I plan to complete the track laying on each section of my layout before starting the scenery. I'll test the track with gauges and a truck while laying, but after that I would think there will still be a second class of issues that will only surface with a locomotive. Trouble is, without scenery, it's a long drop to the floor. So I planned on picking up something cheap and cheerful for that part. Only there doesn't seem to be any such thing in HOn3.... Any ideas? Cheers, Jeff.
I'm not all that knowing of HOn3, but it seems to me the Blackstone releases have been closest to less expensive equipment. Most anything else is pricey brass.
Yeah, I've got a couple of the Blackstone locos, but they're so beautifully detailed that I think I'd have a heart-attack if one took the plunge. Grandt-line has some 4-wheel box cab diesels, but I don't think they'll turn up anything that the truck tests didn't. Maybe I'll just have to put temporary boards in on the benchwork with some bubble wrap for a soft landing. Cheers, Jeff.
Jeff, My family is from Kerry. But, more important is your concern about 'falling to the floor.' While I don't know your situation that would cause such calamities I do think you need a deep breath and keep building. Beyond that I think you've answered your own questions in these two posts. Again, stand back, deep breath, and think. As to inexpensive locos, I would say, "Not really." You've chosen narrow gauge and with that choice economics shouldn't be a consideration. Because different companies provide locos in HOn3 getting locos from different manufacturers may well not be in gauge for your track anyway. Tough choices in this scale. Best of luck and keep asking questions if you need to. Jim
Jeff - I can understand your concern, but it's not likely you will cause a loco to go over the side onto the floor ... unless you run your train at high speed. I have run my locos and trains over handlaid rail on open grid construction without any launching off the pike. In fact, in the rare event of a derail the power to the motor would stop as soon as the weels came off the rails. The only time I've lost a loco off of my layout was during the Feb, 1972 San Fernando earthquake where my only brass loco fell off of the 4X8 plywood base. It fell to the floor and landed on it's cow-catcher, bending it upward. Have fun, and good luck.
Hi Bill, No, high speed won't be on the cards even once the scenery is done. I'm more of a chug-chug kind of guy. I was living in San Jose during the Loma Prieta quake of 1989. No structural damage, but we had a heck of a mess in the kitchen to clean up. Cheers, Jeff.
You might be able to take an N scale loco and widen the wheelsets out to 10.5mm for HOn3. Something like the Bachmann MDT switcher.
Sometimes older brass is cheaper than new Blackstone. You can often find a FED Spartan Series basic brass 2-6-0 for under $200 on eBay. Andy Tetsu Uma
Try to find an old MDC kit . They made 2 different ones, a 2-8-0 inside frame kinda C19 ish , and a 2-8-0 outside frame C25 ish . either of them will take some work to get them to run well though.
I'll keep an eye on ebay for some old brass. Usually the shipping to Ireland kills it, but not always. Cheers, Jeff.
Thanks for reminding me. I found an MDC HOn3 Shay at a show for about $40. Every time I see Athearn at a show, I ask if they are going to do any of the MDC HOn3 and so far their response has always been that the tooling is too far gone. I keep the heat on them anyway. Andy Tetsu Uma
