who will take on the class 50 now?

[NeMo]

This just adds to my frustration with N gauge these days.  The lack of a 4-TC to go with Dapols 33/1 is another pet annoyance of mine...

Understood, but just how difficult would a 4TC set be to build? I mean, they're basically four Mk1 coaches with cabs at each end. I'm sure there are underframe differences compared with Mk1 coaches, and stuff with windows, doors and rivets to keep you amused, but nothing terribly complicated if you're happy with a broad approximation. I know for sure that Electra Graphics vinyls exist if painting isn't your thing.

At some point, as railway modellers we do have to accept that some of the things we want aren't ready to run and will need to be kit-built, bodged from something that does exist -- or, heaven forfend -- scratch-built!

Cheers, NeMo

[dodger]

As 4TC's were converted from Mk1 stock the conversion is fairly simple. Basically 2 TSO's, 1 BSK and 1 FK are required. All vehicles will require underframe modifications and some work to the coach body ends is necessary. The most difficult part would be the driving cab and first compartment alterations on the TSO. A case for a 3D portion to be attached to a shortened body?.

Dodger

[25901JFM]

  I shouldn't have mentioned the 4-TC as it is off topic!  I appreciate your comments NeMo and dodger, however I have neither the skills or patience to make a good job of a conversion of the Farish Mark 1's especially given the work required for the driving cab ends.  I would however be prepared to pay for a good quality conversion, the livery aspect would not be too difficult as I favour blue & grey to go with my Dapol BR Blue 33/1.  Everyone is different, I am not a kit builder or scratch builder. I prefer to buy r-t-r models or professionally built and painted loco's & rolling stock.  I have every respect and envy for those that have the ability to build or convert r-t-r stock.

I'm just surprised at some of the models that do get produced compared to some of those that are not.  Personally I just fail to see how a new tooled r-t-r 50 would not sell, when you bear in mind some of the quite low production runs of newer models and the silly money that some then sell for on that auction website when the retailers sell out.  I for one would be prepared to buy more than one if they ever make it to production as I do like the 50's.
However I'm just one of the lurkers on here rather than a regular contributor so I shall retire to the wings now...  Thanks for listening.

[NeMo]

Everyone is different, I am not a kit builder or scratch builder. I prefer to buy r-t-r models or professionally built and painted loco's & rolling stock.  I have every respect and envy for those that have the ability to build or convert r-t-r stock.

This was me two or three years back. But honestly, wagon kits from the NGS or Parkside Dundas are not difficult to put together, and once you've done a few, you'll feel your ambition growing! Before you know it you'll be respraying loco bodies and slapping vinyls onto old Mk1 coaches to make up trains you'd like but can't buy.

If you're not a member already, please do look at some NGS Journals. One of the big changes the current editor has made is getting more "how to" articles printed, and using them to encourage (some might say "badger") modellers to try such projects themselves.

The Electra Graphics vinyls are cheap and easy to use, and old Mk1s can be picked up for a few quid each at any train show. The cab end is a bit more difficult, I grant you, but it's basically yellow with a few spots of paint for lights and cables. But still, nothing incredibly hard. Even if the resulting model wasn't perfect, it'd be a "pocket money" project, and once running with a Class 33 or 73 at one end, you'd have something unique to your layout that basically looks the part.

Cheers, NeMo

[Newportnobby]

If you're not a member already, please do look at some NGS Journals.

25901JFM is a member of the NGS as shown under his forum name.

One of the big changes the current editor has made is getting more "how to" articles printed, and using them to encourage (some might say "badger") modellers to try such projects themselves.

Some would say 'threatens to send the boys round' rather than just badger

[25901JFM]

If you're not a member already, please do look at some NGS Journals. One of the big changes the current editor has made is getting more "how to" articles printed, and using them to encourage (some might say "badger") modellers to try such projects themselves.
Cheers, NeMo

Yes I am a member of the NGS.  I feel the  journal has improved a lot since the change of editor.  Having said that I'm not a kit builder I do have 3 NGS Turbot wagons, which went together quite well although fitting the buffers caused a few expletives!  Painting is another skill that I also lack and the Turbots remain unpainted at present...  The older I get (the half century this year) the less adventuresome I am becoming!
John

[DELETED]

This was me two or three years back. But honestly, wagon kits from the NGS or Parkside Dundas are not difficult to put together, and once you've done a few, you'll feel your ambition growing! Before you know it you'll be respraying loco bodies and slapping vinyls onto old Mk1 coaches to make up trains you'd like but can't buy.

Oh, flip me not that I'm adverse to assembling such a small kit.  Parkside Dundas kits have had parts so small and I just cant assemble two chassis sides parallel enough to run straight for the love of trying and they've all gone in the bin, I cried when I bought a Peco kit earlier this year and it has separate running gear (side to side) to assemble .  NGS does not advertise itself well.  Used to be a member but I could not work out what was what -"kit" or "semi-kit", it's all a bit daunting unless your familiar with NGS stuff.

Rich

[violets49]

Class50 was never on my menu anyway If I did purchase one, it would be the early 'D400' period when I remember them operating on the WCML just prior to electrification. They were not the worlds most inspiring locomotives and had a terrible reputation for reliability. Certainly pre refurbishing.

[Ben A]

NGS does not advertise itself well.  Used to be a member but I could not work out what was what -"kit" or "semi-kit", it's all a bit daunting unless your familiar with NGS stuff.

Rich

Hello Rich,

I am sorry you feel that the NGS does not advertise itself well.  We do advertise in most of the magazines each month, but I accept the ads are, for cost reasons, kept fairly small.

I am not sure what you mean by "semi-kits" - we offer either kits or RTR.  We do grade the kits and those that are easier for beginners tend to be shown as such.

As for painting, I would recommend Halford's car aerosol paints as a good start.   Their grey primer is almost impossible to get wrong, provided you remember a couple of simple points:

1). Mount the model on something to make it easier to hold
2). Start the spray off the model, pass over smoothly in a single motion, then release the spray button off the model again.  This will avoid the dreaded "pooling" though Halford's primer paint is very forgiving of this.
3). Several light passes is better than one heavy one.

Once you've painted it grey you can either gently brush paint the top coat, or find suitable Halford's top coat matches for whatever you want.  There are some that are very similar to BR loco green or maroon.

Cheers

Ben A.

[NeMo]

Oh, flip me not that I'm adverse to assembling such a small kit.  Parkside Dundas kits have had parts so small and I just cant assemble two chassis sides parallel enough to run straight for the love of trying and they've all gone in the bin, I cried when I bought a Peco kit earlier this year and it has separate running gear (side to side) to assemble .  NGS does not advertise itself well.  Used to be a member but I could not work out what was what -"kit" or "semi-kit", it's all a bit daunting unless your familiar with NGS stuff.

I think you're selling yourself short here! I've seen pictures of your Alltan Street layout there's plenty of skilful work there.

The Peco chassis is pretty simple. Slide in the wheels, plop in the couplings and you're done. Using a bit of matt black or grime grey before assembly to tone down the plastic works a treat.

Once you've made the chassis, there are all sorts of kits that use these chassis, including almost trivially easy whitemetal bolster wagon kits from P&D Marsh that are literally flat plate-like structures you glue on top of the Peco chassis! Several of the NGS kits use the Peco chassis too, including some useful hoppers and vans.

The Parkside Dundas chassis suffers a bit from the fact the supplied kit doesn't match the instructions in one important respect -- twice as many buffer beams supplied as you need! Not sure why, but a bit of common sense when looking at the kit in front of you will help. Really, the biggest challenge is that the plastic doesn't take to ordinary plastic solvent adhesives, but some poundstore superglue will do the trick nicely.

All sorts of wagon bodies available for these chassis; obviously some of their own, but also various NGS kits.

If you look on the NGS website, several are described as 'easy' and these are the ones for beginners. If you look at the sample instructions for the SR shock van, you can see the kit parts supplied, and this kit is a very rewarding one for beginners. Vans of this type were common on the railways well into the BR blue era, and the kit itself is easy to paint and weather. Transfers are supplied, I believe.

http://newweb.ngaugesociety.com/?page_id=53

I don't want to harp on about this, but the bottom line is that not everything you want will be made ready to run, and if you're willing to start with basic kits like many of those made by the NGS, you'll quickly become more confident in your modelling abilities. As I've said, it's not like you *can't* model; your craftsmanship is evident on what I can see on this forum.

Cheers, NeMo

[johnlambert]

Oh, flip me not that I'm adverse to assembling such a small kit.  Parkside Dundas kits have had parts so small and I just cant assemble two chassis sides parallel enough to run straight for the love of trying and they've all gone in the bin, I cried when I bought a Peco kit earlier this year and it has separate running gear (side to side) to assemble .  NGS does not advertise itself well.  Used to be a member but I could not work out what was what -"kit" or "semi-kit", it's all a bit daunting unless your familiar with NGS stuff.

The Peco chassis is pretty simple. Slide in the wheels, plop in the couplings and you're done. Using a bit of matt black or grime grey before assembly to tone down the plastic works a treat.

Most Peco wagon kits are like that but I did find one kit for a five-plank wagon where the chassis came in four parts (two buffer beams and two solebars).  I think I made sure I had a flat surface and a right-angle 'V' block to ensure it went together correctly.  The components were also fairly well designed to sit squarely together.

I've got a pack of NGS kits for a GWR low-loader wagon that I've not yet opened so I don't know how they compare for ease of assembly.

[Chris Morris]

We are completely off topic but I think the NGS does well for publicity. I was certainly aware of it before I started out in N gauge and found out about the products as soon as I looked at the web site. NGS has stands at a number of exhibitions, all manned by volunteers. Also this forum gives NGS the odd mention...

I haven't tried any NGS kits yet as there is nothing I want in the range. IMHO N gauge isn't the most enjoyable scale for modelling. I have built 20 of the Peco 5 plank wagons and a smaller number of vans. I can confirm they are very easy to put together. They are a great way to make long inexpensive trains. My Peco 5 planks were used to make a clay train. It is probably my favourite N gauge train in my collection because I did build it myself rather than just buy it.

Roaming further off topic, here are some of the Peco 5 plank wagons (running on the wrong railway). Perhaps surprisingly these would be suitable for a class 50 to pull if I had one. Although the more well known clay hood was introduced in the early 1970s the flat version remained in use well into the 1980s (they hung around longer than the hoods I think).

[violets49]

NGS kits are no more difficult to assemble than any other kit. Certainly there are degrees of difficulty for individual kits. the Grainflow hopper is a little more complex than the earlier kits but with care and rudimentary modelling skills it is achievable. Please, what ia a 'semi kit'? I am thinking a kit for an American articulated lorry? I am beginning to think that everybody wants to open the box and find a finished model these days. Sad! 

[Chris Morris]

I do like to run correct stock for a period/location. The expected new class 50 had me thinking of moving my layout forward from early/mid 1960s to late 1970s. This would bring in 50s and HSTs.
Now, however, with a decent class 50 kicked into touch, a Castle almost imminent and a King in realistic prospect I'm thinking of moving back towards the late 1950sinstead. Most of my rolling stock will fit nicely into period - just need a rake of Hakesworth crimson and creams.

[PaulCheffus]

Everyone is different, I am not a kit builder or scratch builder. I prefer to buy r-t-r models or professionally built and painted loco's & rolling stock.  I have every respect and envy for those that have the ability to build or convert r-t-r stock.

Hi

None of us are born with the skills they are learnt by having a go. You might actually surprise yourself by what you are actually capable of. The secret is to pick something simple to start with and work up from there.

Cheers

Paul