buying a new model train
- Thread starter asaf
- Start date
Hi,
I think buying the pieces separately is a good way to go, because you can plan for growth.
To get started:
- The first item to buy would be a good engine. I would spend good money on a locomotive like an Atlas unit with a dual-mode DCC decoder already installed. Such an engine will let you start out with straight direct-current to run just one train using a simple power pack and just a loop of track, but gives you the ability to easily move on to using Digital Command Control (DCC) in the future if you want to build a permanent layout with a DCC system capable of running multiple trains at the same time. I have an Atlas Master Series HO-scale GE B40-8 diesel locomotive with the dual-mode DCC decoder, and it's the best-running engine I've ever owned.
- Then buy a few pieces of quality rolling stock with metal wheels and properly-weighted frames. There are a great selection of rolling stock out there by various companies such as Walthers, Kadee, Proto 2000, etc.
- Then get a loop of good-quality nickel-silver track to get you started, such as Kato Unitrack. Avoid brass-rail or steel-rail track-- They tarnish easily and lose electrical conductivity, which makes them unreliable. Nickel-silver track remains conductive even when tarnished.
- Then pick up one of the basic DC power packs such as one of the lower-end MRC packs (get the cheapest one-- Save your money for buying a DCC system later), hook it up to the circle of track, and you are ready to go.
Good luck!
I think buying the pieces separately is a good way to go, because you can plan for growth.
To get started:
- The first item to buy would be a good engine. I would spend good money on a locomotive like an Atlas unit with a dual-mode DCC decoder already installed. Such an engine will let you start out with straight direct-current to run just one train using a simple power pack and just a loop of track, but gives you the ability to easily move on to using Digital Command Control (DCC) in the future if you want to build a permanent layout with a DCC system capable of running multiple trains at the same time. I have an Atlas Master Series HO-scale GE B40-8 diesel locomotive with the dual-mode DCC decoder, and it's the best-running engine I've ever owned.
- Then buy a few pieces of quality rolling stock with metal wheels and properly-weighted frames. There are a great selection of rolling stock out there by various companies such as Walthers, Kadee, Proto 2000, etc.
- Then get a loop of good-quality nickel-silver track to get you started, such as Kato Unitrack. Avoid brass-rail or steel-rail track-- They tarnish easily and lose electrical conductivity, which makes them unreliable. Nickel-silver track remains conductive even when tarnished.
- Then pick up one of the basic DC power packs such as one of the lower-end MRC packs (get the cheapest one-- Save your money for buying a DCC system later), hook it up to the circle of track, and you are ready to go.
Good luck!
L
lester perry
I don't usually buy from the web. I prefer the local hobby shop. I also would recommend not buying a set. Most sets, not all, are not very good and to try to tell you in the forum which is good and which is not would be difficult. A local hobby shop which sells trains will want your return business so they not stear you wrong, unless they are trying to go out of business. As you have seen in your other question there are some highly recomended manufacturers. Some ideas where you can't go wrong are Athearn power & cars they are inexpensive easy to work with and very reliable. For power look at MRC power packs they are very dependable. For track Atlas is a fail safe one. For switches or as some call them turnouts I recomend Peco. They are a little more $$$ than Atlas but I feel the $$$ is worth it. Most cars & locos now come with knuckle couplers. When they break and they will use Kadee brand they are made of metal the others are plastic. This is about the best advice I can give you as a beginner and I feel most of the guys out here will agree with me.
Les
Les
I agree with Les Athearn is the best way to go (best quality for the price) and MRC for power pack, track Atlas is ok for starter.
L
lester perry
Oh yeah one more thing. As far as I know Athearn is still made in the good ol U.S.A.
balloon6
Les
balloon6
Les
I went about it all wrong. I bought saeveral model power sets from ebay. The rolling stock is so cheap on model power it is too light to stay on the track at high speeds. They also have cheap plastic wheels on them. I got a couple of Backman sets that are pretty good but still have plastic wheels. The cars are heavier however anmd stay on the track better.
I just made my first layout 4ft by 8 ft. I would post a vidieo but haven't figured out how. I will paste the link here.
http://henryslureworld.com/trains/1sttrainmovie.wmv
Hope the links work. My objective is not to go with lots of expencive natural l;ayout scenes but to put as many trains in action as I can on this layout. I now have an O set on the outside with fastrack and two ho sets on steel ez track in the middle. Thinking of adding a couple of N sets in the middle. What do you guys think.
I know I should have bought fastrack for the Ho set too but got a good deal on the eztrack. What is the very best HO model trains? Atlas or what?
I wanted a train set all my life and now it is reality. Most awsome thing you can do.
I just made my first layout 4ft by 8 ft. I would post a vidieo but haven't figured out how. I will paste the link here.
http://henryslureworld.com/trains/1sttrainmovie.wmv
Hope the links work. My objective is not to go with lots of expencive natural l;ayout scenes but to put as many trains in action as I can on this layout. I now have an O set on the outside with fastrack and two ho sets on steel ez track in the middle. Thinking of adding a couple of N sets in the middle. What do you guys think.
I know I should have bought fastrack for the Ho set too but got a good deal on the eztrack. What is the very best HO model trains? Atlas or what?
I wanted a train set all my life and now it is reality. Most awsome thing you can do.
Welcome to The Gauge, Spookman
Boy, you're gonna start a brawl in here right off:thumb: Like Ford and Chevy men, everyone's got their pets. Mine are Athearn and Rivarossi. Kato and Atlas are even better.
BTW, the way you're setup now, a couple loops of N would be a hoot, maybe elevate it a bit over the rest:thumb:
spookman said:
Boy, you're gonna start a brawl in here right off:thumb: Like Ford and Chevy men, everyone's got their pets. Mine are Athearn and Rivarossi. Kato and Atlas are even better.
BTW, the way you're setup now, a couple loops of N would be a hoot, maybe elevate it a bit over the rest:thumb:
shaygetz said:Welcome to The Gauge, Spookman
Boy, you're gonna start a brawl in here right off:thumb: Like Ford and Chevy men, everyone's got their pets. Mine are Athearn and Rivarossi. Kato and Atlas are even better.
BTW, the way you're setup now, a couple loops of N would be a hoot, maybe elevate it a bit over the rest:thumb:
I am new to mosel trains. I learned as much as I could the last couple months from reading this site. One thing I am still trying to figure out. IS Athern made by Lionel or what is the connection. I keep seeing the two names together sa if they were one in the same.
Please pardon my stupidity. I am just a dumb country boy. HEHEHE
Thanks for the comments on my setup. Any suggestions on how to elevate the N setups when I get them?
I tried putting a center loop on the center Ho setup but every time I tried to run the train on the loop the engine would derail half way through the manual tournout. I had the tournout switched to the loop properly but just could not get it to work. I tried it at all speeds.
Spookman:
back around 1957-1960 Lionel tried to crack the HO market. Instead of making their own, they had them made by established firms. One year it was Athearn; another it was Rivarossi. But that was almost half a century ago.
Athearn is now owned by Horizon (who?), as is Roundhouse/MDC.
back around 1957-1960 Lionel tried to crack the HO market. Instead of making their own, they had them made by established firms. One year it was Athearn; another it was Rivarossi. But that was almost half a century ago.
Athearn is now owned by Horizon (who?), as is Roundhouse/MDC.
asaf said:
My personal preference would be Railroad Model Craftsman. Other than that, any Model Railroader magazine published prior to 1980 is a goldmine to me.