O scale or G scale?
Original Post
"HONGZ" stands for HO scale, N scale, G scale, and Z scale.
Post your non-O scale stuff here!
Replies sorted oldest to newest
LGB outdoor G track will last a long time. Bring the trains in at night. I don't know any that would weather the elements. G is more money for sure.
G scale, especially LGB is well suited for outdoors. LGB need not be expensive either. Search Ebay, you can find good buys there. As for G scale track, all of the brands are pretty much the same. Over the more than twenty five years my garden railway has been in existence, I have used both LGB and Aristocraft track. I lean toward LGB track as it's brass is easier to solder to when needed. My trains live outside, under cover of course, but still out in the heat and cold. Most, about 95 percent, of my trains are LGB.
Whatever you do, start modestly. Experiment. Then you will learn by experience in which direction you want to go. Take a look at G Scale Central. There are a bunch of guys there that love to help.
Hi Shriker1, good to hear from you again, I considered running O outdoors but G is just so much easier and more durable outdoors. Also the viewing distance makes G much more visible. I think my O gauge stuff would look tiny outdoors. 24volt is safe and easy to run in 12ga outdoor lighting wire or better yet dead rail and battery power. Then you can run cheaper aluminum rail from Sunset Valley or others. I found it helpful to pick a theme, mine is a Postwar Lionel Look Outdoors. I run nothing newer than 1958 era. I just finished an all military train, USA Trains Southern Pacific Daylight F3 pulling all flatcars with 1:32 scale jeeps, tanks, howitzers, halftracks and even two WW2 era planes being transported by rail. Cheap and easy, pretty cool effect.
Haven't stopped collecting or running O (indoors) just taking a little side trip. Plus my wife likes that I have stopping filling the inside of the house with trains.
Chris Sheldon
After selling LGB track for a few weeks now, I can tell you it is some of the toughest track I have ever seen. G scale is your best bet for outdoors unless you're running O scale live steam. I say if LGB trains can plow snow and then run through it, they're tough enough for outdoors. You could never hope to plow snow with O scale unless your snowplow was die cast, you had 2 or more locomotives, and you found a way to keep the locomotives from slipping.
O scale would probably be more expensive in the long run. G is more expensive short-term.
The way I see it, i have LOTS of O gauge stock now....so, I will be doing a small outdoor O gauge layout in the spring. It will be about 7' x 15'. I plan on Atlas SS track, which will be my only expense (aside from the raised wall unit I'm building it on.)
Either way, I'll be bringing my trains in at night and when not running, so I figure I have many options to decide what to run and can run trains longer than what will fit on my indoor layout(s). Using O, I won't have to add/buy a whole different fleet of trains in G!
For me, O will be cheaper, and I can run nicer trains with DCS, TMCC, etc.
I’ll join the chorus here. LGB track and trains are the most robust of all model trains. The major negative is that their standard gauge American models are very large relative to track gauge. Another negative, which is a positive for ruggedness, is the height and thickness of the rail relative to scale.
An important consideration in outdoor operation of trains of any size is how well the operating mechanism's are (or are not) sealed. That is the true advantage of G gauge (Large Scale) over most others. You can operate G ooudoors in the rain, snow, or just about any condition, and most definitely cannot do that for any prolonged period with any other smaller scale trains because their operating mechanisms are open to the elements and debris. Fair-weather running is possible with just about any scale, of course--I have operated Z scale outdoors on a portable layout in the past--but if a permanent outdoor layout is the goal, you will want to give serious consideration to G (and its related scales).
the only problem i have with g scale is the freight and passenger cars and track are really expensive locomotives i can handle just not the rest
Shriker1, I buy most of my rolling stock and buildings used at about 50% of what they were new. I found the USA SP Daylight F3 in EX condition for $75.00 in the original box, same guy sold me an Aristo Mikado EX in the box with Phoenix Sound for $ 100.00. Found him on Craigslist. Also, join your local Garden Railway Club, first meeting I went to, I was bushwhacked by several older ladies whose husbands had died and they were looking to sell their whole collections cheap. I actually paid considerably more than they were asking because they were too far below what I thought they were worth. I still see them around at the meets, still friends. Be careful though, those ladies will pounce on you.
Chris Sheldon
I have found with G scale, less = more. I am a fan of the UK style 16mm scale garden railways, one or two live steam locos, a simple battery powered engine for days when steam isnt desired, a few wagons and such. Over there, everything is very expensive. I started with an old LGB 2073d that I installed onboard battery power, and a few LGB Euro 2 axle wagons and passenger cars bought as money permited. I saved up and got my first live steam engine, an older Merlin Mayflower for $900. And I just got a second live steamer, a Merlin Maestro, both have factory installed RC control. I really "need" nothing else. But I will get more as $$ permits. My suggestion is figure out what you want to model. Mainline USA is the most costly with expensive engines, large diameter curves ect. Narrow gauge can be expensive or not, Euro narrow gauge is probably the most affordable as it was vastly supported by LGB for years so models are plentiful and affordable if you shop around like on FB groups and ebay. The engine and track will be the most expensive LGB for anything is fine, Hartland make some nice USA style stuff as does Piko. I will only use LGB track, mine has been outdoors for 15+ years with no issues. I changed from track power to onboard battery 3 years ago with no regrets. Mike the Aspie
Here are my 2 live steam locomotives, both older models but in like new condition. Took lots of saving and sacrificing, along with some buying and selling smaller scale brass models at a good profit to raise the money for them. I got them roughly a year apart. The 0-6-0 just arrived tonight, my Christmas present to myself. Will be nearly this time next year before I can think about another one, if I decide to get a 3rd engine.
Attachments
Images (1)
Shriker1, your biggest expense is going to be track, locomotives and rolling stock can be had reasonably. If you purchase online, then there is shipping to pay.
Most everybody has told you how wonderful LGB trains are, I agree, own 5 lgb locomotives myself. Like you I wanted to get into Large scale trains inexpensively as possible, so I did alot of hunting online to find trains at reasonable prices and purchased my first locomotive for under 75$ brand new from HLW.
IF you are on the band wagon to MAGA, then forget about all that imported stuff and Buy American Made Trains.
HLW trains, made in America, inexpensive, robust, excellent quality, comparable to those immigrant trains, free shipping if you purchase directly from the Plant. They have a wide variety of rolling stock and locomotives available. you can find a Mack pretty cheap, they have their own USA made Track. the POC trains you see at dollar stores etc, are a source of rolling stock. go slow, watch for deals.
HELP MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN
BUY HLW TRAINS!
I eventually plan on reguaging some of my extra brass guage1 track into O guage to run some of my windups outdoors. NOT a fan of AC electricity outdoors where it is exposed to the elements.
I agree with DJacobsen, track is your biggest single expense. I ran Sunset Valley Stainless code 250 rail on my outdoor pike. The 6ft rails make for really smooth curves especially if you stagger the joints, plus you only have two cuts to make in an entire loop. I enjoy bending my own rail with SV cheap bender, it's easy. I also run Splitjaw SS Clamps which I highly recommend, joints are rock solid and I have less than 1 volt drop on the far side of my power connection on my inner 135ft loop. I added extra power connections every 30ft or so, I can barely measure the drop now. SV SS Track runs about $6.00ft, I think their Aluminum track is about $1.00ft cheaper. You can use aluminum if you are using battery power. I use track power on my SS rail and never even clean my track in the Las Vegas weather. I use a heavy diesel to push the rabbits out of my tunnels though.
Chris Sheldon
djacobsen posted:Shriker1, your biggest expense is going to be track, locomotives and rolling stock can be had reasonably. If you purchase online, then there is shipping to pay.
Most everybody has told you how wonderful LGB trains are, I agree, own 5 lgb locomotives myself. Like you I wanted to get into Large scale trains inexpensively as possible, so I did alot of hunting online to find trains at reasonable prices and purchased my first locomotive for under 75$ brand new from HLW.
IF you are on the band wagon to MAGA, then forget about all that imported stuff and Buy American Made Trains.
HLW trains, made in America, inexpensive, robust, excellent quality, comparable to those immigrant trains, free shipping if you purchase directly from the Plant. They have a wide variety of rolling stock and locomotives available. you can find a Mack pretty cheap, they have their own USA made Track. the POC trains you see at dollar stores etc, are a source of rolling stock. go slow, watch for deals.
HELP MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN
BUY HLW TRAINS!
I eventually plan on reguaging some of my extra brass guage1 track into O guage to run some of my windups outdoors. NOT a fan of AC electricity outdoors where it is exposed to the elements.
Yea, buy Lionel, MTH. They're made in, well, you know. So how is buying HLW going to "Make America Great Again.....LOL
is bachmann a good company to go to for track?
Shriker1
if it is the new brass track, b-mann now sells.
Dan Padova posted:djacobsen posted:Shriker1, your biggest expense is going to be track, locomotives and rolling stock can be had reasonably. If you purchase online, then there is shipping to pay.
Most everybody has told you how wonderful LGB trains are, I agree, own 5 lgb locomotives myself. Like you I wanted to get into Large scale trains inexpensively as possible, so I did alot of hunting online to find trains at reasonable prices and purchased my first locomotive for under 75$ brand new from HLW.
IF you are on the band wagon to MAGA, then forget about all that imported stuff and Buy American Made Trains.
HLW trains, made in America, inexpensive, robust, excellent quality, comparable to those immigrant trains, free shipping if you purchase directly from the Plant. They have a wide variety of rolling stock and locomotives available. you can find a Mack pretty cheap, they have their own USA made Track. the POC trains you see at dollar stores etc, are a source of rolling stock. go slow, watch for deals.
HELP MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN
BUY HLW TRAINS!
I eventually plan on reguaging some of my extra brass guage1 track into O guage to run some of my windups outdoors. NOT a fan of AC electricity outdoors where it is exposed to the elements.
Yea, buy Lionel, MTH. They're made in, well, you know. So how is buying HLW going to "Make America Great Again.....LOL
Dan,
See the White House for further imstructions...
(its all tongue in cheek)
What is the difference between G and LGB? thanks
wb47 posted:What is the difference between G and LGB? thanks
LGB is a german company that makes G scale stuff at 1:22.5 because there is multiple g scale ratios including 1:29 and 1:32 but they all run on the same track gauge
Hi,
What you are wanting to do in O scale can be done. If you are in 3 rail the atlas track supposedly has UV safe ties. I am using Atlas and AHM O 2 rail track on my outdoor layout. I have built a wood deck and covered it with roll roofing for protection and a ballast look. This type of layout is more often built in the British isles or in Europe than it is in the US. But I have been having a lot of fun with this . I have been working on it for about 8 months on and off. It gives me a place to run trains. I live in a small house and do not have much room for a layout otherwise. Here are a couple of photos of what I have built. Actually some of the layout decks are reused plywood modules from the club I am a member of. I plan to extend it further down the fence in the future.
Here is a link to a folder with more pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...ms/72157687095057852
Attachments
Images (2)
djacobsen posted:Dan Padova posted:djacobsen posted:Shriker1, your biggest expense is going to be track, locomotives and rolling stock can be had reasonably. If you purchase online, then there is shipping to pay.
Most everybody has told you how wonderful LGB trains are, I agree, own 5 lgb locomotives myself. Like you I wanted to get into Large scale trains inexpensively as possible, so I did alot of hunting online to find trains at reasonable prices and purchased my first locomotive for under 75$ brand new from HLW.
IF you are on the band wagon to MAGA, then forget about all that imported stuff and Buy American Made Trains.
HLW trains, made in America, inexpensive, robust, excellent quality, comparable to those immigrant trains, free shipping if you purchase directly from the Plant. They have a wide variety of rolling stock and locomotives available. you can find a Mack pretty cheap, they have their own USA made Track. the POC trains you see at dollar stores etc, are a source of rolling stock. go slow, watch for deals.
HELP MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN
BUY HLW TRAINS!
I eventually plan on reguaging some of my extra brass guage1 track into O guage to run some of my windups outdoors. NOT a fan of AC electricity outdoors where it is exposed to the elements.
Yea, buy Lionel, MTH. They're made in, well, you know. So how is buying HLW going to "Make America Great Again.....LOL
Dan,
See the White House for further imstructions...
(its all tongue in cheek)
I know, but just could not resist.....LOL
Merry Christmas.
The best lesson I learned, from having an outdoor layout, is conversion to battery power. I converted all of my LGB, Hartland and Bachmann "G" scale locomotive to run on battery power about seven years ago. It was the best improvement I ever made to the railway.
One man's products made that change over very simple. G Scale Graphics, is owned by Del Tapparo.
Merry Christmas
A few things to ponder while enjoying the holiday;
Large scale can be confusing as many scales run on the same gauge track, once you figure that out the rest is easy!!
Decide what you want to model American standard gauge or narrow gauge or European Std or narrow gauge, that will determine the scale.
Pic your favorite RR buy a few pieces at a time... Used is the way to go much cheaper AVIOD OLDER BACHMANN LOCOS as quality really stank
BUY track used..... new track is way too expensive! Used track can be cleaned up and still have lots of life in it,
just make sure ties are not sun damaged.
Do your track work properly and you will have few issues.
Join Large Scale Central web group.... tons of experience there and plenty of used stuff available.
Start small and enjoy the process.
I found G scale costs to be similar to good quality o gauge equipment .
Dave
