Texas ZepherBest - Trix (all European) Marklin (European, 3-rail, AC powered) Atlas PRO Line (hasn't been produced for over 10 years, might be able to find on ebay) Rapido (only makes a bullet train type thing)
Best - Trix (all European) Marklin (European, 3-rail, AC powered) Atlas PRO Line (hasn't been produced for over 10 years, might be able to find on ebay) Rapido (only makes a bullet train type thing)
I generally agree with you but definitely not on the topic of Märklin :-). I was a Märklinist for nearly 16 years but recently switched over to two-rail and am much happier for making the change. The biggest problems with Märklin are:
Slowly building a layout since 2007!
I can't believe it. Just had a very long post composted and the computer ate it. So here is the abbreviated not quite so good version.
HardcashIs there a good, better or best HO maker ? ... I want to purchase a very nice hig quaility HO set
but my personal ratings
Avoid at all cost - Lifelike (plain brand) Bachmann (plain brand and plus brand) International Hobby Corperation (IHC) Model Power (plain brand)
OK - Walther's Trainline ConCor (only a couple train types - streamliners) Mantua by Model Power
Good - Athearn RTR Bachmann Spectrum Proto-1000 (would be in the better except for the track)
Bettter - Atlas Trainline
Best - Trix (all European) Marklin (European, 3-rail, AC powered) Atlas PRO Line (hasn't been produced for over 10 years, might be able to find on ebay) Rapido (only makes a bullit train type thing)
With an Athearn or Bachmann set one is going to get EZ-track. With the Lifelike or Proto-1000 one is going to get "power loc" track. With an Atlas set one is going to get "tru-track". Yuck, yuck, and yuck. It would be my advice to just throw away the track that comes with the set and get normal Atlas custom line sectional track http://www.atlasrr.com/Trackmisc/hocode100.htm or if you really want the good stuff get Kato Unitrack http://www.katousa.com/HO/unitrack.html
All in all one would probably be better off just building ones own "set" from separate items. Some hobby stores have a special discount for people doing this. That is if you buy a certain miniumn set of track, loco, x number of cars, power supply, and a couple accessories they give a package deal. But when building ones own set, they could truly choose the Rolls Royce for each component rather than compromising on one part or the other.
My personal built up high-quality set (ignoring the true high end brass locos & cars) - Track - Kato Unitrack (~$80) Power - CVP EasyDCC wireless ($529) Loco - Trix 2-8-2 Mikado (are these still in production? If not BLI Paragon series Heavy Mikado)($400) Freight Cars - Intermountain Hobbies 40' box, tank, & reefer cars ($30 each) Atlas billboard reefers. ($20 each) Caboose - American Model Builders (kit - $40)
If you are looking for diesel - swap out the Mikado for something by Atlas in their Master Gold series ($279).
Passenger cars - Rapido or Broadway Limited ($60 each)
My personal more practical but still great set - Track - Atlas custom line (~$30) Power - Digitrax Zephyr ($150) Loco - Bachman Spectrum 2-8-0 w/Tusnami sound ($170) Freight Cars - Athearn RTR ($15-20 each) Caboose - Walthers gold line ($24)
Diesel substitution - I'd still stick with the Atlas Master Gold. However, the Stewart Executive F7s would be mighty tempting. Nothing beats a great locomotive.
Good, better, and best usually go as follows:
Good- $$
Better- $$$
Best- $$$$
You get the idea.
Modeling the N&W freelanced at the height of their steam era in HO.
Daniel G.
selector For a good, all-around mix of details, running qualities, and abilty to pull a given number of cars up a 3% grade, the Broadway Limited steamers do a good job. I suspect that the Bachmann Spectrum series, in a couple of cases, are right up there as well. The Spectrum Consolidation 2-8-0 is a gem, a stand-out in the HO world. I have one of the Spectrum J Class Northerns, and wouldn't say it is a great model. It stumbles as low speeds, the tender's front truck doesn't like to...truck...and it is a light puller. If you can get some at a decent price, the PCM engines are marvellous. My best runner, and best looking from that line is the astoundingly good Y6b Mallet. I wonder if it isn't the best engine produced under $400 in the past 10 years. -Crandell
For a good, all-around mix of details, running qualities, and abilty to pull a given number of cars up a 3% grade, the Broadway Limited steamers do a good job. I suspect that the Bachmann Spectrum series, in a couple of cases, are right up there as well. The Spectrum Consolidation 2-8-0 is a gem, a stand-out in the HO world. I have one of the Spectrum J Class Northerns, and wouldn't say it is a great model. It stumbles as low speeds, the tender's front truck doesn't like to...truck...and it is a light puller.
If you can get some at a decent price, the PCM engines are marvellous. My best runner, and best looking from that line is the astoundingly good Y6b Mallet. I wonder if it isn't the best engine produced under $400 in the past 10 years.
-Crandell
I agree with Crandell here on both accounts. The Bachmann consolidation is a gem and quite cheap. But the Y6b, what a marvellous engine. I love both of the ones I got. They are superb. The PCM Big boy is also another gem that I place at the same level as the PCM Y6b. Heavy, good looking and will pull a ton.
But on the amount of space available here.They are of course not an option.
Magnus
BEST at what? Running on a 'postage stamp RR?
GOOD brands are well balanced. ALL brands show sllght emphasis' (plural) on one thing. Therin lies most differences between GOOD brands..
KATO equipment lasts longer than BACHMANN, and Bachmann is cheaper than Kato (Surprise).! Are you a rebilder? a tweeker?..Some good posters enjoy getting things to work right. Others hate it. AVOID Ebay. It is where people get rid of their bad purchases (an Internet Garage Sale) until you can learn..
The BEST for you might be 'What runs best on really sharp curves ? (Answer -.'shorter' equipment).
Don't forget we're all prujudiced here - for one or more brands over some others. It's kind of like asking if Ford or Chevy is better!! Personally I like Chevy Chase better than Gerald Ford!!
I can only talk really knowledgeably about HO steam. If you mean "best looking", I would say that the Proto 2000 Heritage Series of steamers are the best looking in terms of details. In one instance, the Rivarossi Allegheny H-8 is an easy match for any of the P2K engines, but you are required to mount some of them yourself after purchase. Same, by the way, for many of the Heritage Series engines.
If you mean best pulling, my experience would place the P2K engines last. Not-so-great do they look now.
For diesels, the Atlas, followed by Kato or Athearn Genesis, are often very good, nicely detailed. The Katos are less realistic than the Genesis in many cases, but their drives are to die for. Atlas Gold series come with QSI systems and are nicely detailed. But as in the case of steamers, it really depends on the engine. In some cases, newer runs are better than the first run, but not always. The manufacturers do routinely improve first editions by listening to feedback.
Good luck.
Didn't you mean to say Good, Betterer, or Bestes?
With a layout that size, you'll probably be looking for small to medium sized equipment, right? Do you want steam, diesel, or both?
For good steam, Bachmann and IHC (mostly IHC) have some pretty good stuff. If you don't mind a little tweaking, older Rivarossi is good too.
Better steam would include Bachmann Spectrum and Broadway Limited.
Best steam is Proto 2000 or brass.
Good diesel includes Athearn and Bachmann (new).
Better diesel would be from Atlas Trainman, Proto 1000, Stewart, and Athearn RTR.
Best is Athearn Genesis, Proto 2000, Atlas, Kato, Stewart Executive, and brass.
And then good, better and best rolling stock is from the manufacturers already mentioned, as well as Bowser and Walthers.
There are far more brands than I've mentioned, but those are some of the main ones.
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I would go with either Altas or Athearns for starter set. But look at peices too. There a opinion for everytihing out there too. DC or DCC, Athearns or Altas, everyone has there opinion on something Just have fun with it and enjoy it. You might get more than you bargained for here.
4x8 are fun too!!! RussellRail
Left Coast RailBe careful with those small layouts. They often prove to be a gateway to much worse habits.
Like having fun?
If done properly they can be fun to operate as well..
Many of my esteem colleagues has forgotten their basics on simple loop type layouts that can be design by using a train set as the base starting point in small areas...These sets come with the standard 18" curve used on small layouts.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
a 4 or 5' by SIX foot would be better, but you can do something in 5x5'.
My HO layout is 3.5' x 61" with 2 loops, a spur yard and a 2 spur engine facility. Space is a severe limiting factor for me.
I would avoid 15R loops if I were you, though. They severely limit the locos you can use, and the cars are pretty much restricted to the 40'.
I have one 15R loop interconnected to an 18R loop, but will expand layout to 42-48" wide to accomodate 2 18R loops. 18R run larger locos and can accomodate 50' cars better.
With your size, you could easily get in a 22R loop! That's even better yet.
{N scale would be better for my size, but I really really really wanted HO}.
As far as equipment goes, the opinions and experience varies as widely as there are manufacturers. One man's "junk" runs fantastic for another. More expensive doesn't necessarily mean better quality.
Then there is DC or DCC. DO you know which you want yet? DCC is more expensive, but many who have it love it {including me}. Others will swear by the older standard of DC.
Manufacturer A, Manufacturer. B, Manufacturer. C----all made in China!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Atlas(Trainman) and Athearn makes quality sets.
The Trainman set requires 4' x 3' space
The Athearn set rquires 36" x 54" (passenger train) or 36" x 45"(freight train) area.
So,while 5x5 foot is small its not impossible to to design a simple loop layout with industrial sidings.
Ditto Phoebe Vet + if you mean a complete package by "set", you won't get your best quality there. Athearn Genisis, Atlas, and Proto 2000 all make excellent locos as well as RTR rolling stock, but don't have them packaged in "sets". I'm in HO, but I would guess that the same brands in N scale would be about the same quality wise. Another thing to consider is DC vs. DCC - with DCC being the newer technology. If you want sound, there is very little in N scale, so maybe a slightly bigger layout may be your better option. There is also a considerable difference in size, so eyesight, manual dexterity, and other factors may come into play. As you age, the bigger scales get easier to see and use!!
That table is pretty small for HO. You might want to consider a smaller scale.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Is there a good, better or best HO maker ?
I want to purchase a very nice hig quaility HO set for a 5' x 5" table. If I am going to spent my time for this project, I don't want to find out I have bought secondary quality items. I realize some like Mercedes, Porsches, Lexus, etc., but I dont want to end up with a Gremlin, Ford Pinto or Edsel.