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[Ajcooln]

How can I tell what N-scale trains can handle tight curves and are DCC-ready?

[Kamome]

Tomix add some icons to their products for those that can handle their mini curves and super mini curves. 

 

Tomix, Microace, Greenmax and Poppondetta amongst other manufacturers don’t produce DCC ready rolling stock as it’s just not that popular for n scale in Japan. The majority of people involved with n scale have either a roundy roundy layout at home or use rental layouts which are all predominantly circuits so DCC is not hugely necessary. 

 

Kato is the only manufacturer in Japan to pioneer DCC usage in Japanese n scale due to their products in American and European markets.  Kato DCC ready generally refers to the usage of their own decoders rather than plug-in chips and having a choice of decoder brands. Some loco decoders are available from 3rd party companies. 

 

Hope this info helps. If you’re looking at tight curves, you’ll need to avoid anything with long coach lengths (dependant on curve radius)  and in some cases will need to hard wire (solder) decoders in yourself, unless you stick to DCC ready Kato stock. 

[Kingmeow]

For Kato products, there's spreadsheet on this forum that may be able to help you.

 

 

[inobu]

14 hours ago, Ajcooln said:

How can I tell what N-scale trains can handle tight curves and are DCC-ready?

You can tell by the truck spacing. The trucks are limited in their turn radius.

The Small NW2 trucks are close to one another where as the SD90 is one of

the largest wheelbase. You can see where it length is larger than the arc/radius of

the track.

 

This falls in line with matching your track radius with your layout scene.