Model Railway

[Christopha]

I am wondering about setting up a simple model railway set for my Grand Monsters. Can someone tell me which is the most common scale/gauge please?

[Chesand]

I would go with HO - about 16mm between tracks. The rolling stock is big enough for them handle easily but the set-up does not have to take up a lot of room.

There was a thread about this not long ago

HTH

[RETIRED]

https://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=91215

[kiwigeo]

HO/OO guage (4/3.5mm - foot) probably the most common commercially available scale. If you're tight for space then N guage (2mm-foot) might be the go.

[Christopha]

Thank you, I did have a look at that thread but I wasn't sure exactly which gauge was the most common. It seemed more about building a suitable base. Having said that, I did gelan some very useful info from it.
Next question' Is Ebay a reasonable place to purchase the things I need given that I am 400kms from the nearest capital city?

[Chesand]

Most of the model railway shops will do mail order. Suggest that you get hold of a copy of Aust Model Railway Magazine in which all the shops advertise. Some of them may come up if you Google model railway shops.

[kiwigeo]

Christopha,

My model railway days are a thing of the past but I still have an interest in the hobby. When I was actively into the hobby, layout construction went along two paths - 1. constructing on a flat board or 2. construction using a skeleton style framework structure on to which track bed would be fixed. Option 1 is the easiest and simplest method and the one I'd go along if youre building for your young ones. The second method is more involved but has advantages when building up secenery etc.

As far as scale goes the main deciders IMO are available space and whether or not youre going to run commercial models or scratch build your own. Scratch building is a bit challenging with N scale but becomes alot easier with HO/OO and larger scales. There are alot of other scales that are used by scratch builders....a good example is Sn3 1/2. Because the Kiwi guage is 3' 6 1/2" if you build an HO scale model of an NZR prototype you end up with an accurate scale model of the rolling stock item but the HO guage track you are running it on isnt to scale. If you build to Sn 3 1/2" scale then both the rolling stock and track guage will be scaled correctly. Sounds anal but model railwaying can get very serious!

Cab control (DCC) is another big development that has happened since I was actively modelling. In the old days model railways were powered by a transformer and a rehostat which fed a variable voltage directly to the rails. With cab control you feed a constant voltage to the rails and over the top of this you feed a variable control signal. Inside the locomotive the DCC control signal gets decoded and controls how much of the voltage on the rails gets through to the locomotive motor. As well as controlling speed of the locomotive the DCC signal can control things like locomotive lights and can supply simulated sound to speaker inside the loco or tender etc etc.


The Australian Model Railway magazine is an excellent resource and you'll find many reputable suppliers advertising in same. There are also model railway clubs in most states and the members of same would be more than willing to help you out.

Cheers Martin

[jow104]

If you are going to build your own models, (scratch built) P4 specification is the only way to go in the end. Its the 00 version without any inaccuracies.

Have a look at Pendon Museum


http://www.pendonmuseum.com/index.jsp

Even carriage handles are modelled .

[kiwigeo]

Amazing site...theyve even got model white butterflies on the cabbages in the cottage gardens!!

[bsrlee]

A lot would depend on how old the grand-kiddlies are, if it is for them at home or if it will only be used when they visit (and how often they visit).

If they are very small, then the wooden, push around trains that go on wooden track are pretty good, and should be able to be re-sold or passed on to other small relatives if/when interest wanes. IKEA make a 'knock-off' set and there is a fair bit of interest on the 'Net for DIY track & rolling stock.

If space was no problem, then 'Garden Railways' or "G" is another option. Just buy the locomotive/s and track - you can make all the rolling stock with standard woodworking tools, just add wheels/bogies & couplers purchased on line.

Regardless of what gauge you decide on, there are a lot of on-line discounters out there -

for instance Micro-Mark - http://www.micromark.com/

as well as 'full service' suppliers - the biggest is Walthers
http://www.micromark.com/