Tuned MP5T said:
When it comes to Quality and Details - who's better Kato or Micro Train?
Quality and details of what? Kato's locomotives are generally considered to be the best running of all N scale locos, with Atlas nipping at K's heels. The situation is flipped on detail, Atlas having the best with K just behind. MT has only released one loco (actually, 2, the EMD FT-A and EMD FT-B) of their own in N scale, so they don't have enough of a track record to really evaluate.
Kato has excellent passenger cars, MT has none. Kato has released a very limited selection of freight cars in North American, whereas until recently freight cars were all that MT makes. So what we're left with is apples and oranges.
The only direct comparison that can be made is between the Kato F3 and the MT FT locomotives. The MT looks a little better, already has MT couplers, but costs more and is reputed to be a notch below on performance. Not a good thing, since the MT is new last year whereas the Kato has been out for a few years now.
The other comparison can be made using the Kato PS-2 covered hoppers vs. the MT hoppers, pretty much a toss up. You can't go wrong with either.
Back to the issue of track: If you intend to go DCC, then stick with either the Unitrack or Atlas. Peco switches "have issues" with DCC.
One problem with a question like this is that many of the answers are going to be based on experiences with old product that has since been improved and/or updated. Atlas switches, once upon a time, weren't as reliable as Peco. Today, that has changed, as the Atlas switches have been improved, whereas Peco has concentrated its efforts in HO. Slightly different design goals also play into it. Peco track is designed for European modelling, where a different wheel profile is used, which results in the turnouts having different reliability characteristics.
Bottom line: until you're more experienced in the hobby, don't purchase any old (5 years+) locomotives. ALMOST everything of quality being produced today will run on any of the quality (Atlas, Peco, Micro-Engineering, Kato) track. (The exceptions are some LL diesels that still have pizza cutters) With rolling stock, its not such a big deal, as you can usually switch the wheels out if necessary.
It should be noted that there are talented, experienced modellers who will swear by, or swear at, each of the different quality track brands. From this, we can conclude that all of them work well, and all have shortcomings. "Best" in a case like this is a subjective matter. Just buy some and experiment. A loop of track with a pair of switches for a siding can give you an idea of which track you're most comfortable with, and don't forget, you can mix 'em. A lot of people do that, using Atlas flextrack with Peco switches, or ME Code 55 with Atlas C55 switches, or Kato Unitrack with somebody's flextrack, etc...
:thumb: