Confused about what to do with my railroad track!!!

[Anonymous]

Hi everybody

I have just bought a heap of that proffesional N scale track that everyone says to use. The problem is that I know have to spend more than a complete EZ Track train set just on the power pack, i still have to get a loco and i dont even know if that will make it work. Wiring all that proffesional track seems so hard and when i was growing up i never remember my father doing any soldering. I am almost convinced to buy EZ Track because it is all prewired!

Any advise because a cannot solder ( PLEASE dont Explain it to me!!!!!![:)])

All that installing point motors and stuff seems so confusing .

Should i buy an EZ Track Bachmann Set just to start with. If i do that all my really good track will go to waste.

Help me !!!!

Many thanks

Pavariangoo!

[Roadtrp]

If you're just starting, I think EZ Track is fine.

See if you can trade in your "good track" for EZ Track. If you are like me, when you first start out you just want to get some trains running. EZ Track will get you there a lot faster.

Many here will tell you that EZ Track is garbage, and from their perspective I don't doubt that it is. But it is your layout, and you should do what makes you happy. I consider my first layout to be something of a training ground for when I start a "real" layout. Do what makes you happy so you don't lose interest. The only thing that you can do wrong in MR is to quit.

P.S. Don't buy a set. I would buy Bachmann EZ Track, a Life Like Proto 1000 or 2000 locomotive, an MRC power pack and rolling stock from any one of a number of vendors. I think you will be happier with the Proto locomotives than anything you would get in a Bachmann set. I like EZ Track and Bachmann rolling stock, but I just can't say much good about their locomotives.

[Anonymous]

Is there a power pack thts good but not MRC?

many thanks

pavariangoo

[Jetrock]

Roadtrp: pavariangoo wants to model in N scale, so those examples might not do him too much good--I'm not familiar with the N scale equivalents, but maybe a resident N scaler might be able to.

pavariangoo: Your dad almost certainly did some soldering if he built a model railroad of any but the simplest kind. It's really not that hard.

What sort of "professional track" did you get--flextrack or sectional track? Sectional track can be put together without soldering--just use rail joiners. Typically there is a terminal section you can get that allows you to connect wires from the controller to two posts on the piece of track.

Don't worry about switch motors (point motors)--for a 3x5 layout you don't need automatic turnout control, you can just reach over and switch the turnout! I consider myself pretty comfortable with electronics and modeling, but I use manual turnout control--it's just simpler and cheaper.

[Jetrock]

Oh yeah, about "EZ-track train sets": You are much better off buying quality components instead of cheapo train sets. The train sets, for the most part, are kiddie toys--they aren't built well or to last. The power packs are cheap, unsafe and don't provide much control, the engines are poorly made and ugly, the rolling stock the most rudimentary plastic things with cheap stickers for lettering. (Well, that's Life-Like, anyhow.) Do yourself a favor and spend a little more on quality equipment, like an MRC powerpack. You'll be glad you did in the long run--and a 3x5 layout is cheap enough to build that you can afford to spend a little more and still not spend very much on the hobby.

[Anonymous]

thanks

good idea with the manual control and my father just said that he had his basement full of trains and only had to use those things where you lift the switch and put the wire in.

by proffesianal track i mean unroadbedded track

many thanks

pavariangoo

[Roadtrp]

I have a Bachmann Magnum power pack, and it has operated well for me. It is a step up from "train set" power packs, and has a good range of speed as well as fairly good low speed operation.

That said, I do plan on purchasing a low-medium end MRC power pack in the near future. They cost little more than the Bachmann Magnum, and offer many features that the Bachmann does not.

If I had known when I started what I know now, I would have purchased MRC at the beginning. But if for some reason you are having trouble finding MRC, I've had my Magnum for just over a year now and it has served me well.

[Anonymous]

Many thanks

I have been considering purchasing that model for some time now!

How do i connect it to N Scale track

are there any of those plug in to the track things like in HO scale available for N Scale?

Many thanks

Pavariangoo

[Roadtrp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jetrock

Roadtrp: pavariangoo wants to model in N scale, so those examples might not do him too much good--I'm not familiar with the N scale equivalents, but maybe a resident N scaler might be able to.

Jetrock,

I model in N scale, and everything I mentioned is available in that scale also. I guess if I would see any difference between N and HO in my recommendations, it would be that Life Like Proto N scale is perhaps a little better than their HO product. I know that their standard line is. Life Like standard uses flywheels and all wheel pickup and drive in N, and I don't believe they do that in HO.

[:)]

[Roadtrp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pavariangoo

Many thanks

I have been considering purchasing that model for some time now!

How do i connect it to N Scale track

are there any of those plug in to the track things like in HO scale available for N Scale?

Many thanks

Pavariangoo

Yes, Bachmann N scale EZ Track has a combination power supply/ re-railer track section that you just plug in to. It is a very easy way to get started.

By the way... if you plan much more than just a small oval, I would recommend connecting power at a couple of places, so get a couple of the power supply track sections.

[Anonymous]

Im confused!

[Roadtrp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pavariangoo

Im confused!

OK... I was confused a lot in the beginning also. What do you need me to better explain?

Thanks

[Roadtrp]

Perhaps I confused you when I suggested you use multiple power supply tracks.

Generally, the more places you provide power the better. DC voltage drops over a distance, so you don't want to have too long a distance between where the track is supplied with power.

Each power/re-railer track comes with a plug-in cable that connects to the variable DC output of your power supply. Just put your power connection tracks at opposite ends of your layout and you should be fine.

[Anonymous]

Cool

thanks

pavariangoo

[SpaceMouse]

I just yesterday got MR's Model Railroading: Getting Started in the Hobby. It answered just about every question I had while waiting for it to arrive. Amazon now has them in stock. It shows you how to solder, among other things.

[Jetrock]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pavariangoo

thanks

good idea with the manual control and my father just said that he had his basement full of trains and only had to use those things where you lift the switch and put the wire in.

by proffesianal track i mean unroadbedded track

Never heard it called "professional track" before--the whole "track with plastic built-in roadbed" is kind of new. Is the track you got the kind called "flextrack" (which is made of 3 foot long sections that can bend to take curves or be left straight) or "sectional track" (which is little sections, either straight or curved, that can be attached together)?

Sectional track is what used to come with trainsets before the plastic roadbed kind came along. It is easy to connect together using rail joiners--soldering is better for permanent connections, but not strictly necessary. It's also cheaper than EZ-Track, and available in more shapes and sizes.

[Anonymous]

My wife is into N scale and uses Kato Unitrack. She had a bunch of EZ track, but sold it on Ebay to get rid of it. Kato is more expensive, but the reliability and realism are the best of any sectional track I have ever seen.

I model in HO and currently use Atlas sectional track and on my new layout, due to begin soon, I will be switching to Kato HO scale Unitrack. With a little weathering and detailing, it looks as good or better than my ballast over Woodland Scenics foam roadbed and Atlas track.

Personally, if you are going to use sectional track with roadbed, I would ante up the extra bucks for Kato Unitrack and have a reliable layout. I know there are lots of modelers out there that swear by EZ track and all the others, just our experience and my 2 cents worth.

Enjoy the hobby!!! Don't make it a headache or nightmare for yourself!

[Anonymous]

As far as the soldering gos, find a mentor. As with many skills, most are difficult to learn just from reading and/or trying on your own. Soldering is best learned by someone taking you through it step by step, and explaining the whys and wherefores as they go. One source of instruction is an electronics repair shop. That's where I learned. Many small electronics repairmen will be glad to take a few minutes to show you how if you approach them right. Know a plumber? They use solder all the time. Any electrician knows how. I'm sure someone you know ,or is in your family, can show you.
Don't be afraid make mistakes. Learning is the process of making mistakes. There is an old saying, "The only difference between and amatuer, and an expert, is, the expert has already made the mistakes." Make the mistakes, and you can be an expert, too!