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Article by
Tony Neilson
What to Buy?
When it comes to N scale
supplies, there are seemingly endless choices to make for the model railroad
hobbyist. All model railroads have three major components. First, you need
track to run on. Second, you need a locomotive and at least one car of some
kind to make a train. Third, you need a source of power for the locomotive.
Some thought about each element should help you begin to form a
plan.
N Scale Track
If you are not going to be
building a permanent track arrangement, the type of sectional track which
includes simulated plastic roadbed is a good choice. It is a bit sturdier than
other types and will tolerate more rearrangement than non-roadbed rails if you
wish to try several configurations before settling on a track plan for
permanent construction.
Bachmann EZ-Track, Kato
Unitrack, and Atlas True-Track are some examples of N scale supplies to
consider. Straight and curved sections in various lengths are available, as are
turnouts, crossings, re-railers, and other special components. One very nice
feature about this kind of track is that the roadbed sections usually have some
kind of keyed slots and tabs on the ends to hold the sections together as the
train passes over the rail joint. They also make it much easier to keep the
railheads at the section join aligned when the sections are
joined.
N Scale Rolling Stock
The next consideration for
the model railroad hobbyist is about acquiring locomotives and rolling stock. A
big first question is, do you like modern trains, or are you more fascinated by
trains from the steam era and the first half of the last century? Do you have a
particular road name that you find interesting for historical or personal
reasons? Do you love sleek passenger trains, or do you find the huge variety of
freight cars endlessly interesting?
One very popular method of
acquiring the first bits of rolling stock is to purchase a boxed train set
which typically has a locomotive of some kind and road name, and a set of
freight or passenger cars and a small oval of track (the plastic roadbed kind
is common) included. Bachmann, Atlas, and Kato have a variety of these sets
(and numerous other N scale supplies), with the sets ranging in price from
about $150 and up. These sets usually do NOT include the third most important
part of the layout, the power pack.
If you have settled the
steam versus diesel question, the next single most important question about
N-scale models is how well they run. As of this writing, the most popular
locomotive manufacturers are Kato, Bachmann, Athearn, and Atlas. In the early
days of N-scale, poorly made equipment was common. Today, however, much better
design, attention to detail, and fine workmanship make all of these products
suitable. Kato, in particular, has a reputation for extremely smooth running
and finely detailed locomotives. Bachmann, which once had a very bad
reputation, has produced the Spectrum line of locomotives which are now very
well made and detailed as well. In general, prices reflect quality. A quality
locomotive will usually be a bit heavier, which helps it pull longer trains
more smoothly. A cheap, poorly running locomotive can be a source of unending
frustration with any scale of model. Invest as much as you can comfortably
afford, and you will benefit from hours of reliable operation.
Power
N-scale trains are powered by direct
current (DC). Power packs are rated by the amount of current they can
supply to the layout. Most power packs have two types of outputs. One is
a variable voltage that operates the locomotive motor. The other is a
fixed voltage output that is usually used for accessory power. Here
again, there’s a choice to be made. Starting out with a small power pack
will get you going with minimum expense and can power a single train on a
modest layout. Upgrading to a larger or more sophisticated power pack can
be easily done at any time. Farther down the road, a sophisticated
control system called Digital Command and Control (DCC) can be installed
to allow the simultaneous operation of several trains at once on any
track. It is even possible for a computer to completely control all
operation on the advanced layout, including animated accessories and
scenic features.
N Scale Parts and Pieces
Of course, a boxed set is
not the only way to go. Individual locomotives, cars and N scale supplies are
available from many sources. If you don’t have a local hobby shop or train
store to browse in, a Google search will bring dozens of on-line web sites that
cater for the needs of the model railroad hobbyist in the way of trains and
accessories. Once at a site, you can easily spend hours going through on-line
catalogs searching for just the right mix for you. As with boxed sets mentioned
earlier, Kato, Athearn, and Bachmann Spectrum locomotives offer excellent
performance for the price. For short trains, a small switch engine in steam or
diesel is a great way to start off. Teaming one with a few assorted freight
cars will give you experience in operating and creating a layout without
causing personal bankruptcy. Their popularity and quality make it no problem to
liquidate equipment if you find N-scale modeling just isn’t for
you.
No discussion of purchases
would be complete without a mention of eBay for N scale supplies. There are
thousands of products available on eBay for purchase. Some are new from
commercial vendors; others are for sale by individuals. All purchases on eBay
(not just trains) should be approached with some caution and care. If you
haven’t bid on an item on eBay before, it would be best to start with something
small such as a single freight car or set of cars for which you have a notion
of the approximate retail price. Bidding can get ridiculous on some items so
you need to know when to stop and let it go to someone with less patience. You
also can’t really tell anything about the condition of an item on
eBay.
Some model train hobbyists
– maybe ALL railway hobbyists – seem to have an inflated opinion of the
condition and worth of a piece. Start with something that you can afford to be
disappointed in if you are not a veteran bidder. Normal cautions of eBay
trading apply to train equipment just as much as to other items. Look for a
high rating on the seller and user feedback on the sale process with that
individual or company. If you are a beginner, it would be best to start with
new equipment from a reputable retail source rather than eBay. That way, you
can be sure that the equipment you are buying will be as you expect. When you
have more experience, though, eBay is a very useful source for adding those
bits at a bargain or that you can’t find anywhere else.
There is a “gotcha” in the
N-scale world to beware of, though. Much of the older N-scale equipment
produced is equipped with what is known as a “Rapido” coupler.
It is not realistic, nor is it compatible with more modern knuckle couplers
produced today by Micro-Trains and others. Fortunately, it is a pretty simple
task to install knuckle couplers on most cars. The trucks on most cars are held
in place with friction by a small pin called a “bolster” pin. This pin can be
pulled out with a pair of needle nosed pliers and the old truck removed and
replaced with one having a knuckle coupler. Conversion of locomotives is a bit
harder, but kits are available that can do the job if care is taken. A pair of
conversion trucks will cost between $7 and $10, depending on the type of car
and style of truck. Knuckle couplers also have the advantage of being able to
remotely uncouple by way of a special magnetic track
section.
Small N scale
Railroads
Couplers
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