Where to look for model trains?

kalvindeane · 27 Apr 2011 at 14:28

My old man has tasked me with finding a website on the internet to buy a train from. He has lots of 00 Gauge trains, worth a few thousand between them. Now he wants to get bigger trains. He wants to find a 5" Gauge Class 52 Western Diesel. Apparently these cost a lot of money and are not easy to find. He says he knows that there is at least one company who produces them, but doesn't know the company's name. He thinks it'll cost somewhere like £3000+, and I don't fancy doing a google search to spend that kind of money on someone else's behalf on a website I've never used.

Places to look?

antijoke · 27 Apr 2011 at 14:30

So you're unwilling to spend your time looking for your dad, but expect us to do it?

:mad:

PhillyDee · 27 Apr 2011 at 14:30

anticonscience said:
So you're unwilling to spend your time looking for your dad, but expect us to do it?

Craig1981 · 27 Apr 2011 at 14:31

http://www.hornby.com/

Me and my dad used to love this stuff years back. Doesnt appeal to me now, but these guys make high quality stuff.

Burnsy2023 · 27 Apr 2011 at 14:39

anticonscience said:
So you're unwilling to spend your time looking for your dad, but expect us to do it?

lozza23_uk · 27 Apr 2011 at 14:39

Go to a club like this:

http://www.flmr.org/pages/Welcome.html
3.5", 5", 7 1/4" all on one track. Someone there will be more than capable of pointing you in the right direction. Or flick through a model mart type mag to see who advertises.

MeatLoaf · 27 Apr 2011 at 14:48

i take it youve looked at the hattons website?

kalvindeane · 27 Apr 2011 at 15:28

anticonscience said:
So you're unwilling to spend your time looking for your dad, but expect us to do it?

No. I'm asking if anyone here knows of a safe, reliable site that I can use. I don't know any, nor do I know of anywhere else I can ask but here.

Dirk · 27 Apr 2011 at 15:36

As mentioned, Hornby. They made the best sets and i even had a Hornby shop up the road from where i lived as a boy. Great stuff!

kalvindeane · 27 Apr 2011 at 15:38

MeatLoaf said:
i take it youve looked at the hattons website?

I have, but there's nothing there that suits. I know nothing about model trains, and he hasn't even shown me a picture of what this engine looks like. Found some similar 5" Gauge trains on google, going for £3500+, but none of them are the model that he wants.

This was the point of the thread really, to ask for clubs/people who would know this sort of thing. Guess I just worded it badly.

Nothing at Hornby either.

lozza23_uk · 27 Apr 2011 at 15:46

http://www.5inchrail.com/

Resources and other forums that may be of more use. You might find that the shape is something that has to be bespoke.

I have seen a 7 1/4" version before I think, diesel powered.

Scania · 27 Apr 2011 at 21:09

Bachmann?

I say this as I know they produce model trains for the Stobar group.

http://www.stobartshop.co.uk/MoreIn...me=Modern_Models&PageNo=1&Order=Display_Order

Cleeecooo · 27 Apr 2011 at 21:10

hornby or bachmann
/thread

Ginger-Menace · 27 Apr 2011 at 21:12

http://railsofsheffield.com/default.aspx

take a look there

[TW]Fox · 27 Apr 2011 at 21:12

Cleeecooo said:
hornby or bachmann
/thread

Neither Hornby nor Bachmann do 5" guage locos or stock

\thread?

Why are people trying to make this sound like a stupid request from the OP? 5" guage stuff is pretty rare - a good 5" model is hard to find, very expensive and considered by many to be a work of art so its hardly an unreasonable question!

It's much bigger than the 00 guage stuff you'll get from Hornby or Bachmann.

Surely if you dont know the answer to the OP's question you should refrain from just spamming random links which don't offer what he wants?

OP - try Pheonix: http://www.phoenixlocos.com/products/class52/

For those of you who still think he wants a Hornby loco, this is a 5" guage Class 52:

http://phoenixlocos.com/gallery/album/class52/

Van Hellseek · 27 Apr 2011 at 21:14

God I'm old.

233 · 27 Apr 2011 at 21:18

AFAIK bachmann only play up to 0 guage

for 5" its going to be scratchbuild i'd imagine. maybe worth a look in the back of railway modeller plenty of places offering this sort of service.

tell him to stick with a reasonable size lol he does realise just how large a 5" guage western would be?

if he really does have his heart set on going to 5" try this mob
http://www.compass-house.co.uk

dont think they do a western but i'm sure they would if you ask

233 · 27 Apr 2011 at 21:19

see fox managed to find one

jeez £3450 is that RTR or kit?

Cleeecooo · 27 Apr 2011 at 21:22

[TW]Fox;19002088 said:
Neither Hornby nor Bachmann do 5" guage locos or stock

\thread?

Why are people trying to make this sound like a stupid request from the OP? 5" guage stuff is pretty rare - a good 5" model is hard to find, very expensive and considered by many to be a work of art so its hardly an unreasonable question!

It's much bigger than the 00 guage stuff you'll get from Hornby or Bachmann.

Surely if you dont know the answer to the OP's question you should refrain from just spamming random links which don't offer what he wants?

OP - try Pheonix: http://www.phoenixlocos.com/products/class52/

For those of you who still think he wants a Hornby loco, this is a 5" guage Class 52:

http://phoenixlocos.com/gallery/album/class52/

I was always under the impression Hornby did all the sizes?
My bad -it's been a long time

[TW]Fox · 27 Apr 2011 at 21:32

It's a kit Foxtrot :eek:

OP, tell your Dad he is wrong. 52's suck, he needs one of these:

http://phoenixlocos.com/products/class50/