Modelling Hornby Dublo in British N Gauge

[Paddy]

Hi Folks,

Despite being born after the death of Hornby Dublo, I have always had a great affection for Mecanno's table top railway.  The original locomotives released by Graham Farish in Poole were very similar with their die-cast bodies and so on.  As I mentioned in another post, I thought it would be interesting to see how close you can get to the Hornby Dublo range in British N gauge.  So with my trust copy of Michael Foster's book Hornby Dublo Trains the journey begins...

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Many thanks

Paddy
Dream | Believe | Achieve

[BobB]

Always good to have another N gauge modeller but I wonder why you don't use OO. Surely it would be closer to Hornby Dublin ?

[Paddy]

Hi Bob ( @BobB )

Always been an N gauge modeller and I am not thinking of changing scales.  I just love the nostalgia of the Hornby Dublo age.  I thought it would be interesting to see how much of that magic can be recreated in N gauge.

Kind regards

Paddy

[Train Waiting]

Great idea, Paddy!

If you fancy including Wrenn as well, you can have an original 'WC'/'BB', 'Royal Scot' and the 'Brighton Belle'.

Wrenn also announced, but did not introduce, a '45xx' and an Adams 'Radial'.

Hornby Dublo was, I understand, working on a 'V2'.

I think this is a splendid project and will be following with interest.

Best wishes.

John

[ntpntpntp]

I like the old HD stuff. Don't have much of it (a Silver King and an oval of 3-rail) but it appeals to the collector side of my interests.  As a lad I was jealous of my mate's heavy Wrenn locos on his Triang layout.

Ibertren's original N gauge system was 3-rail, but the track is stud-contact rather than a solid rail so looks more like old Marklin stuff than HD.

I reckon to represent HD track you could use one of the pre-ballasted systems such as Unitrack or Fleischmann, add a 3rd rail using FineTrax's code 40 flat bottom rail so that it sits below running rail height.  I used some code 40 for additional check/guide rails across a bridge.

[ntpntpntp]

I wonder if any of the old Lonestar metal buildings would evoke the same look as HD buildings?   

[Gizzy]

I wonder if any of the old Lonestar metal buildings would evoke the same look as HD buildings?

I reckon you are right Nick!

I had a Lone Star Island platform that was a half sized version of the HD one.

I have recently seen some of the old Lonestar in Antique Shops

Mizzy Gizzy has some HD platforms which we will use on our 60's Tri-Ang layout....

[Paddy]

Hi Folks,

Here is the first slide detailing the Hornby Dublo GNR N2 Class Tank.



Next will be the LNER A4 Class Pacific 4-6-2.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Many thanks

Paddy
Dream | Believe | Achieve

[Paddy]

Hi Folks,

Slide detailing the Hornby Dublo LNER A4 Class Pacific 4-6-2.



Next will be the LMSR Coronation Class Pacific 4-6-2.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Many thanks

Paddy
Dream | Believe | Achieve

[Paddy]

Hi John ( @Train Waiting )

Great idea, Paddy!

Seems like a good use of my time given the current circumstances.  Plus I felt like a break from modelling - the crane took a lot out of me! 

If you fancy including Wrenn as well, you can have an original 'WC'/'BB', 'Royal Scot' and the 'Brighton Belle'.
Wrenn also announced, but did not introduce, a '45xx' and an Adams 'Radial'.

I had forgotten about Wrenn but will add it to the list along with Tri-ang OO and TT.

Hornby Dublo was, I understand, working on a 'V2'.

It is a while since I read Michael's Dublo book but if memory serves there is a chapter on "proposed but not released models".

Kind regards

Paddy

[Paddy]

I wonder if any of the old Lonestar metal buildings would evoke the same look as HD buildings?

Lone*Star did release a signal box which looked very similar to the Horby Dublo one.  I have no idea of its scale relative to modern day N gauge though.

Kind regards

Paddy

[ntpntpntp]

I had a Lone Star Island platform that was a half sized version of the HD one.

I have recently seen some of the old Lonestar in Antique Shops

Always tons of Lonestar on ebay

[ntpntpntp]

Lone*Star did release a signal box which looked very similar to the Horby Dublo one.  I have no idea of its scale relative to modern day N gauge though.

Grabbed a couple of things from the display cabinet...

[ntpntpntp]

Photos from the net:

Lonestar...


HD...





Lonestar...


HD...

[Paddy]

Hi Nick,

Very nice but I was actually thinking of this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202962715998

Maybe the eBay one is not Lone*Star.

Kind regards

Paddy