Garden Railway Forum

One of my Chinese suppliers is offering R/C train sets in 45mm gauge. They also offer 45mm track sets made from a brown plastic. They are very cheap but I don't know how well they would stand up to UV exposure if left outdoors for a long time. They would certainly be fine for a cheap and cheerful indoor layout.

Question is, would anyone be interested in plastic track at all? It would be significantly cheaper than than metal track. There are R650mm curved sections, straight track and left-hand and right-hand points available.

The trainsets could be used as is or modified and make use of the remote control.

On the basis that my comments are coming from a confirmed 32millist.... I would try anything thats cheap because my disposable hobby budget is limited. I seem to remember several people over the years using plastic track outdoors so I suppose the answer is 'How cheap' ????

In order to get a garden line up and running I may even have to resort to my stock of the old red BigBig plastic stuff but of course will give it a quick going over with some old black paint.

I'd bet if the price is right there will be a market for it.....

I laid some triang big big track plastic track temporarily it was fine until I left a mamod in the same spot for a while and the track melted under the wheels. I've no idea about the quality of the chineese track but I would choose metal every time now.

Great use of plastic track here:

http://gardenrails.myfreeforum.org/ftop ... 0-asc-.php

Cheers,

Tom

Sir Clothem Cap:73633 wrote:I laid some triang big big track plastic track temporarily it was fine until I left a mamod in the same spot for a while and the track melted under the wheels.

I guess that would be an issue with pot boiler locos as the burner is slung quite low in the frame. I doubt it would be an issue with internally fired boilers.

I have requested more info from the manufacturer. If I can scrape together I may order some of the train sets and track sets in time for Christmas sales.

I assume this is the Newqida stuff.  

http://www.hammondtoy.com/shop/agora.cg ... TORY&xm=on

The quality of the stock (track, locos, cars) is well known, and was hotly debated to the point it brought a popular 45mm forum down due to discussion of origins unfortunately.

My experience? The cars are nice, the rest.....

Looks the same but is from a different manufacturer. The Chinese toy makers are not shying away from ripping each others designs off. The packaging from my supplier looks different. I know what the wholesale price is and that US shop is making a killing on the locos and rolling stock.

Sorry, but I'm not familiar with the forum you mention.

Busted Bricks:73643 wrote:Looks the same but is from a different manufacturer. The Chinese toy makers are not shying away from ripping each others designs off. The packaging from my supplier looks different. I know what the wholesale price is and that US shop is making a killing on the locos and rolling stock.

Sorry, but I'm not familiar with the forum you mention.

There are several different labels and boxes, but the stuff is the same.

I am sure he is making a mark-up, but then that is what retail is all about.

G Scale Mad. It was actually a decent forum.

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/161982/1787450.aspx

Spule 4:73644 wrote: There are several different labels and boxes, but the stuff is the same.  

Not necessarily. It is not uncommon for several factories to knock out near identical models.

Anyway with that kind of markup I'm very tempted to get some in stock.

There's been some excellent kitbashing done already to these types of rolling stock (in fact just a repaint will work wonders), and the R/C loco has to be a tempting candidate as a "donor" for its running gear and R/C.
Depending on the sturdiness of the track (and reliability of the turnouts), it would be an ideal option for little used sidings, spurs or even a branch line project. (I'd certainly try it for an extension to my new quarry line!)
My breath is baited!

I run a couple of IP 060 shunters on it when I lived in a flat. It covered the running gear in a white dust so not good. The Bachmann Davenport was ok though being 040 and somewhat lighter.

Busted Bricks:73645 wrote:

Spule 4:73644 wrote: There are several different labels and boxes, but the stuff is the same.  

Not necessarily. It is not uncommon for several factories to knock out near identical models.

Anyway with that kind of markup I'm very tempted to get some in stock.

Sometimes the opposite tho. Here, three retailers sell a small clip on cooling fan for in the house. Priced $12 to $25, but other than the boxes and the stickers, all the same (and only last a year). Entire towns in PRC are known by what they make, zipper town, toy town, computer town, umbrella town, Christmas town, etc.

Could be a money maker for sure. Be sure to check out one of the locomotives however, they weigh less than an LGB car and have two speeds, stop and full tilt. They have a nice rechargable battery, but use an RC car/plane type controller. The detailing on them is not that bad however.

Busted Bricks:73645 wrote: Anyway with that kind of markup I'm very tempted to get some in stock.

It would be worth getting some samples and doing some testing first.

If the plastic isn't UV stabilised, it won't last very long outside, even in the land of liquid sunshine......

You'd also need to measure up the turnouts and do some running tests, to check that they work with the common brands of wheels available.

Regards,
Graeme

Being a totally live steamer and running only outdoors, I have to say this is totally out for me. Not only are steam engines hot, they are heavy as well.

steamrocks:73699 wrote:Being a totally live steamer and running only outdoors, I have to say this is totally out for me.  Not only are steam engines hot, they are heavy as well.

No sense of adventure.....

I'd quite like a oval of 45mm for running days when the main line is 32mm as a temporary thing it would be useful. The big big rail is a soft type and the melting only caused wheel shaped dents so even that would be ok if the firing was done on a metal bit of track

I have some 45mm Newbright plastic track that gets used for test purposes indoors and I'm happy enough to use it. I've never tried leaving it out in the weather though so I couldn't tell you how it would last outdoors.

I've scrapped the idea of stocking it.