Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
All right, got my first N scale set today, the Life-Like Freight King #7523 Union Pacific, from Walthers.  Ordered it last Thursday, it shipped on Friday from Wisconsin, and got it today in California.  That's pretty fast shipping!Those of you who have been enjoying this hobby for years will have to excuse my newcomer's exuberance and enthusiasm.  [:D]  Not to mention my praise for what may very well be, in terms of today's N scale standards, a mediocre product.  This is all new to me!  And, who knows, maybe there'll be other newcomers down the road who may find this useful. I've been doing a LOT of reading the past month or so since I decided to get into model railroading hobby, and if there's a common theme I've found everywhere, it's the advice given by the majority of posters to avoid starter train sets and to put together quality components yourself.  Well that might make perfect sense for those who know what's what in the hobby, but for us newcomers, it's a bit too overwhelming.  So, I decided to get a starter set, the Life-Like set:[img]http://www.ptvavm.com/hold/2007-06-05_web_LL-Freight-King.jpg[/img]In addition to the GP20 engine, it came with four freight cars, a caboose, enough nickel-silver Power-Loc track pieces to make 21" x 27.5" double ovals (it includes a left- and right-hand manual switch tracks), two N scale building kits (country store and chapel), four trees, and a bunch of street signs, all for $92.Now, I've handled precision kits and miniatures before, coming from mlitary modeling background and also 1/700 scale ships with PE parts.  So I'd like to think that I'm not entirely without discerning eyes when it comes to checking out replica models.  That said, I'm very impressed with the set.  The engine, and the freight cars, are individually packaged in their own clear acrylic cases, like this (click to view larger versions):[img]http://www.ptvavm.com/hold/2007-06-05_DR_23455_WIP2.jpg[/img][img]http://www.ptvavm.com/hold/2007-06-05_DR_23456_WIP2.jpg[/img]I'm just very impressed with the detail present on such an entry-level engine, as you can see from the following pictures (click to view larger versions): [img]http://www.ptvavm.com/hold/2007-06-05_DR_23451_WIP2.jpg[/img][img]http://www.ptvavm.com/hold/2007-06-05_DR_23452_WIP2.jpg[/img][img]http://www.ptvavm.com/hold/2007-06-05_DR_23454_WIP2.jpg[/img][img]http://www.ptvavm.com/hold/2007-06-05_DR_23453_WIP2.jpg[/img]I don't really know at this point to be able to tell whether this is a quality engine or not, but it runs very smoothly.  At the slowest speed setting, pulling all four cars and the caboose, it took the engine 3 minutes and 56 seconds to complete one lap of the 21" x 27.5" loop, without stalling a single time, and at all times moving smoothly (got it on a video clip). The details on freight cars seem pretty good, too.  Check out the lettering on this car (a reefer?): [img]http://www.ptvavm.com/hold/2007-06-05_DR_23457_WIP2.jpg[/img][img]http://www.ptvavm.com/hold/2007-06-05_DR_23457_WIP2a.jpg[/img]... and the working headlight, while not too bright, lights itself and the car numbers up nicely: [img]http://www.ptvavm.com/hold/2007-06-05_DR_23469_WIP2.jpg[/img] If this kind of quality is what most experienced modelers advice against buying, then the "quality" engines and cars must be superb, indeed!  The only part of the set I'm not too crazy about is the blue power pack/throttle controller.  It's a single dial that controls both forward and reverse movements.  I much prefer the basic Bachmann controller that came with my HO Thomas Tank Engine set--the dial is much smoother and easier to control than the Life-Like model.  No big deal, as I was planning on getting a MRC Railpower controller anyway.
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag

Update Reply

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Model Railroader Newsletter See all

Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!

Subscriber & Member Login

Edit post

Post Body

Tags (Optional)

Subscriber & Member Login

Users Online

Search the Community