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European O Gauge - what/who is out there?


south_tyne

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Just a rather general question but, out of interest, is there much of a following, and support from the trade, for O Scale across Europe? As a new 0 gauge modeller, who has some quite obscure prototype interests (!!) I was just wondering what is out there and if anyone is modelling different countries - such as the Scandinavian or Benelux ones?

 

Clearly excluding German and French prototypes from this (such as the wonderful stuff available from Lenz).

 

Personally I have a strong interest in Danish railways and wondered if there was anything available from the trade in 1:43/45/48 scale? I would expect not but would be interested to hear from anyone who is more informed than myself!

 

Cheers!

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There is a lot of O Gauge around from the high end brass producers such as Fulgurex, Lemaco, Elettren, Pilotrain etc but those models are firmly in the class of if you even need to think about the price then you can't afford them.

The Lenz O Gauge models are very nicely done and very attractively priced for that scale.

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...but those models are firmly in the class of if you even need to think about the price then you can't afford them....

 

Yes, I had got that impression! I'm hoping this thread could provide a useful resource for those with diverse interests! :)

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...Obviously those Norwegians have money to burn!!

 

Well, their oil industry and consequent sovereign wealth fund is pretty substantial, as are their alcohol prices - as I discovered in Stavanger a couple of years ago when I forked out the equivalent of five quid for a 250ml can of Carlsberg.

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Yes, I had got that impression! I'm hoping this thread could provide a useful resource for those with diverse interests! :)

Those brass models are nice though...... I must admit I've looked longingly at some of the Lenz O gauge models and when taken with the growing range of affordable UK O gauge it is very tempting to have an expedition into the scale however I really don't want to open that particular Pandora's box and get sucked into that world, lovely though it is. Or rather, I really can't afford to is a lot more accurate than not wanting.

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Those brass models are nice though...... I must admit I've looked longingly at some of the Lenz O gauge models and when taken with the growing range of affordable UK O gauge it is very tempting to have an expedition into the scale however I really don't want to open that particular Pandora's box and get sucked into that world, lovely though it is. Or rather, I really can't afford to is a lot more accurate than not wanting.

I know exactly what you mean with regard to the Lenz stuff. It is exquisite and so tempting although cost means I need to keep focused in my O gauge modelling! I get to play with some of it from time to time mind as my Uncle is a German O gauge modeller ;) Although it does make me think... should I have my own loco to play with on his layout... :O

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They're not currenty showing on Heljan's website, and I can't find any current stock in shops. The price was fair though, about €700.

Thanks and very interesting. Cannot find any reference to the wagons either. I suppose they'd be limited runs given the small, very specialised market for DSB stuff in this scale.

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As has been mentioned, ETS are about the best bet for reasonable prices, and I find are quite compatible with finescale track. Otherwise, there's secondhand Lima and Pola floating around, but beyond that, it gets very dear. So, I'm afraid it's back to scratch building, which does suck up a load of time.

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In case you haven't seen it, this page has links to the (few) Danish clubs working in 0. Mainly for inspiration though, as most of it has to be scratchbuilt:

 

http://www.spor0.dk/node/5

Thanks Mikkel, I'll have a look at that link. I'm a huge Dano-phile (is that is a real term!), mainly through being a huge fan of Danish fiction, the usual TV dramas and the wider culture (oh and of course the beer!). My growing interest in the railway system is a natural progression of that I suppose.

 

I love the Mh class locos and have a long term ambition to build a little shunting layout for one to shuffle a few wagons around... that'll probably by in HO scale mind!

 

Although in my most crazy plans I have an idea to utilise a Ixion Hudswell Clarke in a Danish setting... see the Ostre Gasworks locomotives...

http://www.veterantoget.dk/materiel/damplokomotiver/oeg-nr-1/historie.aspx

 

http://www.veterantoget.dk/materiel/damplokomotiver/oeg-nr-1.aspx

 

Some suitable wagons and I'd be away! ;)

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What a great idea to use a Hudswell Clarke for a Danish gas works type of layout, that would be a very interesting project with broad appeal, I think.

 

Here is a plan and loco pics  from Valby Gasworks, seems to be from around 1960: http://evp.dk/index.php?mact=News,m9b300,default,1&m9b300number=5&m9b300pagelimit=5&m9b300detailpage=&m9b300category=Generel&m9b300pagenumber=6&m9b300returnid=288&page=288

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What a great idea to use a Hudswell Clarke for a Danish gas works type of layout, that would be a very interesting project with broad appeal, I think.

 

Here is a plan and loco pics from Valby Gasworks, seems to be from around 1960: http://evp.dk/index.php?mact=News,m9b300,default,1&m9b300number=5&m9b300pagelimit=5&m9b300detailpage=&m9b300category=Generel&m9b300pagenumber=6&m9b300returnid=288&page=288

Hi Mikkel,

Thanks for the link, I'll have a good look at that :)

 

Yes I think it is a good idea. Sourcing some suitable wagons would be the key to getting the project off the ground. I think the use of a British 'export' loco in Denmark is definitely plausible and there is a prototype in those Hudswell Clark locos I mentioned. I don't know whether I could de-Anglicise so British wagons? It is worth some thought at least.

 

I like it as an idea for something totally different that will satisfy my Danish interests and my fresh start in O gauge. It'd be the perfect time to do it too as I am starting with a clean slate having just the one loco at this point!

 

David

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  • 2 weeks later...

Interesting thread. On the French part of this website you'll see my French O gauge layout Nouvion, this summer I have branched out and started building an O gauge Norwegian layout - Britvik, not Brexit! In common with my French layout I am using Lima European wagons, suitably weathered etc,

 

For the Norwegian loco, I purchased a brand new Lenz 060 diesel shunter (BR260?) and respected into NSB Red and Yellow as NSB have some 260 locos - I will post a pic - it took considerable nerve to spray paint a new loco, but I've done it and I'm pleased. My layout (albeit unfinished) makes its debut this Saturday at the Winchester o gauge continental show - the only o gauge continental show in the UK. I'll find pic of the loco. Hope the foregoing inspires. Paul ps the Breur shunt loco (made by Brawa) is a good investment - Arcadia models in the UK still have some and at less than 300 points they are lovely models

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Quite a lot of the DSB wagon fleet had German origins. I've got a drawing of the old G10 van in DSB usage, and I'm pretty sure there were Om12 opens about, both of these being bogstandard usage for European modellers. If you want to get clued up on Danish railways, there are two good sites to start with,http://www.jernbanen.dk/forum/, andhttp://mjk-h0.dk/and, of course, the link mikkel gave,http://www.evp.dk/

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Just to help get you started, the Winchester Continental O gauge show every October is an event worth attending - with some excellent Continental second hand o gauge bargains to be snapped up - at last weeks show, there was Pola, Lima, Biller Bahn, Rivarossi Continental wagons all 25 quid or under plus some keenly priced continental 0 gauge diesels Lima and Rivarossi, plus the Anglicised Atlas shunt loco with full european buffing gear - these items aren't in the same bracket as Lenz, but a good cheap and cheerful start and ideal for detailing with handrails, screw couplings etc.

 

There were US, French o gauge layouts and my new Norwegian layout and the o gauge test track where all sorts of weird and wonderful European rolling stock could be seen running. The show was a great success such that is going to happen again next year. Usually there have been German layouts in the past. So hopefully enough to inspire and of course a great place to meet like minded people.

 

Hopefully my work will inspire - its not finished yet - Britvik - Norwegian O gauge - Overseas Modelling - RMweb

 

Paul 

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Just to help get you started, the Winchester Continental O gauge show every October is an event worth attending - with some excellent Continental second hand o gauge bargains to be snapped up - at last weeks show, there was Pola, Lima, Biller Bahn, Rivarossi Continental wagons all 25 quid or under plus some keenly priced continental 0 gauge diesels Lima and Rivarossi, plus the Anglicised Atlas shunt loco with full european buffing gear - these items aren't in the same bracket as Lenz, but a good cheap and cheerful start and ideal for detailing with handrails, screw couplings etc.

 

There were US, French o gauge layouts and my new Norwegian layout and the o gauge test track where all sorts of weird and wonderful European rolling stock could be seen running. The show was a great success such that is going to happen again next year. Usually there have been German layouts in the past. So hopefully enough to inspire and of course a great place to meet like minded people.

 

Hopefully my work will inspire - its not finished yet - Britvik - Norwegian O gauge - Overseas Modelling - RMweb

 

Paul

Hi Paul,

 

A belated thank you for your very informative and interesting reply. I very much appreciate your help, advice and expertise.

 

Just caught up with your layout thread too, absolutely cracking stuff. shows what you can do with a little resourcefulness and thinking outside the box. Super modelling. I look forward to seeing more of your work and the layout... hopefully in real life at some point!

 

Cheers,

David

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Unfortunately there are no  cheap ready to run Dutch models in gauge '0' available.The only manufacturer of Dutch prototype is Philotrain see http://www.philotrain.nl/ . The owner Mr.Philip Friskorn is now 72 years old.He wants to retire from his trade.His last locomotive in gauge '0' will be the Class 500 and 600 diesel shunters of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen.These loco's are based on the LMS/War Department loco's which British Railways continued to build as their Class 11.see http://www.scaletrading.nl/philotrain/images/Voortgang%20NS%205-600%20spoor%200%20(1).jpg . The model will cost € 2,495,00!For many Dutch gauge '0' modellers this is to expensive.They try to rebuild the recent Dapol model. see http://www.spoornul.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=816014 .

 

There are some very nice layouts in gauge '0' in the Netherlands.For example the layout built by Huib Maaskant : http://www.floodland.nl/aim/blust_bouwverslag_en_12.htm#nieuw .

 

There are also some parts for scratch-builders available as 3D-print from Shapeways For example a DMU mainly used in the northern part of the Netherlands : http://www.spoornul.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=816349 .Also the front of an older type DMU is available from Shapewas : http://www.spoornul.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=815635 and some more : http://www.spoornul.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=815637&p=8091689#p8091689 .

 

For the scratch-builders modelling the older Dutch railways (pre-1950) the archives of he Dutch railways are a very nice source of information.The entire collection of drawings is for free downloadable from the site of 'Het Utrechts Archief'.The rolling stock : http://hetutrechtsarchief.nl/onderzoek/resultaten/archieven?mivast=39&mizig=210&miadt=39&micode=921&milang=nl&miview=inv2#inv3t1 please click twice on ínventaris' and the buildings, bridges etc. : http://www.hetutrechtsarchief.nl/onderzoek/resultaten/archieven?mivast=39&miadt=39&mizig=210&miview=inv2&milang=nl&micols=1&mires=0&micode=959&mip2=959#inv3t2 Please click on 'ínventaris'.This free access policy would be a good example for the National Railway Museum in York!

 

Best regards

 

Jan den Haan

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