There are a few companies that package up N train sets. Most times the definition of 'good' is the relative level of quality vs. price that you're getting. This is a pretty technical forum here so you'll get a lot of information you probably don't need at this point, but one of the basics is that brand name doesn't mean a whole lot. Pretty much everybody except Kato is outsourcing prodution of an imported collection of stuff, and that quality varies widely within the 'brand', and some of this stuff is/has been made from designs and tooling that is over 20 years old. So we'll really need more information than that. Some of the Model Power low-end stuff is pretty poor in comparison, other is OK. The entry-level sectional track is OK for starters, the cars are train-set grade, what most people tend to focus on is the locomotive. Our "consumer reports" within the scale is this web page... and Mark tells it like it is. N Scale Locomotive Encyclopedia You can begin to gain an appreciation for just how wide and deep the differences between manufacturers, vintage, and quality are by digging around that. One of the reasons that N scale was stunted was a significant quality problem on many entry level train sets that really turned people off the scale, and retailers off carrying it - and this started in the 1970's. The current state-of-the-art in N scale is really excellent stuff, certainly at a price, but 'some' of the low-end train sets persist in packaging rather obsolete designs at a cut-rate price and it's pretty counterproductive. Some importers, like Bachmann, have wide, wide quality variations within their own brand. Others are pretty consistent. So let us know what you've got to work with here.
To put it simply I have a few diesel locos including old switchers and a couple of steam locos from Model Power and from my experience you can't go wrong with they're locos they run very good and smooth nice detailing also, now they're rolling stock is a little too cheaply made for me.
Well, one of the 'current' Model Power sets is the Santa Fe "double diesel" set; that has what appears to be FA-somethings in it that are the direct descendents of the 1969 MRC Roco diesel; one-truck powered and earn a sold "C" grade on a good day. That's what I mean. Hard to believe those are still being sold today. http://www.3000toys.com/images/MODEL_POWER/1166.jpg Please, somebody tell me these aren't the same locomotives: Mehano (Yugoslavia) Alco FA-2 I'm really, really, hoping that what's in the box is actually the F-unit, which is a completely different animal: Model Power EMD FP7 I've found one description that says the set comes with F7's, and yet that photo shows the FA's with the side door. Hence my hesitation!
Thank you to everyone for the help,This is my first step into n scale.I have been into 1/29th scale trains for a few years,But the prices are getting to high for me at the time being.So I ordered a silver eagle set with the alco 420 set to give it a try.I think it will be fun to make a layout in a small space.Thank's again for the help.:thumbs_up:
I started out with the Model Power double diesel set. The (Canadian) locomotives are maybe a B (more on that in a sec), though all the Model Power rolling stock is junk - mainly they are too light to run well. The rest of the contents where "you get what you pay for". The tunnel and buildings are do it yourself card board kits - not paper craft quality, but the kind of cardboard normally used for packaging. The signs, signals and power poles where usable plastic pieces. The track was your basic sectional track, and apart from being 9" radius not a lot to complain about there. The power supply was a basic budget power supply, enough to get going (I've kept it as a spare), but you'll probably want something better sooner or later. My experience is with the two Canadian sets (CN and CP), which are packaged in the Santa-Fe box, however the Canadian versions I've seen and owned had a big difference from what spook has seen with the American version. The locomotives I got where definitely the *model* version, not the train set version based on the description in the encyclopedia. There is also the plural there - all the Canadian sets I've come across, including my own (CP), have had 2 powered locomotives (the price is the same and box still claims one is a dummy). It seems the Canadian version gives you a "dummy" powered unit, in the form of an engine that must have failed QA. In my set the problem was the dummies wheels were so out of gauge it wouldn't start. Of course the good locomotive is not always great either - a CN set I've watched out of the box had both of them grinding away on their first run. I'm taking a guess that the Canadian market just didn't justify a factory run of trainset locomotives, so they ended up with whatever random CN and CP model FA? locomotives where in the warehouse (maybe some are returns?) At the end of it all my suggestion would be to suppliment whatever you get with a few better pieces of rolling stock. Check if your set came with Rapido (big square) or newer knuckle couplers so you can get something compatible (or do a search here on upgrading to knuckle/micro trains couplers). A good choice would be Atlas Trainman rolling stock - they're very inexpensive, but of good overall quality.
Welll.... if that's what you have.... please don't judge the scale or the potential based on the way that works. Unfortunately, that's EXACTLY what I'm talking about - a locomotive that is fundamentally a 1969 design. Mehano (Yugoslavia) Alco C-420 Looking at "Silver Eagle" sets they are showing up with a bunch of different locomotives in them; one photo shows the FP7, another the FA, another the C420. I had a Mehano GP40 (Atlas) as my first new locomotive in 1972. Under the hood - identical to the C420. Looked great (to me), quite poor performance, burned out, literally, within the year. Got lucky and got a USED Trix F-unit that ran very well and well designed; if I'd judged all N scale on that GP40 I would have quit the first year. The original Trix F-unit is still running today, repowered, repainted..but still around. I think N scalers as a breed get defensive, I'll freely admit to it, because the scale is branded as 'toys' and 'junk'. Between Rivarossi and Mehano (mostly Mehano) they darn near killed it. If you're in 1/29 you'll understand the difference beween Lionel original and Lionel Mexico, yeah, like that. At the risk of being a negative, grizzled old geezer (and I'm NOT on the Atlas payroll) I'd rather do this than loose a potential new N scaler - maybe recall that one and look for an Atlas Trainman set; everything here will look better, run better, and the price difference is probably $20 or less: Atlas Trainman starter sets That's picked rather at random, but that Trainman Atlas set is emblematic of the approach to reduce cost by lowering additional detail complexity but don't cheapen the performance/design. That's my definition of a good 'entry level' set that won't make you crazy. Now you may get a far better unit off that MP set than what I'd give it credit for.... but if you don't, like I said, please don't judge the scale based on that.
I don't think it'll be that bad. The old Mehano stuff is junk, but the newer stuff isn't nearly as bad as what it once was. Even Mark who loves to beat on Mehano says this in his own review about the latest version: "The most recent Model Power version is much improved (at least in the performance department). The one I have is easily the finest running Mehano locomotive I have ever owned (admittedly faint praise). It still only has 2 powered axles (on the rear), but pickup comes from all eight wheels so it can ably circumnavigate my layout without embarassing itself. OK, it still looks lame, but honestly, it runs quite well. It's smooth, not real loud and performs very well at slow speeds." (emphasis added by me) When you put the above statement into the context of these locos costing around $30 something new, then it's actually a pretty positive review. But keep that in mind, it's a cheap loco. I wouldn't pay $30 for a new HO loco and expect much, and good luck finding anything in O or G in that price bracket!
My opmion only- MP steam locomotives look great. The pick up system IS an old design and the units have to be handled very carefully lest one or more of the wipers disengages, That being said- stay away from the Pacifics and Mikados without traction tires. They have a problem pulling more than a few cars up a grade or around a turn. THE ONES WITH TRACTION TIRES INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY WORK JUST FINE.
