d6841 wrote:

jazz wrote: d6841 wrote: There is also an increasing number of ready to run models in O gauge now. Agreed, and some are very nice too. Unfortunately, unless you can build kits or scratchbuild, 0 is a bit expensive. As I've said elsewhere, personally, given the choice of a large 4mm layout or a modest 0, give me 0 everytime. The cost if you are able to build your own kits is not that different. I dont agree with you about that. for instance a djh class 37 kit is over 400 quid but a heljan rtr is to be about the same, for oo you are talking 60ish quid a loco there is no comparison. I would prefer to model only O gauge but 1 I dont have the room and 2 I cannot afford it.

Ha, you missed the point just a little. As in 00, there are some very expensive RTR from the major manufacturers. Just as there are some very modestly priced models too.

It's exactly the same in 0. There are some really good loco kits trom £50 up. Scorpio pannier tanks are £110. My MMP class 08 was £134.

Wheels are between £10 - £14 eack. Motor & gears are from the mid £30's.

My 08 ended up costing £210 because I chose to an expensive motor/gearbox. The MMP kit gives a much superior model to the Bachman Brass which is , I think, is around £300 unpainted and lacks a LOT of detail so needed in 0. (The MMP detailing kit for that model is £49)

The MMP class 47 and similar locos in his range are £199 + £40 for wheels + motor/gears.

I'm just pointing you CAN build a modest layout for a reasonable price. i.e. a couple of tank locos and perhaps 20 or wagons is, would to me, be a lot more satisfying in 0 rather than the same area covered in 00 filled with many locos & stock that I had done before discovering the delights of 0.

I know space can be a problem in 0. Mine is 15" at its widest part and runs down one wall of the garage (19')

I do appreciate what you mean. 1 O gauge loco goes a lot further than 1 OO. Unfortunately not everyone has the skills to build kits properly. I have been around model railways for a long time now and have seen a fair number of well turned out kits, unfortunately I have seen some that are not.

You are absolutely right on all counts.

Some of the kits, and not always the budget ones, would be hopeless for anyone other than quite experienced.

I did start in 0 gauge, just like Alan (andersley), scratch building my my models. I was able to do this as a result of lessons learned by partially scratch building 00. In those days the models were little more than toys and mostly not to scale. Quite different now, of course, almost all the 00 models are very nice representations of the prototype.