KEVIN PLAYER looks at Christmas gifts for the Continental Modeller.
Yes, it’s that time of the year again - with Christmas looming up fast, no doubt you are requesting lists and thinking about what Christmas gifts to purchase.
You may wish to consider the following Continental Railway-themed suggestions, covering a range of scales and prices. With many more products available from the highlighted brands and others that we supply.
We start with Noch and the Christmas Manger Advent Calendar (N65591), which comprises of kits and scenic materials to make that traditional Christmas scene. An ideal gift for all the family to enjoy on the run up to Christmas Day, where as a family you can all join in to make the diorama, which can also be put up on display for many years to come with the capability of enhancing it each year.
You may wish to complement it with the Noch Illuminated Christmas Tree (N22110) standing 5cm tall, with 10 LEDs factory fitted, requiring an input voltage of between 12 and 16 Volts AC or DC.
As a tree gift or stocking filler, we have the Noch Main Catalogue (Noch Catalogue) with over 2000 products and crafting tips within the 420 pages in colour and English text. For free you can also complement the catalogue with the 2021 new items leaflet (N71627) and seasonal news leaflet (N71636).
From Piko in HO, we have the Christmas Steam Analogue Starter Set (PK57081), comprising a steam locomotive with tender, 3 wagons, track to make the circuit 1100mm x 880mm, controller with power adaptor. Why not have it as part of your decorations? See the faces of the children when set up on Christmas Eve after they have gone to bed, for them to see it running around your tree first thing Christmas morning. (Connect a timer to the supply voltage, you may get a lay in).
Remaining with Piko, this time for the G Gauge enthusiasts, we have the Christmas Reefer (PK38905) with graphics themed ‘The Night Before Christmas’.
For the Z gauge enthusiasts, we have the Marklin Christmas Starter Set (MN81845). Comprising a Christmas steam locomotive, one flat wagon, one box van, one coach, track to make a circuit measuring 512mm x 402mm, controller and Christmas themed accessories.
Moving on, we have a train set for our younger members with the Marklin Building Block Starter Set (MN29730), consisting of a steam locomotive, four-axle gondola and four-axle tank car. The bodies of the locomotive and wagons can be built from the supplied building blocks together with stickers for decoration. The locomotive mobile power unit contains the drive, light functions and a sound building block for the sound function, which is activated with the light permanently on, being played back on a continuous sound loop. Lighting blocks are also included, which illuminate individual details on the locomotive with 6 functions permanent light, blinking, dimming on and off, sound dependent light with several effects.
The building blocks are compatible with other makes of building blocks such as Lego, which no doubt your child currently plays with. A USB charging cable and assembly instructions are included. The frames of the locomotive and wagons have the peg plates ready to have building blocks clipped in position. The frame of the steam locomotive has an MFX digital decoder. Also included is the track to make an oval 1120mm x 760mm, 1 base station, Marklin Start UP power Control Stick, an illustrated instruction manual with many tips and ideas. AAA batteries are also included.
Your child’s imagination can go wild, creating weird looking trains using existing building blocks from the brand leader.
The track can be expanded, selecting the desired track pieces from the Marklin “C Track" product range.
Additional wagons within the building block range such as the flat wagon (MN44734), comprising a flat wagon ready to take building blocks from other brands, or you may like (MN44736) again comprising the flat wagon, together with building blocks to make any one of three styles of wagons.
Now, here are some ideas of a selection of starter sets in both Analogue and Digital, covering HO, N and HOe Scales.
Starting with N Scale, we present the Lokomotion BR193 Freight Starter Set from Fleischmann (FM931891). comprising of a BR193 locomotive, fitted with a DCC decoder, 4 Container wagons, track to make an oval with passing loop measuring 850mm x 450mm. the white z21 controller and power supply, plus the WiFi Maus Controller. Track can be extended from the Fleischmann Profi product range.
Now to HOe Scale, from Roco we have the OBB RH1099 Mixed Traffic Starter Set (RC31033), comprising a Class 1099 OBB locomotive fitted with a DCC decoder, two passenger coaches and one bicycle wagon. The white z21 start control system with Multimaus, supplied with Roco track to produce a layout with passing loop 1500mm by 600mm.
Track can be extended using the product available within the Roco HOe track range.
Should you wish to use a phone or tablet to operate the layout in addition to the MultiMAUS, you will require the Roco Digital WiFi Add on Package (RC10814). Comprising a preconfigured Router, Power pack and activation code.
For HO Scale from Roco, a DR BR120 Diesel Freight Starter Set (RC51331) comprising a DR class BR150 locomotive fitted with a decoder, one four-axle tank wagon, two four-axle open goods wagons, track to make a circuit with siding, measuring 703mm x 358mm, the white z21 Start control system, Z21 MultiMAUS controller and plug in power supply. Again, should you wish to operate your layout using WiFi, you will require the Digital WiFi add on package as described above.
For Analogue control we have the Roco DBAG ICE2 Express Passenger Starter Set (RC51319). Comprising one powered end car (5 pole motor), one intermediate on-board restaurant coach and one control cab coach all fitted with MEM shaft 362 with close coupling mechanism. Analogue controller and plug in power supply, Roco Line ballasted track to make an oval measuring 210mm x 100mm. the end cars have directional lighting (triple front headlights and dual rear lights).
Remaining with HO Scale, from Trix we have the Analogue DR BR74 Freight Starter Set, (M21532). Comprising a Class 74 Steam Locomotive, three freight wagons, controller, power supply, track to complete a circuit measuring 1700mm x 980mm. The locomotive has a 21-pin digital interface connector, motor with fly wheel, three powered axles, traction tyres and double headlights. The locomotive will operate in both Analogue, or in Digital should you wish to upgrade to this type of control system in the future, all wagons have close coupling with guide mechanisms.
As you would expect, the layout can be extended using track sections from the Trix C Track Range.
For an interesting addition to your layout, we have the N Gauge Minitrix DB VT968 668-0 Diesel Rail Car IV (M16983). this is a one-time series with warm white LEDs for lighting, fitted with a DCC decoder. This is a model of the DB combustion powered rail car (VT) road number 798 668-0 ‘Railroading Experienced’. Dual motor design, built from 1955, the model reproduces the prototype commemorating 150 years of the German Railroad in 1985.
The car frame is diecast, motor fitted with flywheel, both axles are powered, fitted with a DCC decoder suitable for analogue operation. LEDs are used for the headlights, marker lights and interior lighting, being controlled by digital operation, or operational in analogue mode. NEM couplings, plus reproduction non-working prototype couplers are supplied, being fitted by the owner.
We now move to some suggestions of kits for the layout from the Faller range, starting with the HO Scale Asphalt Mixing Plant (FA130110). The Bitumen container measures, Length 75mm, Width 56mm, height 40mm.
The HO Scale Railway Communications building (FA120104). Consisting of 32 parts in 4 sprue colours, measuring, length 119mm, width 40mm, height 38mm, the kit comes with a mast measuring 233mm in height.
To clean the coaches and trams, Faller produce the HO Scale Small Carriage Cleaning Plant (FA120310). measuring, length 344mm, width 63mm and a height of 77mm, consisting of 116 parts in 4 sprue colours.
In N Scale we have the Factory Premises (FA231707). Consisting of three buildings. The office building measuring, length 94mm, width 81mm, height 124mm. Boiler house, measuring, length 126mm, width 81mm, height 135mm. A factory hall measuring, length 92mm, width 68mm, height 50mm. the kit also includes walling measuring 687mm in length.
Additional walling can be purchased. (FA272917) measuring 228mm.
I hope this article has given you some inspiration, many more products are available on our site, complete with details, which should provide you with the perfect gift within your price range.
Finally, I would like to personally wish you all Seasonal greetings and a happy New Year.