The thread of "misleading items on Ebay" leads me to this post. That post is about some contreversey about Atlas and Kato.My Question is much more generic and will probably stir up alot of discussion but read the following questions and answer in a reply if you have time. I will be real curious to see if there are alot of the same answers or if everyone has different answers. I post these questions because I have not bought any "new equipment" in at least 5 years. Starting a new layout had me looking at Ebay the other day and well heres the questions before I bid. Used to be Lifelike were very noisy, and less than accurate on alot of details. I have read the Proto 2000 series are supposed to be awesome. Is there any change from Lifelike besides the high dollar Proto series? Atlas. I love the 3 Atlas EMD SD-7 's I have. They are very smooth, quiet, and fairly detailed right out of the box.The post that brought this up was talking about "Atlas not being Kato". Are Atlas still a good value? How about Kato's? sed to be Kato was very expensive and I presume very good performance wise.I have no Kato Locomotives but the passenger car set I have from them is very well done all over. I guess The basic info I am looking for is Dollar for Dollar, and Dollar for value whats what these days? I am no rockefeller.So I guess yall could answer this as if money were no object what to buy? If money were an object what would be worth saving up for? and even if I am poor what do I need to completely stay away from no matter how cheap it is. The brands I know follow Atlas Kato Lifelike Microtrains Bachmann Rivarossi I know these days ther are ALOT more.If there is a brand to look for that isn't there add it on.If there is ine on there I should stay away from tell me . I am building and/or purchasing N scale. So if your in another Scale please make that clear in your post so we all will know what you're talking about. Also I am talking specifically about locomotives.Cars I can pretty much afford most any. I guess also make these replies from personal experience rather than magazine reviews or what you heard from somebody who knows someone who has a ....lol Okay I guess that will do it. Now I'll post and then reply my answers as well but my info will be dated. Later
I have been involved in N scale for 5 years so I started relatively a fresh of past maunfacturers performance. My first locomotive was a Lifelike SD-7, I found them to be a good solid locomotive and great value for money. I now own Kato, Atlas, Lifelike and Spectrum (Bachman) For best value for money it is hard to go past Lifelikes latest few releases, I own SD7's, SW9's, GP20's and E8's all are great models and cost a third of Kato. The GP20's are one of my favorite ( I have bought 4 of these) Don't get me wrong Atlas and Kato are also excellent models although the cost is becoming prohibitive. Here are the comparison costs in Australian dollars Lifelike $70 Atlas $180 Kato $225 I can buy 3 Lifelike locomotives for the price of 1 Kato. I currently have an SD90Mac on order from my hobby shop, this however maybe the last Kato locomotive I purchase due to the weakness of our dollar. I would not buy anymore bachmann as these models are below the quality of the lifelike ETC. Wehn it comes to rollingstock I would stay away form model power and probably lifelike Manufacturers I recommend are Microtrains Alan Curtis models Deluxe Innovations Roundhouse Atlas ReD Caboose This is only my opinion and I look forward to reading what others have to say
Hi Mopartex, I have been involved with N-scale for over 30 years and have seen the worst and the best. Here are my ratings of current locos. Kato: excellent Atlas: excellent Life Like: very good Bachmann Spectrum: do not have any Minitrix: good Con Cor: good Model Power: do not have any Arnold: fair Bachmann(non-spectrum): fair to poor Almost all of the locos I own are from Kato and Atlas because they make most of the EMD units the D&RGW ran. As they say, you get what you pay for. Good luck.
Most of my locomotives are Kato and Atlas. I do have two Bachmann Spectrum C40-8W's, but I am going to repower them with Kato mechanisms, to make them compatible with the Kato/Atlas ones. I do also have some Lifelike SD7's, which are more scenery than operating locos., but I also have a LL GP20, which I have repowered with an Atlas GP7 chassis! Again, to make it compatible with others. Almost any make of freightcar is ok with me, providing it is of a suitable type and period, as all my cars are fitted with microtrains trucks and couplers. A friend has some Lifelike PA's, which run very well indeed, and are very good value for money.
Mopartex, You are lucky I suppose, having such a lot to pick from, the point," you only get what you pay for", is right but why waste your hard earned dollars buying something you don't want. The earlier Atlas loco's were made by Kato, that is why they still run very good and are still worth a good price if you want to sell them. I have a collection of [HO, my son has N ] 140 odd engines of all makes. I have 60 Kato's and tend to only ever use them on my layout, and my son does the same with his Kato's.To be honest I would rather have 1 kato than 5 Atlas ,Proto or Athearn Genisis engines, mainly because you put them on your layout and they run. If I had my time over, I would definetly only buy Kato. I have found over the last 5 years I have collected Rivarossi, Proto, Athearn, Atlas [Roco, Kato and New Chinese] and they all sit in the display case and look at me running my Kato's. Have a good one ! Doug Jaeger
Really? I find Life-like (Proto 2000) and Atlas alot better then Kato. They have much better customer service, availabilty of parts, new ideas and find the locos better detailed. Mike
Here's my report card for N-Scale Locomotives... Atlas: Running quality, A+ Detail, A+ Paint, A- Price to value: A Kato*: Running quality, A+ Detail, B+ Paint, B+ Price to value: A- New Life-Like: Running quality, A Detail, A+ Paint, A- Price to value: A Old Life-Like: Running quality, C Detail, C Paint, D Price to value:C- Bachmann Spectrum/Plus: Running quality, B Detail, C Paint, B Price to value: B- Standard Bachmann: On all points: F Con-Cor: Running quality, B+ Detail: B+ Paint: A- Price to value: B+ Model Power**: On all points: F Just my take on it gang... *Includes the Atlas, Kato Built Drives. **Does not include the New Model Power Drives. (If I haven't put a Manufacturer on the list, I haven't owned it.) [ 08 April 2001: Message edited by: Maxwell Plant ]
Ok, here's my limited engine experience. I have had 3 life like Gp-20s and have been happy with them all. I have had (2) Life Like sw9/1200 that both worked well. Actually pulled better than the GP-20. I also have a Kato sd40-2. It runs a little better than the Life Likes, but doesn't have as much detail. I haven't had an Atlas yet, but I like that they are detailed more than Kato. I am curious about the Bachmann Spectrums - mostly due to the lower cost and that fact that they have dash 9s. My plan for the future is to buy another Kato sd40-2 to make a lash up with the one I have, then go Atlas. I'd be just as happy going Life Like rather than atlas, but they don't make the more pwerful, modern engines. Life Likes engines are limited in models, but if they have what you want, you can't beat them for price, quality, and detail. But then... thats just me.
I think it important to remeber modellers usually model era's. I model Modern BN and MRL mainly (not including my DCC Canadian). This then of course limits the type of model I can purchase. Over the last six years modellers have been blessed having been able to purchase the following: Kato GP38, GP50, F7 U30C, SD40, E8, C30-7, SD45, SD40-2, (BNSF) C44-9CW. Atlas GP7, SD7*,U25B*, GP30*, GP35*, GP40, SD60, SD60M, (MRL)SD35 * = Kato drive L^2 GP38, GP18, SD7, SW1500, GP20 This list is not conclusive, off the top of the head so to speak As I model a particular era I can choose what I buy. I am modelling modern, therefore I have very few older engines in my roster. I am then am basically limited to Atlas and Kato. I would however, drive my short arms into my long pockets if L^2 introduced a modern Diesel, Alco, tunnel or SD70. The running quality of their engines has improved greatly since the GP18 and BL2. I do tend to run my Kato's more than anything else, not because they, in my opinion run the best, but after you detail them with the little things such as beacons and antennas and a touch of paint they get a personality, you add to that personality. (thats what modellings about) The engine thats gets the most work on my layout is an NP L^2 switcher. Why? because I like it. and my layout is not yet finished, it finds the bad spots the big KATO's sail over. I therefore, would resist rating any engine better than any other however, if affordability, reliability, maintainability and functionality are important in an engine, for mine you cannot go past the three I have mentioned, each has its own quirks, faults and attributes, people will undoubtedly defend their particular choice. As I initially stated, it depends upon the era you are modelling, the choice is then yours.
This discussion was covered in detail for both steamers and diesels in HO scale in that section. Personally I'd never buy another Bachman diesel again. I bought three "Spectrums", and they all dies within a few days. Three out of three dying in such a short period tells me that they don't know how to build an engine. Maybe N-Scale is different, but after being burned bad three times, I'm done with them. For me in HO, Athearn, Genesis, Kato, and Proto are the ones to look at. I'm also salivating over a Rivarossi "Big Boy". Modeling UP in the mountains kind of demands one of those, right? Mark
Mark, Thanks for the info on the Spectrums. I guess I'll keep my hands away from the shelf on those. They look good, but if it doesn't run.... Anyone else have any experience with the spectrums?
I'm in HO and I take a hard look at the warranty times.For instance LifeLike proto 1000 & 2000 series if for life Atlas is for 90 days Bachmann, I'm told for life IHC premier is for 90 days Kato is for 60 days,surprisingly Stewart FT units for life Stewart other, don"t know Manatua for life & made in New Jersey I guess there's 15+ makers and no uniformity, but if a unit is going to fail in my lifetime I want a free exchange if possible.
If you really want to upgrade, take a look at the new Kato EMD/8/9's and their new budd corrugated passenger cars.wwwkatousa.com
Hey another Grand Rapidian. Locomotive 2 welcome to trainboard from the first one here.(Grand Rapidian that is.)What part of GR are you from? <marquee>North American Rail Alliance</marquee>
Hi North American Rail Alliance, I'm SE, off 44th & Kalamazoo. I'm still behind the HO learning curve. Walked into Riders 4 years ago and thought I knew all the train answers THEN I discovered I didn't even know the right questions. I'm doing a little steam and heavy into diesel,1950's on up. Just picked up on these sites 3 weeks ago and obviously behind in computer skills as well.
I am in HO scale. For me Atlas is my number one choice. I have the newer Chinese built Atlas's and a few of the older Kato/Atlas locomotives. The new newer Atlas run just as well as the older Kato/Atlas. The new Atlas's I have include 4 GE C30-7's and 3 GP40's and 2 C424 and 2 C425. The Alco 424 and 425 are the Kato/Atlas. As for pulling power nothing beats my 4 Atlas C30-7's. Other Brand I like, well LifeLike Proto 2000's are good, but they are not up to the quality of Atlas. I had some of the earlier GP18's and they were ok, I have there SW9 switcher and it is a very good runner. The Alco FA is ok. The GP20 I have is ok too. As for Bachman or Trashman, I sometimes say. Well it is a hit or miss with them. The Bachman Spectrum 2-8-0 Steamer is downright SWEET!!!! I love it and they did a great job. I was pulling 12 car freight trains up 2% grades on my clubs layout at an open house. It performed GREAT!!! I got comments from other club members on how well that little steamer ran. With that being said, other Bachman units I have had have been fair runners at best, bad or non runners at worst. Too bad the success of their 2-8-0 doesn't carry over to the rest of their line.
MOPARTEX, Here is my humble opinion.... I have been in N scale for almost 10 years, having moved there from HO. Kato and Atlas produce THE best locomotives, as a general line. As far as the old Atlas SD7/9's this is where I first entered N scale: these locos were made by Kato for Atlas and were far ahead of anything else produced at the time. The newer models of Atlas are not Kato products and are an excellent value (for the price/performance/detail). (Most of the recent Atlas locos are DCC ready, which is a big plus for me). Lifelike has some good oferings in its recent items (GP20's and E6/7/8's) but they are not DCC ready. The older offering are on par with the Bachmann and whoever... In my opinion, Atlas offers the best value for the $$$ over their entire line, given the features and detailing. Kato locomotives are very, very good, but their production schedule is hard to understand (read: limited). Lifelike locos such as the E8 are great if you get them on sale and can use them, but they are not the mainstay of most nearly-modern roads Harold
