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What to have handy when constructing your first N scale train layout

Doug — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:40:22 +0000

Now that you’ve decided to take the plunge and start on an addictive hobby (or you may already be an “addict”), you may start to wonder what are some of the basic things you’ll be needing when you start your first N scale train layout. Like all good hobbies, you’ll probably find out that you require a specific part or tool when you don’t have it (and probably need it right now!). The following gives a good idea of some of the things you’ll probably need right away in order to start your basic N scale train layout. These ideas came from Thortrains.net

Wire – this is pretty obvious since it’s electric! Here’s a tip : buy a roll at your local electronics shop, as it’s still the same as in hobby shops but a lot cheaper.

Transformer – This is what will power your trains, so you may want to spend a little more on this instead of the transformer that came with your set. Good ones give more realistic movements and can be bought from most hobby shops. The best brands are Atlas and MRC.

Pliers – Only get needlenosed plies with a wire cutter. This is probably the most useful and necessary tool for your hobby.

Screwdrivers – It’s best to have a small version of both the Phillips head (star) and flatheads. The tinier the better.

Rerailers – if you will need these, especially for N scale trains. Atlas sells straight versions that you can use as rural grade crossings.

Rail joiners – a good idea is to always have a pack handy. It’s one of those things you never seem to have enough of at a crucial time.

Terminal joiners – these allow wires to be hidden and are a lot better than low grade terminal track.

Insulated joiners – don’t forget these either !

Odd straights – buy a pack of these

Wheelsets – You should always have 5-7 sets handy.

Couplers – keep at least 8 or 9 in your spare parts box. They are a necessity like rerailers.

Spare Freight Trucks – These are always good to have around.

Having these around will make the building of your first N scale train layouts a lot easier and less frustrating due to not having the right pieces. Planning you first layout takes a lot of time and effort, so it’s not a good idea to forget the basics. The list is not an exhaustive one, but it could save you a lot of time from driving back and forth to the local hobby shop to buy a tiny but crucial item! Click here for a fantastic resource for planning your first n-scale layout

Is N Scale railroad modelling the right choice?

Doug — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:04:42 +0000

A lot of people think that the N scale train is not as good as some other more widely available scales, like HO. These same people are older folk who may have vision problems, or may have manual dexterity problems due to arthritis.It is true that these trains are small, only 1:160 scale, but the N scale trains are ideal for people who don’t have a lot of space, but still want a really decent layout. You can do a lot with a simple 8′x4′ space.

Many say that there aren’t as many resources for spare parts and accessories, but that really isn’t the case. You may not find all the parts you’re looking for at your local hobby shop, but you will find many basic sets available. Also, resources like Ebay are great for locating spare N scale parts. For all of your miniature buildings and scenery, you can go online and look on search engines like Google or Yahoo. Some forums also have a products page as well. You will not only find just as much products and the HO model trains, but some products you just can’t find in larger scales.

Now one of the first things you must know is, N scale model trains, being 1:160 scale, are going to have a lot of small parts, as well as being an electrical hobby. You will have to make sure you are working away from children under ten, and then only with supervision. For these sets and layouts, it would be a good idea to assemble the layout first, and then let the kids look at it.

The first step is to get a good starter train set. You have many choices from which to choose, including passenger trains and freight. This is also the best scale for trains with many cars, because the cars are lightweight, yet have a lot of detail. You can choose different kinds of engine and car designs and styles, including special holiday editions. The holidays are a good time to pick up more uncommon sets. You can pick up festive accessories, and even complete layouts, with holiday engines and cars, carolers, snow capped buildings and much more. My wife and I do this every Xmas and it looks great!

Some of the have mechanisms that actually work, like miniature clock towers, and buildings that play music. Many of these are battery powered, and require no extra power, which is another really good feature about the N scale trains.

The design you choose for your N scale train layout is totally up to you. You can get inspired from other hobbyists, or even from real-life setups. Many hobbyists (including myself) try to recreate actual train lines from various parts of the country. (note: click here for a great beginner’s source of information and inspiration) The possibilities are endless, so get creating and enjoy yourself !

N-Scale Model Train Resources – Places to Find Valuable Information on N-Scale Railroads

Doug — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:42:33 +0000

There are heaps of good resources to search for information on all aspects of N-scale model railways. Their broad popularity has generated numerous clubs, websites, and national and world-wide organizations.

One of the biggest sources of information for model train enthusiasts is the National Model Railroad Association website at NMRA.org. They are a nonprofit group whose purpose is to promote and encourage the craft of model railroading. They are a very large organization with 17 regions across the U.S. and around the world. They have regular conventions where model train fans can gather and share their information and enthusiasm with other model train hobbyists. The website has links to everything imaginable for this great hobby. There are links for manufacturers, model layouts, software, electronics, clubs, hobby shops, memorabilia, history of railroading, tourist sites, and even the current railroad industry. It really is a one stop shop and a must for anyone interested in model railroading!

Another great resource is RailServe. This website was started in 1996 as a resource for rail travel. It has grown dramatically and has thousands of links in more than 150 categories covering 130 countries with content to everything railroad related including both model railroads and actual railroads. It has been the recipient of many awards and has been mentioned in most railroad publications. You could spend many hours looking through the information on this website. It is another site that you must add to your list of information for model railroading as well as regular railroading, not to mention other railroad connected information. (Think Rails-to-Trails)

In addition to your local hobby shop, there are many forums, tourist sites, historical societies and museums dedicated to railroading. Many hobbyists like to ensure they are historically accurate in the depictions of the railroads and displays they use in their models. So, they regularly make use of museums, tourist sites and history books to find detailed information on the era in history they are modelling. If you get in to this area of interest, the sources of historical information are practically limitless.

Another source that is often overlooked are friends, relatives and local organizations that may have members associated with railroading. Remember, railroading was once a much larger industry than it is presently and many people, especially seniors, once worked in the railroad industry or knew someone who did. These folks often have many memories and items of interest that can be a great source of information in your search for authenticity and knowledge.

There are many other sources of information too numerous to list. Just use your imagination and the ideas from this article to explore the huge encyclopedia of information available for N scale trains, as well as other scales of model railroads.

The History of N-Scale Model Trains – How Their Small Size Made Them So Popular

Doug — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:26:55 +0000

N-scale trains grew to become the second most popular standard in the world. Only HO scale is more popular. N-scale takes less floor area than HO scale and so is used much more in locations where space is limited. N-scale’s popularity is partly because its smaller size allows for a greater number of trains and much more expansive scenery in a given space. The scenery is also usually more detailed. The proliferation of N-scale has grown at varying rates in different countries. The rise in popularity of any type of model train often depends on people producing train models that are similar to the actual trains of the region. Since N-scale is one of the latest scales, it has taken some time for models that reflect regional trains to be produced in certain countries. In Japan, where space is limited, N-scale became popular very quickly and indeed is the most popular scale today, while in Australia it has taken a longer time to become more accepted.

For various reasons such as modeling narrow gauge (N scale train on HO gauge track), modeling minimum gauge (N scale train on a T scale track) or modeling perspective (N scale train in HO scale scenery) not all N scale trains are run on N gauge track. These scales have been given their own letter designations in order to distinguish them from a totally N scale layout. Actual narrow gauge N scale tracks are around, but are rare due to a dearth of parts suppliers. N scale trains look very small, (and at 1:148 of full scale, they are approximately half of HO scale), but they are not the smallest scale that is produced. Both T (1:450) and Z scales (1:220) are much smaller. If you would like your layout to fit in a smaller area, but still have heaps of detail or would like to have a greater amount of scenery, N scale trains might be your best choice.

N scale trains have been around in some form as early as 1927, but they are one of the newest of the model train sizes. Due to the abundance of other scale trains that had been around much earlier, N’s did not become popular and begin to be produced in commercial quantities until 1962. They were, however, one of the earliest scales to start out with recognized standards. In the early 1960’s standards were agreed upon among manufacturers with respect to the voltage to be used, the track gauge, the train height, and other aspects of the scale. Before manufacturers around the world agreed on standards, buyers could not be guaranteed that an N scale train from Marklin in Germany would fit on the same track as an N scale train built by Bachman in the US. Even today with standards, there are variants. These include 1:150 or 1:160 in Japan, and 1:152 in the UK among others.
N-scale trains grew to become the second most popular standard in the world. Only HO scale is more popular. N-scale takes less floor area than HO scale and so is used much more in locations where space is limited. N-scale’s popularity is partly because its smaller size allows for a greater number of trains and much more expansive scenery in a given space. The scenery is also usually more detailed. The proliferation of N-scale has grown at varying rates in different countries. The rise in popularity of any type of model train often depends on people producing train models that are similar to the actual trains of the region. Since N-scale is one of the latest scales, it has taken some time for models that reflect regional trains to be produced in certain countries. In Japan, where space is limited, N-scale became popular very quickly and indeed is the most popular scale today, while in Australia it has taken a longer time to become more accepted.
For various reasons such as modeling narrow gauge (N scale train on HO gauge track), modeling minimum gauge (N scale train on a T scale track) or modeling perspective (N scale train in HO scale scenery) not all N scale trains are run on N gauge track. These scales have been given their own letter designations in order to distinguish them from a totally N scale layout. Actual narrow gauge N scale tracks are around, but are rare due to a dearth of parts suppliers. N scale trains look very small, (and at 1:148 of full scale, they are approximately half of HO scale), but they are not the smallest scale that is produced. Both T (1:450) and Z scales (1:220) are much smaller. If you would like your layout to fit in a smaller area, but still have heaps of detail or would like to have a greater amount of scenery, N scale trains might be your best choice.

All Aboard !!! Welcome to the N Scale Train website

Doug — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:01:22 +0000

Greetings all hobbyists and N Scale conductors !

You’ve found the website that is dedicated to one of the most widespread hobbies in the world : N scale train modeling! On this site, you’ll find heaps of tips and information regarding N scale modeling, as well an numerous photographs of other successful hobbyists. There will also be some information regarding other scales, such as HO, G, Z, etc.

A lot of the information will be in the form of useful articles as well, either from myself or from other contributors, so check back regularly. Various photos and diagrams may help you with your next layout. I’ll also be showcasing some products I recommend that will help not only beginners, but also some more experienced hobbyists.

If you have any photos of your N scale train setup, why keep it a secret? Upload it to this site and let the world see it!

At the moment, this site may seem a little bare, but i’ll be working on it to get it to get it up to scratch. If you have anything you’d like to contribute to the discussion, either in the form of a post or a comment, don’t keep it to yourself! Your information may just help someone new to the hobby out!