The "N" Crowd

[MAbruce]

I'm wondering where the 13% of us being N scale comes from.  I have to wonder if that's an older statistic.  I have to believe there's more of us now.  I hear of many more folks switching from other scales to N as opposed to switching up from N.

This is purely non-scientific, but it's interesting that I just checked eBay and the N-scale auctions represented 14% of the overall model railroad auctions.  Pretty close to that 13% figure...

As far as lack of N-scale product reviews in MR, I'd think that companies like Atlas that advertise in the magazine would speak up at some point.  If they don't, then they're not concerned for whatever reason. Perhaps that reason could be that not many N-scale modelers subscribe?  So maybe they instead seek out the N-scale specific magazines for their N-scale advertising?   This would not put much pressure on MR to do many N-scale product reviews.

 

[R. T. POTEET]

This topic has sure gotten peaceful of late.  Can anybody think of anything to fight about?  Anybody working on anything to fight about?

[SimRacin40]

Some of my recently acquired N-Scale stuff. :)

 

A Southern GP18,#ed 177. I also bought a similar one #ed 175. They're Life-Like,but they can pull.Had them pulling a 40 car train the other night with ease. 

 

I like quite a few lines(especially anything that ran in Kentucky),but I've decided to narrow down my two priority lines: Louisville & Nashville and Southern. I like CSX,Conrail,Chessie System,C&O,but if I did all of them I'd constantly be buying locomotives,and I wouldn't be getting anywhere. I like R.J. Corman because it's my local line,so I might buy some more recent equipment to run with them.(Maybe a few CSX/Chessie Locomotives at some point) 

[Mailman56701]

I'm wondering where the 13% of us being N scale comes from.  I have to wonder if that's an older statistic.  I have to believe there's more of us now.  I hear of many more folks switching from other scales to N as opposed to switching up from N.

In addition to the lack of N products in the MR Product Reviews they also hardly ever put anything meaningful for N in the Product News.  Yes, we know Micro Trains puts out a new run each month.  But there's gobs of N scale stuff from all over that never quite makes it to MR.  Yet, NSR can devote 4-5 pages for new stuff plus another 2 to recently announced products.

As long as MR's trend seems to be giant HO layouts and why you have to have DCC (which I do, but I don't think it has to be a holy grail), it's going to be les relavent to me.

I know MR can't be everything for everyone, but while all indications are (although I have no proof) that N scale is growing at the expense of other scales, since 2000 its percentage of coverage in MR seems to have decreased.  Since the demise of David Popp's column, it's been hard to find relavent goodies in MR.  Yes, some things are independent of scale, and for that I'll probably keep my subscription anyway.

I've considered submitting my layout for MR someday.  Small and N ought to be a nice balance for HUGE and HO.

 

  Agreed.  Have to say, it gets a bit old seeing the same old, "Hi, I'm John Doe.  I'm a retired (insert high paying white collar professional here), and since I've retired, I now have two things completely not in common with (most ?) the readers of MRR; lots of money and time both.  And btw, all my kids have long since grown up and started their own lives.
  So, let me show you my basement sized layout, that you haven't a chance in hell of ever attaining......" (assuming one even wants to in the first place)

  I admire these layouts and their makers, no doubt.  But it'd be nice to show something besides the "top of the line" type layouts.  And to do it more than once an eon, and then be told, "See ?  We do to offer other styles"  :)

  That, and the definitions of "easy" and "small" seem to be a bit skewed :)

   As someone who has only subscribed to the magazine for just over a year/started the hobby at the same time, I believe such a style can actually be a detrimate to newcomers; there are many enjoyable levels to the hobby, and it can be easy to think, via the pages of MRR, that there is only one or close to it.

  I was particularly disappointed with a fairly recent article that listed a number of "must haves" for an "acceptable" layout, and that list included dcc, sound, and various other *expensive* goodies.

   Having said that rant :), I do actually enjoy the magazine overall and will gladly re-subscribe in the future.

   But I am enjoying my issue of "N Scale Railroading" that came today (new subscriber).

[R. T. POTEET]

Dave, I stated in my post that I was not sure of the accuracy of my 13% figure; I suspect that it is terribly outdated.  The figure should, I surmise, probably be closer to 20%.  N-Scale is indeed growing and an analysis of some of the postings and the responses to specific postings indicates that even some HO stalwarts have either already changed gauges or are, at least, exploring facets of N-Scale that indicates they are giving careful consideration to changing.

I would agree with you that the "Product News" feature for N-Scale is pitifully small - I wonder, however, if that is not self-fulfilling prophecy on behalf of (N-Scale) manufacturers - they are receiving their expectations.

EXAMPLE:

A few years back an article in N-Scale magazine attracted my attention.  The author referenced a product - I believe it had something to do with a GP9B - manufactured by a company in Texas - which I had never heard of.  Neither, for that matter, had my LHS owner.  The company did not appear in the directory of model railroad manufacturers and hadn't for two years.  I never found reference one in either MR or RMC.  I eventually located an ad in a mid-90s N-Scale magazine but when I called the cited telephone number I got somebody else and the gracious lady who answered the phone informed me that that company had nothing whatsoever to do with the model railroad business and, furthermore, had had that particular number for at least FIVE years.  When I batted this matter around the model railroad club HE WHO KNOWS ALL (and, admittedly, he does) informed me that that company/manufacturer had ceased production and operation in 1997!!!

It could well be that the reason MR and RMC never printed a "Product News" item about this company is because, like me, they knew nothing whatsoever about them.  The manufacturer may have concluded that the major press would never include a note on his company and product and, therefore, never made himself known.

As an aside, I understand that the magazines, with certain exceptions, require a sampling of the product being referenced if the manufacturer is requesting a "Product News" inclusion.  I may be wrong on that but it could explain why this particular company failed to get noted in the "Product News".

[Dave Vollmer]

I'm wondering where the 13% of us being N scale comes from.  I have to wonder if that's an older statistic.  I have to believe there's more of us now.  I hear of many more folks switching from other scales to N as opposed to switching up from N.

In addition to the lack of N products in the MR Product Reviews they also hardly ever put anything meaningful for N in the Product News.  Yes, we know Micro Trains puts out a new run each month.  But there's gobs of N scale stuff from all over that never quite makes it to MR.  Yet, NSR can devote 4-5 pages for new stuff plus another 2 to recently announced products.

As long as MR's trend seems to be giant HO layouts and why you have to have DCC (which I do, but I don't think it has to be a holy grail), it's going to be les relavent to me.

I know MR can't be everything for everyone, but while all indications are (although I have no proof) that N scale is growing at the expense of other scales, since 2000 its percentage of coverage in MR seems to have decreased.  Since the demise of David Popp's column, it's been hard to find relavent goodies in MR.  Yes, some things are independent of scale, and for that I'll probably keep my subscription anyway.

I've considered submitting my layout for MR someday.  Small and N ought to be a nice balance for HUGE and HO.

[R. T. POTEET]

More MR anti-N bias...

Once again, the March MR gives us 2 HO and 2 O scale full product reviews.  There was a "quick look" at the N scale Galloping Goose...

Come on!  Is MR telling us that O scale is just as popular as HO, and more popular than N?  That's not what the polls typically say.  With all the new N scale stuff coming out, they couldn't find anything to review?  They could do a full review on an Atlas product each month for cryin' out loud!  The N scale market's never been more exciting!!!

Seems like the last good N scale feature was David Popp's layout.  If MR keeps up its recent trend with avoiding N scale, it will loose me as a subscriber.

Gotta take a little bit of an exception with you on this one, Dave.  Model Railroader - and RMC also, for that matter - does not have the circulation to solicit manuscripts; they rely upon the readership to submit items for (possible) publication.  If it ain't submitted then it ain't gonna be published.

I, too, would like to see more N-Scale coverage in the pages of the (voluminous) hobby press - read: Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman; I do not, however, expect that to happen on an issue to issue basis, at least not in the foreseeable future.  I have my own disappointments with the exclusive N-Scale publications; I seldom really encounter a "product review" feature such as found in Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman.

One would suppose that, since N-Scale accounts for approximately 13% - my figures may be off but it is an immaterial factor at this point - of the modeling public, then they - the hobby magazines - should have approximately 13% of their magazine given over to N-Scale coverage; as we all know that certainly is not the case.  Remember, however, that N-Scale has two magazines devoted exclusively to that - our - particular scale.  There is also a magazine - actually two, one tinplate and one two-rail scale - devoted to 0-Scale, and S-Scale, with a following only a fraction of N-Scale, has their unique publication.  Their is no magazine - to the best of my knowledge, anyway - titled HO-Scale or HO-Scale Railroading.  Whether we wish to acknowledge the fact or not Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman are (predominantly) HO-Scale although that scale does not appear anywhere in their mastheads.

I do not crack open one of my N-Scale magazines and expect to find an article on an HO-Scale subject.  The same would be true for an article with S-Scale orientation.  I think if you went back and checked it you might find that a preponderance of N-Scale coverage in MR and RMC are layout oriented.  Over 70% of the modelling fraternity is in HO - a layout, however, is a layout whether it is constructed in 16.5 mm gauge, or 10.5 mm gauge,  or 9mm gauge or 1.25 inch gauge ad nausium.  Layouts intrigue me and I have certainly enjoyed the photos of yours that you have posted here on the forum.

Certainly, we need to continue to support our exclusive N-Scale publications - after all, they give us 12-15 scale-unique articles per month.  I will continue to subscribe to Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman.  There is seldom an issue in which I do not find something practically useful; admittedly an article on "Kitbashing a Sneaky Falls and Western 0-4-0T from an Athearn Big Boy is of dubious interest to me but there is enough in their publications to keep my interest perked for a couple of days.  (Incidently I can't give up RMC because it has Collector's Consist in it and that is the first thing read each month.  I may not read anything else but I do read Collector's Consist)

I don't know whether you have ever submitted an article to either MR or RMC;  I haven't!!  Many years ago, however, I did submit a short story to Playboy magazine; they hung onto it for eleven months before finally returning it as "unpublishable".  Awhile back I was going through some boxes and ran into a stack of Manila folders; and there, in one, I found a copy of that short story.  And, as disappointed as I was at the moment, as I read it I realized that it was "unpublishable" - at least not without considerable editing.  As I reread it after all these years I realized just how naive I was in those heady days of yesteryear.  Damned Good Story!  Poor Construction and Imagery!  I am tempted to redo it with all of the composition skills I have acquired over the years but I could not resubmit it as I understand that Playboy magazine no longer accepts unsolicited manuscripts.  I don't know how many articles the two major hobby press publications receive each month; I suspect it is probably less than 13% percent because HO-Scalers have fewer places to go for their publishing ambitions; I also suspect that a good many of them are "unpublishable as submitted" and they - the magazines - simply lack the editorial staff to doctor them up to publishing standards..

You are not, Dave, in this regard any less disappointed in the N-Scale coverage in MR and RMC than I am; I would, hovever, encourage you to continue to support them because they are generally available on (open) newsstands (as opposed to hobby shops) and, therefore, are great tools for introducing people to the hobby.  It was that way in my case at Vandenberg Air Force Base way back in July of 1962.  I still have those magazines and I still read them!  

[CraigN]

The Sad part is that leaves me with one engine I can run on my layout right now. my Atlas B40-8...all of my Katos that fit my era that I have are 6 axel and don't have the long shanked couplers on them so when they go around the curves(15") they derail the first car. The only other thing I have that is usable has the same problem my Katos do, its an Athearn SD70M and it derails the first car becuase it needs long couplers. I think I might replace all my curves with Sectional curves. Becuase I can run my coal train with my Kato SD70M and my Kato AC4400CW on the 9 3/4 no problem. but for some reason they derail on my layout. Any thoughts anyone?

I don't understand , do you have 15" radius curves or 15 " diameter?

With 15 inch radius, you shouldn't have any problems with the shorter couplers.

[R. T. POTEET]

Hey dave im with you onthe whole MR needs more nscale thing i dont mind reading about O scale but when it comes to HO it makes me jealous that there is no n scale this month.

BTW im getting a SD70M from Kato and i want to Know how it runs it should run fine,,,also im getting an DD40AX its probably somewhat rare. it is n scale

Huh????

[trainfreek92]

Ok Dave now I get it!

 

Is it me or does the The Big E show have very little N scale stuff?

[nscaler711]

Hey dave im with you onthe whole MR needs more nscale thing i dont mind reading about O scale but when it comes to HO it makes me jealous that there is no n scale this month.

BTW im getting a SD70M from Kato and i want to Know how it runs it should run fine,,,also im getting an DD40AX its probably somewhat rare. it is n scale

[NS2591]

Both my Atlas GP40-2 and my Atlas SD9 have been sent to the shop(My friend John) for a complete overhaul on the trucks. I really should vacum my layout before I ran them. I belive they may have sucked up some sawdust...The Sad part is that leaves me with one engine I can run on my layout right now. my Atlas B40-8...all of my Katos that fit my era that I have are 6 axel and don't have the long shanked couplers on them so when they go around the curves(15") they derail the first car. My Intermountain Tunnel motors hit the bottom of the frog on my turnouts. Code 55 shouldn't they go through no problem? and my Kato F3 doesn't fit at all. My Amtrak train derails, More than I would like but when it stays on its fine. The only other thing I have that is usable has the same problem my Katos do, its an Athearn SD70M and it derails the first car becuase it needs long couplers. I think I might replace all my curves with Sectional curves. Becuase I can run my coal train with my Kato SD70M and my Kato AC4400CW on the 9 3/4 no problem. but for some reason they derail on my layout. Any thoughts anyone?

[Dave Vollmer]

Did the dog climb up on the layout Dave?

If he did there would have been such death and destruction in the town of Lewisport, PA that the N scale Pennsylvania National Guard would have been called out!

Truth is, the fuzzy probably floated up after the dog scratched himself...  He's part Border Collie so he has lots of fur!

[trainfreek92]

Did the dog climb up on the layout Dave?

[Anonymous]

It's funny you mentioned that because I had an identical thing happened to me when I first got my Precision Craft E7 in UP.  It's just a very small manufacturing fault where the truck cover cannot be held completely by the truck's clips...I mean those things are tiny and the truck/gear cover just sitting very slightly out and it's enough to cause my E7 to clip on turnouts everytime and the thing would just come to a grinding stop.  Lucky the Precision Craft's warranty service was top notch and replaced it in no time.

More N scale fun...

Was disturbed to hear a grinding noise coming from my Kato E8.  It was intermittant, so I couldn't tell what was up.  Then suddenly the front power truck jammed.  Couldn't figure out why.

Turns out a tiny little "fuzzy" of unknown origin (I'm looking at the dog) worked its way into the front power truck (how?  It has a gear cover...).  Of course, the little fuzzy got wrapped around one of the gears, but in such a way that I had to disassemble the whole front truck.

After getting it all back together, things work great!  But it's funny to think of scale.  A whole dog probably could't jam up a real E8, but a tiny fuzzy the size of pencil tip brought my N scale PRR Blue Ribbon Fleet to a standstill!

[Dave Vollmer]

More N scale fun...

Was disturbed to hear a grinding noise coming from my Kato E8.  It was intermittant, so I couldn't tell what was up.  Then suddenly the front power truck jammed.  Couldn't figure out why.

Turns out a tiny little "fuzzy" of unknown origin (I'm looking at the dog) worked its way into the front power truck (how?  It has a gear cover...).  Of course, the little fuzzy got wrapped around one of the gears, but in such a way that I had to disassemble the whole front truck.

After getting it all back together, things work great!  But it's funny to think of scale.  A whole dog probably could't jam up a real E8, but a tiny fuzzy the size of pencil tip brought my N scale PRR Blue Ribbon Fleet to a standstill!

[Dave Vollmer]

More MR anti-N bias...

Once again, the March MR gives us 2 HO and 2 O scale full product reviews.  There was a "quick look" at the N scale Galloping Goose...

Come on!  Is MR telling us that O scale is just as popular as HO, and more popular than N?  That's not what the polls typically say.  With all the new N scale stuff coming out, they couldn't find anything to review?  They could do a full review on an Atlas product each month for cryin' out loud!  The N scale market's never been more exciting!!!

Seems like the last good N scale feature was David Popp's layout.  If MR keeps up its recent trend with avoiding N scale, it will loose me as a subscriber.

[Anonymous]

I have just gone big time on passenger operation but the problem is that my layout when designed wee for freight and as you can see, I have a bitof a problem.  I got Set A and Set C of the Kato Super Chief and running A-B consist but I also have a UP E7 A-B consist with 6 cars.  My layout is only 4'X3' with a 1.5' yard and eerytime I need to park the trains in my Union Station, they will need to be split up into 2 smaller trains.  So I think if you want to realistically operate passenger trains, you will need at least double the space of my layout and use a minimum of 19" curves.  You should use the 'square' method to plan your layout where each square should be your manimum rutning radius so you know how big the space you need.  You should also read either the October or November issue of MR where is gives a very good description on realistic model passenger operations.  I am stuck with my but I still love my passenger trains especially now I am planning to get the new Phase IV Amtrack P42 and the matching trains.  If yo only have small space like me, don't let that deter you because if you use the Kato Unitrack, you can still have a 2 line main with the station going diagonally across or if you want even longer station platforms, go all the way across plus a dog-leg at one corner.  It's too late for me because I have done too much work on it to start all over again but that's what I will do next time.

Another Super Chief related question...Can anyone out there give me the approximate length of the Kato Super Chief cars? Or the length of the real-life-scale prototypes so I can do the 1/160th math? I'm trying to come up with an idea of how much layout real estate I need to allocate for a small town passenger station and it's associated platform.

[Dave Vollmer]

I am just starting out building a model railroad and am looking for nice DCC steam engines. I looked at web sites for a number of manufacturers but so far the choices have been sparse. A message from Dave Vollmer around 11-22-2006 in this thread showed a nice picture of his steam engines. Where did you get yours?

I am mostly interested in CB&Q markings. Does any one have suggestions where I can get DCC models either used or new. Maybe even some forums members have something for sale.

My steamers are kitbashes...  1 PRR L1s 2-8-2 kitbashed from a Kato Mike and GHQ conversion kit and 1 PRR H10sb 2-8-0 kitbashed from a lot of engines, including a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0.  I also have a brass K4s with a burned-out motor.

Here are my two operating Pennsy steam engines with their PRR Belpaire fireboxes:

[Nick68]

I am just starting out building a model railroad and am looking for nice DCC steam engines. I looked at web sites for a number of manufacturers but so far the choices have been sparse. A message from Dave Vollmer around 11-22-2006 in this thread showed a nice picture of his steam engines. Where did you get yours?

I am mostly interested in CB&Q markings. Does any one have suggestions where I can get DCC models either used or new. Maybe even some forums members have something for sale.

 

[Fortkentdad]

WoW! This is quite the thread, page 36 and going.  I think you hit a Nerve.

I model mostly in N but volunteer at a local museum working on a vintage Lionel display, I've got some G waiting to go into the garden some day and even an On3 for under the tree.   Only scale I don't use is HO and even then I have a old Marklin three rail HO set in the closet somewhere. 

I spend most of my on-line MRR time chatting at SRO (scalerailsonline) http://www.scalerailsonline.com/  and sometime over at The Gauge forums. 

You asked for some pics of N scale MRR so here is one for you.

and a longer view of the layout:

I've got lots more pics up at http://fortkentdad.fotopic.net/  and my own MRR website (URL in my signature line).

Come on Nthusiasts lets keep the thread going.

 

[R. T. POTEET]

Another Super Chief related question...Can anyone out there give me the approximate length of the Kato Super Chief cars? Or the length of the real-life-scale prototypes so I can do the 1/160th math? I'm trying to come up with an idea of how much layout real estate I need to allocate for a small town passenger station and it's associated platform.

By the 1950s - the era in question - the Super trainsets were all "streamliners" i.e. equipped with flute sided stainless steel cars.  These were a "standard" eighty-five feet in length.  Some railroads of the era - and I am sure this applies to Uncle John - ordered head-end cars in shorter lengths - usually seventy two feet - but whether Uncle John ever put any of these in the Super trainsets I don't recall.

Some body - TLC????? - has a book out on the Chiefs and El Capitans - I have one but it is currently buried in a box as I try to do some reorganization around here.  The book is not expensive and it has some very valuable material on this subject.

As a sidebar to another enquiry made on this same subject, N-Scale 85 footers scale out to 6 3/8 inches long.  The NMRA recommended practice is three times the length of the longest unit (which is usually an 85 foot passenger car) which means that for operating reliability and appearance these cars should be run on a minimum radius of 19 1/8 inches - not really too big if you think about it - and they look very nice doing it. 

Thanks for the length confirmation.  I was originally under the impression that they were 85'ers, but then I saw an ebay aucton for another older line of Super Chief cars that mentioned that they were 70 scale foot cars...that had me thinking I was over allocating precious real estate...but no such luck, I guess.

Correct me if I am wrong but the 70 footers were most likely Athearns (HO).  I don't know if ole Uncle Irv cut them to that length himself or if he inherited the dies from Globe(?) models in the 50s; whatever the case they were designed to facilitate operation on 18 and 22 inch radius curves - these cars were already antiques when I got in the hobby in the early 60s.

Model Power and Rapido both marketed some "shorty" flute sided passenger cars at one time in N-Scale but I DON'T REMEMBER any of these being offered in Santa Fe.  MRC marketed the ROCO line of full length cars in the late sixties and these were offered in Santa Fe - they were a C&O design if memory serves me correctly - but I don't remember MRC ever making any representation of the Super in their advertisements.  Somehow or another Jim Conway got possession of these dies and had Rivarossi produce them until 1975 or 76 when (according to him) the dies wore out and production ceased.

[underworld]

Seems like all of the kids are trying to be with the N crowd!!!!!

underworld

[tgindy]

Can't believe that this thread went over three days without an entry!!!

My last post on January 19th, an N Scale History link, lasted 78 hours before you posted.

 

[Zandoz]

Another Super Chief related question...Can anyone out there give me the approximate length of the Kato Super Chief cars? Or the length of the real-life-scale prototypes so I can do the 1/160th math? I'm trying to come up with an idea of how much layout real estate I need to allocate for a small town passenger station and it's associated platform.

By the 1950s - the era in question - the Super trainsets were all "streamliners" i.e. equipped with flute sided stainless steel cars.  These were a "standard" eighty-five feet in length.  Some railroads of the era - and I am sure this applies to Uncle John - ordered head-end cars in shorter lengths - usually seventy two feet - but whether Uncle John ever put any of these in the Super trainsets I don't recall.

Some body - TLC????? - has a book out on the Chiefs and El Capitans - I have one but it is currently buried in a box as I try to do some reorganization around here.  The book is not expensive and it has some very valuable material on this subject.

As a sidebar to another enquiry made on this same subject, N-Scale 85 footers scale out to 6 3/8 inches long.  The NMRA recommended practice is three times the length of the longest unit (which is usually an 85 foot passenger car) which means that for operating reliability and appearance these cars should be run on a minimum radius of 19 1/8 inches - not really too big if you think about it - and they look very nice doing it. 

Thanks for the length confirmation.  I was originally under the impression that they were 85'ers, but then I saw an ebay aucton for another older line of Super Chief cars that mentioned that they were 70 scale foot cars...that had me thinking I was over allocating precious real estate...but no such luck, I guess.

[R. T. POTEET]

Another Super Chief related question...Can anyone out there give me the approximate length of the Kato Super Chief cars? Or the length of the real-life-scale prototypes so I can do the 1/160th math? I'm trying to come up with an idea of how much layout real estate I need to allocate for a small town passenger station and it's associated platform.

By the 1950s - the era in question - the Super trainsets were all "streamliners" i.e. equipped with flute sided stainless steel cars.  These were a "standard" eighty-five feet in length.  Some railroads of the era - and I am sure this applies to Uncle John - ordered head-end cars in shorter lengths - usually seventy two feet - but whether Uncle John ever put any of these in the Super trainsets I don't recall.

Some body - TLC????? - has a book out on the Chiefs and El Capitans - I have one but it is currently buried in a box as I try to do some reorganization around here.  The book is not expensive and it has some very valuable material on this subject.

As a sidebar to another enquiry made on this same subject, N-Scale 85 footers scale out to 6 3/8 inches long.  The NMRA recommended practice is three times the length of the longest unit (which is usually an 85 foot passenger car) which means that for operating reliability and appearance these cars should be run on a minimum radius of 19 1/8 inches - not really too big if you think about it - and they look very nice doing it. 

[Zandoz]

Another Super Chief related question...Can anyone out there give me the approximate length of the Kato Super Chief cars? Or the length of the real-life-scale prototypes so I can do the 1/160th math? I'm trying to come up with an idea of how much layout real estate I need to allocate for a small town passenger station and it's associated platform.

[Zandoz]

• My plan is to model 50s or so Santa Fe...the Kato Super Chiefs are what got me interested in N.  Anyway, I have no clue as to what would be an appropriate local switcher for that period SF.   Of course I'm looking for the equivalent of the holy grail...inexpensive and good quality, and being DCC ready/friendly.  Anyone have any thoughts?

50s or so?  Kato is coming out with an NW-2 Switcher, first roadnames released will be.... Santa Fe.  Due in shops in a couple of weeks.

• The second topic of puzzlement is more basic.  Are the terms "DCC ready" and "DCC friendly" interchangeable?  If not, what is the difference?

  "DCC ready" generally refers to locomotives, and it means that the motor has been isolated and there (usually) is space for a decoder.  DCC friendly probably refers to turnouts, I haven't really heard the term used in N scale.

• To strike a balance of less filling and looks great, what is the minimum radius I need for accomodating those Super Chiefs?

  9 3/4" minimum, just don't put E8s or PAs on the front.  12"+ will give you better looks, and allow you to run with E8s and/or PAs.

 

Thanks!  I just stumbled across the NW@ announcement a little while ago.  One more entry for the ole "Wish List".

[Bikerdad]

• My plan is to model 50s or so Santa Fe...the Kato Super Chiefs are what got me interested in N.  Anyway, I have no clue as to what would be an appropriate local switcher for that period SF.   Of course I'm looking for the equivalent of the holy grail...inexpensive and good quality, and being DCC ready/friendly.  Anyone have any thoughts?

50s or so?  Kato is coming out with an NW-2 Switcher, first roadnames released will be.... Santa Fe.  Due in shops in a couple of weeks.

• The second topic of puzzlement is more basic.  Are the terms "DCC ready" and "DCC friendly" interchangeable?  If not, what is the difference?

  "DCC ready" generally refers to locomotives, and it means that the motor has been isolated and there (usually) is space for a decoder.  DCC friendly probably refers to turnouts, I haven't really heard the term used in N scale.

• To strike a balance of less filling and looks great, what is the minimum radius I need for accomodating those Super Chiefs?

  9 3/4" minimum, just don't put E8s or PAs on the front.  12"+ will give you better looks, and allow you to run with E8s and/or PAs.

[R. T. POTEET]

  Coupler conversion question for the crowd; if I'm not mistaken, Kadee doesn't make n scale couplers, so what brand do you recommend to replace Rapidos ?

 

Old habits die hard!!!

I might be able to stagger through Micro-Trains Line but they are, have been, and always will be Kadee couplers, I don't care what scale and/or gauge you are talking about.

 

  Boy, just doing a quick look, seems confusing as to what fits what, and also seems much more involved installation-wise than coverting my HO stuff was :(

 

Can't believe that this thread went over three days without an entry!!!

Yes, Mailman, things are just a little bit confusing sometimes; over the years I have picked up MTL's monthly newsletter because they used to have info on just which couplers fit which new units - I haven't made any purchases in awhile but I've got these newsletters to fall back on.

I now have a further complication - I experimented with a Z-Scale body mount a few years back and then forgot about it; the recent MR article - I believe it was MR - on using Z-Scale body mounted couplers has wetted my interest in this matter.  As I have stated in other postings I had to demolish my old layout - had to make room for my new snuggle and couldn't fit it into my available space - and, due to circumstances, won't be able to start a new one for a couple of years.  Am going to superdetail and paint (house road) on my lokes.  Was going to body mount couplers to all my rolling stock but am going to do a couple of Z-Scale loke conversions - or try anyway - to see if I can get it to work.  If so, that may be my program for the next couple of years.