This is N - Take a second look...
Previously Chris and I discussed the merits and the promise of 'modern' N, and this is not the first time I've shared a photo of Paxton Road under this title...
This is a box standard Farish 08 that I have repainted and weathered, coupled with an out of the box brake van what I've added a very light wash to the factory weathering. The quality of the models by Farish allows us to suspend reality long enough to recognise the Modelu figures and think 'this must be OO', aided by the illusion of that wonderful British Finescale track.
BUT you know this isn't just a pretty face, it runs well, the automatic DG couplings work a treat and the potential for a working small cameo layout in the scale is very real. Remember this is half the size of OO, that means HALF the foot print too - now all of us have space for a small cameo layout in our homes, imagine the potential. Remember, this is pretty much 'out of the box' modelling here - yes, I've breathed my touch across all the elements, but what you see is achievable. What's stopping you? The water is lovely...
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Superb modeling as always James... The detail of modern N scale is pretty fantastic now days. The only thing that is the giveaway in your photo is the out of scale bulk of the flycranks/coupling rods and the thick hand rails and hand grabs on the 08. Otherwise, you'd be pretty hard pressed to peg this as N scale.
ReplyDeleteAgreed Jeff, they are heavy and even painting them pale grey rather than white (handrails) and black (crank pins) doesn’t diminish their mass. However that said, the Farish 08 really captures the character out of the box and purrs along belying it’s small size and short wheelbase!
DeleteHello James,
ReplyDeleteAnother superb photo! As you highlight the quality and detail for n now is matching 00. The only thing that spoils these models out of the box is the massive coupler. I think Dapol introduced their version of the microscales coupler which is at least something that looks more like a real coupler with the abilities to uncouple remotely but it does not seem to have caught on. For many the prospect of having to retro fit other couplers such as the ones you are using may be off-putting which may also be a reason why most n gauge exhibition layouts I see seem to be roundy types rather than shunting.
Apologies if I have this wrong but I think although n is half the scale of 00 it is actually a quarter of the footprint if I have my maths correct which was never my strong subject at school! So that 8 x 4 00 layout suddenly becomes a manageable 4 x 2 feet (sorry showing my age with old measurements!). Just think what you could do in the space of your Beaverbrook layout in n!
Woody
Hi Woody - indeed your maths seems to stack up to me… I did look at the Dapol easy shunt but they’re the same bulk as the old style ones, so no visual advantage. It’s a shame as they look 1:76 scale rather than 1:148, I’m sure they could have looked at a more Microtrains scaled product.
DeleteI think my next N project will feel like Beaverbrook in a smaller space, I’ve no interest in anything bigger, and N is such a new prospect for me I’m taking baby steps.
I remember you mentioning the ModelU figures on Wednesday James; you're absolutely right, they really are a game changer!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to get started soon on repainting my (green) 08 into Rail Blue; it'll probably end up being faded and filthy as befits one in the early 1990s. For some reason I'd missed your video on building the DG couplings...having found my stash of the that's another thing to make a start on although I need to get the 009 Inglenook finished for a show in March...
Greatly enjoying the book (when the cat will let me sit and read undisturbed!).
Cheers,
Simon.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the book, it was a pleasure to see you again last week. The 08 is such an iconic locomotive especially in blue. I was lucky to be able to preserve the factory applied wasp stripes when I painted mine! Fox do a good decal sheet for the markings in N, and I managed to get a tin of discontinued ‘faded rail blue’ from Phoenix paints on eBay, you need to add a gloss lacquer to it before applying markings though. Rails of Sheffield have NSE 08 bodies for £12ish if you need one though, that’s what I used as a base for mine.
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