DevilsAdvocate Posted March 28 Share Posted March 28 Hi all I have touched on this before, but although I have a 12’ x 9’ x 3’ continuous layout in 00 gauge, whenever I go to shows / exhibitions I am drawn to the 0 gauge stuff. I have always wanted to model the gauge but have always been put off by all the usual excuses. Size available and cost Can anyone advise me how to have the confidence to make the switch ? Have I enough room available ? All advice extremely welcome Cheers john Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted March 28 Share Posted March 28 (edited) 6' x 2' and the cost isn't much more than 00 now for wagons and locos if you shop around. Edited March 28 by Nick G spelling 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted March 28 Share Posted March 28 (edited) Agree with Nick and his work is very inspiring. My layout is somewhat bigger at 21' long. There are many examples of small layouts here. Go for it! By the way, I did 00 for 30 years then switched to 0 when Dapol started producing affordable and excellent models. Best decision I have ever made. John Edited March 28 by brossard 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34006 Posted March 28 Share Posted March 28 I have 0,5" and have access to 12" to the foot(steam and diesel).Guess that's the best of all worlds,But 0 is cheaper than the rest.Don't mess around,go for it. Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold GWR57xx Posted March 28 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 28 (edited) Have a look at Andy Peters’ @Andrew P Seven Mills Sidings layout for an example of what will fit in 12’ in O. This layout has now been resurrected as Hirst Sidings having changed hands a couple of times. Depends what you want. This layout has lots of potential for interesting shunting / loco movements. You won’t get a roundy roundy in your space but you can get a very good shunting or shed layout in. There are plenty of other good examples on RMWeb, just have a search. Edited March 28 by GWR57xx 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 08221 Posted March 28 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 28 (edited) O gauge in 4' x 1' - Cambridge sidings - my O gauge micro which is great fun to operate! The senior scale has really bitten me, its so solid and you really feel you are building something when assembling kits, etc. For the last few years, all my layouts have been 4' x 1' micros with plans for OO diesel depot and branch terminus micros to be built in the next couple of years. Edited March 28 by 08221 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgeham Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 I modelled in OO gauge for many years and started playing with building some O gauge kits a few years ago. Now I am completely bitten by the O gauge bug and it is the best modelling decision I made. I have been slowly selling off my OO gauge stock ever since. I also agree with Nick - O gauge is not that much more expensive - I have found I buy less items and spend more time on building/detailing the models I have. The temptation for me in O gauge was the greater detail - and after I built my first wagon kit (Parkside Grampus) - I was completely hooked. I have a 5ft micro-layout under construction and whilst small, I still get endless pleasure trundling locomotives up and down it/shunting wagons, etc. The sheer size of the O gauge models makes them look much more convincing to my eye when they are placed on the layout. My advice would give O gauge a try!! The 7mm section of RMweb is very friendly and supportive - and there is always advice when you get stuck! best Chris 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 For a given space, the cost in pretty much any gauge will be comparable, as the scale goes up, the amount of track, points and stock required to fill it goes down. And, if you build your own, the enjoyment, and time taken per kit, goes up. 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ray H Posted March 29 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 29 Take a look at my Puzzel Yard layout. The track plan was copied from one of Andy Peters' layouts and provides endless fun if you like shunting. I had about two dozen wagons and a couple of locos on it and operated it as a shunting puzzle (hence the name). A quick Excel spreadsheet to randomise the wagon placement is all you need for hours of fun. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilsAdvocate Posted March 29 Author Share Posted March 29 Thank you all for your replies and advice, it seems that the hardest thing is to actually make the decision. Once made you’ve all made the right decision I’m off to the York exhibition tomorrow, so temptation will be all over again. I have 33 loco’s in 00 gauge on a layout that don’t dislike for a minute, but the temptation will always be there Another consideration that’s muddying the water is that I’d have to offload the 00 stock to fund the new project Trouble is, you virtually have to give them away A shop will give you next to nothing for them, and robbing E Bay nick 12% off your total selling + postage total Decisions, Decisions !! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 I modelled 00 for 30 odd years and have been exhibiting since 2002 with various 00 layouts. Since moving to 0 gauge I can safely say I will never build another 00 layout again. In fact I am just starting the boards for my second 0 gauge exhibition layout which will be only 5ft x 2ft secenic. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ52 Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 It's a slippery slope. Make just one wagon kit and you're gone. Welcome to the other side. Terry 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
YT-1300 Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 4 hours ago, DevilsAdvocate said: Thank you all for your replies and advice, it seems that the hardest thing is to actually make the decision. Once made you’ve all made the right decision I’m off to the York exhibition tomorrow, so temptation will be all over again. I have 33 loco’s in 00 gauge on a layout that don’t dislike for a minute, but the temptation will always be there Another consideration that’s muddying the water is that I’d have to offload the 00 stock to fund the new project Trouble is, you virtually have to give them away A shop will give you next to nothing for them, and robbing E Bay nick 12% off your total selling + postage total Decisions, Decisions !! If you do go for it, make sure the stock you want is available to buy either in kit or rtr form, and if kit, are you confident enough in your abilities to build them? If selling your stock on eBay, just start the auction at the minimum you are willing to accept after fees have been taken off. eBay is the cheapest way to sell, and has the largest audience. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilsAdvocate Posted March 30 Author Share Posted March 30 Hi all I’ve been to the York show today and spent all my time there talking to both 0 gauge modellers and retailers, and I think I’m going to go for it. I have 12ft in length to play with, with a width of 2ft to 4ft if required. Ample room for a depot layout which is what I would want. I haven’t spoken to a single person, nor read a single reply from the experts that you all are that has regretted the move up. Most admitted today that it’s about making the initial move, making the decision . Once that decision has been made just get on with it and see what develops. I’ve seen plenty of 7mm layouts today and the loco’s are superb with great detail and the choices available nowadays are far better than they were let’s say 20 yrs ago. They have put me on to Ellis Clark in Skipton, who they say will give me a fair price for my existing stock so I’ll give him a call for starters. E Bay is always an option, but 12% commission does sting a bit, but we’ll see. So, a new venture begins !! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Hal Nail Posted March 31 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 31 On 29/03/2024 at 17:34, DevilsAdvocate said: Once made you’ve all made the right decision Albeit you are asking people who have stuck with it! Andy Peters' who's layout was quoted above as an example of what you can do, sold up and moved back to OO. Best advice is to buy a few things to try, perhaps second hand, and you can always sell them on again. Don't sell your favourite OO stuff immediately and you derisk the decision. Ebay generally have low fee weekends so you don't need to pay anything like 12% and clearly a dealer is going to offer less than they think they will get anyway. You are paying them for convenience though and in bulk that may be worth it, especially if you can negotiate some part exchange. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Hal Nail Posted March 31 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 31 This isn't bad :) https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/model-railways/arun-quay-in-o-gauge/ 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibelroad Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 The thing with 0 gauge is that the stock has mass so it looks more realistic than 4 mm stock when it moves. Also you are closer in so feel more involved with the scene. Few people have room for a continuous circuit so layouts tend to be out and back, but as has been shown above there can be a lot of operating potential. There are many ingenious track plans out there, the main problem settling on one. So if you want a change from watching 4mm models making endless loops then 0 gauge is definitely the way to go. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilsAdvocate Posted March 31 Author Share Posted March 31 Thank you all for the continuous opinion and advice, it’s all helpful I have 32, 00 loco’s that i will need to offload, as if / when i make the jump, i will need the income obtained to somewhat fund the future 0 gauge plans Some of those i will keep as they are Ltd editions and i don’t want to part with them I will call Ellis Clark on Tuesday, as he comes recommended for fair quotes for taking stock off your hands. It says he will come to you to quote if required, but I’m sure that won’t come cheap, but a day in Skipton will be ok as i will be able to see what he has in stock 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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