Is there such a thing as Good Value N Scale Modelling?

[NeMo]

However, I also now model PKP - the railways of Poland....

You can't stay stuff like that in MY thread and NOT expect to be asked to write something for the Journal!

Cheers, Neale

[Papyrus]

If you think model railways are expensive, you obviously don't know any musicians...

Cheers,

Chris

[Roy L S]

I tend to measure "value" as more than hard £££s but it is in any case relative and all views are equally valid. For example in cash terms, I think the Farish C Class at £115 discounted is exceptional value for a model which is plug and play for DCC sound. Add a Next 18 sound chip of your choice for about £100 with a sound file on it, and you have an exquisitely detailed and finished smooth running sound fitted model for £215 when even now a bespoke sound fit will add up to more like £300 all in. The "value" of enjoyment that the sound brings (to me) is then another measure.

One thing I am convinced of though is that there is a world of difference between "cheap" and "value", the first doesn't equate to the second. Yes, the Farish Thompsons are expensive at about £36 a pop discounted, but they are exquisite - you get what you pay for and the value is relative.

Roy

[Dorsetmike]

Economical modelling; buy Union Mills locos, forget Sound and DCC; be prepared to do some work improving the models, like adding vac pipes, lamp irons and other small detail parts, or buy second hand including a couple of "spares or repair" to get some cheap practice at repairs followed by a sense of achievement and pride .

Build kits, especially buildings and other scenic items, once you've built a few kits, next step is to gofor downloaded kit plans and brick paper images like Scalescenes (tip print them on A4 self adhesive label stock - no messing with glue and waiting for it to dry stick it onto card (Cereal boxes for card) and cut it out yourself, after a while you could well find yourself modifying kits even working out your own designs - or you may want to make a model of a specific building.

It's all part of being a modeller rather than a collector. "Look what I made" is a lot better than "look what I bought"

[NeMo]

One thing I am convinced of though is that there is a world of difference between "cheap" and "value", the first doesn't equate to the second. Yes, the Farish Thompsons are expensive at about £36 a pop discounted, but they are exquisite - you get what you pay for and the value is relative.

I think you can argue this both ways. The Thompson coaches are indeed lovely. Certainly, the printed teak effect is exquisite, and things like maker's plates and coach numbers are beautifully applied. The paintwork extends to the wheels -- a nice touch! On the other hand, they're not light bar ready, and I think I'm correct in saying the NEM sockets are on the bogies, not the body, which seems a step back from the Farish Mk2As.

So while they're something like £15 more expensive than the Dapol Gresley coaches, I'm not convinced they're (almost!) twice as good. The Dapol coaches have light bar ready bogies and fittings, which certainly nudges them ahead in that regard (especially if we're talking about the value of a DCC sound-ready locomotive like the Farish C-class as benchmark).

I stress that I'm not asking about cheap models. Absolutely not. I see no mileage in going back to Lima days! What I'm interested in are products you, and the NGF generally, would recommend to beginners as good value -- i.e., investments that will be useful and reliable for years to come.

Cheers, NeMo

[Dickydcc]

I think I paid 40 quid for a Minitrix Evening Star in the late 80s, they can fetch double that now. Value for money?

[OffshoreAlan]

I did ask her what particular loco would she like to see running on the layout but she was wise to that and refused to answer.

That made me chuckle 

[Roy L S]

One thing I am convinced of though is that there is a world of difference between "cheap" and "value", the first doesn't equate to the second. Yes, the Farish Thompsons are expensive at about £36 a pop discounted, but they are exquisite - you get what you pay for and the value is relative.

I think I'm correct in saying the NEM sockets are on the bogies, not the body, which seems a step back from the Farish Mk2As.

Hi NeMo

No, the Thompsons have kinematic close coupling just like other recent releases from Farish and Dapol, and as delivered they are beautifully close-coupled.

The regression to bogie mounted couplings appears to be on the most recently released Farish Mk2s only so far, and as far as they go, it is hard not to consider it a regression.

Regards

Roy

[Paul B]

However, I also now model PKP - the railways of Poland....

You can't stay stuff like that in MY thread and NOT expect to be asked to write something for the Journal!

Cheers, Neale

Oh damn - where's the delete button... 

[NeMo]

No, the Thompsons have kinematic close coupling just like other recent releases from Farish and Dapol, and as delivered they are beautifully close-coupled. The regression to bogie mounted couplings appears to be on the most recently released Farish Mk2s only so far, and as far as they go, it is hard not to consider it a regression.

You are quite right. Nigel reviewed those rather than me, so I didn't get to handle them. The Mk2Fs I did review (for Journal 6/20) and I agree, the bogie-mounted couplings are an odd move. Perhaps they're more reliable? I do have at least one of the Mk2As where the coupling lists to one side, I think because a spring or something has failed. But otherwise: I maintain that the absence of light bar fittings on Farish coaches is a shortcoming (and it's not just Dapol that have these, but the likes of Kato as well).

Oh damn - where's the delete button... 

Hah! Not getting off that easily.

I'm very serious about getting more non-UK stuff in the Journal. We have about 10% of the NGS members who don't model the UK at all, and a sizeable chunk of the rest collect or model non-UK prototypes alongside their primary UK modelling focus. But the Journal doesn't have anything like a 10% proportion of non-UK features, and I'd really like to see that fixed.

So if you'd like to submit something, please do.

Cheers, NeMo

[Paul B]

Oh damn - where's the delete button... 

Hah! Not getting off that easily.

I'm very serious about getting more non-UK stuff in the Journal. We have about 10% of the NGS members who don't model the UK at all, and a sizeable chunk of the rest collect or model non-UK prototypes alongside their primary UK modelling focus. But the Journal doesn't have anything like a 10% proportion of non-UK features, and I'd really like to see that fixed.

So if you'd like to submit something, please do.

Cheers, NeMo

Well - also switching to serious mode (brush the cobwebs off...) although I say that I model PKP, it is more of a collection of bits and pieces acquired over a period of time, with an eventual aim to put together a Polish themed layout. And the baseboard for that is in the aforementioned garage!  I am always on the lookout for suitable models to get round to converting for Polish outline, and have quite a collection squirreled away. I was asked a few months ago to write something for the Forum on freight models for Polish outline in N gauge - but working from home and other priorities (wife wanted bedroom redecorated...  ) has put that back too.

OK - how does this sound? I will get something written up for the Forum on Polish freight stock and its availability, and post it on its own in the Continental section. If this goes OK, and you like the look of it, I will see if I can get something written for the Journal? (although I am not presently a member of the N Gauge Society - may have to rejoin?)

[NeMo]

OK - how does this sound? I will get something written up for the Forum on Polish freight stock and its availability, and post it on its own in the Continental section. If this goes OK, and you like the look of it, I will see if I can get something written for the Journal? (although I am not presently a member of the N Gauge Society - may have to rejoin?)

By all means get your creative juices flowing on the NGF.

Then, as/when you're a member of the NGS (and yes, you do need to be a member to appear in the Journal) drop me a line! I'm sure even an overview of what's available for the potential modeller of the Polish scene would make for interesting reading. There is an active 'World Wide Group' in the NGS that has its own (electronic, bi-monthly) magazine called The Globe. If you've not seen it, you might well find it interesting.

Cheers, NeMo

[railsquid]

But otherwise: I maintain that the absence of light bar fittings on Farish coaches is a shortcoming (and it's not just Dapol that have these, but the likes of Kato as well).

Pickups for light bar installation are pretty much standard in Japan and have been for at least the last three decades. The only Kato models which don't have them are those still produced from very old tooling like the Kokuden EMUs.