Fun in 5.5mm scale

[tractionman]

Just spotted that Smallbrook Studio has released a 5.5mm kit to convert Bachmann 'Thomas' range 'Bill/Ben': 

 

http://www.smallbrookstudio.co.uk/products-new/4569521214/5.5mm-scale-peckett-conversion-kit/10983517

 

Apols if this has been posted elsewhere before!

 

all the best,

 

Keith

 

 

PS - re post above, I rejoined the 5.5mm Association :-) 

[detheridge]

Some wonderful models in 5.5mm scale from Nigel Smith: some NWNG classics and the well known 0-6-2T Graf Schwerin-Lowitz from the Brecon Mountain Railway.

Edited December 22, 2016 by detheridge

[detheridge]

The way we were in 5.5mm scale way back in 1986. This was Keith Vernon's Cadnant Valley Tramway, showing an imaginary line from Menai Bridge in Angelsey up to Llandonna.

Keith surveyed the route personally (he lived in Menai at the time) and some of his pics of rural Angelsey look for all the world as though there was a trackbed there!

I acquired the modified version of the layout together with the stock in 1993. Triang technology, it's crude by today's finescale standards, but oozes character.

The 5.5mm equivalent of Hornby Dublo 3 rail?  :-)

[Robin2]

Just found this Thread today and this Reply is really just to get it included in my content

 

Wonderful pictures here.

 

I have recently discovered electro-etching of brass (no unpleasant chemicals) so it is easy to make a simple chassis and I got a Silhouette Portrait computer cutter before Christmas which is a great tool for building loco bodies (and buildings) from card (or thin plasticard). I have been building an OO gauge copy of an OO gauge Midland 1F which has come along very nicely.

 

Because I have very limited space for a layout narrow-gauge is attractive but 7mm scale is too big. 5.5mm may be just right. I have always seen prototype narrow-gauge railways as the poor relation of "real" railways which has put me off. However it occurs to me that there is nothing to prevent me modelling the Cavan and Leitrim railway as though it was a roaring financial success

 

I reckon I will make a loco body over the next few days and see what it looks like.

 

...R

Edited May 16, 2017 by Robin2

[Talltim]

The Cork Blackrock and Passage was about as mainline as narrow gauge got on the British Isles. Perhaps that would do you?

I've really enjoyed looking through this thread, I'm on my phone otherwise prettymuch every post wiuld have a Like or a Craftmanship

[DLT]

The way we were in 5.5mm scale way back in 1986. This was Keith Vernon's Cadnant Valley Tramway, showing an imaginary line from Menai Bridge in Angelsey up to Llandonna.

Keith surveyed the route personally (he lived in Menai at the time) and some of his pics of rural Angelsey look for all the world as though there was a trackbed there!

I acquired the modified version of the layout together with the stock in 1993. Triang technology, it's crude by today's finescale standards, but oozes character.

The 5.5mm equivalent of Hornby Dublo 3 rail?  :-)

 

A very nice looking layout; you speak of it in the past tense, so I presume you no longer have it?

 

I like the arrangement at the terminus, and the way the main line leaves it and crosses the road.  It's giving me ideas, I don't suppose you have any more photos?

 

Many thanks, Dave.

[Robin2]

A quick attempt at a 5.5mm scale version of the loco "Blarney" from the Cork & Muskerry Light Railway courtesy of the drawing in the Peco booklet "Modelling the Irish Narrow Gauge".

 

 

I miscalculated the size for the top part of the boiler - hence the bodge. But it does what it was intended to do - illustrate the size of the model. It is posed alongside a Bachmann 00 Gauge Midland 1F and a 20p coin.

 

My initial feeling is that the scale is actually too big for my limited space. Buildings etc will also be substantially larger. Needs more thought!

 

Of course the great attraction of the larger size is that there is plenty of internal space for a cheap electric motor as well as batteries and the R/C gear.

 

...R

[detheridge]

A very nice looking layout; you speak of it in the past tense, so I presume you no longer have it?

 

I like the arrangement at the terminus, and the way the main line leaves it and crosses the road.  It's giving me ideas, I don't suppose you have any more photos?

 

Many thanks, Dave.

Hi DLT,

Yes, this particular layout was scrapped by Keith Vernon when he moved from Menai Bridge to the Midlands, as his new house didn't have the space. He built a new one (which is the one I have) to fit into an alcove in his new place. I purchased it in 1993 after seeing it for sale in RM and missing it by minutes! Luckily the guy who bought it was really an N gauge fan so i was able to get my hands on it. This one also has a long kick back siding which makes shunting interesting, to say the least. Though coarse scale (using Triang TT chassis and standards) it oozes character on the lines of the Aire Valley in some respects, and there's some very inventive modelling. The slate wagons are actually from Airfix Rocket tenders!

I'm afraid that those are all the pics that Keith sent me.

 

Many thanks for the appreciation,

Best wishes,

Dave.

[Hiesler]

And just to show how creative you can be on a budget in 5.5mm scale, here's Malcolm Savage's before and after pics of a Triang starter wagon!

 

Oh look... another one:

 

[rue_d_etropal]

A quick attempt at a 5.5mm scale version of the loco "Blarney" from the Cork & Muskerry Light Railway courtesy of the drawing in the Peco booklet "Modelling the Irish Narrow Gauge".

 

Blarney.jpg

 

I miscalculated the size for the top part of the boiler - hence the bodge. But it does what it was intended to do - illustrate the size of the model. It is posed alongside a Bachmann 00 Gauge Midland 1F and a 20p coin.

 

My initial feeling is that the scale is actually too big for my limited space. Buildings etc will also be substantially larger. Needs more thought!

 

Of course the great attraction of the larger size is that there is plenty of internal space for a cheap electric motor as well as batteries and the R/C gear.

 

...R

I think many fall into the trap that modelling in a bigger scale takes up more space. Bigger scales, means the Z dimension increases. You can't change that, but you can make use of it, as it can make the same space look bigger. You might need more space between parallel tracks, but suspect not much more as setrack is overwide anyway.

[Robin2]

If, by the Z dimension you mean height, then that is my biggest constraint. I have a max of about 155mm for the height above baseboard of my backscene - i.e. the top of the sky.

 

With some regret I have concluded that 5.5mm is just too big. Another problem is that I just can't make myself enthusiastic about narrow-gauge

 

...R

[DLT]

If, by the Z dimension you mean height, then that is my biggest constraint. I have a max of about 155mm for the height above baseboard of my backscene - i.e. the top of the sky.

 

With some regret I have concluded that 5.5mm is just too big. Another problem is that I just can't make myself enthusiastic about narrow-gauge

 

...R

 

Blarney, like much on the Irish narrow gauge, is a BIG loco, a lot higher than most of the English or particularly the Welsh narrow gauge.  I wouldn't take it as a "typical" loco size, try comparing it to a Talyllyn or Festiniog loco and you will see the difference.  

I found 150mm high enough for my first backscenes, and that was in 7mm.

 

However if you really can't get enthusiastic about narrow gauge, then you are probably barking up the wrong tree.  Be warned though, once it bites, you will never look back!

 

Cheers, Dave.

[DLT]

Some wonderful models in 5.5mm scale from Nigel Smith: some NWNG classics and the well known 0-6-2T Graf Schwerin-Lowitz from the Brecon Mountain Railway.

 

Superb looking locos there, have you got any more photos?  Particularly of Gowrie?

 

Cheers, Dave.

[rue_d_etropal]

If, by the Z dimension you mean height, then that is my biggest constraint. I have a max of about 155mm for the height above baseboard of my backscene - i.e. the top of the sky.

 

With some regret I have concluded that 5.5mm is just too big. Another problem is that I just can't make myself enthusiastic about narrow-gauge

 

...R

It is a pity some restrict themselves with a limited max height. Obviously there may be practical reasons, but I am planning(??????) a small 5.5mm/ft scale layout using boxfiles. As with my other boxfile experiments I will be putting the track on the lid, making full use of the height of the box at the back. It then all folds up and is easy to store and transport. It does linmit what can bee fitted on the lid, but I have also considered fitting another box on the back of the first, increasing the depth, and therefore doubling the height available for buildings on the lid.

Obviously not everyone likes modelling narrow gauge. I am sure some phsycologist could explain it, but I model both narrow gauge and standard gauge, in many different scales, and both British and Continental.

I think part of the problem is the attitude of some people in the hobby, possibly explaining why on forums such as this , narrow gauge is shoved into its own corner. I have been looking at some magazines from the 70s(mainly MRC) for the scale drawings. What I have noticed is that there is a far bigger mix of articles, covering standard. narrow gauges as well as not just being UK orientated, and also including a lot of road vehicles(although I think that miht have been as much about the personal intersts of the editor).

Edited June 21, 2017 by rue_d_etropal

[Robin2]

Obviously there may be practical reasons,

Has to fit below the gunwale of my narrowboat

 

Otherwise the max width falls from 345mm to 245mm

 

...R

Edited June 21, 2017 by Robin2

[detheridge]

Here are some more examples of 5.5mm modelling. Andrew Wilson's unfinished Linda in early FR days form, with England tender and extra water tanks, and Alan Catlow's amazing scratchbuilt Sir Haydn.

00n3 fans will be familiar with Alan's terrific IOM models and layout, featured in recent years in RM.

Edited August 1, 2017 by detheridge

[detheridge]

George Williamson's latest superb mini layout, 'The Wharf'.

He's already sold it on and is planning new ventures into 5.5mm scale.

Pictures from the new owner in a moment....

[detheridge]

George Williamson's 'The Wharf' is now in the care of Francis Stapleton.

These pics were taken yesterday at the 5.5mm AGM, and you can see that Francis has added more in the horticultural department, as well as trackwork, stock and facilities.

[DLT]

What a superb piece of modelling!  Brilliant in it's simplicity and effectiveness.

The large anonymous stone building did add a slightly jarring note, but In see it's now gone.

Thanks for sharing,

Dave.

[detheridge]

More pics from the 5.5mm AGM at the weekend. The L&B stock was built by the late Ken Unwin, plus some more pics of 'The Wharf'. Talyllyn is a conversion of the original Gem Dolgoch kit, maker unknown.

[detheridge]

Steve Jones models 3' in 5.5mm scale. Here are some examples of his work.

[detheridge]

More 5.5mm work from Alan Catlow. Dolgoch is not a Gem or MSM kit, but is totally scratchbuilt in brass, as is Talyllyn.

[detheridge]

Many thanks to David Gander for these pics of Barrie Johnson's Pen y Craig at the Wigan show last weekend.

[detheridge]

Going through my files today I found a disk full of pics from the 5.5mm AGM in 2006, and here's a selection of the best in 5.5mm scale.

Upnor Castle and the FR and WHR Funkeys are from Andrew Wilson, the Airfix Dapol railbus is from Alan Catlow, Andy Hyde's 'Dinas" (the one at Blaenau Ffestiniog) is shown in its early days, the 3' freelance diesels are from the late Dave Scott's 'Beccadale Haematite Mines' layout, and there's some of Francis Stapleton's work shown. I forgot who owns the original Gem Linda, Taiiesin and Prince. Thanks to Andrew Wilson for the original pics.

 

[detheridge]

I've just found in my files this selection of pics from the 2003 AGM at the Severn Valley Railway's museum. Many thanks to Mick Thornton for the pics.

In order: the room at the SVR; three pics of Dennis Harrison's artistry in 6mm scale; me in slightly hairier days operating Towyn Wharf, originally built by Alan Catlow;

two pictures of the odd man out - Alan Brackenborough's 00n3 loco from the fabled Vale of Fawrcarnedd railway (built in the late 60s); I once remarked to Dave Burleigh (then 009 society chairman) that I'd love a Swiss Crocodile on my layout and this was the result; Dolgoch in millennial Apple Green livery; a scratchbuilt TR Midlander by Alan Catlow; Dolgoch in 1960s GWR(ish) green; and Malcolm Savage's 5.5mm demo layout 'Bronaber Sidings'.