[hawkmoth]

Hi all

I am new to this forum, and joined because I am about to invest in my second childhood and would like some advice!

I inherited the family train set from my older siblings when I was a child (which is now somewhere else in the family), and it was good old HO/OO which was probably the most popular scale then and I suspect still is. I have decided to go for N-gauge this time as there is a clean slate. I like the idea of having a much denser track layout and generally more going on...

However, I have just been reading bits about these new DCC or digital controllers. If I were to buy an analog train set, would I be able to use any of it if later on I decided that I wanted to changeover to DCC? Would some of the engines be upgradeable to digital or not? If so, how easy is it to do? Or should I start from day one with a DCC train set? The DCC sets and controllers seem prohibitively expensive to me!

Any advice would be grately received.

Thanks
hawkmoth

 

[hawkmoth]

First of all, thanks to you all for replying to my questions. I suppose I should tell you a little bit about myself...

I am nearly 40 years old, an electronics engineer by profession, and have a couple of kids (7 & 9), who ultimately will benefit from the trains. Because of my job, I have been very used to dealing with electronic components, soldering to very small scale, and the like. I guess not many people have that background. I therefore have the kit and experience to deal with the decoders. I am also into woodwork as a hobby so should have no probs constructing stuff!

I guess the frustration is, that after reading a few websites that it just doesn't seem that there is a standard for this new DCC stuff. I have read about NMRA and the like, but still there seems to be lots of ifs and buts depending on what you buy and from which manufacturer.

Late last night I came across the Fleischmann kit. This seemed quite impressive. I like the modern-ish diesels and electric trains, and will ultimately go for that era of trains (sorry but it's my age, I don't remember steam trains!), I also like the Continental European trains (German, Swiss, etc). The Fleischmann sets below are different in that one is analog but "upgradeable" to digital, whilst the other is pure new digital stuff :

Set 9367 (upgradeable to full digital) = £105
Set 89394 (already full digital) = £157

Fleischmann Website (Germany)

Fleischmann Direct UK

They are upgradeable in that they are fitted out with a NEM 651 socket for installation of a decoder.

As for my space for the layout, I have an attic in my garage which is 2m wide, and can be up to 5m in length (but more than likely will be much less, ~3m).

At the moment I am thinking about going for one of these Fleischmann sets... let's see what else I dig up online tonight!!!

Thanks
Steve (hawkmoth)

 

[hawkmoth]

Well there you go Gödel! Thanks to all other new posters and welcomers too, I can't say that I am going to be of any use in here (yet), as it is your support I am seeking (obviously)!!!

I guess you are Austrian, Gödel? It was this year I went on a motorbike tour in Switzerland, around the areas of Neuchatel, Bern and Interlaken, taking in some breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps. The motorbike ride was just fantastic, as you can imagine. It was here that I saw the great mountain scenery and the punctual Swiss trains going in and out of never ending tunnels. This has been my inspiration for my train set! It has to be more interesting than landscaping the Waterloo to Southampton line (with all due respect)!!!

I have been to Vienna a couple of times too, and you can see that the trains run very smoothly indeed. I went around Vienna in the trams too, which was good fun.

I agree with everyone's comments about density with N-gauge, this has also been an easy decision to make. But then there seemed to be so much difference between analog and digital, and then again differences between continental and UK or US N-gauge! All very confusing. I just don't want to invest in the wrong thing, as this stuff ain't cheap!

Now, after reading all of your comments, and Gödel's very comprehensive list of links and stuff, this has helped me greatly. I really do appreciate it. I like your comment about "German perfection in engineering" too!!! As a proud British Engineer, this always makes me giggle! I think the difference is that German Engineers are given a higher status (& salary) in their country, whereas in the UK if you say you are an engineer, people wrongly think that you are just a washing machine engineer! So there is little respect over here! With respect to n-gauge, I guess there is no risk in buying German n-gauge trains and sets, like Fleischmann, as you say the attention to detail & technology maturity should be excellent.

Once again thanks for all the links and inspiration, and ultimately helping me decide on the way forward...

cheers
Steve