N scale loco's and rolling stock quality.

[Wdlgln005]

If you don't go to Ebay or to flea markets, you won't get much junk. You may find some inexpensive freight cars that need some work to get them up to modern standards. You may find Lifelike/Industrial freight cars sold for $3.00 at hobby shops. You will need to learn to convert them to MTL couplers. Some need updating with thinner roofwalks & other details. sometimes the car with the strange paint sheme fits right in because it's different from everything else & needs to be stripped & repainted into a drab weathered paint scheme.

MTL is getting into high pricetags with too many one-of a kind cars. What you need to do is get a book about your RR and try to duplicate the look of a fleet. The trick is to model trains, not cars, and have a fleet that blends together.

There tend to be 4 mfr's of cheap cars. ModelPower & Lifelike tend to be very similar, and can usually be easily converted into better models. Swap the truck, and swap coupler at the same time. Bachmann & Concor use a different truck bolster that makes therm more difficult to convert. ConCor tends to use a large hole that needs to be filled in order to use a standard MTL pin. Bachmann uses a screw mount system with a hole different from anybody else.

If you are serious about getting into Nscale, my best advice is to join Ntrak. $8.00 gets you started, and provides links to other Ntrakers in your area.

[turbine682]

Hi,

I have several Atlas and Kato (GP7, GP9, UB25, RS-3) diesels that are at least 10 years old. All run like a top with proper cleaning and lubrication.

I have a MiniTrix 4-6-2, 0-6-0, Con-cor 4-6-4 (an old one with PLASTIC! siderods original retail of $46.98), and a Con-cor 2-8-4 - all run very well - with proper care. Also have a early-release Bachman 4-8-4 (N&W # 611). This runs ok, but problem with cylinders scraping against atlas switch machines. All steam runs OK on 11" radius, however, this is a tight curve for the larger steamers and I generally keep them off of 11". Too much overhang and the curve does put a crimp in their pulling power.

Rolling stock: 95% atlas freight with old-style rapido couplers. All very nice and run well if wheels kept clean and axle points oiled where they interface with truck frames. I like micro-trains, and at some point will begin coupler conversions so I can switch to magne-matic uncoupling system.

I DO NOT buy Life Like (however, I understand the E8/9 Protos have the pulling record of an excess of 100 cars - someone told me this), Model Power or low-end Bachmann. The quality of the locos don't compare with above, and I think the rolling stock seems kind of light in weight. I would consider Bachmann Spectrum, though. Also, Atlas (or Kato) makes a nice 2-8-2 Mikado, and believe Con-cor has just released a 2-10-4. If you can afford high-end stuff (e.g. brass), check out Key Imports or Overland models.

Additionally, I recommend purchasing good power sources. Most sets (except Spectrum) provide a TOY transformer that really can't do the job once you start expanding. I am partial to MRC as I use 2 power sources (today) that I bought in 1991. The idea is to have your trains crawl at 2-5mph through railroad yards, smooth startups and stops. Have not really considered going to digital due to challenges with converting existing roster.

Beware of e-bay.... sometimes prices are inflated.

Hope this helps - I think the first response pretty much ranks products very well.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the tips. It's like I don't know anything anymore when I look at N scale products.
Tim

[retsignalmtr]

i have a couple of the lifelike gp20's and some bachmann f7's and they run well with little attention. i've seen some new bachmann steamers that also run well. bachmann and lifelike seem to be learning. any locos that i will by in the future will have to be dcc equiped as it id dificult to find space for the decoders.

[egmurphy]

Just a couple of things to add/comment on the steam loco part of the list Ray presented.

MDC/Roundhouse (now owned and marketed under Athearn) has a 2-6-0 and 2-8-0 that are generally regarded as equal to the Bachmann Spectrum steam. I have them and they are very nice.

Model Power has a few steam locos, including a 4-6-2 and a 2-8-2. There was a lot of problems with the earlier releases, but general opinion (I don't have one of these yet) seems to be favorable on the later releases. They probably fit in the middle of the list. They are about to bring out a 4-4-0 and a 2-6-0 (dated from early 1900's).

Atlas only has 2 steam offerings. They have a 2-6-0, probably 1880 vintage, that is actually the Micro-Ace Mogul with a couple of small changes. They have just released a Shay.

You'd be well advised to drop in at one of the N scale specific forums (Atlas or Trainboard) and search old threads to get more specific comments about any particular offering.


Regards

Ed

[orsonroy]

Diesels (good to bad):
Kato
Atlas
Intermountain
Micro Trains
Life Like
Con-Cor
Bachmann
other

Steam (good to bad):
Kato
Bachmann Spectrum
Micro Ace
Atlas
Life Like Heritage
Bachmann standard line

Freight:
Micro Trains
Atlas
Intermountain
Red Caboose
JnJ Trains
Kato
other

[Anonymous]

How would you guys rate N scale locos and cars? I have seen some pretty inexpensive offerings from Model Power, Life Like, and Bachmann. Also, some Atlas with substantial pricetags. I was thinking of starting an N scale layout very slowly over lots of time to allow me the advantage of Ebay and closeouts, but I don't want junk. As usual, all of my purchases will be internet and I won't be able to judge quality myself. I am satisfied with my Athearn HO scale locos, and I have a lot of P2K locos and rolling stock. Is P2K N scale as good as the HO stuff, and how would other N scale mfgs compare in quality to the N scale P2K?
Thanks
Tim