I've been thinking... (Prototype change)

[SpudUk]

So, leave me alone long enough with the internet and an idea and it usually ends up costing a huge sum of money!

I have been thinking about my original prototype idea (ex-WDLR) and the practicalities of what I want to achieve and I don't think they mix, mainly because

a) I won't have the time to kit build

b) Mine or other peopls children might accidently damage stuff and if I've spent the best part of a month building it I won't be as happy as I would be if it was plastic and ran straight out of the box

c) The same goes for the dog...

d) I'm sure live steam is a long way off so I want something that looks steamy

So, I have been thinking about "upgrading" to 45mm and re-modelling my prototype around a line that varies between 2' 6" and 3' or some variation of that, meaning I can run European, British and American toys. So, something akin to the W&LLR as a prototype.

This, however, leaves me with some questions that you may be able to help me with (and that for the most part carry over from my G scale clarification post)

a) Power - Not sure about track powered stuff, is it as unsafe as I think it is? Can track powered stock be converted to battery and/or RC?

b) Scale - Again, struggling with this. What would be the best scale to sort of stick to? Somewhere between 1:22 and 1:19.5? Would LGB Zillerbahn and 16mm W&LLR stock match, for example?

Thanks

Chris

[philipy]

Well, to give my answers to some of your questions ( because there are about as many answers as members, to some of them):

a) time - if your children are the sort of age that question (b) suggests, the you have something in the order of 60-70 YEARS to build a kit - so (a)and (b) are not problems except in your mind ( my own kids were both playing with N gauge before they were 5).

d) only you can decide what appearance you want, nobody else can do it for you.

Personally I wouldn't go track powered, life is too short to keep on cleaning it, and I'm not sure it is actually possible to get it clean enough for reliable 'whenever you want' running ( others will disagree with me on this I'm sure )

I'm not sure how much of a bite 24v actually gives, I've never experienced it myself, but its not likely to be life threatening.

Yes it is possible to convert some, at least, to battery. I have an Accy Baguley which runs quite happily on 8x1.2v rechargeables and on its 'official '24v I reckon it would be heading for the moon!

As for stock, if you are seriously going to be running Zillerbahn and W&LLR stock in the same train, then I wouldn't get too worried about precise scale either and track gauge becomes rather irrelevant.

Bottom line is that nobody on here can tell you what to model, it has to come from inside you, somewhere. All anyone can do is give you the benefit of their experiences ( and prejudices sometimes as well), but at the end of the day you must make up your own mind about what YOU want to do.

[SpudUk]

Thanks Philip. I'm keen to get the balance between a relatively accurate model railway in the garden that I can be satisfied with and looks ok, and a train that people can play with that isn't too tied down to being "right." I think I'm sort of on the right track (pun!) with it...

[sstjc]

The problem you have is with the word 'thinking'. Don't think just do !

The only decision you have to make is 32mm or 45mm. Then build something no matter how simple or a kit or buy an engine wether it be battery or steam. I wouldn't advise track power.

Once you are under way it will evolve into what pleases you and at the end of the day thats all that matters.

DO don't think !

[bazzer42]

The track cleaning point is very important. It really is a chore and don't regret going to rc and live steam rc. Playmobil do rc trains but I don't know how they fare on brass track. The new diesel set is quite a bargain and could be a nice way in with youngsters. Just a thought.

[Big Jim]

Scale and gauges aside. I don't see small children as being a problem. I have stock for my line that is 'Daddy's and some more rugged items for the grumper. It does give us something to do together.

[robc_wa]

Scale and gauges aside. I don't see small children as being a problem. I have stock for my line that is 'Daddy's and some more rugged items for the grumper.  It does give us something to do together.

Me too. I have some Faller e-train and play-train stuff, some with simple RC fitted that keeps my 3yo grandson happy and "real stuff" for Grandy to run. I am even scratch building some "cheap and cheerful" wagons that I will not shed tears over seeing filled with sand or stones, and played with.

As he gets older and more dextrous he will hopefully want to participate in running the better stuff, if we don't loose him to the world of VR on the flat screen!

The Faller stuff is perhaps not quite as robust as Playmobile but is 32mm and the Play train stuff is battery operated. ebay.de is a good place to pick it up at reasonable prices.

Small children are indeed not a problem, They are the garden railway enthusiasts of the future. Its the insidious things that tempt them away from "craft" type hobbies that are the problem!

Rob

[SpudUk]

Formulas, I absolutely love formulas. That and Microsoft Excel. So, whilst contemplating my future garden railway desires, I came to one clear conclusion, I'd been going about this all wrong. I've been thinking too much about other people using my railway and not enough about what I wanted.

So, I did the only thing I know how to do, opened Microsoft Excel and pondered on the things I like and balancing them with what I wanted to achieve with the railway.

What I want:
a) I adore the W&LLR and undoubtedly my favourite locomotive of all time is the Sierra Leone No. 14 based there
b) Live steam is a little off yet so I think it needs to be battery powered
c) I want it to be durable enough for kids to play with, they are the future after all and these things, at the end of the day, are meant to be played with
d) I want it to look good, authentic and to scale, but also be fun for people to come and play with

So, in Excel, I did some maths and I have decided that I think the logical path for me is to model 2ft 6in gauge at 16mm scale, using 45mm track, as that would giving me a prototype scale of 2ft 9in, which would give me a closer scale size to 32mm, which is as close as you like to 2ft.

This gives me the opportunity to use some of the LGB stuff left over from my time as a small child to "bash" some things together. I'm looking forward to try to convert an old LGB loco chassis to battery RC.

I'm also thinking of using Peco 45mm track rather then anything else, as it is a lower profile and thus more to scale, correct-o? Just worried about wheel flanges on LGB chassis on lower profile Peco track, anyone tried this?

Does that make sense?

[sstjc]

Sounds like a good plan to me. keep us up to date with hoe you get on it should be interesting...

[SpudUk]

I have now officially joined the 16mm Association too

Chris

[kandnwlr]

I have no officially joined the 16mm Association too

Chris

See whether you can´t make it to Peterboro for the AGM.

Andrew