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[Anonymous]

Is it better to purchase a "train set" as your first exposure to modeling? Who makes the best sets? ...the worst sets? HO or N scale? Who are the good train companies? ...and who are the bad train companies? I see alot of Lionel, Bachman, Life-Like, IHC, who do you like and why?

[Anonymous]

Is it better to purchase a "train set" as your first exposure to modeling? Who makes the best sets? ...the worst sets? HO or N scale? Who are the good train companies? ...and who are the bad train companies? I see alot of Lionel, Bachman, Life-Like, IHC, who do you like and why?

[vsmith]

Bachmann seams to make the best sets for starters. They use a snap together track/roadbed that takes alot of the fuss out of set up (it can run on the floor or a tabletop) and the engines are pretty good for the money, just follow the instructions and lube them every now and them and they should last a while.

Lionel's are great but they are getting very pricey for what you get.

Life-like's high end stuff is very good but the low end stuff has always been garbage to me.

[vsmith]

Bachmann seams to make the best sets for starters. They use a snap together track/roadbed that takes alot of the fuss out of set up (it can run on the floor or a tabletop) and the engines are pretty good for the money, just follow the instructions and lube them every now and them and they should last a while.

Lionel's are great but they are getting very pricey for what you get.

Life-like's high end stuff is very good but the low end stuff has always been garbage to me.

[Anonymous]

it depends on the age of the youngster.if they are under 5 i suggest the thomas route unless of course this activity will be adult supervised then a lionel or lionel sized starter set reason being that little hands can handle them. if the youngster is around 9 or 10 then they are ready to handle ho.but only in a starter set. a starter set would be the route to go & then you can add on to it if the interest continues.it really depends on how much the parents are involved & if the child will be left alone with the train. be aware that with any Electric train set there should be adult supervison

[Anonymous]

it depends on the age of the youngster.if they are under 5 i suggest the thomas route unless of course this activity will be adult supervised then a lionel or lionel sized starter set reason being that little hands can handle them. if the youngster is around 9 or 10 then they are ready to handle ho.but only in a starter set. a starter set would be the route to go & then you can add on to it if the interest continues.it really depends on how much the parents are involved & if the child will be left alone with the train. be aware that with any Electric train set there should be adult supervison

[Anonymous]

I would definetly reccomend going with O gauge. They are bigger, tougher and more fun. When you run them you can really feel the power. There's just something about O gauge that makes the smaller gauges not look as good. O gauge trains are also far more durable than most HO or N guage trains, which makes them ideal for kids. Lionel, K-line and MTH make very nice starter sets in O gauge. Lionel has some sets that are designed with kids in mind and pack a great deal of play value and action. A basic starter set in O gauge is more expensive than one in HO or N, but it's worth it.

[Anonymous]

I would definetly reccomend going with O gauge. They are bigger, tougher and more fun. When you run them you can really feel the power. There's just something about O gauge that makes the smaller gauges not look as good. O gauge trains are also far more durable than most HO or N guage trains, which makes them ideal for kids. Lionel, K-line and MTH make very nice starter sets in O gauge. Lionel has some sets that are designed with kids in mind and pack a great deal of play value and action. A basic starter set in O gauge is more expensive than one in HO or N, but it's worth it.

[Anonymous]

My two boys (age 9 and 11) love the Harry Potter train set that I got for them. Now they want a layout in thier room, which is great because its something we can do together instead of watching T.V. They are both looking forward to seeing that passeger train go around thier room.

[Anonymous]

My two boys (age 9 and 11) love the Harry Potter train set that I got for them. Now they want a layout in thier room, which is great because its something we can do together instead of watching T.V. They are both looking forward to seeing that passeger train go around thier room.

[JoeKoh]

I have a modelpower set that still runs at age 23.but keeping it simple and modeling with matt(2) is most important.he is always movung the hotwheels cars around.He says whoa truck train coming.
proud pappa
stay safe
Joe

[JoeKoh]

I have a modelpower set that still runs at age 23.but keeping it simple and modeling with matt(2) is most important.he is always movung the hotwheels cars around.He says whoa truck train coming.
proud pappa
stay safe
Joe

[Wdlgln005]

Depends on the age of the kid. They have to be old enough not to put anything other than food in the mouth. Wooden kid-powered sets can be set up & put away in minutes. Next time, do a different layout! Then they can grow up to the electric sets.

In HO-N the best sets are made by Kato/Atlas. Bachman EZtrak is popular but the cars and locos only average. Lifelike Proto 2000 sets would have their best cars/loco's but their sectional track is so limited. MRC makes the best DC controls and should be put in Every set. Anything else tends to be junk.

Another way to tell if the set is any good is to check the included roadnames. Be sure that the engine/caboose are both for the same RR. At least one of the other cars should be from a nearby road.
Have fun model railroading!

[Wdlgln005]

Depends on the age of the kid. They have to be old enough not to put anything other than food in the mouth. Wooden kid-powered sets can be set up & put away in minutes. Next time, do a different layout! Then they can grow up to the electric sets.

In HO-N the best sets are made by Kato/Atlas. Bachman EZtrak is popular but the cars and locos only average. Lifelike Proto 2000 sets would have their best cars/loco's but their sectional track is so limited. MRC makes the best DC controls and should be put in Every set. Anything else tends to be junk.

Another way to tell if the set is any good is to check the included roadnames. Be sure that the engine/caboose are both for the same RR. At least one of the other cars should be from a nearby road.
Have fun model railroading!