Over the past few weeks I’ve been buying up quite a lot of 009 and H09 model railway stuff. I chose this scale because it doesn’t take up a lot of tabletop space and fits in well with my 15mm figure collections.
Most of my purchases have been done via eBay and Amazon, and I have concentrated on buying a mixture of Liliput and Egger-Bahn locomotives and rolling stock as well as Kato N-gauge track because it is very quick and easy to click together, ...
... comes on a ready-ballasted plastic roadbase and looks right with 009 and H09 trains.
Not all of the locomotives are runners. These tend to be cheaper to buy, and because I want to use my model trains for both wargaming and to set up a model railway layout, I can use the non-runners for the former and the runners for the latter.
I have always wanted to own and run a model railway layout, and ever since I was diagnosed with bowel/colon cancer in 2020 and then prostate cancer in 2022, I decided that it was about time I got around to building one. I now have enough stuff to do just that … and I’ll be blogging about it as I build it.
I intend to start small with a simple oval of track that I can use to test any 'new' locomotives I acquire. This means getting hold of some sort of baseboard ... and this might be a problem as my woodworking skills are not too good and I should probably avoid making something from scratch. At the moment I am looking at the possibility of using either a cork-faced noticeboard or half of a pasting table bought from a DIY shop. What I need to do is the check that they will be robust enough for my purposes and are not too expensive.
Please note that the photograph of the Kato Unitrack featured above is © Gaugemaster.
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Looking forward to more posts on your foray into railway modelling, a thing I really fancy doing myself but space and time have both defeated me! I will be interested to see how you overcome the baseboard problem. I can see myself taking copious notes on your railway posts!
ReplyDeleteDonnie McGibbon,
DeleteI’ve been watching lots of relevant YouTube videos, some of which were more helpful than others. My first task is to settle on a baseboard, and once I’ve done that, I’ll be able to plan my layout … which is likely to be a simple oval, possibly with a siding.
All the best,
Bob
Bob, I think using a DIY store pasting table for your model railway baseboard could work well, and you could always use the other half as a PW or Shambattle board.
ReplyDeleteIf you use the half-table upside down, with the hardboard on the bottom, you can create relief scenery inside the softwood frame, which will give a firm edge to your layout.
If you make scenic items like trees and buildings easily removable, you could even use the other half as a protective 'lid' when the layout is not in use. The inside of the lid could also form a frame for Hexon II or other terrain tiles for wargames!
Put some adhesive pads on the hardboard bottom and you can put the layout on a dining, kitchen or coffee table when you want to run trains.
I look forward to seeing how this develops. Although I was interested in 009 railways as a boy, my modelling skills could never achieve a standard that satisfied me when compared to the photos in Railway Modeller, so wargames with figures with a basic paintjob and stylised scenery became a much more attractive proposition.
Good luck with your new project! Arthur
Arthur1815 (Arthur),
DeleteThanks for the very helpful suggestions, particularly the idea of using a folded pasting table so that the layout has a lid.
I’m expecting that most of the buildings etc., will be removable for storage, although once we move, I might be able to leave the lid off and use if in the ways you suggest.
All the best,
Bob
I'm also looking forward to witnessing this project - I'd love the space to do a Model Railway, though I don't really have the modelling skills even if I had the room (sigh)
ReplyDeleteMaudlin Jack Tar,
DeleteI’ve never built a model railway before, so I’ve no idea how well this project is going to go … but however it turns out, I hope I can learn from any mistakes that I make.
All the best,
Bob
Nobody should say they don't have room! I've seen layouts built into box files before now. Join the NGRM Forum (no charges) and join the community. Lots of advice and inspiration.
DeleteJoppy,
DeleteThanks for the suggestion. I’ll search out for the NGRM as I’m looking for advice.
All the best,
Bob
Iwill follow with interest in every wargamer there is a model railwayer trying to get out !
ReplyDeleteThe Good Soldier Svjek,
DeleteI suspect that you are correct. In many ways I’m following in the steps Mark, Man of TIN, who has a blog about his model railways entitled SIDETRACKED.
All the best,
Bob
Thanks for the Sidetracked blog mention, Bob. I am still successfully avoiding "building a model railway" (in order to avoid this all consuming family curse of "railway modelling") ... for now.
DeleteMark, Man of TIN,
DeleteIt was my pleasure to mention your blog, especially as it helped to encourage me to actually take the plunge and build a model railway.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob
ReplyDeleteI never cease to be amazed at the wide range of your interests. Many years ago I tried to expand to Ancient wargames, but found I used Napoleonic tactics!
I shall follow your model railway project with interest
regards
Paul
Thistlebarrow (Paul),
DeleteI can be a bit of a butterfly at times, but ever since I was given a toy fort and soldiers, a Meccano set, and a clockwork 0-gauge toy train I’ve always tried to get railways into my wargames.
I’ve also tried Ancients, but never really ‘got’ them … even though I did write a set of PW rules for them.
All the best,
Bob
There is a certain fascination with trains for many of us who grew up with them and toy soldiers just seemed to go hand in hand with them.
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac,
DeleteIt came as no great surprise to discover that so many wargamers are interested in railway modelling. As you write, the two hobbies do seem to go hand-in-hand with each other.
All the best,
Bob
Sounds like a fun project Bob and after what you've been through, you certainly deserve to treat yourself! Looking forward to more updates in due course:).
ReplyDeleteSteve J.,
DeleteCheers! The planning has given me lots of fun … and now it is beginning to come to fruition.
All the best,
Bob
A model railway - rock and roll Bob .. watching with interest
ReplyDeleteGeordie an Exiled FoG,
DeleteI did wonder if I ought to bring it to COW and see just how many attendees would play with it.
All the best,
Bob
lol .. lots
DeleteGeordie an Exiled FoG,
DeleteI suspect that you might be right!
All the best,
Bob
Hi BOB,
ReplyDeleteI wish you well with your Model Railway interest and hope that you can achieve a result in the not to distant future. Yes, I know what it is like delaying with a favorite interest - and then deciding to do something about it. Over the decades I'd long had an interest in Doctor WHO though my Collection never really developed until just a month ago- now it is fully underway and I'm most pleased about the progress. Hope you can do the same with your interest in Model Railways. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI suppose we all come to a point in our lives when we have the time and the resources to fulfil a long-held ambition.
I knew of an aging Freemason who’d always wanted a sports car … and a few years ago he bought a top-of-the-range Mercedes sports car and he had several years of enjoyable driving in it.
All the best,
Bob
BOB,
DeleteYes, we often put things in the to-do-later hat...and the time seems never to arrive. I've adopted the attitude that it is best to make use of every day to it's fullest and get on with things. We also need to treat ourselves to the best of things after waiting or delaying for so long. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteMy wife and I hope to end up with just enough left in the bank to cover our departure from this mortal coil … and to spend the rest on doing things we want to do. There’s no point in having cash in the bank and an unfulfilled wish list: I know of too many people who ended up in that situation.
All the best,
Bob
This has been one of the more satisfying hobby aspects for me, combing model railways and gaming. I had some fun with Warmachine/Hordes and O scale (small but fun encounters - always wanted to make “scrolling tables” and keep the games moving). My latest idea is using my N scale stuff with Dropzone Commander - the setting is prime for it.
ReplyDeleteAs for a great place to start (and not get lost in the YouTube void) is Budget Model Railways on YT. Tons of ideas and great model/hobbyist as well. Very creative.
(I meant to include in my comment) With N scale (160/10mm) a model railway layout that even went on two walls, say around a corner, could really lend itself to artillery, air support and maybe air drops.
DeleteOrionstars,
DeleteHaving read your comments, it sounds as if you are somewhat ahead of me what it comes to combining wargames and model trains,
Thanks for the suggested YouTube channel. Funnily enough, it’s one that I’ve already visited quite a few times for ideas.
All the best,
Bob
Orionstars,
DeleteN-gauge/009 narrow-gauge model railways lend themselves to use in small spaces, and a corner layout certainly has advantages over a traditional linear one.
All the best,
Bob
To be clear, I started as a model railroader and was reintroduced to gaming many years later and now (with a decade or two added again) am starting to try things out. I might have explored this corner a bit more, I’m sure my games while fun, we’re underbaked. I come here and The Stronghold, Not Always Grid and some others to add to my beginner learning. Thank you (and the other blogs and commenters) for all the inspiration and expanding my horizons. PeteL
DeleteOrionstars,
DeleteIt’s a pleasure to be of help to someone who is entering or re-entering the hobby. As a railway modeller you will probably find the there is a fair bit of overlap between that hobby and wargaming, especially when it comes to creating terrain and painting figures.
All the best,
Bob,