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Introduction Welcome to the fascinating
hobby of N-Scale model trains.
What is N-Scale?
Where did N-Scale come from? N-Scale was invented in Germany by the firm of ARNOLD. Sadly, this company is no longer in business today although the tooling was sold to the HORNBY company which now produces some the former ARNOLD line in China. While no sources seem to agree on the exact year N-Scale was conceived, they all agree that the time frame was the early 1960's. The letter "N" actually stands for the German word "Neun" (translation: Nine) meaning there are nine millimeters between the rails of N-Scale track. In the beginning, it was referred to as N-Gauge and the models were very toy-like. Today, most serious hobbyists refer to it as N-Scale recognizing the fact it has evolved into an actual scale. This means that every effort is made to make sure that the models conform to exact scale prototype proportions. What are the main advantages of N-Scale? The are many but perhaps
the largest advantage actually is the small size. In this day and
age, it can be difficult to devote a large area of living space to a
model railroad. Can such a small size train really run well? Yes! Back in the 60's, 70's and even up into the late 80's, N-Scale was considered to be a novelty at best. Today, thanks to companies like KATO of Japan, N-Scale trains can run and look just as good if not better than trains in larger scales. KATO is credited by most hobbyists as actually "saving" N-Scale. They invented a propulsion system that allows N-Scale locomotives to operate very smoothly and quietly and yet they are still able to offer their models at reasonable prices. OK, You've convinced me, what's the best way to get started? This is a very important question. Many people make the mistake of purchasing a pre-packaged train set. While this can be fine for other scales, it doesn't necessarily work for N-Scale. For whatever reasons, the pre-packaged train sets in N-Scale are for the most part, made up of very low quality components. There are some exceptions to this but they are few and far between. Many of the pre-packaged train sets in N-Scale are designed for the "Christmas market". These are folks who want to see a train running around their Christmas Tree for a few weeks around the holiday season. There is nothing wrong with this concept, in fact, a lot of folks get their initial interest in model railroading this way however, our firm caters to the more serious hobbyist who is working towards the goal of having permanent layout or simply enjoys just collecting trains. I just can't wait to get going so what do I get first? The best way to get
started in N-Scale model railroading is to purchase separate components.
First you select a theme. Do you want to model the railroads of
North America? How about Europe? Maybe you have an interest
in the high speed "bullet trains" (more properly known as
Shinkansens) of Japan. |
Whether you are brand new to model railroading or you are switching to N
from another scale you've come to the right place because we have the
information you need to start out right. The following information
is presented in question and answer format and will only take a few
minutes for you to read through. It will give you a brief history
of N-Scale, answer some of the most common questions about getting
started and even show you what equipment is necessary to the perfect
start into the world's greatest hobby.
Model trains come in a
variety of sizes known as scales. The scale is a ratio expressing
the relationship of the model to it's actual size counterpart.
N-Scale is expressed as 1:160 proportion. In other words, if you
could take an N-Scale locomotive and enlarge it 160 times, you would
have a full size locomotive. It's helpful to understand the
difference between scale trains and toy trains, such as LIONEL.
Toy trains do not have an exact scale. They do sometimes closely
resemble full size trains but most are not produced to exacting
proportions such as N-Scale or HO-Scale.
With N-Scale, you can a have a very large railroad
in a very small space. If you live in an apartment and think you
can't have a model railroad, you definitely need to give N-Scale a look.
In countries like Japan, as well as many countries in Europe where
living space is at a premium, N-Scale has actually become the preferred
scale surpassing even the larger HO-Scale for popularity. For
those that do have a large space, N-Scale offers another advantage since
it will allow you to run prototypical length trains of 100 cars or more!
You can create layouts where the scenery dominates the railroad just
like in real life.
Whatever you choose, we can assist you in
selecting quality components. You will need three basic components
to get started: trains, track and a power supply (transformer).
Because all N-Scale trains run on the same size track you can change
your theme at any time. We even have customers who model all three
themes! So are you ready to get started? Great! We've
made it very easy. Below you will find an excellent selection of
KATO Unitrack starter sets. We strongly recommend the KATO
Unitrack system because the track comes with a ready ballasted roadbed
profile built in. There is no need to purchase cork strips and
create the roadbed profile yourself. This saves an enormous amount
of time for the beginner and expert alike. The KATO Unitrack
system also features "play and play" wiring which simply snaps together.
There is no need to trim, extend or solder wires as with traditional
track systems. Select either the M1 or M2 Track Sets as the basic
building blocks of your layout. You can then purchase V Series
Sets add on sets as space and budget permit.
