Good forums for other scales?

do a google search for - n scale forums.

Lefty:

Have you given any thought to building a shelf layout; something like a "timesaver" on a 2x8 (two 2x4s end to end) layout? Could be part of a larger layout when you get better settled.

 

Neil

Here is the N-scale forum that I read.

http://www.modelrailroadforums...splay.php?12-N-Scale

Here is a picture of my 18"X24" test track. It is fun and lets me run trains when I don't want to dig out my other stuff.

 

I find "The Railwire Forum" to be helpful and informative...

 

Mark in Oregon

I'll second the "timesaver". When I was in college(a long time ago) That's exactly what I had-- 2x8. N scale timesaver in the middle with yards on both ends. Made from 2 2x4 lightweight platforms( used 1x4 pine for frames) bolted together. Very entertaining on those days I needed a break from studying. As for forums, the Model Railroader forums are very good, as is one I found recently: Nscale.net Have fun !

Lefty,

We can still be friends, can't we? Just because you do not have room now, doesn't rule out the future (I hope). You could always build a, "Under-the-bed Layout"in O-Gauge.

 

God Bless,

"Pappy"

You may also look into Z scale forums. Z is very small, but not the smallest. The great thing about this hobby is no one is locked into a particular scale/gauge.

I have a 2x4 "N" layout. It is one loop, but there is plenty of room for scenics. I don't know how much you will get out of a "N" forum since most of the members will most likely have large layouts. My bit of advice is to buy Kato engines and track, as they are very good quality. This track goes together like FasTrack, and it looks great. Laying "N" track by hand is not my idea of fun.

Thanks everyone, very helpful!  I do plan for this to be temporary, but we never know what sort of housing we'll end up with overseas (I'm with the State Department), so I suppose I should have a few things in every scale on hand just to be prepared!  Now if I can just finish the current layout before the packers show up this summer...

My son and his wife are with the State Department, currently in Mexico City. We are going in a few weeks to see our new 5 week-old grandson and 4 year-old grandaughter. We have visited them in Warsaw and Rome, so far.

Trainboard.com is a great N forum. I run N all year. Bachmann trains also has thier own forum. You will like Bachmann, if you like steam! Ignore thier old releases. In the last 8 or so years thay have released a bunch of great steams, but I digress....

Also, from tour profile, you have Austria and US listed. Jnsforum specializes in Japanese prototypes, but also has a european section.

The Atlas Rescue Forum offers N, HO and O scale forums.

 

The HO is the most active.

 

Here is the link.

 

http://atlasrescueforum.proboards.com/

This is the one I used for N scale and found it quite good.

 

http://www.nscale.net/forums/forum.php

It's not a forum but Spookshow's site may very well be the most useful regarding N scale you'll find. Mark has developed a comprehensive data base of N scale locomotives and rolling stock. You'll find pictures on HONEST appraisals of equipment. He holds nothing back and, as an N scaler myself, I've found his reviews to be consistently spot on. I recommend the site highly. Here's the link:

 

http://www.spookshow.net/trainstuff.html 

 

If you decide to get involved with N scale, you can always post questions here and there are those of us who should able to assist you.

 

Bob

A very positive review of the Kato GG1. I love mine.

Agreed. I had one custom painted Bicentennial 4800, before Kato released it. The paint job on mine s nicer . But I do like that model.

Japanese Modeling and Railfan forum - Japanese N Gauge and more.

 

I enjoy Shinkansen models in N Scale, and plan to have a loop of super-elevated double track a level below the outside of my O Gauge layout. 

 

Surprisingly enough, prices and shipping direct from Japan is quite reasonable.  Wide selection too.  Kato track is excellent.

 

http://www.jnsforum.com/commun...16-japanese-n-gauge/

 

Alan

For N scale modeling info and discussion I prefer Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine forum. It's great in combination with the OGR forums for O and S topics....DaveB 

Agreed on the positive comments about Kato...the locomotives are mechanically sound and run superbly. Passenger cars are equally well built.

 

There are many brands of excellent N scale trains including, but not limited to, Atlas, Walthers, Fox Valley, Red Caboose and InterMountain. The equipment of Bachmann, a brand not known for high quality in the past, has improved tremendously. Even the famed British manufacturer Hornby has just recently entered the North American market with the U25C under its Arnold brand. The variety of accurately detailed freight cars in N scale is staggering. I believe the freight car selection may the widest of any scale, HO included.

 

With good track work which is kept clean, N scale trains will operate as reliably as the other scales. I enjoy running and working with them.

 

Bob        

Being an avid n scaler, I have to clarify Bachmann for a newbie. OLD BACHMANN had problems (it stunk) But I check spookshow.net for about any loco I am considering). Newer (last 8 years) Bachmann has been ROCK SOLID.

1) They have made many many affordable DCC equipped steamers that rival anyone's. Thier desels, while sometimes not as detailed, are improving constantly.

2) Not to worry, when the threads start "guess what I had to do to my $2000 awesome new O gauge steamer to get it to be perfect", Bachmann stands behind the 60 to 300 models, with no hassle 1 year no questions asked, if you have the receipt and haven't physically damaged it. After the one year, it's a fixed rate repair. 

 

Had to say it. BTW, they also own Williams...

Agreed. Bachmann has a warranty/repair policy which is second to none. A few years ago, cousins brought me an HO scale Thomas which had split gears and was beaten up cosmetically asking if I could take care of it. I contacted Bachmann, they provided me with an RA, I shipped it along with a $15 fee and a few weeks later a replacement locomotive arrived. Not long before that, a friend had purchased an older unboxed Santa Fe 4-8-4 which had obviously seen better days at a show. It quit running the first time he tried running it. I instructed him to call Bachmann. Per their instructions, he shipped it along with the nominal repair fee and shortly thereafter he received one of the new upgraded models as a replacement. It doesn't get any better than that.

 

As part of my N scale activities, I model British equipment. A number of years ago, Bachmann purchased Graham Farish, perhaps the best known British N scale manufacturer. Since the acquisition, the quality of "Grafar" trains has improved immeasurably. 

 

Bob