progress (i.e. it has progressed to a storage box at present!)
I have been dabbling with (looks around furtively and whispers...Tri-ang Hornby )
I'll get my coat....

[Railwaygun]

the plan leaflet suggests use Setrack and all will be well - you could try KAto as an alternative? ( with  isolating #4 points)

also here is some advice

http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=6236.0

there was an instruction leaflet with the sets - try a post in wanted (for the magnum instructions)?

there was a review in NGS magazine:

1998 Product Review: Graham Farish - Magnum Layout Plan. 5 19

someone may have a copy??

* a Google images search on "farish magnum  leaflet" produces some layout pictures which may be useful. It looks like a Setrack special!

[Kaian]

Looking at the brochures from 20+ years ago, it is interesting to see they sold the chassis separately if you wanted it, I find it a little ironic that today we can 3D print but cannot get the chassis to run on without taking apart another model.

What is it about the Magnum layout(s) that are attracting people to make them?
Genuinely curious, is it something seen when younger and you want to make it? Or a challenge to reproduce something someone else has made before?

[broadsword]

The examples in the brochures were very attractive, I think the appeal was/is that an oval
with one or two sidings etc becomes much more with all the buildings, factories etc.

[Newportnobby]

It appears in my Farish 1983 and 1987 catalogues. I'm not sure where Farish sourced their track at the time but I don't think it was Peco. It built a basic set track layout on a square metal tubular frame and used those plastic brick buildings with glued on cardboard sides/rooves. I don't believe it was called the Magnum in 1983 but the same thing appears as the Magnum in the 1987 catalogue.