Thinkin about G

Kevin M Oct 27, 2000

  1. Kevin M

    Kevin M TrainBoard Member

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    Well why I was at the train store today buying N scale stuff one of the guys (also a N scaler) decided to show me the USA train stuff, and WOW! That stuff is great, and not to expensive, i mean its 40x the size of my n scale stuff yet only twice as much in some cases. Then chris decided to show me the sound system, once agine I was amazed, well tomorow I am going to a outdoor railway club that meets every friday rain or shine. chris said they will have a engine I can operate and If I like it I might just buy one of my own and join the club.
    Kevin
     
  2. atsfman

    atsfman TrainBoard Member

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    Kevin, you will enjoy big scale. I am a solid HO modeler, who now has the best of both worlds with my Santa FE HO in the basement and a Santa Fe large scale in the back yard. If you do get serious about large scale, there are several issues about track, radio control/ battery power and others to deal with. This scale is really about where HO was in the 1960's, but with a little work and looking around you can find most of the answers you need. You mentioned a club, I belong to the NorthEast Kansas Garden Railroad Society, which has around 90 members and a lot of great railroads. I enjoy this group very much and they are a constant source of info and ideas.
    Bob Miller
     
  3. Rappannahock Terminal

    Rappannahock Terminal E-Mail Bounces

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    Kevin, I have several USA trains locomotives. They all run great! not only on higher speeds (there are still a lot of people who prefer to let their runs run too fast) but also on the very slow speeds.

    I use the Aristocraft TE to control the locomotive and it works fine, especially when you switch to the pulse power.

    Concerning the sound system, I use the Phoenix sound. I do not build them in the locomotive because they are rather expensive. As a matter of fact they cost 50% more than a locomotive!

    I connect the sound module to a amplifier and put speakers around the layout which gives a mighty sound. Of course this is almost not feasible when you run in your garden.

    If you have doubts or questions please fire them on this board.

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    Paul the 2nd
    Paul Van Herwegen
    HO Rappannahock Terminal Railway
    G Emerald Valley RR
    http://users.pandora.be/paul.van.herwegen/

    [This message has been edited by Rappannahock Terminal (edited 27 October 2000).]
     
  4. Kevin M

    Kevin M TrainBoard Member

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    Well the operation went great, Iam seriously considering buying a USA GP7/9 or a GP38. This was the first time I have ever used G scale and it was great, can't wait to go back next week!
    Kevin
     
  5. Rappannahock Terminal

    Rappannahock Terminal E-Mail Bounces

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    Kevin you will enjoy it! Once you go in a bigger scale it will be difficult to go back to a smaller one [​IMG]

    ------------------
    Paul the 2nd
    Paul Van Herwegen
    HO Rappannahock Terminal Railway
    G Emerald Valley RR
    http://users.pandora.be/paul.van.herwegen/
    [​IMG]
     
  6. atsfman

    atsfman TrainBoard Member

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    Don't think I agree with conductor on that last response, I still enjoy and work with my HO just as much. Especially since my large scale is built in the back yard, which means I have periods I can't railroad. Then it is great to return to the basement and enjoy the small scale.
     
  7. Rappannahock Terminal

    Rappannahock Terminal E-Mail Bounces

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    oh, maybe I said this [​IMG], as we have an indoor G scale layout.

    Anyway enjoy your trains!!!!!

    ------------------
    Paul the 2nd
    Paul Van Herwegen
    HO Rappannahock Terminal Railway
    G Emerald Valley RR
    http://users.pandora.be/paul.van.herwegen/
     
  8. Fred

    Fred TrainBoard Member

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    Like others, I too model both HO and G scales. I've been in HO since 1961 and my current HO layout is 14 yrs old & still operated by my railfriends once a month ex in summer, that's why G is good-nice time to be outdoors! I've been fooling around with G for about 6 yrs or so starting out using 250 aluminum rail & track power- BIG MISTAKE! I had very little success in getting it to operate so I gradually converted over to 332 rail (still aluminum-I'm a SLOW learner!)This summer my 11 yr old son started to take an active interest in the garden rr so I finally converted over to RCS battery power- what a difference- just put the eng on the track and away it goes! No more cleaning track or tightening rail joiners! If I had done more homework when I first started, I would have been better off - so don't make the mistake I made, investigate BEFORE you invest. Good Luck, Fred
     
  9. John Nutt

    John Nutt E-Mail Bounces

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    Fred-I just ordered a couple of SD40-2's made by USA trains. What type of track do you recommend, brass or aluminum?
     
  10. watash

    watash Passed away March 7, 2010 TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    You guys better get a working steam rotary snow plow up there! Its going to snow soon! That would be a movie moment to see your engine pushing a rotary throwing real snow!!

    ------------------
    Watash [​IMG]
     
  11. Rappannahock Terminal

    Rappannahock Terminal E-Mail Bounces

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    Hello Fred and John welcome to the G scale forum!!

    Fred I would like to know more about the RCS you are using??

    John, if your intention is to use track current then you should use the brass rail. this linked to An Aristo Train Engineer wireless control should give you full satisfaction.

    if you lay the track in the garden then I would recommend you to solder jumper cables between the different track sections.

    John do not hesitate to fire your questions [​IMG]

    ------------------
    Paul the 2nd
    Paul Van Herwegen
    HO Rappannahock Terminal Railway
    G Emerald Valley RR
    [​IMG]
    http://users.pandora.be/paul.van.herwegen/

    [This message has been edited by Rappannahock Terminal (edited 13 November 2000).]
     
  12. John Nutt

    John Nutt E-Mail Bounces

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    Thanks Paul. My first G scale equipment might be waiting when I get home tonight.
    As I become more familiar with a new guage there will be a ton of questions. The track will carry current so stay with brass OK, but what about tarnish if used outside? Does anyone build a #8 turnout in G?
     
  13. atsfman

    atsfman TrainBoard Member

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    I use Llagas Creek code 250 aluminum and I use RCS battery power, so worst conductivity problem I have is getting through the bird poop. Yes, Fred, Llagas makes a number 8 switch, have three or four on my railroad. Llagas will also make custom track items, I had a crossing made which is aluminum with nickle silver at the crossing. It cannot be wired for electricity which is fine since I use battery power.

    I operate 4 of the USA diesels and one Aristo.
    Bob
     
  14. Rappannahock Terminal

    Rappannahock Terminal E-Mail Bounces

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    Fred, I know the llagas creek trackwork, it's great looking track! but I find it a bit to expensive for me.

    John, I can give you some tips on cleaning brass track:

    A very good source of information is George Schreyer's page:

    http://trainweb.org/girr/tips/tips2/track_cleaning_tips.html

    You can use a brite pad or corrosive block that you can buy at your local hardware store.

    For hard to remove dirt use rubbing alcohol and rub it over the dirt with an old tooth brush.

    Or rush out the MOW train. A locomotive with two Aristocraft cleaning cars. You can also put some rubbing alcohol On the pad under the cleaning car. (see picture of car)

    [​IMG]

    Another tip to keep your track clean is to replace all your plastic car wheels by metal ones as plastic wheels have the tendency to leave a black film on your rail.

    John I know the feeling of waiting for an arrival of new stock [​IMG], I'm also expecting 2 USA Trains GP-9's.

    have fun with the might of G scale railroading!!!

    ------------------
    Paul the 2nd
    Paul Van Herwegen
    HO Rappannahock Terminal Railway
    G Emerald Valley RR
    [​IMG]
    http://users.pandora.be/paul.van.herwegen/

    [This message has been edited by Rappannahock Terminal (edited 14 November 2000).]
     
  15. John Nutt

    John Nutt E-Mail Bounces

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    You guys make me think that this G gauge equipment might be a real eye opener after being in HO for 30 years. Unfortunately no boxes were waiting at my door. Maybe this PM.

    ------------------
    John Nutt
    Des Moines, IA
    contractrental@uswest.net
     
  16. Fred

    Fred TrainBoard Member

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    John, Like others have said, if you are going with track power I strongly suggest 332 brass, if battery power is used, you can go with aluminum. I had trouble with track power ( aluminum track, a 6 amp power pack, and too thin wire, loose rail joiners, etc)so I converted over to RCS battery power from Don Sweet in New Hampshire. I only have 2 locos, both Aristocrafts FA and their RS-3 so the investment wasn't too bad considering I didn't have to go out and purchase a larger power source (10 amp), walkaround throtle, replace the rest of my aluminum track, either solder the rail joints or replace existing ones with clamp types. This way I just put the eng on the track and away it goes. Both units are big enough to house the batteries, etc you don't need a trailing car to house the battery. The batteries once charged are good for about 2 hrs or so of running time (I have never been out there longer to see how long they really last)and are easy to re-charge. If you don't plan on having a bunch of engs, and don't like cleaning track, and don't run your engs for real long periods of time, then you might look at battery. However, just starting out, you can avoid some of my early mistakes and build your rr right from the start and operate with track power-most of the garden railroads I have visited use track power so it can be done, me, I prefer battery where I don't have to worry about clean wheels or rail and can walk around following the train. Good luck, Fred
     

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