My son and daughter would like to put together our first model railroad and I was wondering if this set is worth spending any money on. Yes I realize it is a train set and therefore not of the best quality, however for our first venture I don't feel like sinking tons of $$$ into something they may not want to stick with. Anyway I've looked at Bachmann, Atlas, and Model Power but then found this and want to know what you think.
It's a Roco digital starter set and it comes with either a CSX loco or a UP loco.
Tom
to the HOBBY!!!
Its a place to get started. We all stared will a set and grew into something bigger. It a good idea to get some additional track to play around with and a track planning book to get some ideas to play with to. Roco is a high end set so will get some quality out of it.
4x8 are fun too!!! RussellRail
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
loathar wrote:I didn't know Roco made American style trains. Do you have a link to the set?
Hi again, thanks for the info.
I found it first on Ebay and secondly at Midwest Rail Junction. The link is:
www.midwestrailjunction.com
Just use the drop down list for Mfg.'s and choose Roco and you'll see it
Tom;
As the model trains guide on About.com I write quite a bit for beginners and parents like yourself. Like others have said, Roco is a European manufacturer and I have far less information on them than on other manufacturers. I must also confess that I was unaware of their American prototype starter sets. This is the only Digital starter set that I've seen for under $200 anywhere. At $129 this set is a bargain. I may well buy one myself... although their supply on hand is limited and the price makes me concerned that it may be a close out.
Having said that, future expansion with this set will probematic. Their digital controller is limited to two digit addresses, which to serious model railroaders would make it unacceptable. My attitude is that at the price of the set you can toss it and get an NCE PowerCab later if you get serious.
Another issue is the track. I have written my an article for beginners on integrated roadbed track, and I have never seen this type before. I don't recognize the joiner mechanism as compatible with any of the brands I have listed in my article. I will assume it is a Roco product, and therefore availability of additional track pieces in the U.S. may be limited.
Also, this is an HO set. While HO is the biggest selling scale in the world, smaller scales are gaining popularity. This board tends to be very HO oriented, but in my experience children always want more track, and that means more space is required to run the trains. In parents guide I emphasize cost and space requirements as the two primary factors in my recommendations. This is definitely a good choice from the standpoint of cost, but only you can decide if your home has the space for a satisfying HO layout.
Best!
Interesting. Looks like a nice set. If your looking for a DCC starter set, Bachmann has a few on their site. Quality is pretty good for a train set. The EZ Command system is a basic DCC controller, but works pretty good. (I own one) The set in the middle comes with 2 DCC locomotives so your kids could each have their own. A few more cars and some more track would make for a nice first layout. The EZ Command will also run one DC locomotive along with the DCC ones.http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewCat&catId=194
The prices on this site are MSRP. You could find these for a lot less money online if you shopped around.
Edit-Here's that set for $186.http://www.ehobbies.com/bac00501.html
Randall_Roberts wrote: Tom;As the model trains guide on About.com I write quite a bit for beginners and parents like yourself. Like others have said, Roco is a European manufacturer and I have far less information on them than on other manufacturers. I must also confess that I was unaware of their American prototype starter sets. This is the only Digital starter set that I've seen for under $200 anywhere. At $129 this set is a bargain. I may well buy one myself... although their supply on hand is limited and the price makes me concerned that it may be a close out. Having said that, future expansion with this set will probematic. Their digital controller is limited to two digit addresses, which to serious model railroaders would make it unacceptable. My attitude is that at the price of the set you can toss it and get an NCE PowerCab later if you get serious.Another issue is the track. I have written my an article for beginners on integrated roadbed track, and I have never seen this type before. I don't recognize the joiner mechanism as compatible with any of the brands I have listed in my article. I will assume it is a Roco product, and therefore availability of additional track pieces in the U.S. may be limited.Also, this is an HO set. While HO is the biggest selling scale in the world, smaller scales are gaining popularity. This board tends to be very HO oriented, but in my experience children always want more track, and that means more space is required to run the trains. In parents guide I emphasize cost and space requirements as the two primary factors in my recommendations. This is definitely a good choice from the standpoint of cost, but only you can decide if your home has the space for a satisfying HO layout.Best!
A few things to follow up on. First, these sets were originally closeouts by ER-Models a few years back. They sold them off to sellers for something like $15 or 20 each. As for their (roco's) track, I have actually seen it in person at a LHS dealing in European models, and it is very good. It has a flexible rubber "ballast" that is VERY convincing. It holds up well on carpet and wood (me dealer likes it and conducted all sorts of experiments). However, I have never seen it anywhere else, but track is relatively cheap, so if you decide you want to expand, you could always replace it with another brand's. HTH
loathar wrote:Interesting. Looks like a nice set. If your looking for a DCC starter set, Bachmann has a few on their site. Quality is pretty good for a train set. The EZ Command system is a basic DCC controller, but works pretty good. (I own one) The set in the middle comes with 2 DCC locomotives so your kids could each have their own. A few more cars and some more track would make for a nice first layout. The EZ Command will also run one DC locomotive along with the DCC ones.
Interesting. Looks like a nice set. If your looking for a DCC starter set, Bachmann has a few on their site. Quality is pretty good for a train set. The EZ Command system is a basic DCC controller, but works pretty good. (I own one) The set in the middle comes with 2 DCC locomotives so your kids could each have their own. A few more cars and some more track would make for a nice first layout. The EZ Command will also run one DC locomotive along with the DCC ones.
loathar;
While I'm glad to hear that you are happy with your Bachmann system, I have heard complaints about them from numerous others. I don't know how long you've had your set, or how many hours of run time are on your locomotive but the Bachmann consumer grade locomotives have a very poor reputation for longevity. Their Spectrum line is considered to be substantially better quality, but some modelers won't even touch those.
I will concede Bachmann's E-Z Track is very easly obtainable and the variety of pieces in the product line is good, although Kato's Unitrack is my personal preference. Bachmann has introduced some innovative products, and I don't mean to imply that they are a bad company. But the Bachmann E-Z Command system, if I recall, is also a two digit addressing system. As this set costs substantially more than the Roco, the controller no longer qualifies to me as something easily discarded later, and I personally would not recommend it to a beginner.
Best
Hello everybody,
just wanted to ask, why go DCC with such a starter set. Would it not be a better idea to go with a train set that can be upgraded later. Take for example the Athearn sets called Iron Horse http://www.athearn.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=Iron+Horse&CatID=THS . If this locomotive is DCC ready then it is easy to add a decoder later and you can get the system you want. The locomotive will be very robust and give a lot of good service for many years.
Mind you my knowledge of DCC systems and how they work is non-existant, the current layout in the living room is straight DC. So just thinking about the KISS method here. Mind you it also depends on the age of your children and how big you would like to make the model railroad.
Just trying to keep the expense down in case the children are not interested after a while.
Frank
PS: Welcome to this great hobby and if the model railroad bug bites, enjoy the ride.
"If you need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm."
Frank;
I love Athearn trains and you are making a good recommendation (if he's determined to go with HO). The Iron Horse is in my list of quality train sets. The fact that a previous post indicated that the Roco set under consideration is a closeout will mean that it won't be going on that list. But when the Roco set's cost is only $10 more than the Iron Horse and includes DCC, as I said before, even I would think about buying one (probably not now that it's not review material). The Digitrax Zephyr and NCE PowerCab DCC starter systems... just the DCC system with no trains or track... sell for around $150 - $160.