Hornby Playtrains.

[Mountain]

https://uk.hornby.com/catalogue/train-s ... playtrains


I can see these offering great potential, as there has been a gap in the market that these address, but not only that, but they also offer a workable battery operated concept for those wanting to experiment with for other projects. Think outdoor modelling using plastic track... And yes, one does have similar systems with more control etc, but nothing at this sort of price as far as I am aware.
Just a word of caution for anyone with a mind to experiment. NEVER short the battery/batteries.

Now I am interested in how much these little things can pull, and can I mount the internals on a different chassis etc, etc? I imagine a lower voltage motor is used. It is interesting!

[Bigmet]

My guess. If it wasn't for the likelihood that the mechanism will roll over and die swiftly if required to operate for any length of time, you would be risking pushing up the share price of small power cell manufacturers.

If you do experiment, please report your findings.

[Mountain]

I am also on the narrow gauge site (NGRM Online) where there are a lot of modellers who love to experiment, so even if I do not end up experimenting, as these things are not available yet, I can report back. One modeller has said he already has the Christmas set but that is a budget version with a simple on-off switch so no remote control. He said the loco is capable of pulling several coaches.

[End2end]

Definitely a step up from entry into the hobby of old.
My very first set was the clockwork one with very basic, one colour wagons and a crossing included.
Thanks
End2end

[Phred]

Bigmet wrote:
If you do experiment, please report your findings.

Agreed. It would be very interesting to see what you can do with these.
I'm currently experimenting with everything from Cornflakes boxes to old tap washers to see if I can produce some fairly convincing NG rolling stock, so cannibalised play trains could be an option as well.

[Mountain]

Bigmet wrote:
If you do experiment, please report your findings.

Agreed. It would be very interesting to see what you can do with these.
I'm currently experimenting with everything from Cornflakes boxes to old tap washers to see if I can produce some fairly convincing NG rolling stock, so cannibalised play trains could be an option as well.

If it is 7mm scale narrow gauge on 00/H0 track gauge, then feel free to copy the things I have done. Maybe we can challenge each other and share ideas etc? It can be fun making things oneself and sharing how to do it.

[Phred]

Nah, mine is OO9 with N gauge track posing as narrow gauge.
I'm halfway through scratch-building a tank wagon and forgot to take photos. Never mind, I'll try and get the next one on the forum.

[Mountain]

Nah, mine is OO9 with N gauge track posing as narrow gauge.
I'm halfway through scratch-building a tank wagon and forgot to take photos. Never mind, I'll try and get the next one on the forum.

I would imagine if trying lollypopstick chassis, to use single width lollypopsticks in a H design? That is if there is not too much friction on the axles.

[Phred]

Here is the tank wagon I'm currently (slowly) working on:

In place of lolly sticks, I'm using thin wood slats from old bamboo panel blinds, which I have mountains of (no pun intended).

I'm using Peco (plastic) bogies. To reduce friction between the wood and the bogies, I've installed a couple of bits of ice cream tub:

Not sure how wood on metal axles would go. Could be OK.

[Mountain]

The best way is to try it. If it doesn't work then you will know.

Rather interestingly, I found using 00 waggon wheels for 0-16.5 use, as long as the wheels have nice metal axles, a wooden chassis made from lollypopsticks or other wood works fine. What I found did not work was using tin in the same way as somehow tin being thin caused too much friction and dug into the axles and wood didn't, yet in theory it should be the other way round. Maybe a wider metal frame would work? Yet metal works fine at the pinpoint ends of axles. Is interesting.

Of course, with 009 you do usually have a little more friction to overcome due to the smaller wheels and generally lighter weight of the waggons.
Are you aware that you can run H0e and 009 together? They use the same couplings and the same 9mm gauge width? The scale is slightly out but it is less noticable in narrow gauge.

[Bigmet]

I have a cautionary tale about wooden construction wagons, a friend's experience. He built them while in a London flat, then moved out to the country, having bought an old house. Married, kids came along, got the trains out once the frantic phase of child care had calmed down a little - woodworm in his wagons. (Putting his positive spin on this, they were alerted to an infestation in the house structure before serious damage had occurred.)

[Mountain]

Woodworm hoes in rolling stock will be quite noticable. One would have thought the woodworm would have scaled it down to 7mm or 4mm scale?

[Phred]

Mountain wrote:
Are you aware that you can run H0e and 009 together?

I am aware, but only because I googled it when I was still thinking of buying trains for OO9. Now I'm more interested in having a go at scratch building.

Bigmet wrote:
woodworm in his wagons

Worms on a train! Wasn't there a movie...?

[Mountain]

Here is a review by Sams Trains, and it is of the simpler on-off Christmas set version. It is actually good, and better than expected. Sure it is not going to be an exact scale model, as it was never made as such, but to help kiddies come into the hobby and also for anyone else wanting a novel Christmas tree item, it is great! Radio control versions next!

https://youtu.be/ctmvszC7tkY?si=xG7e5X8dbjRfjcwx

[aleopardstail]

Here is a review by Sams Trains, and it is of the simpler on-off Christmas set version. It is actually good, and better than expected. Sure it is not going to be an exact scale model, as it was never made as such, but to help kiddies come into the hobby and also for anyone else wanting a novel Christmas tree item, it is great! Radio control versions next!

https://youtu.be/ctmvszC7tkY?si=xG7e5X8dbjRfjcwx

I'm hoping this does really well for Hornby

I can see a few very simple and inexpensive upgrades.

- press the button and hold to change direction
- add a sound sensor, remember the crappy 'remote control' cars with the clicker? that, clap and the train reverses direction, or sounds its whistle etc
- simple infra red remote maybe?

I think they have a winner with the couplings too, simple but effective, and the utter killer is it will run on normal track and manages points. and the fact the sound isn't "talking Christmas card" grade is excellent

yes its all very simple, some thought has gone into "how do we make this very cheap to assemble?", but its not trying to be anything more than it is.