N-Scale Advice

[stem]

I'm going to do some research into what I would need to model the DAR in N-Scale. I've given up on the idea of doing G-Scale after 15 years and am leaning toward N over HO. Your advice and experience would be greatly appreciated. (See my ad in the Barter section)

What do you think the best N-Scale locomotives are in this scale to represent:
10 Wheelers (Baldwin or CPR), Pacifics (CPR), S-3s, SW1200RSs and RDC1s?

What do you think the best N-Scale passenger cars are to represent the DAR?

What do you think the best N-Scale freight cars are to represent the DAR?

[downeastrailfan]

Hey Steve,

I used to dabble in N scale, so here is my two cents:

Arnold produced an S-2 back in the early 1990's. I believe the first run included the CP script version, and the second release had the black Canadian National switcher scheme. A poor runner, but looks nice. Two of them repainted would look good, and could be turned into dummies.

Life-Like (Walthers now?) SW9/1200. A good looking and decent running loco. Could possibly be repowered with the Kato NW-2 chassis. No flexicoil trucks or large number boards available in N scale to my knowledge.

Kato RDC. A fine looking and running model.

Passenger cars. Back in the early 90s, I painted up a Model Power heavyweight coach to represent 1303. It looked good enough for me at the time. http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/passenger/limaheavy.html

This website lists just about every N scale locomotive ever produced and reviews them: http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/trainstuff.html

HO scale has by far the largest product availability, and there are lots of sweet models for the DAR. The new TLT SW1200RS looks bang on. TLT's CP vans can be bought now for $30. I've never been impressed by the Life-Like RDC, but MTS (brass) makes a sweet looking phase I RDC. Custom Finishing makes all those cool MOW pieces. If you want something really special, Tiger Valley makes a white metal kit for the RSC-14. (interchange at Middleton perhaps) This is the kind of thing you won't find in any other scale.

[stem]

Good stuff Matt and great link to that web site. I enjoyed the review on the Baldwin 10 wheeler. I had wondered if it was a decent running being Bachmann but I see it's decent and DCC too. Will make a very good DAR model for the Baldwin builds the DAR had.

The passenger cars are decent too. The observation is very close, the coach next and the combine would need a kitbash to get the windows right. Don't know about the length but that can be bashed too.

As for the diesels, we can only keep our eyes open for some old stock and hopefully new models in the future. They tend to go in waves and with some interest in HO SW1200RSs maybe N will follow suit.

As for the RDC1, it does look great but it's a version 1 so for the finicky, it won't do for 9058 and 9059. It would make a great 9057 but it would have to be lettered Canadian Pacific and do the Hockey Mask though! I have to have warpaint though. I love that paint job.

[downeastrailfan]

What is your era of interest? Sounds like transition era.

The Kato RDC is really the only option. The Con-Cor RDC is total junk and its also a phase one.

I didn't know about the Bachmann ten wheeler. Looks sharp, but the tender looks a bit long.

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I'm thinking about 30s through to the end of the 50s. Fairly stable as per line features and structures and able to run nearly all eras of rolling stock.

The Bachmann does look good and I agree the tender is too long but workable. It may have been done on purpose for the DCC system.

The good thing about the phase one is the headlights could be cut off and the higher lights added on to make it look like a phase 2.

[downeastrailfan]

My advice would be to take on an N scale kitbash project and see how you like working with the small stuff before investing lots of money. Several years ago, I built a few Intermountain cylindrical hoppers, and after installing all those tiny grab irons, I vowed never to do it again!

As for rolling stock, there should be lots of ready to run stuff on the market that fits the bill. Micro Trains cars are tough to beat.

[stem]

Agreed. I did some N scale stuff back 20 years ago. Kitbashing isn't that much fun at this size nor it painting for that matter. It's got to be close to start with and as long as it's close, it will do fine. As I recall, I was using my old guitar strings from .008" to .014" for details. Fiddley stuff.

As with most N-Scalers, it's the size constraint that I'll dealing with. With limited space, this is my best choice. That's why I'm interested in researching everything, getting a pick list together and buying only what I need that will serve the purpose as close as possible right off the bat.