One of the problems I have though is visualising exactly how big some things are going to be and how they will look on my proposed track, which is going to feature Radius 1 and 2 curves, with some radius 3 (which many people regard as the minimum) curves a luxury in some places. Since I'm running around the lawn as well, then it is what I gather could best be described as a "shelf layout" in HO/OO parlance, and I have a book of shelf layouts coming.
This is where the Cardboard locomotives come in. Earlier posts have seen the Taurus and Railbus, but on the saving up agenda was a bigger diesel. Researching sounds for the 0-4-0 shunters I have, had caused me to discover speed limitations on smaller things, so I make mock up of an 0-6-0's and 0-4-4-0. Once of the pre Christmas Ebay bargains was a Bachmann big haulier coach as well.
(Starting at the front we have 0-4-0, basic 30mm goods wagon, 0-6-0 Corpet Louvet, Cardboard 0-6-0, Cardboard 0-4-4-0, Cardboard Saxon steam 0-4-4-0, Big coach, and Taurus at 71.5 cm).
One of the other things on the "shopping list" was a tender locomotive but the basic LGB 0-4-0 + tender, always looks like the modified Stainz that it is in any photos. Previous posts have mentioned the Nicki Frank S (with video of real train) but with second hand prices of £400 upwards for unchipped versions then it was an unlikely purchase. Amongst this years LGB releases though is an MTS (sound as well I think) equipped black version of the 0-6-0 plus motorised tender: I think RRP for this is around £800+ so looks even more unlikely. I am in short, discovering that one pays for LGB build quality. In January I'd been looking at what I had though, and when I get track down in the garden its going to be reasonably short of space: too much stuff already. I'd also started to kick around ideas of platform lengths
The Bachmann coach was an Ebay bargain and potentially its future life is to be converted into my grande dining car with table lamps etc as putting people into the Austrian dining car showed up some of its limitations. I knew a full size (500mm+) was going to be big but its not until you hand them that its size becomes really apparent. Photos that follow are putting it on radius 1 (600mm r) curves.
Chris - good idea doing some full size cardboard mock ups - I think the best bet might be to decide which country you're most inspired by (be it France, Germany or Austria) and then which gauge (750/760 or metre gauge) - that might help narrow down your choices a little. I have got pretty much all the steam locomotives I want now and the only diesel I'm still pondering is the V51 (as well as the Schoema and 2095). As you know I went Austrian 760mm - that has been a massive help when assessing potential 'bargains'. If once you've firmed up plans in your head a little more than some of your stock doesn't fit anymore, then just sell it on - that's what I've always tried to do :) Good luck.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, but Rule 8 - I'll run what I like the look of (and which comes at a sensible price). The original Model Railroader article on shunting for fun had red-black-green etc wagons - which is why in some ways I now know that the cheap (and sensible) option would have been to buy lots of Hartland Locomotive works stuff and get the spray can out - but before I even knew HLW existed I bought Yellow (Cardinal - Swiss) box cars / Black (Lekeim - Bavaria) - Blue (Lowenbrau - Germany) - Green (Grains - Swiss) box cars. The time may still come when we part with some, but this year the aim is to get some permanent track down and see what we can do. On some track diagrams the three sides of the lawn get labelled - Switzerland - Germany - Austria... It was the more sensible approach after I'd been buying and reading for a while - and starting to do more of the latter than former, that caused me to pay full RRP from a shop (although a good price) for a VTG Tank wagon. VTG being Europe's largest wagon hire company, and the tank could be transporting all sorts of chemics and bulk goods.
ReplyDelete