Got back from my LHS more confused than usual and with more stuff to ponder. The owner is a good friend and an all around trin nuts. We got to talk about ym new space for the layout and he started to tell me the good deals he could get me for bachmann ON30 stuff. We’re talking 50% almost less than MSRP and he mentionned that most of the stuff is already DCC ready if not equipped… and that the bachmann DCC system is pretty cheap but easy to learn and pretty good…
I love the bachmann stuff, id really like to get my hands on some as i think the detail and heft makes it so nice… My problem or conundrum if you will is that im an HO modeler. I was hoping to to just reuse all my HO stuff on a new layout. While i know ON30 runs on HO track, it looks a bit weird because the tie spacing s too close. which made me wonder about handlaying track… I think I could handle laying the straight and curve parts but its the turnout that scare me off… We were thinking maybe I could cannibalize some cheap atlas turnout, cut the ties away and just re-spike all the components on the track but I wonder if it would work.
I just got a lot of question and rambling at this point. The equipmenet i saw yesterday could handle 18" curve and look half decent but id want probably 22 - 24" to make sure it looks good and will be able to accept most engine/rolling stock … what is the distance railhead to railhead for overhead crossings? in HO 4 inches is a good rule but is it the same in ON30? what grade should i try to stick to? Who makes decent priced cars ( id like to scratchbuild some rolling stock but cant realisticlly beging to think i could fabricate an entire roster)
Also wonder about narrow gauge in california… i did a quick search on wikipedia last night but not a lot of stuff… Id like to find a protoype i could base my layout …? southern california had a wealth of produce but were they ever served by a narrow gauge line? what other business would fit the bit? just confus
Yes, many of us cut away most of the ties on Atlas T/Os and replace them with wider ones. It’s cheap and easy.
I have had no trouble running the 2-6-0 and Bachmann rolling stock on 18" curves, and they all look fine, although some people do like larger radii, esp. for the Bachmann outside frame 2-8-0.
My minimum clearance is about 3.5" railhead to tunnel portal roof. More would be better, but mine works for me.
Bachmann’s line of cars is very nice and reasonably priced. Ever growing, too. Cheap enough to kitbash.
On30 is neat and there is a lot of new equipment. There is plenty of California narrow gauges to consider including great logging lines, mining roads and common carriers incluing the NCNG, SPNG, NCO, SPC etc. If you search the internet you will find all sorts of information including how to cut the ties off an atlas turnout and make it O scale. There are turnout kits, turnouts glued to wood ties and hopefully soon prefab turnouts. Chekc out the Bachmann site as soon as you can. - Nevin
Didn’t Microengineering come out with turnouts for On30. i thought i saw it in the last model railroader. Also, if you’re considering this you should check out the Narrow Gauge Gazette. Tons of great info, lots of good manufacturer adds and links, and good descriptions of kitbashing and scratchbuilding rolling stock. Not to mention that there are a lot of narrow gauge On30 products for modifying your rolling stock.
I’ve been tempted as well, but have kept it to one Loco and some passenger cars…but we’ll see.
Micro-Engineering makes On30 flextrack with properly spaced ties arranged randomly in codes 70, 83, and 100. I believe they make turnouts also. A firm called LITco also makes turnouts. Their website is <www.maine2footquarterly.com/turnout>. For more information on On30 and narrow gauge modeling, the following magazines are excellent: Narrow Gauge And Shortline Gazette, Light Iron Digest, Maine Two Foot Quarterly. There’s some fine modeling tips, scratch building, kit bashing, and product information those publications. They also have a lot of prototype info on small, odd, shortlines and industrial railroads - both narrow and standard gauge - and how to model them.
thanks for the comments and reply, i tried searching a bit for the atlas “conversion” but havent found a decent link that explains it. Where does one get rail in bulk for handlaying track, or spikes… i know campbell still makes ties … whats a good rail height for On30? is c100 good or should it be something finer like 83 or 70?
anyone tried the Banta wood kit? i built a few of their laser kit and it was a charm, how are their engine stuff? id love to get one if they are good…
whats a good place to buy trucks? seeing i might scratchbuild a few cars ( maybe a flat to begin) id like to get proper trucks, i know bachmann has them for 12$ or so a pair but does anyone else make them? are metal wheel available in On30? is there a list of standard like in HO for weight in car (1oz +1/2 oz per car inch?)
are the 0-4-0 any good? what about the little porter? seems the 2-6-0 is a good runner least thats what i heard… any comment on that?
The Bachmann On30 0-4-0 and 0-4-2 are Porter locos. They run just fine.
Keep in mind your dealer’s offer for 50% off MSRP may or may not be all that generous. I think the MSRP for the Shay and Climax is around $275.00; many online dealers offer them for around $120.00 or less. Check eBay for completed auctions, I noted just this week several sold in the range of $63-85, a long way from MSRP. thefavoritespot is a dealer who constantly offers On30 stuff on eBay at low prices.
I have a ton of HO stuff and three pairs of HO modules, but I’ve been accumulating On30 stuff for some time now. Just wait until you hear the sound in the Bachmann Forney, and the PSI Galloping Goose - that will get you hooked!
I made short videos when testing the sound on these locos, check them out here:
Outstanding locomotive. I have a fleet of 'em, all bought from eBay for $60 or less each. They run well and look good.
Code 100 is a little large for On30, but painted and weathered, it looks fine to me. I’ve bought handlaying supllies at my LHS, Caboose Hobbies (which does do mail order). Lots of On30 modelers use hand-cut ties made from basswood strips or even wooden coffee-stirrers, which happen to scale-out just about right. With the NWSL chopper or a saw or whatever, you can crank out ties in a hurry…which is good when you consider the ridiculous prices bags of ties sell for. (Come on, they’re just cut stripwood!)
Banta kits for cabs, etc., get nothing but praise, as far as I’ve seen.
They are a brand new product, so new in fact that you can only advance order them as they are not yet “In Stock”. In fact that reminds me that I should get on their website and check the status of MY order.
