I'm tossing around three different ideas for my next layout. IF it was N Scale one I'd want to do a British scene. Rolling countryside with a bridge and a few scattered houses. Anyhow...what's the reputation of British N Scale? I've noticed that Graham Farish seems to be very popular, but I can't really get any reviews (Spookshow has spoiled us all on North American N Scale reviews). Thanks in advance!
Hi! In this Forum you can find -Rroduct Reviews- if you scroll down: www.ngaugeforum.co.uk Best regards Mathi
Hi The British stock has improved dramatically over the past years. Remember it is known as N gauge here [1:148] as opposed to N scale [1:160].
I have a couple of newer (less than 5 years old) Fleischmann locos (1 steam, 1 electric) and they run great. Fleischmann is very expensive in my opinion. I would look at some used stuff to test the waters with.
I like this magazine which usually has some British layouts(small) featured and reviews of new models available. Al http://www.amazon.com/Continental-Modeller/dp/B00007HYBZ
The newer product from Graham Farish (owned by Bachmann) and Dapol is very good. These are the two primary manufacturers. The older Graham Farish (prior to Bachmann taking them over) was not very good, and the re-works of them after the Bachmann takover were only a little better (but much more reliable). Peco wagons (freight cars) are ok. Bear in mind that the primary coupler is still the rapido, although some of the newer stock has standard NEM connectors to allow for different couplers and Dapol, at least, make a knuckle couple to fit the NEM connector. There is no real provision for MT couplers, though. As mentioned, the scale is 1:148, so you can't really mix-n-match items. Adrian
And just to confuse things Continental Europe is 1:160 [so Fleischmann is who produce Continental European models are 1:160. We had to be different didn't we.
FWIW: What Adrian has mentioned is correct in respect on British N-scale. Put simply, it's an 'all or nothing' situation, and so you have a choice: 'British or the rest' (of Continental Europe). As full-size British rolling stock is smaller than that on the Continent (and very much smaller than you will have been used to seeing in the US), it is not feasible to mix the two systems, Modelling-wise, the two scales are, for all intents and purposes incompatible. Hope this helps.
American, German, and British N all use the same track gauge. So things will run, they'll just be different scales and may look odd together.
While this is true to the rivet counter, to the unwashed masses at train shows there is no apparent difference because the smaller size of British trains make them appear the same size as their American or European counterparts when you run them together, same goes for Japanese N scale trains which are 1:150. I think if you scratchbuilt some British rolling stock to actual 1:160 scale you would get more comments from people thinking they were too small. As for the quality I can concur that the newer releases from Graham Farish and Dapol are very good, I would go as far as saying Bachmann puts more effort into their British prototype N scale than the U.S. releases. Something I haven't seen mentioned yet is that everything in the last few years, except for a couple of small six wheel diesels has had six pin DCC sockets. British N scale suffers from the same bad press as Bachmann in that no one beleives how much it has improved, back when DCC first came on the scene one of our British modelling club members converted to a Pennsy modeller because of the running qualities of British N scale back in the late 80's. I have a Terrier and Pannier Tank from Dapol and a Prototype Deltic, 3MT 2-6-2T and Ivat 2MT 2-6-0 from Farish along with a growing selection of rolling stock so I'm going to have to build a few British themed T-TRAK modules to give them somewhere they look more at home.
It shouldn't pose any issues. I use peco track and British power units with my US prototype with no issues.
You're fine with the power. Atlas code 55 track may be a problem, some of the flanges on rolling stock can be pretty big.
I've actually been working on a European N Scale Locomotive Encyclopedia (started a few months ago). Unfortunately, it's a long way away from being ready for public consumption. Those dudes have been building models for an awfully long time Cheers, -Mark
So far as I am concerned, the main problem with UK outline N at 1/148 scale is the Rapido coupling system. Peco have their own version of it, which isn't spring loaded, and a magnetic uncoupling arrangement to suit. I gave up on the system in the end, converting to US outline in late 2010, because of the knuckle couplings - having said that, Dapol DO produce knuckle couplings to fit into NEM pockets. I think they are McHenry units but I'm not sure. Bachmann, wearing their Farish hat were threatening to do so at about the time I quit, but I've never noticed anything on the market yet. Regards, Pete Davies
I have some of the Dapol couplers and they are their own tooling and not the same as McHenrys although they are a similar style coupler to those and Bachmann's Easy Mates. Before my father passed away a couple of years ago he body mounted MT couplers on several Peco wagons, I think he used 1015s but I gave them to one of the club members who is a British modeller so I couldn't say for sure.
Anything made recently should have fine flanges but then that's why Peco made their code 55 track the way they did back in the day.
