cutting42

I was considering this as well. You cannot help but compare to that other n gauge iconic west coast train, the Pendolino where they have 1000+ sets sold and delivered (or about to be). The cost was £350 with dcc sound fitted for a 9 unit at the beginning rising to £470 for an 11 unit dcc sound at the end of the process (the City of Birmingham model). I know that the early price was set at the original Kickstarter project around 3-4 years ago but even at the £470 price point they sold out in days. Now they are selling for around £750 on eBay. The Pendo is current and has been around for around 20 years allowing multiple units to run on one model railway; whereas unless you model a very specific period (1983-85 I believe); the APT is a rule one purchase and a big one at that. If the price was halved I think it might attract more buyers but it is always going to struggle to hit high numbers. Personally if the price was halved I would buy two as the money is not the biggest factor for me.

Thanks for the response. Once we accept that the numbers are not there for the current offering we have I agree that a reduced spec and therefore hopefully price might be a way to breath life into it. I personally think £999 for the 14 car is a reasonable cost but it does scare folks off. What about a single power unit 7 car set and then an option pack of the remaining 6 cars and power car. The makeup could be decided by more knowledgeable folks than I. I would happily lose the tilt, lifting nose etc, the important thing for me are the mouldings and basic model. Even things like black vs yellow is an easy fix to repaint and renumber. The hard thing for most modellers is creating the basic model.

Is any progress being made with the numbers in the N gauge APT Dave? I know you have hinted they are very poor but with crowd funded models being delivered at a high quality recently has that had any impact? Would it improve if you just did one offering for N gauge and removed all the different version options. Not sure if that would help or hinder really. Although I prefer a 14 car, I would take a 5 car over nothing.

I agree. Apparently the expressions of interest for the Revolution APT-E have seen a big uplift this week after the delivery of the Pendolinos so lets hope for a halo effect.

I (n gauge hopeful) would be prepared to make a financial contribution to the cost of the event by paying a "ticket price" as it sounds a great day out. Maybe could be offset against the cost of the N gauge APT if it ever comes to fruition.

But there is one isn't there! That's the point really. I made the post due to the comment below which seemed to be attempting to make the suggestion that it was an more even spit with N getting product not made in OO as if the current APT situation was some kind of balancing out. Anyway, we are where we are, we seem to be riding a wave of crowdfunding with some long awaited N gauge models finally coming to the market; just looks like the APT-P has a longer road to travel and maybe not at all which would be a real shame.

I did say iconic train not random wagons and some are already being cross developed in OO as Mike and Ben have time. Maybe someone does know of a train in N and not in OO I can’t think of one but the point is it is incredibly rare and this was an N gauge crowdfunded project that seems to be disappearing before our eyes whilst the OO model metaphorically steams into the sunset.

Please share this list of n gauge iconic trains that are not or have ever been available in OO

Thanks for the reply Dave. It is a shame for N gauge but good for the project that at least one will be built. I guess I am holding out a hope that the halo effect will help or the higher numbers in OO can subsidise the smaller N gauge market ;-)

Not sure where to ask this question (here or on the n gauge APT thread) but as this is the busiest, here it is. It looks like the OO version is well on the way to the numbers required for manufacture but that the n gauge version is way behind with only 25% of the required numbers of registered interest. If the OO version makes the numbers, can you envisage production going ahead without the n gauge version or will you wait for the numbers for n gauge before proceeding with both? I am interested in the n gauge version personally and have ordered.

Having thought about it some more, the 14 car set is the financial sweet spot and I can build my own configurations to fit the Nelevator or I can use the bypass tracks to store it. Time to commit I think.

Ah ok I thought you meant the 10 car version was 12.5. I understand now. Thanks

Hmm, that would be too long. Need more data. Are the prototype measurements out there?

I have done a quick look through but cannot find the lengths of the various options for N gauge anywhere other than the full length in OO at 15 feet. I have a Nelevator which allows for a 6' train, will the 10 coach fit?

I have used these and don't remember the ride being as bad as it looks here, I was pretty impressed in general. They are more like cars than trains and are pretty unique - I travel extensively and have not seen anything like them anywhere else yet. Certainly better than the airport parking shuttle buses.

Very impressed and LOVE the music. I now officially feel Christmassy

Hi Adrian Thanks for that, it confirms Gordons research nicely, RS pn is 220 4866 http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=2204866

Hi Gordon Many thanks for your research on this, I think you have found them. I have a RS trade counter round the corner so will give them a go today. As many have said before, it is astonishing the range of knowledge on this forum!

Hi Chaps I am building a DC controller and want to use the same connectors as my Lenz Set 100 system so I can just substitute it for the DCC controller and use the same connections to the track and PSU. Does anyone know where they can be got from or what type they are. I tried looking at Molex but too many to choose from. I dont need the plugs which are Lenz part LY001 but the sockets which I cannot find. Help please!

Hi Di Hi Campers Well today's update is bringing us closer to the current status. As I explained before Newark Northgate was chosen as it fitted a number of criteria. Major features for me was a full length station but a little yard for shunting and leaving interesting items of stock was also an important feature for me. Newark has some somewhat overgrown sidings that I have decided to revive as an enterprise yard using a little licence. I don't really have enough space for all 5 sidings and am debating including 2 or 3 sidings. 3 looks more prototypical but more or less fills the board with track. 2 sidings allows a bit of space for container loading/unloading using a reach stacker which is what I am thinking of doing. I could use some advice on this so may be posting in the help section as well. So anyway, some pictures: 3 siding option 2 siding option I have also started planning the tracklaying, starting with the two fast lines. I havecut out some of the webs from the code 55 track and soldered the drop wires to the bottom of the rail which will be hidden by the ballast: I have also bee experimenting with methods for securing the track on the baseboard joins. I used copper clad PCB and this seems to work very well although I have not glued and soldered down yet. Plan will be to glue up the track, when it has set I will solder the track onto the PCB and then slit with my Dremel and the should result in perfectly aligned tracks. Thanks for watching - be safe out there!

Hi I got mine from Here up in Manchester, They can supply the stacked dado as well. Good solid saws based on a Delta Contractor saw design. HTH Cheers Gareth

Hi and thanks for tuning in again! These pics and designs have been taken/drawn over a few months (said it would be slow). This is the design of the boards and how they will all connect up: As you can see there will be 6 boards, the scenic side will be 8' by 18" with the run round and fiddle yard a bit bigger. I have built just the 2 scenic boards so far and will not build the rest until I have figured out where to store all the boards. First few cuts, using a slotting blade called a stacked dado in my table saw to rip out an exact 9mm half depth slot for the boards to slot together for maximum strength. You can do this with a router and a 9mm cutter as well. Then painted them and topped with B&Q cork tiles Did a bit more painting on the backscene (a bit early but I had some match pots and fancied a go. Thanks for looking

Hi Chaps and Chapesses This will be my BLOG for Newark Northgate, an exhibition layout of the ECML in the GNER era. It will be N gauge and DCC controlled from Traincotroller via Lenz 100 set. I have been planning this for years really and progress will be glacial like as I have an active family and a job with a lot of travelling. I am also a hobby woodworker and build baseboards on occasion (I did some of Tim Easters Auchin thingy boards for him to match up to the previous boards) and I was an electronics engineer way back as well so love doing many of the things that some other modellers find boring ie woodwork and electrickery. The scenery stuff will be more of a challenge but I am determined to come up with something reasonable. I have always been drawn to the ECML from the early stories of Mallard and the speed competition with the LMS in the past. However being a child of the 60's it was Diesel and Electric not Steam that appealed so the choice was Deltics or Electric. Farish were taken over by Bachmann and one of the first items to be re released was the GNER liveried HST which caught my eye, such a nice grown up livery I have always thought! So it was decided! A modern era of mid 90's to mid naughties was settled upon and stock acquisition started. I will be trying to keep relatively honest to the period and region but as always reserve the right to a "Rule 1" train. Stock is mostly complete with 2 x 225 sets,2 x Eurostar (one GNER and one white), 2 x HST for the fast stuff. Central Trains 170'2, 158's will be joined by 153's and 156's when I get round to it. I am also looking forward to the Hull Trains 222 if it ever appears. Freight will be much less well defined but dominated by container traffic, a few car transporters and lost coal trains. A smattering of infrastructure stuff is/will be built as the mood strikes, all to be hauled by 92's 86's (when available),a shed load of sheds and 67's. Guest apperances by my railhead train of 2 x Loadhaul 37's and scratch built wagons (yet to be done). So thats the plan and progress is, as I mentioned before, very slow. In forthcoming posts, a trackplan, fiddleyard, baseboard progress and a bit of tracklaying. Thanks for your attention! Gareth