Ease of Gn15 scratch building.

[Bill Reynolds]

Hello Modellers, I am down the shed at the moment scratch building a number of 7/8" scale wagons, etc. While working away my mind wonders here and there. After this batch build of three wagons and two vans that's it as far as 7/8" scale modelling is concerned! Seeing how small Gn15 is do people actively scratch build wagons and the like? I brought a wagon kit from Station Studio (not sure if that is the correct name) to get a idea of the size and the like. The wagon chassis is a Dapol one pre-made but the body work can be scratch built if desired. Do people on here do this sort of thing??

[Bilco]

Hi Bill,

I've built a couple from scratch, as well as bashing bits of kits and RTR.

This is a simple flat



Full build details here http://forum.gn15.info/viewtopic.php?t=7528


This is a convertable wagon



details here viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9384&p=111386#p111386

And this is a fuel wagon



details here viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7676&p=95823#p95823

[Thorness]

There is an excellent walk through of wagon building here:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10024&p=117174#p117174

Cheers

Don

[Steve Holland]

I was just about to post the link to my tub wagon build, but was beaten to it. Must type faster
There is also a van to go with the wagons.



This uses Peco 'Wonderful Wagons' running gear which is basically sprung axle boxes and W irons, so you can set your own wheelbase. The body is styrene sheet. It runs well thanks to the springing, but the thing is a bit top heavy despite lead in the bottom so falls right over if it derails. Perhaps it is a bit too tall?
Scratch built locos are also no problem, and there is lots of scope for making all sorts of fiddly detail parts from all manner of bits and pieces. There are loads of examples in Modelling Matters including my GLS30 diesel http://gn15.info/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10230
There's lots of inspiration here - enjoy the search!

[Bob Roegge]

I have scratch built all my Gn15 engines and wagons. I also work a little in 1/12th. Gn15 is easier as the detail in the smaller scale is not so demanding.

[Nevadablue]

I don't have a lot of rolling stock yet, but all of it is scratch built. To me, that's the fun of it.



And, this one was done simply by sitting the driver on a Bachmann 0-4-2 without a cab.

[KEG]

The wagon chassis is a Dapol one pre-made but the body work can be scratch built if desired. Do people on here do this sort of thing??

A very strange question. We have more than 4.000 topics in here. Very many actually deal with scratchbuilding of rolling stock. I always thought, it is impossible to ignore the almost 50.000 contributions.

There is not much RTR or kits for Gn15 on the market. Some makers retired, one got a very bad reputation for ripping off his customers. 3-D printing seems to be on the way, but you seldom see them built or painted in forums.

Smallbrook Studios offer a range of affordable kits. For my taste, 0-scale chassi (1 : 45) are a bit small for Gn15 (plus / minus 1 : 24) Mainly the seize of the axle boxes.

Have Fun

Juergen

[rue_d_etropal]

Gn15 is a very niche market. This means trade support is going to be minimal, and mainly aimed at kit/scratchbuilding. Using standard OO/HO mechanisms and chassis does make it a good entry point for anyone wanting to bash a few models. As skills improve people tend to want more detail, and therefore are more particular. There are also a few people who want to skip the basic step. If they have the money then fine, but as I said it is a niche market.
Being a niche market makes 3D printing a better option, but it is not cheap, and therefore better for those modellers who have the money, especially if they ant all the bells and whistles!

One big advantage of the bigger scales is being able to add more detail, and add other features(working). This is what I am working on at the moment, and is possibly a better selling point for modelling small layouts in big scales.
It does seem that we speak more about the trains and less about other parts of the model, although there have been plenty of topics on layouts, which I find more interesting on occasions.

7/8th modelling is also a niche market, and I have noticed some have given up producing kits, presumably because there are not enough people buying them. Another possible for 3D printing, especially as for non railway specific items it is close enough to 1/12th scale to increase potential market. I up sized some of my wagons and you need some serious money to buy what are pretty close to r2r models. Probably why some still prefer to modify G gauge locos and wagons.

[Bill Reynolds]

Hello Modellers, ...."a very strange question"...not really. My present scale is in fact a rubber scale of 7/8ths and 1.12th scales.... to get plenty of freelance modelling done without the straight jacket of 'un-correctness'. As far as I am concrned my question was just a simple question. I have to build and convert stuff to my existing scale of 7/8"+ as what I want for my outfit is not made...just like the stuff for the Gn15 version of what is in my rear garden outside. In this scale I think I am going to use my anglopoide magnefying lamp more! Thanks to the people who showed me their photo's...most helpful.