N Gauge

N Gauge Stock Box

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

The last time we were out with my Sons new N Gauge layout, all the stock was in the original boxes and it took ages to get everything ready and put it away. A decision was taken that we look for alternatives and look at stock boxes.

After looking on various sites we found N Gauge was not well catered for, OO and even O had plenty of options. A self manufacture seemed to be the best way out and several options were looked at. I had some old ‘Bachmann’ OO Stock boxes that have become redundant since my move to O Gauge, so an extra cardboard spacer was made to half the size of the OO gaps. It worked very well and the two layers now hold a total of 43 wagons and coaches. I used foam cubes to hold the stock in position. That’s saved some money!

Next Batch of N Gauge weathering

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

This is the second batch of my sons weathering requirement. I must say that N gauge weathering is not as easy as it may seem, at least I find it so. A least they will now look better on his layout?

PNA Railtrack – 3 in rake

Salmon – 1 in Rake

Limpets – 3 in rake

RMC Bogies – 4 in rake

Seacows – 5 in Rake

RES BG’s – 6 in rake

Massive N Gauge weathering task.

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

At the recent Stowmarket MRC Exhibition at Elmswell, my son debuted our new N Gauge layout ‘Coopers Common’. When I made the layout it was completely weathered, but on the day much of the stock was out of the box. Over the next few months I intend to weather all the stock and locos, I am fairly sure I can finish every thing before the next Exhibition in the Autumn, but other work will have to take a back seat!

Network Rail Ballast/Spoil Wagons (11 in rake)

Ketton Cement (10 in Rake)

Carless Tanks- Gas Condensate (9 in Rake)

EWS Large Boxes (6 in Rake)

Trains run on Coopers Common.

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

A couple of trains have now run on our N Gauge Layout ‘Coopers Common’. The afternoon started by testing and cleaning all track, then the running of a small cement train behind a class 60, followed by a Class 92 Electric in hope that the overheads will arrive eventually! We did a time trial on the inside track and managed to get the slow running down to 3 minutes 45 second per circuit.

Coopers Common -Finished (19/10)

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

I am now calling the N Gauge Layout – finished. Well when I say finished, I mean as far as the money has gone, second hand bits all used and I need to move on after 5 weeks making it! I averaged just over 6 hours per day and with the longest at 11 plus hours I need a break from N Gauge. All the below photos are new and taken from slightly different angles.

The only thing I would do at a future date is further road marking, but this is not a priority. If the money had not run out, I would have considered further cameo scenes, but to be honest I think it would have ‘over egged’ the overall effect of an open countryside scene. Knowing when to say ‘no’ that’s it, is part of getting it just right.

Coopers Common is due to appear for its first Exhibition at the Stowmarket MRC at Elmswell next July. I hope to take one more lot of photos with stock running in the era 2000 – 2010 when the layout has moved to my Sons home, I just hope John and his children Charlie and Sofia appreciate my work.

The next layout will be in O Gauge – my first love – watch this space.

Coopers Update – 11.10.23

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

Lots of bits and pieces have arrived in the post and I have been making them ready for the Layout. I have had to drop my usual interest in detail as N Gauge is proving a bit of a challenge to my O Gauge brain! I have however managed a few interesting cameos. The camera is certainly a bit unkind in N Gauge!

Narrow Boats on River.

Fishermen

Cows

Track Workers

Coopers Update 9.10.23

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

It has been a very busy weekend at Exhibitions and trips out, however I did manage some more detailing work. I have created the 5th green and 6th tee on the corner of my Golf Club scene, added yet more trees and started to add Cars and HGV’s to the road and Narrow Boats to the river, although these need painting to be finished.

Coopers Update – 5/10/23

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

I would say I am within a week of finishing the layout after receiving some gifted foliage and flocks. I have now planted another 40 recycled trees and shrubs, that makes over 65 trees now on the layout. About 90% of the railway fence has been completed, but I am running out of wood of the right size and the fine wire I have been using. Anyway below are a few more photos of the last few days work.