Deliberately Old-Fashioned 0 Scale - Chapter 1

[Nearholmer]

If it’s focused around Hornby M series, which it might be with such tight curves, the trains are more like S scale broad gauge, if scale comes into it at all.

 

We tend to forget M, and start our thinking at No.1 series.

 

 

[brianusa]

Perhaps its because  of the limited appeal of MO series trains which were not compatible to the other Hornby Series.  It is however a good try at utilising small radius track, although the main looks as though the curves have been opened up a bit for the speedier running that MO trains were capable of.  An interesting concept, semi serious in appearance and offering a lot of fun.

    Brian.

Edited June 17, 2022 by brianusa

[Annie]

I still have a collection of M0 and M1 Hornby along with some Mettoy, Brimtoy and Chad Valley items.  All absolutely great fun of course.

When I was still a HRCA member the guys would be down one end of the room showing off some rare No1 items they'd just paid $$$$$ for and boasting about it,  while us lady members would be at the other end of the room having lots of fun with our 'rubbish' M0 and M1 stuff.

Edited June 21, 2022 by Annie
fumble brain

[33C]

On 16/06/2022 at 14:59, Ben B said:

I wish I had enough space for this;

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255581113408?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D107c6fa8dec249979e277b0369015ee0%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D255581113408%26itm%3D255581113408%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26brand%3DHornby&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Ac4b3f1cd-ed7b-11ec-9efd-3a56bfc5161a|parentrq%3A6ccac8201810a6e6ae501a76fffe98d0|iid%3A1

 

It looks like a fun 'watching the trains whizz by' layout, and done to a decent scenic standard too

That is fantastic! And it's been re-listed too....

[Lacathedrale]

Another silly clockwork question - is it possible to source clockwork mechanisms of quality that one might have seen in BL and Bing, rather than Hornby? I'm thinking of those with a good energy reserve, moderate speed, automatic stop/start catches and the various bells and whistles? I have a milling machine and a dividing head so it's not a huge issue to make gears or lay out plates and machine spacers, so in theory I could also potentially build from drawings if there are any around?

 

I keep getting attracted back to tinplate despite my finescale pursuasions...

Edited June 21, 2022 by Lacathedrale

[Nearholmer]

Firstly, don’t write-off Hornby mechanisms, some of them a very good, as good or better than the ordinary Bing and BL ones.

 

The answer to your question is, to the best of my knowledge: second, third or twenty-fourth hand. The best thing to do is join HRCA and/or BLS, and find out through that who locally is a good clockwork-fettler. Chris Littledale at Brighton Toy Museum is only just down the line from you, I think, and he knows everyone who is anyone in old toy trains, so might be able to recommend someone to you.

[Lacathedrale]

Good shout - that said I'm looking at half a dozen clockwork non-040 models on eBay for the £200-£350 mark and they look so bloody charming. I know you said that there's a bit of a gulf between clockwork and electric but when they're a quarter of the price...

 

I've been reading with some enjoyment the Sherwood Section by N.S.Eagles in the early RMs and keep thinking "Well, it might just be possible..." with my 14 x 8' around-the-walls space...

 

Edited June 21, 2022 by Lacathedrale

[Metropolitan H]

!4ft x 8ft would be lovely. I currently only have 11ft 6in x 7ft 6in, so I'm limited to tight 2ft 3in radius curves and turnouts and a mavimum of 4 bogie coaches - but i do have a double track circuit and a small terminal element. See:

 

[Donw]

That may only be a small space (for 0 gauge) but it is so in keeping with the 'old fashioned 0' ethos. 

 

Don

[Keith Addenbrooke]

I’ve been in conversation with Colin at Raylo a couple of times recently.  As they’re probably best known for their vintage / coarse O-Scale specialism, this seems the logical thread to share my appreciation for what I have found to be exemplary customer service from a thoroughly decent and very nice person to speak with - I was so impressed after my first order I placed my second one just a few days later.  Hope it’s OK to share this here, Keith.

[Nearholmer]

This is old-fashioned, but also rather fascinating. One of several fashion shots taken by American photo journalist Lee Miller, when she’d settled down in Sussex after witnessing the horrors of WW2. They are circulating on ‘disused railways of Sussex Facebook page’. The station is Horam (or Waldron, or Horam & Waldron, or Waldron & Horam, or Waldron Road, or ….. it’s name was changed as regularly as a pair of socks).

 

Worth reading-up about Miller.

 

 

 

Edited July 7, 2022 by Nearholmer

[Hroth]

17 minutes ago, Nearholmer said:

This is old-fashioned, but also rather fascinating. One of several fashion shots taken by American photo journalist Lee Miller, when she’d settled down in Sussex after witnessing the horrors of WW2. They are circulating on ‘disused railways of Sussex Facebook page’. The station is Horam (or Waldron, or Horam & Waldron, or Waldron & Horam, or Waldron Road, or ….. it’s name was changed as regularly as a pair of socks).

 

Worth reading-up about Miller.

 

 

 

 

Terrific photographer, but she cut off a lot of the loco......

 

:-)

 

[Nearholmer]

I remember my mother and grandmother complaining about ‘smuts from the engine’ getting on their best clothes when travelling too, so those two might regret togging-up so smartly.

[Hroth]

3 minutes ago, Nearholmer said:

I remember my mother and grandmother complaining about ‘smuts from the engine’ getting on their best clothes when travelling too, so those two might regret togging-up so smartly.

 

And imagine trying to run for a train in those heels!

 

Being serious, the neg the photo was printed from wasn't in good condition, there's a couple of scratches to the left of the luggage, and that discoloured patch by the lamp post.  A dull wet day too, even with fast film of the period the photo would be taken at a fairly wide aperture, with the focus on the models, with less sharpness everywhere else!

 

[Nearholmer]

The write-up accompanying the photos suggests that she chose the day and location specifically to get visual contrast between the smart models and their drab surroundings. I was thinking that she must have used a stack of supplementary lighting, and I think not (all) flash, so must have created quite a rumpus at her generally sleepy local station.

[Hroth]

36 minutes ago, Nearholmer said:

The write-up accompanying the photos suggests that she chose the day and location specifically to get visual contrast between the smart models and their drab surroundings. I was thinking that she must have used a stack of supplementary lighting, and I think not (all) flash, so must have created quite a rumpus at her generally sleepy local station.

 

Although electronic flash was available then, I don't think it was used here, or even conventional flash, in the sort of flashgun that gets "upcycled" to Star Wars lightsabres.  There's not enough glitter off the metal fixtures on the handbag or the water on the platform. The modelling of the folds in the jackets and the faces of the women suggests one or two photofloods and a passive reflector to direct the light.

 

I think the effect is intended to be naturalistic.

 

There would have been a fair number of people around to have achieved the shoot, it was a long time before the snappy-snappy 60s photogs!

 

 

[brianusa]

8 hours ago, Nearholmer said:

This is old-fashioned, but also rather fascinating. One of several fashion shots taken by American photo journalist Lee Miller, when she’d settled down in Sussex after witnessing the horrors of WW2. They are circulating on ‘disused railways of Sussex Facebook page’. The station is Horam (or Waldron, or Horam & Waldron, or Waldron & Horam, or Waldron Road, or ….. it’s name was changed as regularly as a pair of socks).

 

Worth reading-up about Miller.

 

 

 

Some of my girl friends looked like that, hat, handbags and all!   Life was different then - no jeans in sight!

   They could have picked a smarter engine!    😉

Brian.

[Compound2632]

9 hours ago, Nearholmer said:

 

Chimneys were being worn short that year?

Edited July 7, 2022 by Compound2632

[Nearholmer]

I think it’s an E5, which has a higher pitched boiler and shorter chimney than the E4 that is “the typical LBSCR 0-6-2T”.

[Nearholmer]

Better view of the loco in this one. I can’t swear which class it is, but a better trainspotter should be able to say.

 

 

[TT-Pete]

1 hour ago, brianusa said:

Some of my girl friends looked like that, hat, handbags and all!   Life was different then - no jeans in sight!

   Brian.

 

Style, refinement, elegance, decorum <sigh> we seem to have lost something in the last 70-odd years...

 

 

[Nearholmer]

Trains?

[Annie]

3 hours ago, Nearholmer said:

Better view of the loco in this one. I can’t swear which class it is, but a better trainspotter should be able to say.

My Mum had a coat like the lady on the left is wearing.

[Annie]

3 hours ago, TT-Pete said:

Style, refinement, elegance, decorum <sigh> we seem to have lost something in the last 70-odd years...

None too happy about seeing pictures like that one in this thread.  😒

[Hroth]

9 hours ago, TT-Pete said:

Style, refinement, elegance, decorum <sigh> we seem to have lost something in the last 70-odd years...

 

Its not a pleasant contrast. Mens clothing for the same demographic isn't any better.

The womens heels are higher too.  I suppose you don't have to run to catch an Uber....

 

To alleviate things, here's a Deliberately Old-Fashioned Cheer Up picture, on the same lines as the last 1950s photograph...

 

 

 

:-)