Hello everyone! New guy getting back into the hobby as an adult. I used to model with my grandfather as a child and got the bug recently. I am going to start off “small” and start tinkering around with N Scale. Honestly, I think I want to use either EZ Track or Kato Unitrack. I know it’s not the best, but for messing around and getting back into the hobby, I think it’s a great product! So here is my question before I go to a Greenberg’s show tomorrow. Do I use Bachmann EZ Track or Kato Unitrack? What are the pros and cons of each? Are they interchangeable? Thanks for the help. I am sure I’ll have TONS more questions to come!
[#welcome]
They are both fine products. Kato Unitrack is better quality (brown vs. black ties, more realistic ballast, better joining method), but correspondingly higher in price. Bachmann EZ Track is also more widely available at a LHS (Local Hobby Shop).
Frankly, I would let that be your guide: not what you find at the show, but what you can obtain quickly in the event you change your plans or need some more pieces. Unless, of course, you don’t mind waiting a few days for shipment from and e-tailer.
Have fun, and don’t hesitate to ask questions.
Welcome!
I agree with the above post, get the brand you can get more of easily. I haven’t done much with pre-ballasted track, but I understand they are both good. They can be connected with each other or with flex or unballasted sectional track, HOWEVER, it takes some doing. I certainly wouldn’t recommend trying to mix them, but if you had a large layout, one or two places where they joined would be dooable. I am not sure if the Kato radii are the same as the Bachman and Atlas, which I think are the same.
Might I suggest you go to your local lumber yard and get a damaged hollow core door as the base for your first layout. It is easily moved around, plenty strong, the damage can usually be easily covered and usually reduces the price quite a bit. With N scale, I have seen a number of nice layouts on them. You can plan it to become part of a larger layout later. You can attach a view block across the center so that your train goes out of sight, city one side, country the other or any combination that suits you.
Since you are going to a show tomorrow, I would also recommend that you get some books on wiring, scenery and design, all of which have changed conciderably over the years. I have several books from different eras, none of the material is unuseable, some of it works better in one place than another.
Get a loop of track down, so you can do a little operating and since you are going to use the lock together track you should not have to hitch it down until you have a plan which includes the type of operations you want, point to point, continuous running, switching, railfanning, city or rural.
When you have some more of your “druthers” down, you are in the right place to ask more questions. Lots of very knowledgeable people willing to share. Heck, I even come up with a good idea occasional
From Jersey?
EXCELLENT advice. Can’t say anything about the track though, as I’ve never used either.
Welcome!
Thanks everyone I really appreciate your help! I will definitely look into the scenery and wiring books as well. To be honest. I’m going to just charge out of the gate and go DCC. Nothing like the future right? Jon
Sure am! Central! Yourself?
Welcome back to the hobby (I started at 7 with Lionel, tried again at 40 with HO and am now fully committed to an HO layout at 62).
I’m not familiar with Bachmann EZ but I did use some Kato UniTrack for an under the tree 5x9 oval. Nice looking track, high quality and goes together quickly. A bit “noisy” even sitting on a very tight weave rug. I would recommend getting the joiner power feeders and connecting at several places. I did notice that the track was easy to shift on the rug, so as someone suggested you will need to attach it to the benchwork.
While at the show track down a DigiTrax Zephyr which makes a great starter DCC setup.
Alan
Great! Thanks! I was looking at the MRC Prodigy Systems. How are they compared to the Digitrax?
[#welcome] to the forums.
As has been noted previously, both are pretty good. If you want to see what can be done with Bachman Easytrack just go to the “SEARCH COMMUNITY” box on the right hand side of the forums and type in “Jeffrey Wimberly”. He has done very good things to disguise his easy track.
As for a door sized layout, just type in “Dave Vollmer” and take a look at his GREAT layout that he has just added on to. He is in the U S Air force, I believe and has moved his layout around quite a bit and has also shown it at a number of shows.
As for DCC, the Digitrax system is very good and can be added on to in the future. I am not sure about adding on to the Prodigy system, but maybe someone else will chime in on that. I recently got a deal on an NCE Procab system that is also very good and can also be added on to. I cannot say how it works as yet because about 4 months ago I injured my right shoulder, (guess who is right handed) and just as it got to feeling better I injured it again. I went to see the Doc just before Christmas and after Xrays & Ultrasound, he determined that I have two tears at the top of my bicep muscle where the tendons attach. So, NO CLIMBING UNDER THE LAYOUT (N scale 3’X6’) TO WIRE IN THE DROPS for about another month. All the best in your new venture into the hobby.
Blue Flamer.
EDIT PS. If you want to see what others are doing in the hobby, scroll down the threads until you locate "WPF (weekend photo fun) for this weekend, Enjoy yourself.
BF.
That’s one can of worms you want to be really careful opening on these forums.
Personally, I got a used Prodigy Express from an acquaintance dirt cheap, and have since upgraded to wireless. I am very happy with it. My own personal opinion on MRC products is that they made a misstep (from which they have recovered) in their early marketing and product line, and now can’t get a fair shake on these boards. Others will disagree with me, some vociferously. It’s kind of like asking whether people prefer Ford or GM, Sony or Nintendo, etc.
I think you should look for the best deal on an entry level set, and look for the features you want and aesthetics you like (one of my reasons for choosing MRC over the competition – I like knobs to control throttles, and find the austere black and white very pleasing) and get it. Ten years ago, I would have said hold off on DCC, but now, I’d jump right in too.
Hey everyone, Thank you so much for your help! I did not end up going to the show today. I think I will research a little more before I dive in. I think I should build a bench first!
Train shows are often a good source of research and inspiration. They are less frequently a place to find bargains – most of the ones I go to, the vendors are selling at retail. Sometimes, though you can pick up a good deal on out of production items.
Before you throw some benchwork together, have you given any though to what you’re actually going to do with your mini-pike? Do you want point-to-point operation or continuous running, or a combination of both? What era? What prototype railroad? What kinds of industries / structures do you want (this somewhat depends on the answers to the previous questions)? Answering these questions will help you firm up what kind of a track plan you want to develop.
Get at least a rough idea down on paper (or use a computer-aided design tool) before you get too deep into benchwork.
Personally, I think layout planning is one of the most fun parts of model railroading.