3 years ago it started. My parents bought me and HO scale train set. I finally decided if I ever wanted to get any where with what I’m doing I needed to go N scale because of the size of our house. This brings me to last years Febuary. I bought a CP GP-9 in N scale. Now a year later I have started thinking about trains again. I’m on & off (because of the money). So last night I went to Hobbu House in Vanier in Ontario. I’ll tell you exactly what I bought. I bought 3 Life like cars… 1 a reefer which is CP and says Mandarin Orange Express, 1 CP reefer thet is green, and one CP Hopper. I also bought some standard code 80 tacks from Atlas. (12 corners & 6 Straights, enough to do a loop) I bought some clump foliage (Fall mix) from Woodland Scenics, some small tree armatures from Woodland Scenics, some coarse turf from Woodland Scenics, and some Hob-e-Tac glue from Woodland Scenics. So I bought a fair amount to get started. I was planning on making a diorama with these just to experiment. I have no idea where to start… Please suggest any tips and tricks for model railroading, neat ideas or just things to consider. All will be appreciated. I’m just starting, so I don’t mind the tips myself.
Finlay,
Sounds like you are off to a good start. Do you have a power pack at all? Obviously, you’ll need one to run your trains. MRC makes an excellent, inexpensive DC transformer or power pack.
Finlay, do you know what size curves you bought. I take it that 6 curves will make a 1/2 circle? You may eventually want to think about purchasing a couple of turnouts to add some switching and industries to your layout. (Going round and round usually gets old after a while.)
A neat and inexpensive train table for an N-scale layout can be made from a hollow door that can be purchased at a local home center like Home Depot or Lowe’s (or a Canadian equivalent).
It’s always amazing how much track you can put into an area in N-scale. Keep up the good work and keep us posted…
Tom
I have enough track to do a loop. My transformer is also a Bachman that was from my old HO scale trainset. it is really cheap but it works.
Finlay,
The diorama sounds like a good idea… get your feet wet, try different techniques and learn
the best way to do what you want. Then, when you decide to start a real layout, you will have
a good idea of what to do.
I remember when I was younger(and broke). I would spend lot and lots of time thinking of building
a layout… just never had the cash. Don’t worry, if you really want to build a layout, you will in time.
So, use this time to learn and improve the skills that will help you when the time comes for the
layout of your dreams. It sounds like you have the makings of a fine diorama. Try using foam for
the base and, most importantly, use your imagination. Good luck and keep us informed. Dave
Finlay,
You should still consider an inexpensive MRC transformer at some point. The cheaper transformers lack the fine control and your locomotive will run much better and smooth - especially the starts and stops. But, hey, it works. Must be nice to finally run your locomotive, huh?
Tom
Tstage I was wondering if there is a website for the transformer you are recommending?? Also should I stick with a DC tranformer or think ahead and buy a DCC tranformer?? Is it a big deal the DCC tranformer??
Get your trains running GOOD before you get into scenery. Also make provision to have some scenery below track level,adds much to realism. good Luck & have FUN ( thats what it’s all about )
If you don’t glue the track down tight and you put a diorama on a thin, stiff platform, then you can later move it onto a layout.
Is it dio or dia rama??
Good luck and post pictures.
I don’t under stand what you mean by getting the trains to run good. What should I do to them to get them to run good? Also what do you mean by the scenery below track level??
Finley,
Here’s the one I had in mind for you:
More transformers can be found at:
http://www.modelrectifier.com/products/trainSound/index.asp
If you plan on buying one of the MRC transformers, you can pick one up cheaper from another online retailer or off eBay. (I found a new one for under $20) The (newer) Tech 4 series is a step up from there.
The choice between DC and DCC is personal preference. Some folks like the older DC technology because it’s been around for a while and it works. They also like flipping switches and controllers to operate their layout. On the other hand, some have embraced DCC as the way to operate their trains. I personally like DCC because you can control each locomotive independently, apart from what other locomotives are doing on the same track. You can’t do that with DC - at least not very easily and sometimes not at all.
With DC, your transformer changes the AC that comes out of your wall socket to DC. (Hence, why they call it a “transformer”.) When you increase the voltage going through your track by rotating the knob on your transformer, you increase the speed to ALL locomotives in that section or block of track that the transformer controls.
With DCC, the track is powered with AC ALL the time. A controller (called a command station) sends signals to a board (called a decoder) that is attached to your locomotive’s motor. The decoder is “addressed” so that the command station can specifically communicate commands to that particular locomotive, apart from all other locomotives that may be on the layout or same track. That means you can control two different locomotives to do two different things, going in two different directions at two different speeds. Does that make sense?
Simply put, with DC you control your track, while with DCC you control your trains.
Finlay, i
Tom Thankyou for all the help I’m reading the DCC thing now. Thankyou
Tom now you got me thinking again about spending money(not always good). I was looking at the Railpower Series and then… I got greedy and started wandering off to the Tech 4 series. Are the Tech 4 series DC or DCC? I likeTech 4 260 because of all the realistic options on it. But between the 260 and 240 the pressure sensitive braking what is that? And is the momentum thing a big deal because then I may look at the Tech 4 200? Now if I get down to the Tech 4 200 is there a big difference between that and the
Railpower 1370. Remember I have a piece of junk one here. All it does is drive my train forward and backward.
Finlay,
There will always be something “nicer” to purchase. You just have to figure out what’s the best you can afford right NOW and stick with that. (Finlay, sometimes you have to make tough discussions…[sigh]…EVEN when you’re an adult. [:(] )
The Tech 4 200 and the Railpower 1370 should essentially do the same thing. The Railpower 1370 is older and not as “stylish” as the Teck 4 series, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good.
All the Tech 4 series transformers are DC. The momentum and breaking have to do with mimicking the slow starting and stopping that a real train would expensive (inertia) trrying to pull or stop a load of cars. By clicking the button, the transformer will do that automatically for you. You can mimick the same thing just by slowly turning the dial up or down. It’s a neat feature, but you have to figure if the price increase is worth it to you.
Choices…choices.
Tom
Thankyou Tstage I will probably consider the Tech 4 200 or the Railpower 1370. Now to make up my mind[banghead]
Check around and see where you can find the cheapest price:
Discount Trains - http://www.discounttrainsonline.com/ho-scale-model-trains.html
Internet Hobbies - http://www.internethobbies.com
Standard Hobby Supply - http://www.standardhobby.com
Wholesaletrains.com - http://www.wholesaletrains.com
Trainworld.com - http://www.trainworld.com
eBay - http://toys.listings.ebay.com/Model-RR-Trains_HO-Scale_W0QQfromZR4QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ2QQsacatZ19128QQsocmdZListingItemList
The above would be some places to check with. If you do check out eBay, make sure that it’s NEW.
Let me know what you end up getting…
Tom
P.S. FYI: Wholesaletrains.com is a massive warehouse that sells all kinds of stuff - not just trains. I bought my Bachman E-Z Command (DCC) system there for about 1/2 price. WARNING: Don’t expect any great service or product knowledge base from places like this! They just move product - NOT necessarily know much about what they are selling.
Brenden good luck with your layout. As has been said we all started small and had to make some choices. I still have my first HO trains. I am running three roundie rounds on a 4x6. The fact that it is on the dinning room tabel is a credit to a good wife. Each circle has its on power pack, two tech II’s and a cheaper power pack from one of my train sets. Remember its your railroad, your dreams and you will learn as you go. Welcome to the hobby and check out all the options as you go. DC vs DCC, horn hook vs kadee or some other. The cost will be different as will the results. Phil
Looks like you’re getting some good help, so I won’t rattle on too long. Just thought I’d pass along a couple of links to help you along.
There are some links to some great threads here on this web site on this page. Check some of these out;
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=36405
And if you’re going to do a diorama (good idea by the way) why not have a look at these lilipution layouts and that way your diorama can be used;
http://carendt.com/microplans/intro.html
And hey, keep us posted, OK?
I am chronicling the construction of this layout.
Click image to enlarge
at:
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/4x8/
Thank you if you visit
Harold
Welcome, Finlay.
Here’s a thread similar to your’s with a lot of useful information in the answers provided:
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=53175
Here is another thread which is sort of a bible for how-to’s start to finish, a compilation of useful threads posted here in the past:
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=36405
After you work through those, you will probably have more questions, probably some very specific ones. Make sure to ask them, because it has been my experience that the guys here can answer them, no matter how specialized. You’ve come to the right place for information!
I have 3 questions…
1.Probably a simple question but what is the purpose of roadbed. Why not paint the board or whatever you are laying the track on then lie the track directly on top of it??
2. Is it worth paying for the rock mold stuff or is is just easier and cheaper to use paper mache??
3.What is the difference between N scale track that is code 80 and 50 both made by Atlas??