Ok. So I’ve got the bug bad. I want to begin my G-scale railroading empire. The problem, like many of you wanting to get started, is that it’s expensive.
Then I ran across radio control G-scale sets from New Bright for about $40. This appealed to me. The quality is decent, and at least will get me into the hobby. Maybe a $1,000 engine will come later (I doubt it).
But how about track? I can’t come up with $300 for the track I want, so I’m proposing another innexpensive solution. New Bright sells their sections of track for about $1 each. About 1/3 of the “good” stuff.
So here’s my experiment. I will lay this track down and give it a shot for one full season and see how it does.
Here are my questions:
Anyone try this before?
Can I spray cheap plastic track with a UV spray to make it last in the sun better?
Any thoughts or suggestions?
If it works, it’s a way to get into the hobby for under $100. Unheard of!
If it fails, hey. At least it’s my money and not yours.
Krylon (I think) makes a line of paint called “Fusion”. It is specifically designed for outdoor plastics. Plastic lawn chairs, webbing on netal folding chairs and such. You might look at using that type of paint. Will it imart UV Risrance? I don’t know.
This topic comes up every so often. The New Bright stuff is generally crap, but it can be made to work OK and is a great start for a kit bash or other modification. I would highly recommend NOT using the NB track for any reason; this is one place where you really shouldn’t skimp at all. Go to http://www.ridgeroadstation.com/ they have Aritso track at the cheapest prices I’ve seen. While you’re in there, look at USA Trains and Heartland, they usually have high quality locos for a discount price.
You’ve done the right thing by getting into G scale. Ask a lot of questions, but the most important thing is to get something running and start learning for yourself.
Having gone through a ton of the toy/battery style locos, I would avoid New Bright stuff, especially the earlier stuff. The mechanisms just aren’t made to last and the scale is not what anyone else is doing. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but for most of us this hobby is not about total maintenance. The stuff made by Scientific Toys is a little more rugged mechanically, but still not made for the rigors of continual outdoor use.
I agree that it’s better to try and do the right thing for as little as you can rather than invest in the toy stuff that will ALL have to be replaced.
Find a local Garden Railway Club if you can. People in this hobby are fantastic as a rule, and finding used track, locos and rolling stock is often easily and cheaply done. The Hartland Mack can be found for $30-40 and is a great starter loco.
Getting into this hobby on the right track will save you a LOT of money and grief. It’s worth doing it right, that’s from one that did it the hard way!
Chris
If your even thinking of using brass track then a $40 Mack is the best screaming deal in large scale today. and their Mini-car series of kits are under $10 each. New Blight and Scientific cars can be used and are a good source of inexpensive rolling stock.
New Blight and Scientific palstic track doesnt hold up well outdoors and has very little resistance to inadvertantly being stepped on. The secret to buying track is to plan out your layout so you know how much track you will need, then buy it slowly if $ is short, also but straights in the longest sections you can use, believe it or not, 5’ sections are the most economical price per linear foot.
I am the self-professed King of Cheap in this group here. All my stuff has been scrounged together over the last couple years, With only 2 exceptions I havent paid more than $75 or any engine, and I have 20+, and I have several of the Scientific and Hartland Minicars also. I have found this scale to actually be cheaper than HO or N if you can belive that.
bjohns67 -I’m so cheap-I’m not putting my two cent in, I’m just putting one cent in-I know where you are coming from-Vic, TJ and the others always have good advice but I would just add this: DO IT-maybe spend another $20 on track to double the basic oval you get with a set-this will make a simple dogbone say 12’x6’-take it outside and run it-find out if this hobby is for you-I finally started a garden railrod this summer and found at the early stages there is more gardening than railroading ie the track and the trains are almost secondary to the site work-I am NOT trying to be negative or scare you off but it is a big step to outdoor railroading -take what you have and find out. If you like it, don’t spent anymore money on the toy/plastic stuff- start planning/saving for the better stuff-if you don’t like it -you’re out $50-or sell it on ebay -Welcome and good luck!
I know, I know. Trying to save a dollar now might cost me more down the line.
What I’m most impressed with is that some of you have been able to get used QUALITY Gscale stuff for such a great price. Used. I’ll start looking.
In the meantime, I’m running the New Bright train (might be Scientific Toys, I can’t remember) around the Christmas tree. The puffing smoke gives me a headache, but we crack the window, and the three little ones love playing engineer! I actually realized that it’s something I never had as a child but always wanted, so I might as well start creating the memories now. I want my kids to remember the train running around the tree.
In the spring, the train (and others, eventually) will move outdoors. The sound is loud and the smoke better for outdoors, and I’m anxious to get them running. from what I’ve heard here and read everywhere, good track is essential. And doing a good job of laying it too. I have some of this cheapy track - and about 60’ of it or more, so will go ahead and treat it with a UV spray, lay it in ballast, and give it a try. Then I’ll get back to you.
Being rainy and right at freezing here in Idaho, it’ll be a few months. I cannot wait!! How do you guys handle winter?
and thanks again for welcoming me and not laughing at me.
Oh, and on my teacher’s salary, I will try to buy a few feet of Aristocraft track each paycheck and replace the cheapy stuff as I can. I’ll have to create a fictional maintenance division for replacing track…hmmm.
While I’m not yet into G, I have the symptoms. I saw a New Bright set on the net several days ago going for about $120. Have they upgraded their line or was I seeing things?
Do an Ebay search under “New Bright” you’ll get the real value, most sets go for betweem $10 to $30 dollars.
Personall i find the Scientific sets to be a better, as the loco almost kinda looks like a real loco as opposed to the New Brights doesnt-look-like-any-kinda-loco is far too toy like for me.
I bought a Scientific set this year, so i would have a kids sets for the outdoor layout, now were going to my sister-in-laws instead so now I gotta decide…keep it for future visits, or scrap for parts!
bjohns67 - I understand you desire to be thrifty but as noted earlier, the first place you will want to make a meaningful investment in in your track. As most people he know, Aristocraft has a big track sale in the Jan/Feb time frame where you buy 4 and get one free. Shipping can get expensive if you don’t have access to a local dealer with internet pricing. One way to pick up track over time is to watch eBay for track that is within your driving distance so you can avoid shipping.
Also, key an eye out for Bachman rolling stock sales. Their stock is designed for outside plus can be found for low cost as a starter set. Don’t try to use Bachman track outside. It is steel and will quickly rust away.
WELCOME ABOARD!
Paul D
Set-up a Scientific set in the garden last summer, and my Grandkids, including the one-year-old, ran it every time they came over. Brought it in and ran it around the Christmas tree for 4 weeks. Got extra track on eBay(not cheap), but I can’t find any retailer selling it. The set was the best $39. I ever spent.
I’m a “O Gauger”, but do not want to be screwing-around with electric outdoors. Until I find a better-looking READY TO RUN battery set…this will do. Joe
The only thing I can really add is subscribe or find a store that sells Garden Railways! Between the web and the magazine Ive learned a lot about the hobby. Dont be afraid to experiment there really isnt a right way or a wrong way, its whatever works for you and your skills. EBay can be your friend but research the prices from companies like St Aubin, TrainWorld, Charles Ro before you start bidding, its easy to pay too much on ebay when the bidding wars start. Good luck and welcome!
Some sites have consignment and used equipment.
I have bought used items and I have found that the worst part is the plastic wheels were worn out, but I always convert to metal wheels and I just use the plastic ones for decorating on the RR.
thanks everyone. Just by looking at the sheer numbers of views and responses, there’s some interest in running inexpensive trains.
I have 60’ of the cheap track, but just ordered 60’ of the good stuff. Was told in another forum that cheap trains might be okay, but cheap track is definately NOT. I agree. When building a foundation, it must be strong.
The extra 60’ of plastic track might be fun indoors somewhere. Shelf layout perhaps.
Again, thanks for all the feedback since I inquired about New Bright and other inexpensive trains!
Brian one thing you will want to consider is adding some wieght to the locomotive. My Scientific Toys engine chronicaly derails at the slightest whim. Its due to the lack of any real weight over the driver wheels on the loco. All the weight is with the batteries in the tender. I suggest using those peal and stick self adhesive lead tire weights Pep Boys and a few other auto places sell (and most good train shops). They come in strips that can be snapped into smaller 1oz and 1/2oz sizes segments, peal the adhesive strip off and adhere the strips to the inside top of the boiler. This is what I plan to do with mine. Also add a small 1/2oz wieght on top of the pilot wheel to help it track thru the corners.
Later Vic
editI have since removed the pilot wheel, it just wouldnt stop derailing, removing the pilot solved this.
