N DCC and others

[Anonymous]

Just started back into the hobby after about 15 years. I am planning a new layout and since it has been so long, should I just wait for N DCC? Since I just started planning this and do not know what is out there, is Atlas the only N company for DCC?

Also, I live in Cleveland and we have many steel operations here. Has anyone ever seen a gondola with steel coils in the cars in N scale. All I have ever seen is either coal, or liquid tanks in these cars. I really want to make a layout that resembles my area.

[cmrproducts]

Mike

Ther are atleast 5 companies making DCC for N scale. I use Digitrax but all of theothers are good. You need to visit your local hobby shops to see what is out there. Also the model magazines will bring you up to speed on the hobby today. See if you can join a club or the local NMRA division. They will be glad to get you any info you may need.

BOB H Clarion, PA

[Anonymous]

There is absolutely no reason to wait. The only thing about DCC that is scale specific is the decoder. The command stations and throttles can be used in any scale. Sometimes they will have power settings, for example on my Digitrax, you can set the power for G, HO, and N. The only thing scale specific about the decoders are their size, and power rating. The best decoder for N scale I have found so far is the Lenz LE077XF. It's small enough to fit into a LifeLike SW1200 switcher, and powerful enough to run a Kato SD90MAC. Another close companion is the Digitrax DZ121. It's designation refers to Z scale, but it works fine in N scale. Many manufacturers like Atlas are equiping their new locos with decoders from the factory, and others like kato are making their locos very easy to retro-fit. If you have any other questions on DCC and N scale, feel free to e-mail me.

As to the steel cars, I'm not sure what you're wanting. Red Caboose (you can see their web site) just came out with coil steel cars with covers. Or you can take regular gondolas from several manufacturers and make your own loads. There may also be ready-made coil steel loads for gondolas already.

Happy railroading... Robert

[Anonymous]

Welcome back to the hobby, Mike. I've been back into the hobby and N scale since '89 and believe me, these are good times for our scale as far as quality and quantity of products.
I don't do the DCC thing, so I can't help you there. As far as steel loads for gondolas, there are few things you can use. Micro Engineering makes plate girders that make great loads. You can get I beams or other structural shapes from Plasticstruct. There is a company that makes steel coils in N, but I can't remember their name to save my life. I bought two packs of them at a shop about three or four years ago, and all I can remember is a white box with a yellow label. I know that's not much help, maybe someone else can help out with the name. As was mentioned in a previous post, Red Caboose has just released steel coil cars.
Another steel load you can model is a personal favorite of mine. Scale steel plates made from pieces of the metal banding that holds plywood bundles together when delivered to lumber yards. Just sand off the black paint and leave them outside a few days to weather them.

Hope this helps some. Good luck and have fun.

[Anonymous]

Mike4020, better late than never. I found the N scale steel coils I was talking about in my post a couple of weeks ago in the 2002 Walthers N book. They're made by Stuart Hobbies and you can find them in the freight car section of the book(sorry, I forgot to write down the page number). They're pewter castings and should fit in most if not all makes of gons. I know they fit in Micro Trains gons. Hope thats what you're looking for. Good luck.

[greendiamond]

Mike:

The folks who own Digitrax are N-Scalers!

Atlas and Kato were the only two locomotive manufacturers making locos DCC ready. ER just released N scale DCC ready sharknose units and I believe its either Concor or Bachmann just released a steam engine with a socket in the tender for a plug in decoder. The fun is just beginning!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep the questions coming!

Mike
Green Diamond Hobbies
DCC sales and service
[e-mail]