Is this set any good? http://www.¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤.com/Kato-N-1060021-GE-ES44AC-GEVO-Freight-Set-CSX-p/kat-1060021.htm I plan to also purchase an Amtrak passenger train, I'm thinking of a 4x6 - 4x6 layout because of space constraints. Any ideas for a easy starter layout
Glad to you have aboard. As with the above, Kato is the Lexus of N-Scale. Look at a hollow core door layout if needing small. David Vollmers layout is a excellent one, you can youtube his layout.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veEvKHFGd5s&list=PLlllnwknSzvbATL0jalhcNYIzavKUd-ZK
I'll second the comments above. You might want to check out our TrainBoard "HCD" (hollow core door) Group for further ideas.
The link refuses to render anything. Still, as others have stated here, it is hard to go wrong with Kato equipment. If your starter set has an F-unit, those are excellent. I have the various Kato US prototype freight cars and have been happy with them. The Kato RS-2/RSC-2 is also excellent, if that is what the starter set has. I am not familiar with any of the modern Kato locomotives, as those are out of my modelling era. The Kato 2-8-2 is one of the standards against which all N scale steam is measured. There have been complaints about the RDCs, NW-2 and SP GS-4, I do not have the SP, but I do have two NW-2s and several RDCs. I have had no trouble with any of them. I am unimpressed with the Kato track. I find that the B-mann track is just as good. The Kato turnouts have problems. There have been fixes posted here and elsewhere. I find that the B-mann turnouts have fewer problems. I do not know if that set has a power pack, or not. If it does, it would be the Kato power pack, which is a pretty good power pack. If it does not have a power pack, buy a good one, such as the Kato or an MRC. DO NOT buy a cheap power pack, you will not be happy with the performance of your trains. B-mann used to sell some advanced power packs, but I do not know if they still do. I have never had one, so I can not say much about them. The only experience that I have with them is that a former FLHS owner had one for his N scale test loop. It worked allright on that one. I have one Kato power pack and several MRC power packs. They are all pretty good. There is also DCC. I do not use it, so there is not much that I can say about it.
Welcome aboard! Model Railroading is a very broad (and very rewarding) hobby so you've got to find what works for you. Some people want to watch trains run; others want to model operations and switch cars just like a real railroad. Some people want to copy a particular railroad; other people want to make up a particular railroad and create a backstory to go with it. Then there is the different time periods and regions of the country to add another layer of variety. Reading magazines and books, going to train shows, and watching trains can help you find what you want to do. And if you change your mind about what you want to model, don't be afraid to start something different. A lot of us have done that for one reason or another. Personally, I have had good experience with Kato track, with the exception of the #4 turnout (switch track). The #6s work fine for me, just some of the #4s are problematic. If you are looking to get started in a small space with Kato Unitrack, I am partial to a couple of layouts with potential; the track plans for which can be found on the KatoUSA webpage. Both will fit on a 30" hollow core door (HCD) with room to make them longer and you can expand the curves if you find a 36" HCD. (There's no rule on the HCD, You could build them on plywood, too, if you wanted.) They allow for continuous running and provide for switching operations and for simulating connections to other railroads. Cheap and Nothing Wasted II Granny Kay and Bonnie The other thing I recommend is the book, "Track Planning for Realistic Operations by John Armstrong. Not only does it give some track plans and help you come up with your own, it explains concepts of real railroad operation and how to translate those into your layout. I hope this helps. Andy Tetsu Uma
Welcome aboard! You made a good choice with going Kato, their track is excellent. I do recommend going with #6 turnouts where ever possible. However #4s are easily modifiable to make them smooth as butter. Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4
Welcome to N scale! Kato's are pretty awesome, my fleet reflects it there's Kato's everywhere. another good brand to check out it Atlas.
Sorry for the bad link, I ordered the Kato N Scale Unitrack GE ES44AC Gevo and Mixed Freight Train Set, after this I will purchase the Kato Amtrak setup.
Welcome to Trainboard!!!! Those are 2 decent sets to start out with. Best of luck with your N-scale adventure. Remember it's ok to ask questions. AND MOST IMPORTANT POST PICS OF WHAT YOUR BUILDING!!!!!
Oh, and I forgot.............Welcome to TRAINBOARD and N scale. About what you bought: 1. I see that Kato gives you a power pack with the set. The transformer is in the power cord-it resembles an older type of telephone/calculator charger. The control box has a reversing switch that has three positions: 'forward', 'brake' and 'reverse'. I suspect that 'brake' is more of a 'no power' than anything. If the locomotive has flywheels, it will coast, if not, it will come to a screeching stop. Other power packs manufactured by MRC, and others, have more realistic braking features. There is also what appears to be an electronic speed control. There is an input for the AC and two outlets for DC, one for the track power and one for what appears to be accessories. There is no AC outlet of any kind. Most power packs of other manufacturers have a fixed AC outlet for the accessories, even the trainset power packs. I wonder if Kato switch machines work on DC rather than AC. I have several Kato turnouts on one of my pikes. I have yet to wire the switch machines. It is a good thing that I always read directions. As I have not yet decided what to do with the Kato turnouts, I have not yet read the electrical directions. If I decide to retain them, I will of course read them. I assume that the rectifier is in the control box. At any rate, the Kato power pack is good. It is one of the better trainset power packs out there. If you decide to go DC over DCC, you could retain it for use on a larger pike. As a rule, you should get away from trainset power packs as quickly as your budget allows it, but in this case, the power pack is worth keeping. 2. The UNITRAK included in the set is allright. 3. I am not familiar with that locomotive, as it is far out of my era. Still, I have never seen anything negative posted regarding its runnability, pulling power and/or tracking. 4. The freight cars in the set are Japanese prototypes. While you might get away with using the tank cars on a US prototype railroad, and you might be able to modify the gondolas for use, I am not familiar with any US prototype cars that match the 'covered hoppers'. The first F-3 sets also included some of these cars. They were on JNR prototype trucks, as well. I am not familiar with any US prototype truck that matches these. You may be able to get someone to trade you some modern North American prototype cars for the JNR cars. As it appears that you have chosen the modern era, you should acquire either a freight car with a FRED built into it or a FRED kit that you can put into any modern type car. In my modelling era, I need cabooses; no one had any conception of the Electronic Brakeman back then. Still, you might want to consider purchasing some modern era North American prototype freight cars. There are more than a few manufacturers of good quality freight cars out there. Take a look at what is available. Until then, those Kato JNR cars track allright. I did try them when I bought one of the F-3 sets, just to see how they ran. I considered trying to bash them into something that a non-historic railroad might have used as a MOW or other non-revenue car. I just have not done it , yet.
Hi Thomas ?? T-TRAK is another option for a layout, start small on a table and learn to build a layout module by module. It uses Kato unitrack as part of it's standards. http://www.t-trak.org/ and http://t-trak.nscale.org.au/ enjoy N scale
Welcome to A lifelong hobby. Excellent choice with Kato. Wish I would have made that choice instead of saving a few dollars and buying a "cheap" set. I used the advice of forums like this one and upgraded quickly. Now as soon as I finish my summertime "honey-do" list I can start laying track on my empire . Good luck and Spend time learning from the folks that are here.
