What's the best and most affordable model train company?

9

9000DOLLAR

INACTIVE
Well, I have only bought Bachmann and Broadway Limited Imports so far, but BLI is REALLY expensive and Bachmann isn't the most prototypical.
Also, Athearn is, for some reason, even more expensive, and I don't buy MTH because they wrongfully sued BLI.

Anyone know what the most affordable but still prototypical model trains are? because I don't... yet.
 
9000DOLLAR said:
Anyone know what the most affordable but still prototypical model trains are? because I don't... yet.
Click to expand...

Best bet is to get second hand top names on Ebay or train shows. Train shows are better because you can see / test / barter before buying. However tis not the season for train shows right now.
 
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9000DOLLAR said:
Anyone know what the most affordable but still prototypical model trains are? because I don't... yet.
Click to expand...
N3V.

I Paid AU$30 for hundreds of building, pieces of rolling stock and the largest routes I have ever seen.
... and on top of that I can use my rooms for other activities.
 
9000DOLLAR said:
Well, I have only bought Bachmann and Broadway Limited Imports so far, but BLI is REALLY expensive and Bachmann isn't the most prototypical.
Also, Athearn is, for some reason, even more expensive, and I don't buy MTH because they wrongfully sued BLI.

Anyone know what the most affordable but still prototypical model trains are? because I don't... yet.
Click to expand...
You can't get aforable and extremely prototypical together. If you want a really good train, even though it costs more, Athearn is the way to go. The reason for the extra cost is because the tooling to make a detailed model costs substantially more as well as all the varations of the mould to meet the railroad specific options. For example, the new CSX GP38-2s they announced for the their Genesis line will have many visual differences between the 4 road numbers based on the actual prototype.

Here is a comparison shot between the BNSF and UP GEVO I own, you can many little things on the engine that are BNSF and UP specific.

616369a6861bea02e2bca8e8a6b101cf.png
 
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I don't know why people are so against MTH. I own tons of MTH models and they are some of my highest quality models. So what, they sued BLI, business is business, and stufff like that happens in the real world.
Like ryanstrains said, they don't go together. A skilled modeler can make models like the ones Rivarossi, IHC, and Bachman produce/produced a lot better, but it takes time, patience, and skill.
 
from the past:

Athearn, Atlas, Bachmann, Walthers, Lionel, MTH, Kato, MDC, LGB, Kadee, Micro-Trains, Ross Custom Switches, Gargraves, Williams, K-Line, Faller, LGB, Piko, Peco, Faller, Vollmer, Plastruct, Evergreen, K&S Metals, Kadee, Badger, Testors, Humbrol, Woodland Scenics, Brawa, Noch, Ultimate Scenery, Model Power, Mega Steam, Tyco, Lifelike
 
ryanstrains said:
You can't get aforable and extremely prototypical together. If you want a really good train, even though it costs more, Athearn is the way to go. The reason for the extra cost is because the tooling to make a detailed model costs substantially more as well as all the varations of the mould to meet the railroad specific options. For example, the new CSX GP38-2s they announced for the their Genesis line will have many visual differences between the 4 road numbers based on the actual prototype.



Here is a comparison shot between the BNSF and UP GEVO I own, you can many little things on the engine that are BNSF and UP specific.

616369a6861bea02e2bca8e8a6b101cf.png
Click to expand...

Athearn, I may need to look further into that. I have seen a lot of good reviews for Athearn, but I'm a little worried about something that all-trains hobby shop owner I mentioned said. He said that, ever since Horizon Hobby bought Athearn, trains have only been an investment. (Horizon Hobby also makes E-flight Blade helicopters)
Also, when I said "affordable", I meant the best quality for the best price, still being a reasonable price for a high-end train. ($150-$200)

(another thing, did Life Like really start as an investment of a foam ice chest company, then sell the company to Walthers and go back to foam ice chests? Or is that just something Wikipedia got wrong?)
 
jacksonbarno said:
I don't know why people are so against MTH. I own tons of MTH models and they are some of my highest quality models. So what, they sued BLI, business is business, and stufff like that happens in the real world.
Like ryanstrains said, they don't go together. A skilled modeler can make models like the ones Rivarossi, IHC, and Bachman produce/produced a lot better, but it takes time, patience, and skill.
Click to expand...

What I meant by affordable, was a high-end train that is reasonably priced for a high-end model. (about $150-$200)
Also, I don't buy steam trains anymore because I have better luck with diesels and I heard that traction tires are a pain.
 
oknotsen said:
N3V.

I Paid AU$30 for hundreds of building, pieces of rolling stock and the largest routes I have ever seen.
... and on top of that I can use my rooms for other activities.
Click to expand...

Well, NV3 does sell trains that are quite affordable, but I'm looking for HO-scale sound-equipped diesel locomotives and passenger cars. (mostly Union Pacific and Union Pacific heritage.)
 
jacksonbarno said:
I don't know why people are so against MTH. I own tons of MTH models and they are some of my highest quality models. So what, they sued BLI, business is business, and stufff like that happens in the real world.
Like ryanstrains said, they don't go together. A skilled modeler can make models like the ones Rivarossi, IHC, and Bachman produce/produced a lot better, but it takes time, patience, and skill.
Click to expand...

How about DCS, for one reason. DCC is the established command control standard, there is absolutely no reason to go to their proprietary garbage. I'm all for innovation, but if they think they are going to replace DCC with a more awkward, less customizable version of DCC in the name of profit, count me way out.
 
I quite like Athearn and Bachmann Spectrum, even though the latter has some issues. Athearn is definitely the bang for your buck in terms of big steam and diesels, and bachmann has small steam that is alright. I have bought quite a few athearn cars and some diesels. If you want some pictures let me know.

MTH, I like their products, but they are really expensive, and like said above, use their own version of the standard DCC that is incompatible with DCC, but they do have limited functionality on DCC layouts. They also tend to have more features, all of the steam and some of the diesel fleet have operating smoke.

My 2 cents
 
Athearn seems to be what everyone likes. Although, I'm still a little worried about the whole issue of it only being an investment of Horizon Hobby.
Horizon Hobby makes RC's such as planes, boats, cars, monster trucks and helicopters.

Is there a comapany that is based in the USA, owned by a American company, and makes their trains in the USA?
If not, it's not that important.
 
simulatortrain said:
How about DCS, for one reason. DCC is the established command control standard, there is absolutely no reason to go to their proprietary garbage. I'm all for innovation, but if they think they are going to replace DCC with a more awkward, less customizable version of DCC in the name of profit, count me way out.
Click to expand...

What is DCS? I've never heard of it. Does it limit the use of funtions and compatibility on a DCC system?
I know a guy who runs an MTH version of Southern Pacific 4449, and his seems to work just fine.
 
Another thing I'm thinking about trying is installing sound decoders.

What's the best and easiest way to do that?

Meaning, what brand of HO scale model train is the easiest to convert, and what's the easiest sound decoder to install into said engine.

I have looked at Soundtraxx and MRC so far, and it looks like Soundtraxx is the most popular, but has to be hard-wired, while the MRC decoders seem to be easier, but POSSIBLY with fewer functions.
 
9000DOLLAR said:
Another thing I'm thinking about trying is installing sound decoders.

What's the best and easiest way to do that?

Meaning, what brand of HO scale model train is the easiest to convert, and what's the easiest sound decoder to install into said engine.

I have looked at Soundtraxx and MRC so far, and it looks like Soundtraxx is the most popular, but has to be hard-wired, while the MRC decoders seem to be easier, but POSSIBLY with fewer functions.
Click to expand...

MRC sound is a disaster. Soundtraxx does have some that will plug into a 9 pin quick plug so it's not that bad.
 
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