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231 Posts
It's been a little over year since I started building my layout-in-a-box and I'm still very much enjoying the hobby despite a few setbacks and the occasional frustration. I've learned sooo much, largely due to the help I've received here, and that leads me to my first point.
THIS forum is hands down the best model rr'ing site on the net. It's not the only one I look at-sometimes the manufacturer's forums can yield useful info-but it's devoid of the infighting and just plain snide behavior that happens at some of the others.
I'm thick-skinned so that sort of thing doesn't bother me much but it gets tiring scrolling through pages of bickering. Biggest plus for me is none of that holier than thou bs-I can freely admit I have no idea what I'm doing knowing no one here will rub my face in it.
And, I'm old. Ok I haven't been around as long as some of you dinosaurs, but I'm old enough to remember when people had more respect for each other and possessed something called MANNERS.
Plus I like the Vbulletin format. (it is still Vbulletin isn't it?) Full featured and easy to use and navigate, and not limited to one particular scale is GREAT because I love seeing what you guys are doing in other scales.
More specifically to N scale....
Yup, it's finicky. That's a common theme I ran across when I first dived in and it's kinda sorta true. One day a particular consist will run flawlessly, the next it's wreckage city. No particular reason why, it just happens. To be completely honest I enjoy the challenge. I think I'd get bored pretty quick if everything always worked perfectly every time.
Another common perception is that multiple feeders, the more the better, are an absolute requirement especially for N.
I was a lineman for years, chasing faults on long runs over everything from 24 gauge to C wire so I know a little bit about resistance and conductivity. I had my doubts but decided to follow the common wisdom and installed feeders everywhere-until the rats nest of wiring drove me crazy and I tore it all out. I now have exactly one and it works just fine, and I get to keep all my hair!
Something else frequently recommended to noobs is that N scale track MUST be spotlessly clean and laid perfectly, or as close to perfect, as you can get. And that temp related expansion/contraction conditions can cause havoc. I don't doubt the merit behind this but so far I'm finding neither to be such a big deal. My layout sits uncovered in an unheated/uncooled garage in temperatures ranging from below zero to over a hundred. If it gets a little dusty I'll blow it off with the compressor, or vacuum it if I'm not feeling too lazy, but most of the time I just throw on a train and run it. So far, so good!
The only thing that seems to make a difference is oxidation. If things get a little herky jerky a quick wipe down with a rag and I'm back in business.
There is no "best." There's "better," and there's "not so great," but as of yet I've found no particular thing that stands head and shoulders above the rest. Take couplers for example. Most of what I've read indicates people prefer and consider Micro Trains couplers to be the gold standard. "Kato couplers don't play well with others." "McHenry's suck." Yadda yadda yadda.
At this point I've found none of them to be 100% reliable.
Same goes with engines, although I can't claim to have a lot of experience in that arena-I've only got Kato, Atlas, MTL and Bachmann, and until I can try the other manufacturers I couldn't possibly guess which is the "best," which of course is subjective anyway.
I will say I like Athearn the best for rolling stock. They are weighted to standard and roll far better than anything else I've tried. Is their detail the best? Who knows, I'm not a rivet counter. I'm more interested in function over aesthetics.
I can't remember where I saw this but I'd read somewhere that N is the second most popular scale after HO. Which seems odd to me considering something like O for example has been around so much longer. I realize space requirements have something to do with that, but nonetheless it leaves me scratching my head over why there isn't more variety.
Steam's my thang but discounting Bachmann you can count the available offerings on one hand. And forget about residential structures! I mean, unless you like Barb's Bungalow. Or the cape cod house. Or Barb's Bungalow. Or the cape cod house....
I get it. Railroads revolve around industry. For me though that's a real bummer about N as I've no intention of reproducing the grimy grubby filthy dirty industrial "scene." I don't have time to scratch build everything so the direction I wanted to take originally has changed. Disappointing, but not a show stopper.
I really do enjoy the scale and I'm having a lot of fun. Someday I'll do layouts in O and HO but for now these little buggers fascinate me.
Perspective from a noob looking back on a lazy Friday.....
Have a great weekend!
THIS forum is hands down the best model rr'ing site on the net. It's not the only one I look at-sometimes the manufacturer's forums can yield useful info-but it's devoid of the infighting and just plain snide behavior that happens at some of the others.
I'm thick-skinned so that sort of thing doesn't bother me much but it gets tiring scrolling through pages of bickering. Biggest plus for me is none of that holier than thou bs-I can freely admit I have no idea what I'm doing knowing no one here will rub my face in it.
And, I'm old. Ok I haven't been around as long as some of you dinosaurs, but I'm old enough to remember when people had more respect for each other and possessed something called MANNERS.
Plus I like the Vbulletin format. (it is still Vbulletin isn't it?) Full featured and easy to use and navigate, and not limited to one particular scale is GREAT because I love seeing what you guys are doing in other scales.
More specifically to N scale....
Yup, it's finicky. That's a common theme I ran across when I first dived in and it's kinda sorta true. One day a particular consist will run flawlessly, the next it's wreckage city. No particular reason why, it just happens. To be completely honest I enjoy the challenge. I think I'd get bored pretty quick if everything always worked perfectly every time.
Another common perception is that multiple feeders, the more the better, are an absolute requirement especially for N.
I was a lineman for years, chasing faults on long runs over everything from 24 gauge to C wire so I know a little bit about resistance and conductivity. I had my doubts but decided to follow the common wisdom and installed feeders everywhere-until the rats nest of wiring drove me crazy and I tore it all out. I now have exactly one and it works just fine, and I get to keep all my hair!
Something else frequently recommended to noobs is that N scale track MUST be spotlessly clean and laid perfectly, or as close to perfect, as you can get. And that temp related expansion/contraction conditions can cause havoc. I don't doubt the merit behind this but so far I'm finding neither to be such a big deal. My layout sits uncovered in an unheated/uncooled garage in temperatures ranging from below zero to over a hundred. If it gets a little dusty I'll blow it off with the compressor, or vacuum it if I'm not feeling too lazy, but most of the time I just throw on a train and run it. So far, so good!
The only thing that seems to make a difference is oxidation. If things get a little herky jerky a quick wipe down with a rag and I'm back in business.
There is no "best." There's "better," and there's "not so great," but as of yet I've found no particular thing that stands head and shoulders above the rest. Take couplers for example. Most of what I've read indicates people prefer and consider Micro Trains couplers to be the gold standard. "Kato couplers don't play well with others." "McHenry's suck." Yadda yadda yadda.
At this point I've found none of them to be 100% reliable.
Same goes with engines, although I can't claim to have a lot of experience in that arena-I've only got Kato, Atlas, MTL and Bachmann, and until I can try the other manufacturers I couldn't possibly guess which is the "best," which of course is subjective anyway.
I will say I like Athearn the best for rolling stock. They are weighted to standard and roll far better than anything else I've tried. Is their detail the best? Who knows, I'm not a rivet counter. I'm more interested in function over aesthetics.
I can't remember where I saw this but I'd read somewhere that N is the second most popular scale after HO. Which seems odd to me considering something like O for example has been around so much longer. I realize space requirements have something to do with that, but nonetheless it leaves me scratching my head over why there isn't more variety.
Steam's my thang but discounting Bachmann you can count the available offerings on one hand. And forget about residential structures! I mean, unless you like Barb's Bungalow. Or the cape cod house. Or Barb's Bungalow. Or the cape cod house....
I get it. Railroads revolve around industry. For me though that's a real bummer about N as I've no intention of reproducing the grimy grubby filthy dirty industrial "scene." I don't have time to scratch build everything so the direction I wanted to take originally has changed. Disappointing, but not a show stopper.
I really do enjoy the scale and I'm having a lot of fun. Someday I'll do layouts in O and HO but for now these little buggers fascinate me.
Perspective from a noob looking back on a lazy Friday.....
Have a great weekend!