Having decided I can't make 'em, which do I buy?
This post is kinda a 'note to myself' recording what my finding were from a little research as to what pre-made windows to source for the N gauge buildings I want to make (now I have resolved that making them is now beyond my abilities now).
I should start by saying that this is nowhere near an exhaustive survey about what's on offer, in fact it's quite stunning that sheer amount of model railway accessory companies are out there! Perhaps that not really surprising, model railways are BIG business.
Anyway, I chose three easily available sources of window accessory makers, Guagemaster, Ratio (PEKO) and York Modelmaking.
Value for Money...
Now, I suppose many might say that I should start by discussing the quality of the products that I looked at first. But as the principal guiding theme of my model railway involvement is model railways on a budget, I think it's important to start with costs. So, here's a overview of pricing...
- Gaugemaster pack - £6.50
- Ratio pack - £5.40
- York Modelmaking packs - 3.75
Value for Money 2...
There's VFM and then there's VFM! 😉 What I mean there is reasonable cost and then there is value for what you get for the money.
The cheapest pack of windows were those of York Modelmaking at just £3.75, but for that you get just 6 windows. That roughly works out at 63 pence per window.
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| Above: Note this represents the TWO packs I bought from York Modelmaking! |
Next we have Ratio, and their brass etched window pack cost £5.40, but netted you a collection of 45 windows of various styles and sizes. That works out at just 12 pence a window! Not bad.
And finally, we have the Gaugemaster pack. Now this is the biggest pack and also contains some doors and even a small sprue of guttering! This was the most 'expensive' set at £6.50 but for that you get a whopping 35 windows, 7 doors and 6 pieces of guttering! But, as I'm only interested in windows we shall say that this set averaged out at 18 pence a window and that the other items were kinda a bonus treat!
So, just going on value for money regarding sheer number of components Ration is the winner...BUT...
There's Always a 'But'!
Here we come to the quality of the items and this is where the whole thing get's a bit tricky.
You see, in a way, you might say that the Ratio windows are also of the best quality as they are very delicate and finely etched brass windows but... In a way I - and this is a personal opinion - find them too darn delicate and fine! There are no extrusions that convey three dimensionality (is that a word?), no frames or sills that protrude from the frame shapes, just flat models of 'windows'.
To my mind, when you are modelling something as small as N gauge - whether 1/148 or 1/160 - I think there is room for a little poetic licence regarding detail so that it is discernible by the viewer.
Yes, the Gaugemaster and even the York Modelmaking windows are a tad more chonky, but I think that's a good thing. I want to see window frames and sills as features!
In Conclusion...
So, if not Ratio as my preference, which?
Well, again, York Modelmaking's windows - which being laser cut components with some thickness to them - don't have extruded frames to denotes constructed 3D objects. I mean the detail isn't comprehensive, there are no actual accompanying sills, but these could - should you wish - be added - but the important thing is they have a certain presence... But it is a close run thing.
In fact, York Modelmaking (YM) products do have a certain advantage, and that is is the very comprehensive range of window styles that they have on offer. With the Gaugemaster set you are limited to just 8 different styles of windows, while YM's catalogue shows a incredible 33 different styles, shapes and sizes of N gauge windows!
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| Above: York Modelmaking N Gauge Windows catalogue! |
To conclude, I'd say that the Gaugemaster set is great IF you just want plenty of generic windows for a project, but, if you are building an exact recreation of a certain building for your layout then you might be best to take a look at York Modelmaking as there is a better chance you will find a set of windows to match your project.
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