Solo

View Advert Track gauges (EM) and axle bearing reamers (4mm) 1 x pack DCC Concepts EM track gauges and 1 x pack axle bearing reamers (for all 4mm), unused. £15 for both including P&P. Advertiser Solo Date 26/03/23 Price £15 Category OO / 4mm scale  

View Advert 2 x EMGS/Peco turnouts 1 x left-hand and 1x right-hand EM gauge RTR turnout. Purchased from EM gauge society but never used since project never started - the 'O' gauge bug has bitten too hard! £40 including P&P. Advertiser Solo Date 26/03/23 Price £40 Category OO / 4mm scale  

I think “bucket load” may be something of an overstatement: even a ‘mini’ HST set with four or five trailers takes up almost six feet of space on a layout, which for many is more than the entire scenic area. Plus same length again for a storage road/fiddleyard. Popular though they are, a 4mm HST model is really only viable for those with big ‘roundys’ or larger exhibition layouts. And Hornby’s model, at least to my eyes, is much to good to warrant a competitor.

That can be risky! I did the same when SLW announced their Highland 24s, five years ago.....

Great to know these are on the way - can anyone from Accurascale confirm if the EM/P4 wheelsets will arrive at the same time as the initial batch of locos?

The fact the 'O' gauge market is many, many times smaller than 4mm means the chances of Accurascale covering something already produced by someone else have to be very small. The only diesel with widespread appeal that comes to mind and is an obvious 'gap' would be a Class 24, which would be lovely, or perhaps a DMU? I'm thinking that steam modellers are less well catered for in 7mm RTR, so perhaps it will be one of those.....

I didn't make it to Model Rail Scotland, but notice from Heljan's Facebook page that they had a decorated sample off the 121 on display. Did anyone manage to see it at close quarters, and if so what were your impressions? I actually think the Dapol model looks superb, but have been holding off on a purchase due to the well-documented issues with the mechanism. Strangely, Tower Models have an update on their website regarding availability of the 117 (Q3 2023) but no mention of the Bubblecars; hopefully one being (finally) displayed means they will shortly be released.

Judging by the photos, they seem to have solved the perennial problem of how to achieve an authentic close coupling whilst having electrical continuity between the cars. The interior seating is looking very fine.

Yes, completely new chassis with dual speakers fitted and higher levels of detail.

But I thought the 33/1s were just a re-run of the old tooling? The forthcoming 26s are completely new from the ground up and look very promising indeed….and it is a dead cert that new 27s will follow in due course.

View Advert Dapol Single Arm Bracket signal servo-operated. Dapol left-hand bracket signal as per photo. Servo operated with control box and switch for smooth motion and 'bounce' (adjustable). New and boxed. £38 to including postage. Advertiser Solo Date 01/02/23 Price £38 Category OO / 4mm scale  

View Advert 3 x Artitec rowing boats 1:87 scale Pack of 3 resin rowing boats (HO/1:87) manufactured by Artitec. Fully decorated with separate oars, new in box. £16 including postage. Advertiser Solo Date 31/01/23 Price £16 Category OO / 4mm scale  

View Advert 5 x 'OO' gauge Tracksetta templates OO gauge Tracksettas include: 18inch, 21inch, 30inch, 48inch and 60 inch radii . Some slight marks but otherwise in good condition. £18 including postage. Advertiser Solo Date 31/01/23 Price £18 Category OO / 4mm scale  

View Advert Set of 7 'N' gauge Tracksetta templates N gauge Tracksettas include: 12inch, 15inch, 18inch, 21inch, 24inch and 36inch radii plus straight section. Slight marks on a couple but otherwise in good condition. £20 including postage. Advertiser Solo Date 31/01/23 Price £20 Category N / 2mm scale  

This is an interesting debate and one to which I can relate. I think - as has been alluded to above - it comes down to what you really want to do; it needs to be a case of heart over mind. I started in OO and then dabbled for a long time with N because I thought: "Well, I can fit so much more in the space, can't I?" And I don't have a lot of space! There are some lovely 'N' gauge models but I never got to the stage of actually finishing a layout because being a scale 300ft away when viewing them I could never really get 'involved' with the scene. I realised that what attracts me to railways, and why I visit heritage lines, is to be up close to the engines. Railway engines - steam or diesel - are all about mass and spectacle: they are living, breathing, throbbing(!) beasts; an assault on all the senses. So back to 4mm and a couple of other small layout attempts which never got to the scenic stage. Why? Because I believe I ignored those same gut feelings I had about my response to railways. I realised that at exhibitions the layouts I made a beeline for were the 'O' gauge layouts and I could happily spend twenty minutes watching even a small O gauge engine shunting a few wagons around. I had always thought: "Well, I can't possibly have 'O' gauge at home, can I? I mean, it's too big - and expensive!" Or is it? Last year I, bought my first 'O' gauge engine (a Dapol 08, obviously!) plus a couple of vans and some track. I started to build a small layout (the space I have is roughly 9ft long by 40cm wide) and can honestly say that I have never had so much enjoyment simply playing trains whilst constructing a 'cameo' scene. I have fitted the shunter with sound and an excellent speaker and it really is like being next to the real thing. It cost around the same as one of the latest high-spec 'OO' offerings; albeit larger engines are more expensive in 'O' but how many do you really need? I, like many others, have had to seriously consider my finances in recent times so will only buy what I can justify for my chosen period and location. Now, everyone's different. If you want sweeping landscapes and long trains, then unless you have unlimited space, time and funds then 'O' is not for you; if, however, you want huge levels of detail and an intimate scene where your trains (and particularly your engines themselves) are the main protagonists in the sheer presence that they possess - then I'd say go for it. Compared to me you have a huge space and there are many superb layouts in 'O' gauge that have done wonders with just 10 or 12 feet, or less. Also bear in mind that because the scene you model in 'O' gauge will be less expansive in scale terms, whilst items of stock may be more expensive (some freight stock actually isn't) you will spend less on scenic items and probably buildings and kits. As has been mentioned, 'O' gauge track is very close to scale gauge: when I got out some 'OO' stuff the other day - having not looked at it for some time - I kept seeing narrow gauge (because it is) and so if I do another 4mm project in the future it would have to be at least 'EM' I think. Ask yourself what you love most about railways - on an emotional level - and use that to guide your choice of scale, choosing a prototype to then match the space....and enjoy it. Good Luck, Oliver, will look forward to seeing the fruits of your efforts on here before too long!

As mentioned above, all of the more recent ones (including my three) are rib-less and look far better for it, especially when weathered. I don't think ribs really work in 4mm scale (since in reality they are weld-lines and not proud of the surface), and I prefer the rib-less approach that Bachmann took to their class 121 as opposed to Dapol who went for ribbed. Ooh, actually, there's a thought: a 122 from Bachmann with the same chassis as the 121 would actually be very nice....

I was just thinking that the other day about the MK1s. Having a look at my own whilst doing some weathering, it occurred to me how good the tooling must have been for its time; they still pass muster and the shape is excellent. But it surely is the one class of BR coach that is ripe for the picking when it comes to an upgrade: something along the lines of what Accurascale are doing with the MK2s and Suburbans. It would be a shame if Bachmann missed the boat on that, having had it in their stable for so long.

Or perhaps a completely upgraded and re-tooled 101 to give Heljan's forthcoming 104 a run for its money.....

View Advert Dapol/Lionheart O gauge Mk1 BSK Blue/Grey Dapol/Lionheart MK1 BSK coach number M34393. Has been fitted with passengers and boxes/crates in guards compartment. Also fitted with an extra screw coupling on non-brake end (which can be folded out of the way if using Dapol close coupling). Condition otherwise as new, boxed with all accessories/instructions. Price £120 to include postage. Advertiser Solo Date 20/01/23 Price £120 Category Other scales  

View Advert O Gauge DCC Concepts Premium Rolling Road (6-axle) As above, premium 'O' gauge rolling road, 6 axles, magnetic plates and high quality box. See this link for product: https://www.dccconcepts.com/product/rolling-road-o-gauge-premium-edition-6-axle/ Has been used once to test, condition is as new. £100, postage included. Advertiser Solo Date 19/01/23 Price £100 Category Other scales  

I seem to remember a Hornby magazine update video a couple of months back where Ben from Heljan was talking to Mike Wild about forthcoming models. Apparently it's almost perfect but they weren't completely happy with one of the bogies, which was dragging(?) slightly under test - and I think it was this that was delaying final decorated samples, he mentioned late summer for release. Better that any niggles are ironed out I guess, it does look like a superb model.

Yes, the running qualities on Heljan locos have always impressed (I’ve had some of their ‘OO’ stuff) and in terms of playability I guess that’s the most important thing. Upon first seeing one of their ‘O’ gauge class 25s (possibly the earliest incarnation) I remember thinking ‘that doesn’t look quite right’ but I’m very familiar with class 27s in particular and for me these new ones look spot on. Think I’ll take the plunge and get a blue one….

Lovely looking loco Mike and nice job with the weathering. That's disappointing regarding the fan/coupling though, particularly since I guess most O gauge modellers will rely upon using that screw coupling. I am about to 'press the button' on one of the new 27s, which will be my first 'full size' (I have an 08) model. Taking into account the high cost I'd expect very high quality, what are your thoughts on other aspects of the model? Andy

It's worth bearing in mind that not only IKEA make 'floating' shelves of this kind; B&Q and Wickes, to name but two, also stock them, albeit to different dimensions. I have used one of the B&Q ones (which measure around 118x23cm) before successfully, it was cheap and robust. The great thing about these shelves is that - in my experience - they are very strong and completely flat/level whilst also being lightweight. They are also very customisable; as long as you sand down the edges a little you can stick almost anything to them with a good wood glue. I'm currently dipping my toes into 'O' gauge waters and the little layout-in-progress in the photo started life as a 'LACK'. The rest is just offcuts of scrap wood I had in my junk box and foamex added to it. I'd say the whole setup cost around £20 (LACK was a tenner I think), it is as straight as any traditionally-made baseboard I have had and can be lifted easily with one hand. One thing to note is that when you pick up the LACK shelf (and others like them) in the store they often feel much heavier than they actually are because they have the metal bracket and fixings in the pack. These can be discarded (providing you're not wall-mounting) and leave you with a useful little indent along the back face which can house wires/switches etc. So yeah, travelling three hours to IKEA is a bit of a mission but if you're looking for a cheap n' cheerful baseboard I certainly wouldn't discount the idea of one of these shelves as a concept.

These look lovely and I'm hoping to procure one as my first 'big' diesel; but is it possible to actually buy one of the Loksound XL decoders needed to operate them on DCC (with sound)? Most of the usual suppliers appear to be out of stock.