The "N" Crowd

[claymore1977]

Hey all, I am an HO modeler in the past, but the townhouse my family and I are in just cannot support HO, so I am thinking about making the jump to N.  ALL my brainstorming session are in HO and thus all my drawings are in HO. 

My question is this:  Is it safe to assume that you can just multiply all things HO by 0.54375 ( which is 87.1/160) and call it N scale? 

Additionally, do rules like "3 axled locos should do not take to anything less than a 22" radius curve in HO" scale down to "3 axled locos should do not take to anything less than a 12" radius curve in N"  accurately?

[Anonymous]

Just a little info.

Atlas will be doing a re-release of their "N" scale shay loco sometime in Jan. 07

In case you didn't know.

[Anonymous]

They are (2 of them) phase III. Kato sold them in a two loco set (both powered.) I think the road #'s are 94 and 34. When I purchased the loco's I also got a 5 passenager car set of Con-Cor phase iv cars.

Sure be glad when I get my layout to a piont I can get things running again.

These are in Amtrack colors.

[nscaler711]

you are welcome what phase did u say yours was? mine is the Phase V, silver, teal combo

[Anonymous]

I removed the rear coupler and found there is no way to convert a standard Rapido coupler to fit, so I ordered a set from Kato.

Thanks for all your help.

[nscaler711]

hey dewayne were you able to convert the couplers on your p42?

[Anonymous]

Chuck, your layout is looking good.

I got the "Circuitron" AR-2 and DT-4 wired in to control my trolley up and running. I really like the function of the Auto-reverse unit from Trainelectronic.com, but this unit can not do intermediate stops. I suppose I could have tried to tie all three units together and get the results I wanted, but that would have been more money than I wanted to spend.

 

[nscaler711]

RR Redneck are you a teen nscaler too? i am, all i do is work on my 3 foot by 5 foot layout

[RR Redneck]

I have never been into DCC either. I know that it is easier to wire, but I like DC. Mainly becuase I like workin on my layouts.

[Anonymous]

I'm not into the DCC side of the hobby so I'm wanting to know what you people think of various sound systems that are out there.

I have looked at the MRC items and I am thinking of maybe doing a "kit bashing" on one of the hand controllers. I was thinking about opening up the controller and tying in reed switches that would be placed into the road bed to control the sounds.

Anyone have any ideas?

Dewayne

[NS2591]

My Parents just told me that I could order the remaining 3 turnouts I needed to complete my Mainline. So they're ordered and should be here sometime next week! Whoo hoo!!

[Chuck Geiger]

I just made some bumpers and they look like the HO Tomar ones. Will send pics. Solder sucks, Iused CA.

[Chuck Geiger]

Here's what I have accomplished on the layout since Sunday. Working on a small front of the layout industrial area. Code 80 to 55 went well using Dave's idea of crimping the front of a Code 80 rail joiner and sliding the other end on and letting the Code 55 sit on the rail - It's the same height and then solder. The problem I'm going to run into: Caboose Industies 206S GT's are way too big for N scale. It's stupid. Where can I get Z Scale ground throws or does anyone make a more to scale N GT?

[nscaler711]

Dewayne:

If you use Dcc, digi trax has a decoder for your p42 loco the decoder is dn163k0a. 

[pcarrell]

Dave,

I used to use Digitrax DZ143 & 123 decoders exclusively, but lately I've been using the Lenz Gold decoders because of their smaller size.  The DZ's are much cheaper though, so if size isn't an issue then I'd go that way.  If you want to add sound then the Lez is the way to go because of it's compact nature.

And congrats on the Connie!  That's a great catch!

Thanks!  I've heard of several folks using the Lenz decoders for the 2-8-0, but they each used a different one and they're all OOP.  Seems Lenz decoders are very fleeting....?

And expensive!  Those Golds go for about $50 around here.  The DZ 123's go for like $17 and the DZ143's are like $23.

[Dave Vollmer]

Dave,

I used to use Digitrax DZ143 & 123 decoders exclusively, but lately I've been using the Lenz Gold decoders because of their smaller size.  The DZ's are much cheaper though, so if size isn't an issue then I'd go that way.  If you want to add sound then the Lez is the way to go because of it's compact nature.

And congrats on the Connie!  That's a great catch!

Thanks!  I've heard of several folks using the Lenz decoders for the 2-8-0, but they each used a different one and they're all OOP.  Seems Lenz decoders are very fleeting....?

[pcarrell]

Dave,

I used to use Digitrax DZ143 & 123 decoders exclusively, but lately I've been using the Lenz Gold decoders because of their smaller size.  The DZ's are much cheaper though, so if size isn't an issue then I'd go that way.  If you want to add sound then the Lez is the way to go because of it's compact nature.

And congrats on the Connie!  That's a great catch!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info. I'll try that. I also ordered the rapidos from Kato today.

I can't say anything about the noise as I am in the process of rebuilding my layout and I haven't ran them yet.

 

Thanks again.

[Dave Vollmer]

Just won an N scale Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 on eBay...  $40!  Not bad.

It's going to be an organ donor for the aforementioned Pennsy H10 project.

Anybody know what's the best DCC decoder for it?  Thanks!

[nscaler711]

dewayne: all you have to do is take your fingernails  and gently pull up and the pilot mount should pop out of the pilot, but first its easier to take off the pilot, and do not use needle nose plyers it will dammage the pilot mount they are differnt yes but it my method works for both. also do you like your P42? i do its a B E A UTIFUL loco! Quick Question does Your P42 get noiseyat 75 scale mph? mine does cant figure out why though.

[pcarrell]

Well Christopher, I see you've found the N scalers here!

Come on in and have a look around.  If you have any questions just holler, OK?

[airwolf crazy]

Greetings,

I am new to this forum.  I am working on an N scale layout.  I will be reading the whole of this thread and looking for more of the threads on N scale stuff.

 

Christopher

[Anonymous]

How do I open the coupler box on a Kato P42 Genesis loco. The front and rear boxes are different.

[Anonymous]

I measured the hight of the rail and it comes to .0721" or about 1.85mm. I dont know if this is in limits for code 70 or 75 track or not.

[Dave Vollmer]

I've decided that after my written PhD candidacy exams at the end of January, I'm going to start a new project.

I'm tired of holding my breath for quality N scale PRR steam engines.  The PCM M1b has been kicked down the road nearly 2 years now.  So, if I want any stable mates for my GHQ/Kato L1s 2-8-2, I'm going to have to build them myself.

I plan to convert a Bachmann 2-8-0 to a PRR H10s.  

How?  I have some old Minitrix PRR engines in various states of dismemberment.  The boiler, smokebox, and Belpaire firebox from an old Minitrix K4 will be cut down (already done).  The cab will come from my old Minitrix PRR B6sb, as will the switcher pilot.  As for the tender, that's tough.  The tender that comes from the K4 is a passenger tender and so is not really correct...  I've been playing around with an old Kato tender shell, extending the slope sheet and extending the coal bunker.

I was inspired by a December 1975 MR article by Gregg Mahlkov, whose kitbash of an Atlas 0-8-0 into an H10s can be seen here:

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/8961/cat/1025

At least the Bachmann valve gear looks reasonably close and the chassis is DCC-ready.

[nscaler711]

im dont have that kind of money yet im still in my teens. I dislike ebay i takes literally forever to wait tell the last few minutes on a train that has 6 bids on it when its three days from bieng sold. i could probably find a fan that i could just mount in front of the last two fans on my gp38-2 loco that is supossed to be a gp40-2

[SOU Fan]

Also NS2591 im too cheap to buy an pricey atlas loco.  

You can get a Atlas for about $40 to $50 if you watch eBay.

[nscaler711]

well i think micro trains might sell z scale ground throws but im not sure i had heard it at a model train show and i dont think they operate they may be for show not operation. ( and this was a run-on sentence brought to you By Nscaler711) And Dewayne i have an p42 genesis from Kato i converted mine its pretty simple all you have to do is buy some off they're site and take out the knucle couplers and stick them in the little center pin on the pilot coupler mount its been awhile so my details are hazzy. Also NS2591 im too cheap to buy an pricey atlas loco.  

[SOU Fan]

I don't understand the question about spaces. I just type it in.

I used to be able to do that but now it doesn't put nay enters in it. I usually end my post with "-dekruif" and if I hit enter two or three times it still puts it next to the words. -dekruif(This should be 5 spaces down on the page)

[Anonymous]

There is a difference between "N" and "HOn3". The rail spacing for N is 9mm and HOn3 is 10.5mm.    

I don't understand the question about spaces. I just type it in.

I don't have a seller account on eBay thats why I'd rather trade it.