RTR or kits or both or...

[Reptilian Feline]

Background: N gauge, rural north Yorkshire, LNER steam, WW2 era. Fictional.

 

I can buy a few locos that fit the setting of my layout as RTR. They number of locos are limited though.

If I go for kits, would I be able to find other locos, or are they the same, but you need to put them together on your own?

If I buy a kit, where do I find the bottom part with the motor and wheels?

Are kits cheaper or more expensive than RTR?

 

Would 3D printed kits be better, or do people still go for the brass kits?

[The Johnster]

Not sure what is available in N in kit form for your area period, but it is probably not much.  Most N gauge kits are for bodyshells to fit on RTR chassis, so they aren’t gonna be cheap; you need to buy the specified RTR loco as a chassis donor as well as the kit, soldered together in the case of whitemetal or brass, and then the paint and transfers to finish it off.  ‘Complete’ kits, where you have to build the chassis as well, generally cost as much as a comparable RTR loco, but you have to supply your own choice of wheels, axles, gears, and motors.  Check out Shapeways website for 3D stuff.  You haven’t made this easy for yourself, have you!

[Steven B]

N Gauge loco kits are few and far between these days.

Langley Models have a small range of white metal bodies that fit RTR chassis (mostly Poole era Graham Farish so harder to find).

N Brass Loco have a few kits for bodies but you're again looking for a suitable RTR chassis donor.

P&D Marsh also have a small selection.

 

There are other no longer produced ranges such as Beaver and Graham Hughes that appear on eBay from time to time. However, with 3d printing maturing you'll find an ever increasing range of bodies for sale on Shapeways.

 

 

3d printed, brass, resin or white metal depends on personal choice and what's actually available.

The big problem you'll face is making the kit build body move. N Gauge doesn't have the same range of off-the-shelf wheels that OO gauge has and relies on the reuse of parts from RTR models (where the parts aren't easily available as spares). The 2mm Scale Association have a very good range but they're not compatible with standard commercial N Gauge track.

 

Steven B.

[Reptilian Feline]

10 hours ago, The Johnster said:

You haven’t made this easy for yourself, have you!

My first thought when getting back to plan my model railway was to do it in Z. I'd say N is a lot easier!

[Reptilian Feline]

I was hoping life had gotten easier when it comes to N gauge but I guess it's hard no matter what. I was hoping for some chassis, like Rocuhan makes for Z.

 

Is it possible to find used models with a reputable ebayer? I know brexit is putting a damper on things when buying from the UK, but with the right seller, I'm sure we can figure out how best to do it.

[Steven B]

Life has got easier when it comes to N Gauge - there's a wider range of locos available now than ever before.

 

Buying used from eBay can be pot-luck. I've been lucky so far but haven't bought that many locos.

Hattons have a wide range of second hand models on their website and Rails Of Sheffield sell second hand models via eBay - both are reputable dealers but you'll pay more for that service.

 

Steven B.

[D9020 Nimbus]

The real problem is that there are a number of classes which are not available. At the present time there is no LNER tank locomotive in N available RTR — the J94 has been available in the past but I'm not sure that these ran for the LNER until after the war.

 

You are going to need to investigate the Union Mills range. The J25 and J39 in LNER black are shown as currently available in the latest issue of the N Gauge Journal. The D20, J26 and J27 have all been made in the past. They might be obtainable via eBay but in my experience often go for more than the new price (£79 for those mentioned). They have diecast bodies and tender drive. They are not DCC ready. Compared to other ranges, they lack detail.

 

Farish have been promising a new run of their J39 for some time. They — and Dapol — have done the B1 in the past. Apart from these, only the A3 and A4 Pacifics (both Dapol) and the V2 — one of the first locos issued by Farish after the Bachmann takeover, and not up to current standards — are really relevant, together with the recent Farish Stanier 8F.

 

Atso-Cad have done 3-d prints of several LNER tank locos, notably the V1.

[Reptilian Feline]

If I can paint the J94 in war department livery, then I can get away with it.

 

At this point I don't have any interest in DCC. I figure that if I wire properly for block control running, then if I switch to DCC later, any non-DCC might still be able to run. I haven't really read up on DCC, since I can't afford it at this point, and wish to run my trains on my own.

 

The LNER info website is now my go-to list of very useful websites. Any loco suggested, I look up there before checking the Hatton website. Rails of Sheffield... I know those ads from the RM magazine. I'll check them out on ebay,