The case for N

So we are going N again, i did say in the past N was a little too small for me didn't i? So whats changed. Well maybe i was a little harsh. I tried N gauge over 20 years ago in a brief interlude between various 00 gauge monstrosities and didn't like it so that has made me prejudiced. However the standard of stock has improved over the years, when i had a close look at some N gauge locos a few weeks ago i was pleasantly surprised. When i got my 4-Cep unit yesterday i was delighted. It runs really well on the Eskalon layout, better than the HOe fleet to be honest.

The plan is now to carefully pack away everything that can't be used (rolling stock, buildings, some of the trees) and then plan how to adapt the Eskalon layout to the new as-yet-unnamed new layout. Some sidings may be modified as they will not need to adhere to HO clearances anymore though the main loop will remain compatible with the HOe locos as it will be needed to give them decent runs. Then some more N gauge rolling stock will be needed, i am going for a Southern Region layout set in the mid-70s. Luckily a new Class 33 model is due out soon...

Return of N

Well i finally decided on the future of the layout and that is to end the Eskalon project in its current form and instead start a new British Rail N gauge layout. To that end i bought a Class 411 EMU today and very nice it is too, it runs fine on Eskalon of course as it uses N gauge track. Indeed the new layout will use as much as possible from Eskalon. As for HOe? Its not the end, i am going to build an end-to-end layout at some stage for my HOe fleet plus the "N version" Eskalon will retain the ability to run HOe locos for running in purposes.

Yellow Otter

Project #067, a DHC-6 Twin Otter, has now reached the painting stage and is going to be rather yellow...

Pantograph up!

Although 013.3 is an electric locomotive the layout does not have any overhead lines or catenary (and is unlikely to ever to). Usually the locomotive runs with the pantograph down but i thought i would see what it looks like with it up...

Welcome to the... other models

For some time i've written about the model kits i have built on my personal blog but i thought it would make more sense to bring that material over to this blog and have a combined model railways and model kits blog. So here it is!

The last few posts have been bought across but the majority will be left on the other blog, you can access them using this link if you wish.

High def

A few photos taken with the DSLR, higher quality than the photos i usually take which are with the iPhone. You can really see the detail in some of the photos, which is good (the rolling stock) and bad (the scenery!)

Fw190

Project #066 is a Focke-Wulf Fw190A-8 and has now reached completion. The last few model kits have been a bit slow going but we got there in the end!