Newbies' mistakes to avoid in N gauge?

[Little-Kinder]

18 hours ago, bill937ca said:

No. That Ginza is a very rare exception.

Thanks

 

Damn.....

[cteno4]

20 hours ago, Little-Kinder said:

True, a starter set like shinkansen or stuff from kato isn't that expensive, it's just that you have just a loop with this.

 

I do agree, unitram is much more expensive but it's easier to set up and store in my opinion and i don't need all sorts of tools to decorate/model a layout, like grass, make hills etc, so for a beginner and someone without a lot of space and likely to move in a few years it's a good option, it will also limit my number of purchase and space taken.

 

For unitram i will just buy online at amazon/big camera, i found those two had the best prices so far

Unitram track will limit the trains you can run. Some work but look a bit crazy trying to negotiate the sharp turns. It’s designed for smaller trams.
 

Also, other than trams, trains don’t routinely run thru streets in Japan.

 

Unitrak is easier to set up and store than unitram track, I know I’ve done both a lot. Unitrak is a lot easier to set up and manipulate and will pack down the best to store. Also a lot more inexpensive.
 

Unitrak is just a lot more flexible if you want to get yourself out of a very simple loop in the future. Unitram track you are stuck in a very simple loop unless you go up a lot in the space used and even the it’s just variations on loops. Very very few track options with unitram.

 

As you grow in the hobby part of that is doing scenery some, even on a tiny scale or just with some structures and vehicles. Doing scenery takes relatively nothing in the ways of tools and such. What is required can be bought at the ¥100 store as needed. It’s not a hugely involved process in cost, resources, tools, or effort.

 

From your title of the post I’m just trying to point out that starting with unitram track is going to really limit you in a number of ways. It’s great if trams are your focus, but that doesn’t sound like that is. Unitram for starting the hobby it’s sort of painting yourself into a corner. Sorry, just being honest.

 

cheers,

 

jeff

[Little-Kinder]

2 hours ago, cteno4 said:

Unitram track will limit the trains you can run. Some work but look a bit crazy trying to negotiate the sharp turns. It’s designed for smaller trams.
 

Also, other than trams, trains don’t routinely run thru streets in Japan.

 

Unitrak is easier to set up and store than unitram track, I know I’ve done both a lot. Unitrak is a lot easier to set up and manipulate and will pack down the best to store. Also a lot more inexpensive.
 

Unitrak is just a lot more flexible if you want to get yourself out of a very simple loop in the future. Unitram track you are stuck in a very simple loop unless you go up a lot in the space used and even the it’s just variations on loops. Very very few track options with unitram.

 

As you grow in the hobby part of that is doing scenery some, even on a tiny scale or just with some structures and vehicles. Doing scenery takes relatively nothing in the ways of tools and such. What is required can be bought at the ¥100 store as needed. It’s not a hugely involved process in cost, resources, tools, or effort.

 

From your title of the post I’m just trying to point out that starting with unitram track is going to really limit you in a number of ways. It’s great if trams are your focus, but that doesn’t sound like that is. Unitram for starting the hobby it’s sort of painting yourself into a corner. Sorry, just being honest.

 

cheers,

 

jeff

A lot of fair points, I will keep my option open. But my point is that if I want to do a diorama, unitram is easier to set up and won't need tools etc.

 

I can just set up my unitram tracks, some buildings and véhicules. And be happy

[Little-Kinder]

20 hours ago, cteno4 said:

Unitram track will limit the trains you can run. Some work but look a bit crazy trying to negotiate the sharp turns. It’s designed for smaller trams.
 

Also, other than trams, trains don’t routinely run thru streets in Japan.

 

Unitrak is easier to set up and store than unitram track, I know I’ve done both a lot. Unitrak is a lot easier to set up and manipulate and will pack down the best to store. Also a lot more inexpensive.
 

Unitrak is just a lot more flexible if you want to get yourself out of a very simple loop in the future. Unitram track you are stuck in a very simple loop unless you go up a lot in the space used and even the it’s just variations on loops. Very very few track options with unitram.

 

As you grow in the hobby part of that is doing scenery some, even on a tiny scale or just with some structures and vehicles. Doing scenery takes relatively nothing in the ways of tools and such. What is required can be bought at the ¥100 store as needed. It’s not a hugely involved process in cost, resources, tools, or effort.

 

From your title of the post I’m just trying to point out that starting with unitram track is going to really limit you in a number of ways. It’s great if trams are your focus, but that doesn’t sound like that is. Unitram for starting the hobby it’s sort of painting yourself into a corner. Sorry, just being honest.

 

cheers,

 

jeff

I'm actually checking different options, but you have a very good point, unitram is not flexible and will limit me a lot, might be an option later on if i want a city part with a train running through a city, with a tramway going around.

 

I'm checking the hayabusa shinkasen starter set, but i'm thinking of getting the ouigo tgv and a M2 starter set (40k at yodobashi and i get 10% in point)

unfortunately the carmillon tgv are out of production 😢 and the prices are just insane right now for those.

 

This way i get some switches, a loop, i wish they produced those trains with less cars for a smaller price.

[Ekiben]

Hi and welcome to the world of model railroading. My advice is to establish a hobby space and dedicated area for your layout, even if that means dragging it from underneath your bed and placing onto a folding table. This latter option may prove difficult if you've got a futon, but my point stands. Having a dedicated space will minimize setup time and encourage modelling time. It's also great if you can devote a specific night of the week to the hobby. If Tuesdays are for trains, then it becomes automatic and habitual. 

 

Determining your layout space will give you a sense of what you can model. I love long Japanese passenger trains, but they're just not practical or attractive in my limited area of roughly 2'x4'. Shorter radius curves will mean shorter rolling stock but there are still loads of options when modelling Japanese prototypes, by they trams or passenger trains, or even freight operations. Collecting those longer trains is still okay, BTW... especially if you can run them on a "rental layout" near your house. What a brilliant concept!

 

Once you get a sense of your space, choose an era and location and decide which trains are appropriate. Learn some basic scenery techniques and try to complete a project layout. Just go ahead and do it. It won't be perfect, but it won't be your last layout either. I regret my fear of making mistakes and trying to get things perfect from day one....this approach has led me to many false starts but zero completed layouts in the past ten years. 

 

Modules are a great place to start....so is the Kato M2 starter set, but it's pretty big and gets boring fast. Check out the Kato layouts in the link below for more inspiring options. Steve's Trains is also full great ideas. In fact, I wish I'd seen all of these channels/resources prior to starting out......just don't get sucked into the internet at the expense of hobbying time.

 

Good luck.

 

Some links to inspire your model railroad journey:

 

Kato track plans: https://katousa.com/n-track-plan-examples/

Steve's Trains layout page: https://www.steves-trains.com/post/n-scale-track-plans

Budget Model railways YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjSNSTxSC-YZM_i9dqCZLOw

Kaji's Model Railroad Room Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@kscafe7/videos

DIY and Digital MMROne build: 

 

 

 

Edited September 15 by Ekiben

[Little-Kinder]

On 9/15/2024 at 12:31 PM, Ekiben said:

years. 

 

Modules are a great place to start....so is the Kato M2 starter set, but it's pretty big and gets boring fast. Check out the Kato layouts in the link below for more inspiring options. Steve's Trains is also full great ideas. In fact, I wish I'd seen all of these channels/resources prior to starting out......just don't get sucked into the internet at the expense of hobbying time.

 

 

Hello there,

 

Yeah I got the Hayabusa starter set for like 10k ye. (Used) and the V1 to have some turnouts for like 4k yen and some power feeders.

 

Happy with it so far. Just the pantographe was broken so I will bring it today to the Kato hobby center to buy some pieces and run it on their layout.

 

Unfortunately I don't have a lot of space so it's either on the floor or on my table. The shinkansen turns radius is really big so I can't just put it under my bad and take it out. It just take me a few minutes to take it appart and store it anyway

[cteno4]

You are doing it the traditional Japanese way! Setup and breakdown is pretty quick. Have fun!

 

jeff

[toc36]

I would look at Modem and Tomix Hakone for your "runners".  You can get a lot of movement in a very small space.  The biggest mistake that I made was I was looking to make a streetcar layout and started thinking "BIG".  Needed more space, more detailed planning, longer trains, etc.  Use your initial layouts to learn the FUNdamentals.

[Little-Kinder]

Finally went and managed to run my trains at the Kato store. Go during the week or in the morning or you will have to wait 2hours (not kidding)

[Little-Kinder]

Went to N scale town in ikebukuro.

 

This place is amazing and is able to fit more than 20 people at the same time.

 

It's a bit more expensive (between 1k, 1k2or 1k5 yen per hour ).

 

But it's much bigger and you have switches unlike Kato store or all the popondetta networks.

 

You need to book online and I do recommend trying this once if you can (they do not loan trains though or sell anything)

[Little-Kinder]

[Kingmeow]

20 people as in 20 separate lines?  Wow!  😲

[Little-Kinder]

On 12/6/2024 at 10:36 PM, Kingmeow said:

20 people as in 20 separate lines?  Wow!  😲

Yep 20 separate lines.

 

You have to be careful as some switches (marked in red so you know) might send your train to another line and end up bothering someone ah ah.

 

But yeah amazing place!

[cteno4]

Wow!