From Miniature to BIG

Have you found any coal that you could fit to complete the model?

Oh, Mallard, the beautiful "blue Spencer"! 

I suppose you already have the other preserved A4, Sir Nigel Gresley, Nigels?

[Super]

Love those wheels and the cabs detail 👍

Have you found any coal that you could fit to complete the model?

As it happens it is supposed to come with an optional 'coal load' accessory, but it is missing from the package.  I'm chasing the retailer about that as I may use it, although I'm more likely to make an insert myself on a 3D printer and then put real coal on the top of it as it will look more realistic.  In some ways its nice that they thought to make it an optional accessory rather than just lumbering you with a plasticky looking one like you get on most ready to run models.

Oh, Mallard, the beautiful "blue Spencer"! 

I suppose you already have the other preserved A4, Sir Nigel Gresley, Nigels?

I do have a model of Sir Nigel Gresley in OO scale and probably would have opted for that if it had been an option open to me in this scale.  But unfortunately the only way I could have done that would have been to go for an unnumbered version and sourced name plates and decals for the running numbers etc...  But having had a look around for these items I couldn't find them in O gauge, so I decided to go for the Mallard.  Other choices in named models were 'Silver link' in the grey/silver livery, but I didn't fancy that as they didn't carry proper name plates and I've never been a fan of the grey wheels lol!  Other than that all they had left were 'Union of South Africa' and 'Commonwealth of Australia' but I didn't fancy those as they were in late BR Green and were the versions that came without valances (the side plates that partly cover the wheels on the fully streamlined versions).

Love those wheels and the cabs detail 👍

Me too Super, the red wheels were one of the things that swayed me to that particular livery of the named loco's still available.  I was also surprised to see that they had even gone to the effort to model the cab details accurately rather than just re-use the A3 version.  I take it you also noticed the excellent rivet detailing?  I was also really impressed with the chrome striping on the top of the running board at the front of the engine, I don't think the pictures did that particularly good justice.  It's the first time I've seen that modelled in this way on a ready to run model, most of the time if there is any detail at all it just tends to be the ridges but painted in black like the rest of that part of the loco.  Did you also notice the small brass tubing around the right hand (looking from the front) name plate?  Never seen that on a model before either, guess they really went to town with these models

[Super]

A beauty for sure

Yes, those Hattons models do look good.

For what it is worth, I enjoy making adapters to connect different versions of 0-gauge track, including the slightly wider blue plastic track. My O-scale models can share a track with my granddaughter's plarail and wooden railway trains. Child under careful supervision while the real models are out, of course!  I made a small battery shunter than can run around a wooden railway circuit and also run on most brands of 0-gauge track. It has a magnet coupler on one end and a Traing-Rovex (or Lima) coupler on the other.

I have been impressed by the "OS-Railway" 3-D printable 0-gauge track. You can make display tracks for the cabinet or make more to build a layout on the floor, providing that you don't need track power.

Now that is an interesting twist as I'd never expected to hear about O gauge trains sharing track with PlaRail, although it does make sense when you describe it like that. I'm aware that you can get some O gauge battery powered models out there, would be interesting to see one of those chasing after Thomas LOL!!

I'm aware of the 3D system that you mention and have considered looking into it more closely. However lack of space for O gauge is what has put me off till now. These models that I've been buying are stunning, but due to my space constraints are unfortunately only likely to be destined to be display models unless things change somehow...

[Super]

This I have to see

BTW...Welcome aboard Densha 👍

Well....

After the rash of O gauge, then the Royal Scot OO gauge, now I'm back to my current favourite of Kato N Gauge, specifically a special limited edition set featuring an SL50 loco and 3 coaches - Enjoy!

Yes, those Hattons models do look good.

For what it is worth, I enjoy making adapters to connect different versions of 0-gauge track, including the slightly wider blue plastic track. My O-scale models can share a track with my granddaughter's plarail and wooden railway trains. Child under careful supervision while the real models are out, of course!  I made a small battery shunter than can run around a wooden railway circuit and also run on most brands of 0-gauge track. It has a magnet coupler on one end and a Traing-Rovex (or Lima) coupler on the other.

I have been impressed by the "OS-Railway" 3-D printable 0-gauge track. You can make display tracks for the cabinet or make more to build a layout on the floor, providing that you don't need track power.

For real? I always thought O gauge/scale was much bigger than the "Toy Train Standard Gauge" of Plarail, BRIO and the likes (where the vehicles seem just a bit bigger than H0/00 in most cases), due to how Lionel/Hattons trains look to me on camera. A bit like the time when I found out how tiny LEGO minifigures were after only seeing them in photos/videos. After this revelation, I really want to see proof one day (if possible). I guess it would mean my Union Express set might actually be O gauge, given the stock from it fits on TOMY/TrackMaster including the flanges. Wonder what your scratch built shunter looks like and what you made it from. Thanks for the cool information.