Getting into N

[trainboyH16-44]

Sorry, the GP50 is kato.
Trainboy

[trainboyH16-44]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Wdlgln005

For N scale, if you can keep 15 to 18" radius curves, you will be able to run any passenger & modern freight units. THe ROW is thinner. You only need 2" clearance, but you still need gentle grades.

For operations, think train, not model. Buy 2 GP's of the same make. Many come with your choice of 2 or more roadnumbers. THen you get the benefit of 2 motors pulling 30-40 cars on straight & level track.

A big constant, is tha Atlas & Kato make the best locomotives. LifeLike may be a close 3rd. Keep your eye on MDC/Athearn as they redo the old rolling stock & release new models. Nscale is a greaqt scale for 1st to current generation diesels. For steam.lease try before you buy. Quality control from Bachmann, Model Power, etc can be spotty.

I already have my locos, all atlas, all BN. 1 RS-11, 2 GP40, and 1 GP50.
My plan is quite large for a coffee table, but small for the space.
This is the first time I have built a railroad myself, so it's sort of a learning curve so I can do it myself.
It is coming along well now, with half the cover built, the trainboard completely assembled, and the rest of the cover should be finished tonight.
Trainboy

[Wdlgln005]

For N scale, if you can keep 15 to 18" radius curves, you will be able to run any passenger & modern freight units. THe ROW is thinner. You only need 2" clearance, but you still need gentle grades.

For operations, think train, not model. Buy 2 GP's of the same make. Many come with your choice of 2 or more roadnumbers. THen you get the benefit of 2 motors pulling 30-40 cars on straight & level track.

A big constant, is tha Atlas & Kato make the best locomotives. LifeLike may be a close 3rd. Keep your eye on MDC/Athearn as they redo the old rolling stock & release new models. Nscale is a greaqt scale for 1st to current generation diesels. For steam.lease try before you buy. Quality control from Bachmann, Model Power, etc can be spotty.

[trainfreek92]

Trainboy, I to am starting in N scale With a 4x8 track plan. N scales appear to be going faster then Ho but it is a illusion, With N you can rung long trains no problem. [;)]

[grandeman]

My advice would be to merge the two scales using forced perspective techniques. I've always wanted to do that with more than just N scale structures.

[Tracklayer]

I'm an old N scaler from way back, and/but have just gotten into steam engines in the last several months myself. You might try building a versitile layout that you can change things around on so you can go from one era to another without a lot of hassle-at least that's what I did after buliding several layouts over the years. And like retsignalmtr said, there's a lot more out there in N scale now a days than there use to be.

By the way. Having good eye sight helps a lot with N scale, and is probably the main reason I'm having to wear glasses now. Oh well. What else can I say except LOL... Just try and always work under bright enough lights.

"Good luck to you, and happy railroading"

Tracklayer

[retsignalmtr]

i switched over to n over 20 years ago from ho. i havent found anything that is that different from ho. one thing is track and loco wheel cleaning. since the weight is quite lighter in n the locos are more susceptable to the effects of dirty track and wheels. structures and accessories were lacking but there is a lot more available now.

[trainboyH16-44]

Hi, everybody.
I have just started building a 2 2/3x 6 5/6 N scale layout based on that build a layout on a door plan in 52 modeltrack plans from Model Railroader, or something like that. I also have a 12x16 HO layout, and, as per usual, would like some tips for creating my first n scale railway.
What can I carry over from HO besides the basics? Are there basics that are different?
Trainboy