by mainecentral
I model HO scale, but my 10 yr. old daughter wants to switch to N scale. Any suggestions for products to STAY AWAY FROM??She doesn't need to deal wity junky equipment.
Railroad Forums
Moderators: 3rdrail, stilson4283, Otto Vondrak
sjl wrote:I've been in N Scale for a few decades (ouch!) and work part time in a hobby shop. My $0.02: Atlas and Kato locos are cadillacs; the fine detail and running characterisitics may be lost on a ten year old. Anything in the last few years by Life Like and Bachmann Spectrum is very good for 2/3 the price. (Half of my loco fleet is LL or Spectrum; their 2-8-0 is a dream.) I'd suggest building a small layout, 3'x6' or so, with two-train capability. Use Atlas Code 80 track components - - they are robust, and she won't have any trouble putting equipment on the rails. Start with Model Power plastic kits, and let her paint them as she likes. After she learns about glue and paint, then graduate to the Walthers or Atlas kits. She'll probably do fine with basic scenery with your help. Atlas and Walthers rolling stock can take some abuse. Micro-Trains and IM can come along later.Thanks, Ron,thought you'd like to know that she helped build her HO (4'x8') layout, and has learned a lot about the glues and things. As a matter of fact she has a great eye for detail, making suggestions to me that made me re-think the way I had things planned. I think the layout came out MUCH better with her input. Thanks for the hint on the ACL B23-7, I'll have to keep my eyes open for one!!!
Also, you may be thinking, "B23-7 with four-window cab in NS black", and your daughter may be thinking, "gee, that's a pretty purple engine. What does ACL stand for?"
Good luck, and most of all, have fun!
Ron
jmp883 wrote::D I think you'll be very pleased switching to N. After having been in HO for many years myself, I was very pleasantly surprised at the excellent quality available in N. As stated in the previous posts, any locomotive from Kato, Atlas, or Life-Like since the 90's on is excellent quality. As for rolling stock, there is nothing better than Micro-Trains. Atlas freight cars are also pretty good. For passenger equipment, at least streamliners, Con-Cor's cars are very good.jmp883, After looking at your layout pics, I went to my LHS and bought a piece of flextrack, which I tacked to a strip of 3/4" plywood. Then I(please don't tell on me :D ) borrowed the power-pack from the kit she's getting for her birthday, and ran the SD-35 back and forth, amazed at the less than a snail's pace speeds I was able to get! That's not what I'm used to in HO scale(they can go pretty slow, but my HO controller won't let them go THAT SLOW!!) So, to make a short story long, I went out today and put $40.00 down on an N scale loco for ME(Gee, I hope she'll let me use her layout! LOL) Now I'm........ Dual Guaged???
For some inspiration, check my layout:
www.geocities.com/jmpwpd29