grahame

A smidgeon of progress on my Poclain/Lowmac ZYR, mainly making one digger attachment and bashing the other Tomytec one:

Issue #1 is sold out but there are still copies of issue #2 available on eBay (new, not secondhand) to order. Type 'N gauge magazine' in the eBay 'search for anything' box to find.

Progress is now underway for a third (and possibly last) issue of the magazine, hopefully for publication at the end of the year/early 2023. It'll take a while to put together as I need to complete some started but half finished modelling projects for some article content. But it'll probably be a 52 page issue (similar to the first).

Yep. N'Tastic have a couple of buses in their range from that era.

The R Parker kit range has a good choice of vehicles from that era.

I don't often check in on RMweb these days but this is one of my rare look-ins with a report should anyone be interested. As usual it's N/2mm and non-steamy. The first is a recently completed NGS kit of a BPV Boplate bogie flat: The second is bashing a NGS Loriot wagon kit and Tomytec Poclain TY45 in to a ZYR Lowmac EK mounted with with Poclain grab excavator as used for digging foundation for electrification gantries. There is still quite a bit to do, and, of course, there are compromises, but it progresses well. Here's the progress.

I've always felt that the Dornaplus range is a little tiddly. Their Cargo truck is definitely underscale, probably 1:160 rather than 1:148. And the building doors are rather short.

Dapol and N Brass Loco produce some, and continental manufacturers often offer OHL catenary.

I seem to recall them saying that they 'could' shrink down models from larger scales (not that they necessarily have or would), rather than that they would definitely 'mirror' OO releases. Clearly they couldn't replicate the entire OO range or all the new OO releases in N as the market is smaller (a quarter of the size) and would be unprofitably swamped. And they've also chosen model subjects to develop and release in N but not in OO. Consequently I'm not so sure that there is any symbiotic relationship between the two scale ranges.

Not so sure that the class 90 (and 60) are that 'modern' - they're both from the last millennium. And there was the sound upgrade on the 4F for the ancient guys ;-) But I'd have thought that the big issue currently is the lack of coaches and wagons for them to haul. None were mentioned in this announcement - fingers crossed for the next. I think the 'shrinking' thing was more of them suggesting that it was an opportunity for them having undertaken the research for the OO/4mm version. More a kind of potential should the market and business warrant it rather than a promise to do them all.

I think you're probably being confused by the shadow cast by the information card on to the cab end/side.

Where I'm from it is/was an armful/boxful (not necessarily a small) amount and often freebies (although I doubt they'll be free or cheap).

I was told at the Bachmann stand at DEMU showcase that they are manufacturing complete bogies with pickup shoe beams and new correct body shells to replace the incorrect ones, that will be supplied to retailers who will be responsible for sending them to customers. No idea how long that will take.

I heard (at DEMU showcase ISTR) that a cotchel load of coaches were in production and scheduled to arrive at the end of the year. Unfortunately no mention in the recent official announcement to confirm.

EP on display at DEMU Showcase 2022:

It's advertised on the Model Shop Directory events: https://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/event/y2023/m5 (might need to scroll down to it). However, it wasn't mentioned in the recent Journal/Newsletter.

Yeah, go on. Spill the beans. It can't be TINGS, DEMU showcase or the NGS Landmark Event exhibition, they've all been effectively announced.

My current N/2mm modelling project is bashing a NGS Loriot wagon kit and Tomytec Poclain TY45 in to a ZYR Lowmac EK mounted with with Poclain grab excavator. It's far from complete, still quite a bit to do, and, of course, there are compromises, but it is progressing relatively nicely.

Thanks. Sales of issue #2 have been slower than issue #1 but having sold a few at the DEMU ShowCase exhibition at Sutton Coldfield over the weekend I'm starting to get closer to the minimum number of sales to cover costs. Consequently I'm beginning to consider a third issue, probably for publication next year after more of issue #2 are sold. Would that be of interest?

Here's a few snaps from the show:

This weekend I'll be at the DEMU ShowCase exhibition in Sutton Coldfield Town Hall. I'm on a demonstration stand about making N/2mm structures. Well, it'll be more of a display of some of the building from this thread and an opportunity for a chat about making them. Drop by and say hello.

I'll be there for the whole weekend on one of the demonstration stands. Well, probably more a display of scratch-built structures and an opportunity for a chat about how they were made. Drop by and say hello.

It's the golden emperor dalek as featured in the TV Century 21 magazine/comic from the mid 60s. Probably many are unaware of it. Here's a pic of the kit (main parts just held together with tape and rubber band) before proper assembly. It's supplied with LEDs for the seven dome lights which I presume will need resistors added.

And at 22" long, it's big too. I've got the kit and have looked at the parts and read the instructions. I'm contemplating whether I need to get the turned aluminium engine bells. They are rather expensive and I was wondering if I could make a satisfactory job of painting the injection moulded ones.

Nope, not for me. But the 'shutting down' and re-phrasing the question is just making it sound like a preference and bias for steam locos, especially the rather denigrating 'box like body' comment. Those who have built diesel and electric locos will know just how difficult getting the shape correct is with their many subtle nuances and which is not a simple matter of 'constructing a box'. Probably best to leave the competitive 'which is best and most satisfying' to individuals personal choice. There is little to be gained from postulating on which genre is best to prefer and most satisfying to build. Whatever people choose to model I'd guess that they enjoy it, otherwise they wouldn't do it.