Hello Everyone, I'm interested in getting started in this great hobby, but have a few questions. My question is I'm looking to buy from company that makes a quality and detailed train, however don't know of any companys. And what magazine supports the N scale trains. Are the Z scale trains detail? Which company makes a quality and detailed Z train? Thank You
Oh wow....you're gonna have to be a LOT more specific than that. What do you want to model? What time period? What location? Steam? Transition? Diesel? There are lots of great N scale manufacturers....some very highly detailed and others not so great. There are lots more things to consider though than how detailed the trains are. I'll let someone else tell you about those though... Bye the way....welcome aboard!!
Robb- There are two N scale specific magazines. Both are excellent resources for information. Not only for modeling ideas and projects, but also to see advertisements of the manufacturers. They are: N Scale Magazine, and N Scale Railroading. I have subscribed to both from their day one. As a long, long time model railroader, and an N scaler for well over thirty years, I would like to suggest that you find a good hobby shop near by, and find copies of these magazines. Sit down and read. Get some ideas. Then start asking any questions that come into mind. There are NO stupid questions. Everyone has them when they are beginning. Write them down, and fire away! With the Internet, you'll be able to get quick answers, from experienced modelers all around the world! Welcome to N scale!!! Boxcab E50
Thanks for those quick replies. To be more specific I’m looking for a company that makes quality and detail trains, I was looking at MTL, Atlas, Kato. But don’t know the flaws of those companies. Don’t know what type but I do know its not steam. Time period would be from the early 80’s to present, if there is such a thing. I’m going to look at those two magazines this week. Anything for the Z scale? Thanks
Robb, you should run a few searches on the forum to get a lot of the information archived here. The Walther's Catalog (or visit http://www.walthers.com for online version) is a great thing to pick up at your LHS (Local Hobby Shop). It has 90% of the stuff available in N scale. Some top-quality manufacturers in N scale include but are not limited to: Locomotives Atlas Kato Intermountain Micro-Trains Life-Like (their newer productions) Bachmann Spectrum (hit or miss) Rolling Stock Atlas Kato Micro-Trains Intermountain Red Caboose Walthers Alan Curtis Models Deluxe Innovations LBF Company It really all depends on what you are looking for. Deluxe Innovations has some more modern stuff, but older stuff can be bought in other manufacturers. But hopefully this will get you started, and I suggest you get a Walthers Catalog.
one othehan do, is log onto the Atlas forum at WWW.ATLASRR.COM That forum is EXELLENT, and you're sure to get an answer to your question right away or almost right away. I once asked a question on there at 9:00 in the morning, and by 1:00 that afternoon, I had 6 different answers! This forum is good, too. Another one that's almost as good is WWW.TRAINS.COM Just remember, don't feel any of your questions are stupid. We'vee all been beginers, and we've all had lots of questions (and sometimes, still have them. Even those of us who have been in the hobby for YEARS. I've been in it since 1979, and I still have questions sometimes. Also, get some of the EXELLENT how-to books from Kalmbach. You can buy them online, at WWW.KALMBACH.COM, or at your LHS (Local Hobby Shop-if you have one nearby-some people don't). As for manufactuers, the other response was right, the best ones are Atlas and Peco for locomotives and rolling stock (cars) and MTL (Micro Trains Line) for rolling stock. But, be sure and check out the Atlas forum. It's great!
Welcome to our family here at the TrainBoard Robb! You are considered an inlaw here, (we shoot outlaws!) N scale has a greater variety of engines, cars and track, than does the Z scale, so you might keep that in mind. There is a BUNCH of rolling stock available for N that ranges from the 1980's to the present, and mostly good quality too. Maybe you would enjoy reading through our N Scale Forum here. We have reviewed almost every engine, brand of track, layout design, and paint job there is. Even how to make trees! We don't laugh at anyone's question, because we all pull together here to help eachother out. Our whole purpose is to share our knowledge, photos and experiences so we can all enjoy our hobby to the fullest. You might like to model trains that you see around your home. That can tell you which engines to buy. I live out on the prairie, but I like the big mountains and the heavy engines, so I model the mountain trains. It is your layout, so you can run any thing from the Acela to Thomas the Tank engine on your layout, and no one is going to laugh at you, because YOU are the President of your railroad! See?
I've had great luck with Atlas, Kato, and MTL. Others will go into greater detail I'm sure, but I have found that all three make great prototypical equipment that runs very well. I've also found some Con-Cor passenger cars that are the correct length, and have recently ordered from Red Caboose and Intermountain. Peruse the N scale magazines, and search this trainboard. Enjoy! I'm only a year a head of you in discovering N scale...
The suggestion that you buy a Walthers catalog is a good one. Their N scale catalog also includes Z scale. This will allow you to compare what is available in the two scales and make a bunch of comparisons. Good luck, Dick
Hey Robb,I'm also a newer member.I've done pretty much all the things the guys have suggested,my only other suggestion would be to check some of the GATS or greenberg train shows.I've also found that the majority of material is found in HO scale so be prepared to do a lot more research to find the things you want.I'm enjoying building my layout but if I had to do it over would have chosen HO.
