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Well I haven't even built my HO layout yet but I was wanting to know what N scale was like so I bought a Kato M1 Starter set with the V1 add on. A Kato locomotive and three Micro-train cars from my local dealer. Wow!! I have been using Bachmann EZtrack in my HO setups Holy sh_t!!!! The difference of the quality in both the track and the engines is amazing. Its got me wondering about Kato in HO scale...hmmm. Anyways I love the little stuff they are just as smooth as can be and I'm running DC. Their little swtiches work "like a hose'. Oh crap there goes hundreds of more dollars please help me is there a Model Railroaders Anonymous?
Kato does make good stuff. These days they are concentrating mostly in the N scale market and not much HO. For HO there are plenty of manufacturers on par with them such as Atlas, Athearn, BLI, Proto, Mth, some Bachman and probably a couple of more. Those are just the one's I've had experience with. Also train set quality is typically much lower than individual brand name loco's. there are exceptions but for the most part it's the case.
Before you make up your mind on gauge I suggest you listen to a quality HO loco with sound.
I've got 2 actually they are Gold series Atlas locos w/ sound another SD24 Tigerstripe and U23B in Santa Fe blue and yellow. I like sound but it gets a little tiring after a while. I have two DCC systems a MRC Prodigy Express(personal favorite) and a Bachmann Dynamis. I have been using either the floor in the media room or the living room(when the wife's not around) to run trains and its getting old fast. I have a hobby room but its crammed with too much crap(working on that right now) so I haven't built a layout yet.
Being restricted to the floor will get old after a while. You'll need your own space for sure. If you cant then consider joining a club. You'll get to run your trains and work on the club layout. Like having a large layout without taking up space in your house.
Well I haven't even built my HO layout yet but I was wanting to know what N scale was like so I bought a Kato M1 Starter set with the V1 add on. A Kato locomotive and three Micro-train cars from my local dealer. Wow!! I have been using Bachmann EZtrack in my HO setups Holy sh_t!!!! The difference of the quality in both the track and the engines is amazing. Its got me wondering about Kato in HO scale...hmmm. Anyways I love the little stuff they are just as smooth as can be and I'm running DC. Their little swtiches work "like a hose'. Oh crap there goes hundreds of more dollars please help me is there a Model Railroaders Anonymous?
I been in Nscale a long time and messed with all kinds of track! when it come to preformance and ease of use the Kato track is hard to beat! It also requires little CLEANING! It's a special nickel blend that doesn't oxidize as fast so i am told. I had my track for over a year and havent cleaned it yet! The #4 switchs require 5 minutes with a dremal to fix a couple of flange pick point...but other than that, GREAT TRACK!
It's a special nickel blend that doesn't oxidize as fast so i am told. I had my track for over a year and havent cleaned it yet!