Got a N scale train set

[therailnut]

I had an N scale train set give to me last night. I had lot of track with it and looked to still be in pretty good condition. I have about 4 loco's and 8 cars with it. I thought about changing scales last night to N. But wanted to find out a little bit more about the scale before I start investing in this scale. I recently had been collecting HO rolling stock and locomotives until I could get to a HO layout.

So I have few questions.
What gauge track in N is equalled to our Code 83 in HO?
Whatat is the general consensus as far Curved radius and turnouts Such as HO it is #6 turnouts and 18 radius curves? But I plan on running a lot of long equipment such as autoracks and 89' Boxcars and also lots of stack trains.
Also in N scale is all the cars use truck mounted couplers. I know in HO it is no no to use. Or do they use the Body mounted.
What manufacters are suggested for better quality and good running cars and locos in this scale?


Thanks for any info you can give me on this. As feel as am learning all over again with this Scale. I know a lot about HO but nothing on N scale

[therailnut]

I had an N scale train set give to me last night. I had lot of track with it and looked to still be in pretty good condition. I have about 4 loco's and 8 cars with it. I thought about changing scales last night to N. But wanted to find out a little bit more about the scale before I start investing in this scale. I recently had been collecting HO rolling stock and locomotives until I could get to a HO layout.

So I have few questions.
What gauge track in N is equalled to our Code 83 in HO?
Whatat is the general consensus as far Curved radius and turnouts Such as HO it is #6 turnouts and 18 radius curves? But I plan on running a lot of long equipment such as autoracks and 89' Boxcars and also lots of stack trains.
Also in N scale is all the cars use truck mounted couplers. I know in HO it is no no to use. Or do they use the Body mounted.
What manufacters are suggested for better quality and good running cars and locos in this scale?


Thanks for any info you can give me on this. As feel as am learning all over again with this Scale. I know a lot about HO but nothing on N scale

[Anonymous]

Multiply by scale factor ratio, HO = 87, N = 160.

87/160 x code 83 = code 45; code 55 is available in N scale.

#6 work good (no scale factors to adjust here, divergence/distance is the same units in all scales), #4 is pushing it, especially when backing up truck mounted couplers.

87/160 x 18" HO radius = 9.7875" radius. N standard is 9.75" radius sectional.
87/160 x 20" HO radius = 10.875" N radius, use 11" sectional.
87/160 x 22" HO radius (long equip) = 11.96" N (use flextrack), etc

Micro-Trains couplers for N scale can be had in both truck mount and body mount. Body mount better if curves are generous, but more work to install than pre-made truck/coupler assemblies.

Micro-Trains and Kato are my favorites, there are many other good brands out there.

[Anonymous]

Multiply by scale factor ratio, HO = 87, N = 160.

87/160 x code 83 = code 45; code 55 is available in N scale.

#6 work good (no scale factors to adjust here, divergence/distance is the same units in all scales), #4 is pushing it, especially when backing up truck mounted couplers.

87/160 x 18" HO radius = 9.7875" radius. N standard is 9.75" radius sectional.
87/160 x 20" HO radius = 10.875" N radius, use 11" sectional.
87/160 x 22" HO radius (long equip) = 11.96" N (use flextrack), etc

Micro-Trains couplers for N scale can be had in both truck mount and body mount. Body mount better if curves are generous, but more work to install than pre-made truck/coupler assemblies.

Micro-Trains and Kato are my favorites, there are many other good brands out there.

[therailnut]

I their a manufactor out that makes cars with body mount couplers already, or is all the cars have truck mounted.

[therailnut]

I their a manufactor out that makes cars with body mount couplers already, or is all the cars have truck mounted.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by therailnut

I their a manufactor out that makes cars with body mount couplers already, or is all the cars have truck mounted.

Micro-Trains cars have the hole locations where you can screw in the body mount coupler assembly (available from Micro-trains in pieces or pre-assembled). Replace the supplied trucks with Micro-Trains trucks without couplers (or just cut the couplers off). Not sure about other manufacturers, but usually you can mark the precise center and drill and tap for the 00-90 screw.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by therailnut

I their a manufactor out that makes cars with body mount couplers already, or is all the cars have truck mounted.

Micro-Trains cars have the hole locations where you can screw in the body mount coupler assembly (available from Micro-trains in pieces or pre-assembled). Replace the supplied trucks with Micro-Trains trucks without couplers (or just cut the couplers off). Not sure about other manufacturers, but usually you can mark the precise center and drill and tap for the 00-90 screw.

[therailnut]

How do the trains react when you back the trains up in N scale with the truck mounted couplers. I know in HO they derail everything.

[therailnut]

How do the trains react when you back the trains up in N scale with the truck mounted couplers. I know in HO they derail everything.

[MAbruce]

QUOTE: Originally posted by therailnut

How do the trains react when you back the trains up in N scale with the truck mounted couplers. I know in HO they derail everything.

I've backed a 25 car train with all truck mounted couplers (Accumates and a couple Mirco-Trains) with no problems. I can't run them much longer than 25 as my layout won't handle it.

Most of my fleet is truck mounted. In fact, most of all cars sold in N-scale are truck mounted. I only have a couple of cars that are body mounted (purchased from someone who installed body mounts) and those cars seem to be the cause the few issues I do have. As I don't have any experince with body mounted couplers, I just can't figure out if they are problematic or were not installed correctly.

[MAbruce]

QUOTE: Originally posted by therailnut

How do the trains react when you back the trains up in N scale with the truck mounted couplers. I know in HO they derail everything.

I've backed a 25 car train with all truck mounted couplers (Accumates and a couple Mirco-Trains) with no problems. I can't run them much longer than 25 as my layout won't handle it.

Most of my fleet is truck mounted. In fact, most of all cars sold in N-scale are truck mounted. I only have a couple of cars that are body mounted (purchased from someone who installed body mounts) and those cars seem to be the cause the few issues I do have. As I don't have any experince with body mounted couplers, I just can't figure out if they are problematic or were not installed correctly.

[AltonFan]

Some of the "craftsman"-type kits require body-mounted couplers (the GHQ heavy-duty flatcar comes to mind). Almost all recent Micro-Trains locomotive coupler conversions are body-mounted. (Some older conversions might be truck mounted. I can think of a few steam conversions that come with a truck frame with a coupler mounted.)

I've never had problems backing trains using truck-mounted couplers in N scale. It has been suggested that the depth of the flange on the Micro-Trains wheels helps prevent this. I've not attemped this with the low-profile wheels. (And I'm not likely to, either-too many cars to retrofit!)

I've heard a lot about folks using Micro-Trains Z scale couplers body-mounted on N scale equipment. I have never tried this, so I can't say how this might effect things.

To me, the most important issue is having powered frogs on long turnouts (#6 or better) and crossings. I did have a lot of trouble with stalling on unpowered frogs, especially with smaller steam power.

If you're intent on running long equipment, I believe NMRA standard for N scale is 17". My Life-Like SD-7s negotiated Kato Unitrack 13.75" curves, but my ConCor PA-1s tended to derail, make noise, and seemed "cramped" on the same track. You might be able to get away with tight curves appearance-wise if you view the layout around eye-level. (Also, some Micro-Trains locomotive coupler conversions specify the use of longer or shorter shank couplers depending on the curves you have.)

Please note that these observations are based solely on my personal experience.

[AltonFan]

Some of the "craftsman"-type kits require body-mounted couplers (the GHQ heavy-duty flatcar comes to mind). Almost all recent Micro-Trains locomotive coupler conversions are body-mounted. (Some older conversions might be truck mounted. I can think of a few steam conversions that come with a truck frame with a coupler mounted.)

I've never had problems backing trains using truck-mounted couplers in N scale. It has been suggested that the depth of the flange on the Micro-Trains wheels helps prevent this. I've not attemped this with the low-profile wheels. (And I'm not likely to, either-too many cars to retrofit!)

I've heard a lot about folks using Micro-Trains Z scale couplers body-mounted on N scale equipment. I have never tried this, so I can't say how this might effect things.

To me, the most important issue is having powered frogs on long turnouts (#6 or better) and crossings. I did have a lot of trouble with stalling on unpowered frogs, especially with smaller steam power.

If you're intent on running long equipment, I believe NMRA standard for N scale is 17". My Life-Like SD-7s negotiated Kato Unitrack 13.75" curves, but my ConCor PA-1s tended to derail, make noise, and seemed "cramped" on the same track. You might be able to get away with tight curves appearance-wise if you view the layout around eye-level. (Also, some Micro-Trains locomotive coupler conversions specify the use of longer or shorter shank couplers depending on the curves you have.)

Please note that these observations are based solely on my personal experience.

[Anonymous]

I've had problems with as few as 6 cars backing over turnouts, but these were N scale Peco #4 frogs (i know better now). Had to take a dremel with a sanding disc to trim the frogs to make them work; if you try a NMRA track gauge they don't make it through the Peco #4 Electrofrog left or right hand versions. The Y version seems OK. Now i stick with Peco #6 electrofrog - much better, but check for vertical bending at the point/stock rail contact area and straighten if required b4 installing. And it doesn't hurt to bevel the frof end slightly with a file and adjust the points so they angle very slightly towards the stock rails.

Where truck mounted are a problem is if the turnouts are less than perfect, the backing force on a truck mount coupler tends to twist the truck sideways. If there is any posibility of the flange picking an irregularity, it will!

[Anonymous]

I've had problems with as few as 6 cars backing over turnouts, but these were N scale Peco #4 frogs (i know better now). Had to take a dremel with a sanding disc to trim the frogs to make them work; if you try a NMRA track gauge they don't make it through the Peco #4 Electrofrog left or right hand versions. The Y version seems OK. Now i stick with Peco #6 electrofrog - much better, but check for vertical bending at the point/stock rail contact area and straighten if required b4 installing. And it doesn't hurt to bevel the frof end slightly with a file and adjust the points so they angle very slightly towards the stock rails.

Where truck mounted are a problem is if the turnouts are less than perfect, the backing force on a truck mount coupler tends to twist the truck sideways. If there is any posibility of the flange picking an irregularity, it will!

[therailnut]

Thanks guys for the info.

[therailnut]

Thanks guys for the info.