N Scale
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What do I need to start an Atlas n scale train set? Question: I really want to start a train collection. I have decided to go with the Atlas N scale model. Do I need to put cork down under the track? Is there any other important things I should know? Thanks! Answer: Visit your local hobby shop. There is a wide selection of books on planning your railroad to suit your wishes and interests. What is the space you have available? Determine how large your layout can be. What do you want to represent on your layout. - long haul trains - short haul trains - major rail names (Conrail, Santa Fe, CPR, CNR ?) - time frame? Steam?Up to 1960) Diesel?(after 1940) both? (1940- 1960) - what is your emphasis? operating to a schedule ? The more you can answer, the less you will buy that you will have to replace after you make these decisions. Are you going to purchase stuff ready-made or are you going to build kits, or scratch build your equipment, structure and scenery. Visit a model rail club if you have the chance, or let the local hobby shop know you are interested in discussing your plans with someone knowledgeable about the hobby. attend a show or two as the opportunity presents itself to get ideas. Often clubs attend these shows and bring demonstration layouts. Almost everybody I have met in 20 years in the hobby is more than willing to share ideas and skills with newcomers. A few reference books will be worth the expense. I hope you get started and enjoy the results of your work and effort. It's fun for me! |
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I have a bunch of n scale trains and tracks, modulators, and a few larger trains how can i get thecurrentValue? Question: I Have tons Of n scale never opened boxcars,cabouses,tracks,ornaments,transformers to run them,etc. How can i get it's current value is there a book i can buy or a website subscription i can buy? There is also o scale a little of everything? Can you help me? Answer: I think your best bet is to go to your local hobby dealer and see if you can get an estimation from there. |
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Why are N scale trains better for me than HO trains? Question: I want to get into model trains and a friend who has N scale trains said they are best. Is he right. I have a small area for a model train layout. Answer: There is no best scale. It all depends on your personal tastes and how much space you have. If you have a small space (say, less than 10 x 10) and you are more interested in getting as many trains as possible into that space than having highly detailed and very realistic models, then N scale might be right for you. If you are more interested in detail and realism, than HO scale is probably right for you as it is not much more expensive than N scale (200-300 dollars for a high quality Digital Command Control (DCC) equipped diesel locomotive with sound, usually 300-500 for a steam locomotive in the same feature range, with the REALLY high quality brass locomotives sometimes ranging into the low $1,000s. A high quality N scale diesel with DCC will be about 180-250, with steam going up to 400) and is MUCH more detailed. Most locomotives over $180 will have separately applies wire grab irons and over $250 will usually have see through grilles (where applicable). If I were in a perfect world and space and money were not an issue, I would build an O-scale layout. a good O-scale diesel is $400-600 and a good steam locomotive is $500-$2,000 depending on the size, but they are easy to handle and are very highly detailed. Another factor to consider is how you do with manipulating small objects. If your hands are shaky at all, N-scale may not be right for you, due to their small size. HO-scale can have the same problem, but you have to be pretty shaky for it to be a problem in HO. The bottom line is that there is no best scale. Before you jump in, I would recommend going to a few local model railroad clubs in different scales and see what you think of the trains. Since you have already experienced N-scale, you wouldn't need to go to an N-scale club, but try to get to an HO-scale club and an O-scale club. Talk to members of the different clubs and tell them what your budget is and how much space you have. See how you like the different scales. One other thing that might be helpful would be to pick up some model railroad themed magazines. I subscribe to Model Railroader (published by Kalmbach Publishing Company of Waukesha, WI). I would recommend that you pick up a copy of Classic Toy Trains (Kalmbach Publishing Company), Model Railroader (Kalmbach Publishing Company), Garden Railways (Kalmbach Publishing Company), O Scale Trains (http://www.oscalemag.com/), and see what you think of the models shown in each. It will help you a lot to see the |
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What is the minimum curve that an N scale 'Kato' TGV model train can make? Question: I'm looking into buying a TGV model train that is N scale and I would like to know what the minimum curve it can make. I have the Scenic Ridge N scale layout and would like to know if it will de-rail or not when making the turns. Thanks! Answer: Since the Kato model is designed to negotiate set track, i.e. prefabricated straight and curved sections, you shouldn't have any trouble. However to be doubly sure, check with the manufacturer to find out the minimum radius it will run on as they will usually tell you this in the catalogue. |
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I have a bunch of n scale trains and tracks, modulators, and a few larger trains how can i get the current Val? Question: I have a bunch of n scale trains brand new in boxexs tracks, transformers, surge protectors, onerments,etc how do i find out the value is there a websitr or something besides ebay? Answer: layoutsbycardiff.com this is a site where you go to buy train layouts but he has a contact place on there. he might even be intrested |
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How Many Cars will an N Scale Bachmann 2-8-0 Consolidation Pull? Question: Im building an N scale model railroad and I plan on buying this engine. Im going to use it to pull atlas trainman 70 ton Santa Fe ore cars and I need to know how many I can pull with this engine on an over under figure 8 loop. Im using the Bachmann N Scale Pier set to set the height. Answer: While I can't answer your question directly, real railroad grades were generally up to 2% (1 foot rise in 100 running feet = 1%) Anything more than that was pretty a steep grade. Model railroad planning is not much different. I am guessing that any pier set as you mentioned would much be a steeper grade that 2%. If you kept your grades realistic the cars you could pull would also be more correct. I have seen especially N Scale locomotives pull more cars than the prototype locomotive they are representing. I guess it is a physics thing. |
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How do you custom-paint an N Scale locomotive? Question: I want to put a "Building America" paint scheme on a Union Pacific engine of mine. I see all these pictures on the web of custom-painted model engines, and I know they're not hand-painted. They're paint jobs are too precise. Does anyone know how to paint an N Scale locomotive like that? (PLEASE NO SMARTASS ANSWERS) Answer: Lettering and schemes like THAT are often available as decals !! Here are the "Building America" schemes for N-scale UP locos from Micro-Scale http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Prod uct_Code=60-1150&Category_Code=UP&Product_Count=149 I've used other lettering sets to do the logo for MY local line that runs along some UP lines... "Stockton and Valley Springs RR" GOOD LUCK !! |
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How can I tell by looking the difference of N scale/HO scale model trains? Question: I have a few boxes that were given to me of model cars and buildings. is there some place I can look or a way to measure properly so I know which scale I am dealing with? also which is actually better if I decide to buy more. N or HO Answer: Almost ALL the boxes / packages I have indicate the scale. HO scale is 1:87 (one foot = 87 feet) and N scale is 1:160... so N is almost twice as small. Visually... an HO locomotive or railcar will be roughly 3-4 inches TALL, and an N scale loco or car will be HALF that size. A normal door for humans (6'8") will be JUST shy of one inch (.919 inch) in HO, and exactly one half inch in N Scale You CAN buy a VERY inexpensive multi-scale RULER at any good model-hobby shop ( http://www.internettrains.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD& Product_Code=MPT-H711&Category_Code=FTRDITEMS ). Then simply measure a normal door... if it measures to 7 ft, that's your scale !! |
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i have a bunch of n scale trains and tracks, modulators, and a few larger trains how can i get the current Val? Question: I would like to know the current value of my train collections consists of lots of n scale trins, tracks, trees and houses, and a few larger scale trains. how can i find out it's value for free? Answer: ebay is a good idea, check out some of the online stores, such as n scale supply, and find out what they're selling them for, and that should give you a good idea. Anything that's out of production and has been for a while is likely to be worth more than something that's still for sale, or offered currently by another manufacturer. Stuff that can't be obtained anywhere else, whether it's a dog of a model or not, is likely to go for a good price. |
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Who buys N scale model railroad equipment? Question: I inherited a substantial quantity of N scale model railroad equipment when my uncle passed away. I have pulled out the items I want to keep. I have an entire closet full of assorted freight cars, locomotives, scenery, structures and track that I have no use for. I also don't have the time to sell it piece by piece on ebay. I want to sell it all at once. I'm aware this is not the way to realize the highest price for these items. Answer: |
