Atomic Systems

Hi there,

I am currently Modelling in 4mm: 1 foot 00 Gauge, but have recently been tempted to look much more closely into the 16mm Gauge market, and was wondering if there were any other 16mm Gauge modelers around that could give me some advice on where to start, etc.

Any help would be appriciated.

Hi,
Firstly, congratulations on looking into 16mm scale. Trust me, once you've started you'll wonder why you ever bothered to fiddle around with electric mice!
As for where to start-it largely depends what sort of railway you want. The first question you probably need to ask youself is: 32mm or 45mm gauge?
On the one hand, 32mm gauge track is cheaper, and the majority of British ng lines were 2' gauge. On the other hand, most of the ready-to-run material (eg. LGB, Bachmann, Accucraft) is aimed at the 45mm gauge market, although conversion is possible in most cases. There is also less support for electric operation in 32mm gauge. At the end of the day it is largely a matter of personal tastes; American and continental stock tends to be for 45mm gauge, British stock for 32mm. Another option is G64-standard gauge trains running to G scale on 64mm gauge track (formerly known as Gauge 3). GRS has a steadily-expanding range of items in this scale, but they need a lot of space!
The next question to ask is: steam or electric? Again, there is an element of personal taste in this; you won't go for steam if you're a diesel fan! But there are other factors to consider. If you like to tun an intensive service, with lots of trains running at once, you will have great difficulty doing so with live steam. On the other hand, if you actually enjoy driving an engine, taking the time to prepare it and getting to know it's individual characteristics like one would with a full-size engine, then you should seriously consider live steam. But bear in mind it dosn't come cheap!
Once you've decided on your answers to these important questions, it's time to go out into the garden and start planning your railway. As in the smaller scales, a trackplan is the best place to start. Think carefully about the layout of the garden when planning the line-it's best to avoid steep gradients and sharp curves where possible. You also need to decide whether you want your line at ground level, or raised up on boards or breezeblocks. The former looks prettier but the latter is easier when preparing a loco. If you have s sloping garden you could could compromise by building it on the ground at the top of the hill and then keeping the tack level so that at the bottom of the slope it is a comfortable height.
Once you've planned the railway you're ready to build it. Now we took the coward's way out and hired in someone else to do this for us, so I think I ought to hand over to someone else at this point...

Firstly we built our line ourself

As a 45mm modeller in a big scale (12 locos) myself - I would suggest that you took the 32mm route. Many more lines are like that - and there are many kits which aren't available for 45mm.

A decent loco - an Edrig or a Millie - will set you back £350 - £399 and £400 - £420 respectively, depending on where you swap.

Take a look round my site at http://www.freewebs.com/wlrailway for a few ideas - PM or e-mail me if you need any pointers - I'll be more than glad to help.

Hi.

I have an Accucraft caradoc, she was my first loco after moving from 2 and 4mm to 16mm. I have just ordered the smaller Edrig because I have been so impressed with them. They are wonderful and dual gauge so if you want to visit a 45mm line then you can! I would advise laying in 32mm track.

My garden railway has been built in a ver small space, if you go over to the BATS forum I have posted some pictures of my railway. Take a look.

Andy Hardy

Personally if I was youI'd go for a Roundhouse machine. Although the Accucrafts are good, the Roundhouse machines are - in my opinion - much better.

I'd suggest a Millie, as I said, if you feel like speding a bit more then you can't go wrong with a Lady Anne or Katie. Our Lady Anne's a great machine.

Whateve you choose - I'd suggest getting it through Brandbright or PPS - not GRS, they're absolutely rubbish with customer satisfaction, and their kits are appauling (just ask MuzTrem about "B1")

Well, the kit itself wasn't too bad, but the instructions were awful...they didn't really explain thing very well, and in some cases just assumed that you would know how to do it (the bogies for example-I'd never assembled any before and was thourghly confused!). THe only visula aids very too poorly-photocopied photographs and a rather confusing hand-drawn diagram. If you're going to build kits, IP are far better, with Airfix-style exploded digrams and instruction that actually look as if they proofread! Or better still, just buy Accucraft's RTR wagons-you can have them running instantly, no need to mess about with paper, glue and card for months on end!

IP are the best around. I would suggest Accucrafts wagons though - we have 7 - but the stock runs out quickly so if you want the W&LLR wagons when they come out, or the IoM coaches, you'll have to pre-order or be quick

very interesting indeed,

i was thinking 32mm because that is what i have seen around to be honest, that and i don't really do all that continental stuff. No offense intended to anyone, lol.

I can't really afford a railway right now, perhaps in 30-40 years i'll have one, lol. But i was definately interested in looking into 16mm gauge as my Hornby set for all she is, is just that a set...

Also living in London a lack of a garden,

Woodrow Light Railway? Wasn't you in Railway Modeller a few years back? If it is the article i think then it was actually your line that inspired me, lol.

Not me I'm afraid. My friends at the Woodland Light Railway - who were 32m and have now sold up - were though!

By the way 45mm isn't really continental (well it is - but it doesn't have to be)

I'll post more later - Murray's coming with his stock today for a run.

There are some Welshpool & Llanfair models around to run on 45mm which comes out to close to 3ft gauge, so corect for that company.

I have recently gone into 45mm G scale (LGB) as I'm not into engineering that much and the live steam crowd seem to mainly be into the engines whereas I'm into the modelling of a whole fictional railway company in miniature.

Maybe a little harsh

JonPotter wrote:By the way 45mm isn't really continental (well it is - but it doesn't have to be)

GRS have a good range of 45mm British outline kits (if you can build them!) and there is a steadily expanding range of RTR stock from Accucraft. Most Roundhouse, Pearse and Accucraft locomotives can be converted for either gauge so it's perfectly possible to have a British outline 45mm gauge line

Never said it wasn't

I know, I was backing you up