Does anyone here do HOe?

Ancient Hermit · July 19, 2015, 07:34:00 PM

Hi all,

Was just wondering, as it's 9mm between the rails as I understand it.

It's not easy to search for on here as HOe is just 3 letters! At least I've not found much so far?

Can much be done with it?

I'd imagine that with larger scale bodies and N gauge track then there would be quite e bit of scope for making one's own designs given a useful donor chassis is to hand.

pontybermo · July 19, 2015, 07:49:31 PM

I have dabbled in the past. It's the European equivalent of 009.

009 uses 9mm gauge track to represent lines of 2'3" gauge or thereabouts in 00 scale so you can run 009 alongside 00 with no problems.

HOe is the European equivalent but to 3.5mm scale representing gauge of 2'6" or thereabouts. Both are compatible and HOe models don't look too stupid alongside British outline models. Some of the Lilliput stuff could be used to model the Welshpool & Llanfair.

If you're thinking about it I recommend looking at the 009 society website. They have pictures and links to model in both scales.

Just to add more confusion, the Americans use the same scale and gauge as HOe but call it HOn30. That's HO scale, n for narrow gauge and 30 for 30 inches-again 2' 6".

Hope that helps.

pontybermo · July 19, 2015, 07:55:43 PM

For more HOe Google Egger-Bhan or Eggerbahn for some fun models from the past that can still be picked up on eBay.

For some 009 inspiration, go to http://www.buccabury.co.uk/ltr/ - this was a great inspiration to me when I was building my 009 layout.

Bealman · July 19, 2015, 11:49:20 PM

Yes, definitely check out the 009 Society site and you may also want to Google the Craigcorrie and Macalistair Railway by Dutchman Ted Polet, which is a superb piece of work.

I also dabbled in the scale back in the 1970s, building a 3' x 2' rabbit warren layout, which were all the rage back then.
[smg id=23110 type=preview align=center width=400]
[smg id=4569 type=preview align=center width=400]
And don't forget, of course, the pioneering work of the late P.D. Hancock with his Craig and Mertonford Railway, much of which happily is still in existence (see RM mag April 2015 and book reviews on this forum). It is worth looking at his work from a historical viewpoint alone.

jonclox · July 20, 2015, 11:09:27 AM

I actually use 00-9, HOe points a fair amount on my layout if I cant find anything suitable in N standard gauge.
To keep the grandchildren (and me

) amused I`m running a few 00-9 locos on my Ruleoneshire layout.
The loco/ wagon/ coach bodies are nearly 00 gauge and appear to be running on narrow gauge tracks

Bealman · July 20, 2015, 01:01:34 PM

Peco and Railway Modeller magazine (both the same, after all) are currently pushing a 009 Renaissance with some really great looking products.

Very tempting!

Bealman · July 20, 2015, 01:30:24 PM

That does indeed look very compact and it seems to be quality unit, but maybe a bit on the tubby side (widthwise) for N?

Newportnobby · July 20, 2015, 01:50:19 PM

Quote from: Bealman on July 20, 2015, 01:01:34 PM
Peco and Railway Modeller magazine (both the same, after all) are currently pushing a 009 Renaissance with some really great looking products.

Very tempting!

Think you'd have to have pots of dosh to afford the latest Peco offerings e.g. about £37 or so for a coach and I've heard tales of the paint rubbing off very easily.

Ancient Hermit · July 20, 2015, 11:31:41 PM

One and all,

I have learned a whole bunch of interesting stuff thanks to you lot!

Some fantastic links there too.

I'll be storing all that info for future use, some serious diamonds in there!

I had some slightly wacky ideas of my own involving cut and shut jobs on OO UK Diesel loco bodies, and Kato tram chassis, but I shall not sully the forum with those, as I'm sure a lot of you would simply wince at the very mention of them, and quite rightly too in all probability! However I like to try stuff sometimes, and if it's not been done before, then that seems to get my thoughts running in odd directions like that!

It's nice that this place is N Gauge, and not 150/160 only, as the forum is the best I have seen, and it is nice to see 9mm between the rails being the really big thing above all else. That and rule one makes it as good as it gets in my book!

Ancient Hermit · July 21, 2015, 07:53:47 PM

Hi all,

I just discovered Minitrains BrigadeLok today, now that one got my attention.

I'd never have found it (and some others) if some of the terms used for naming these scales hadn't been revealed in this thread. I had no idea of the proper terms to search for in previous efforts.

I'm also a bit struck with the rabbit warren type layouts too, unusual and rather interesting style that one.

Bealman · July 22, 2015, 12:25:43 AM

My rabbit warren was inspired by the Railway of the Month for November 75 (I think) RM called Averbinear Bayfore (named after a traveler on the line, who, after his umpteenth circuit, exclaimed : "Have I been here before?"

Don't forget that you can also put a narrow gauge feeder onto an N gauge layout using Z gauge track and mechanisms! If I recall, Peco used to do some kits, but I don't know if they still do.

pontybermo · July 23, 2015, 02:56:21 AM

The Minitrrains BrigadeLok looks great. I'm very tempted by their American outline stuff. They now do a Forney I believe.

Also, don't forget Bachmann have got a WW1 Baldwin coming out this year along with some wagons to go with it.

Ancient Hermit · July 23, 2015, 08:52:18 AM

I spent a couple of days looking into this Minitrains business, and quite easily came up with fairly simple design to run on.

It was possible to use Peco or Roco track; sadly the Roco stuff was subject to an unattractive pricing model in my view. So, I researched the Peco further, and the horror story which met my eyes about the live frog and how to work with them put me off, because I am not clever enough to use such a design in reality. Bear in mind I presently use Kato and am used to a very different price/performance/hassle experience.

My only hope might be that the Minitrains BrigadeLok could cope with the smaller radius curves in Kato (not smaller than 150mm, but that's pretty small already of course), and then I could design a layout with enough interest in it for me to go for that. I suspect the loco might struggle being 0-8-0 as far as I can tell, oddly the wheels are not to be clearly seen in all the photos I could find, and the wheels lurked behind the outside frames more or less the whole time.

I'd live with the sleeper sizing if I had to, but it would have been a compromise at best.

Using Kato small radius would then allow me use a 60" x 18" board and that would fit my home really quite nicely, I could maybe trade off to 60" x 24" for the Peco, but the technical thing appears a major problem which I'd be quite unlikely to have enough experience to solve.

So with a slightly heavy heart it looks like it's back to planning for the Kato Alpine stuff for me. I did like the increased scale of 009/HOe as (for my ageing/failing hands and eyesight) it was rather appealing. I have to say the prospect of the Alpine is still appealing though, albeit a bit of a size challenge in terms of manual dexterity and vision by comparison, that and modest home size seem to be totally at odds with each other for me! I will find a way eventually.

Bealman · July 23, 2015, 09:03:31 AM

The live frog thing of Peco 009 points is not really difficult, , and while strictly speaking, 009 ain't N, there are plenty folk here who could help. Having played with 009, I know I'd be happy to help!

Ancient Hermit · July 23, 2015, 09:50:27 AM

Quote from: Bealman on July 23, 2015, 09:03:31 AM
The live frog thing of Peco 009 points is not really difficult, , and while strictly speaking, 009 ain't N, there are plenty folk here who could help. Having played with 009, I know I'd be happy to help!

That's a really kind offer indeed. I'd not want to stretch the forum too far off it's mission, I do know we are told it's called N Gauge because the N stands for Nine and that's how many millimetres there are between the rails, however I am sure some would not be overly impressed if we went there.

(edit) I'm not sure 009/HOe actually has a home forum, or at least any place it does truly belong. It's a shame really. I think there are so many inventive people here and with a good fun and friendly atmosphere that it would be nice, but accept that it's not very likely to be here either.(edit over)