Chicagoland Hobby Shop Opinion
DMFerreter
I will be in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend and would like to have
opinions on the "best" hobby shop in Chicago and surrounding areas. My
idea of a good shop is one that has detail parts, brass models, book
selection, etc. All opinons count!!
Darren Ferreter
dmfer...@aol.com
Rich Weyand
>I will be in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend and would like to have
>opinions on the "best" hobby shop in Chicago and surrounding areas. My
>idea of a good shop is one that has detail parts, brass models, book
>selection, etc. All opinons count!!
We've had this one run by before, and you will get lots of opinions,
but here goes:
Des Plaines Hobbies (lots of books, mags, detail parts)
Al's Hobbies (lots of books, mags, detail parts)
Palatine Hobbies (a bigger store, lots of product, also on the web)
Downers Grove Hobbies (absolutely the best for G)
End of Track Hobbies (absolutely the best for N)
This list is mostly suburban, 'cause that's where I hang out.
Rich Weyand | _______ ___,---. ---+_______:_ |Rich Weyand
Weyand Associates| |_N_&_W_| |_N_&_W_| |__|________|_ |TracTronics
Comm Consultants | ooo ooo ~ ooo ooo ~ oOOOO- OOOO=o\ |Model RR Electronics
wey...@mcs.com | http://www.mcs.net/~weyand/ |wey...@mcs.com
Darren Williamson
DMFerreter wrote:
>
> I will be in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend and would like to have
> opinions on the "best" hobby shop in Chicago and surrounding areas. My
> idea of a good shop is one that has detail parts, brass models, book
> selection, etc. All opinons count!!
>
> dmfer...@aol.com
If you happen to be driving to Chicago, specifically on northbound I-65
through Indiana, you have to stop off in Lafayette, In. at Hawkins Rail
Services. Nice people, and the best selection of HO stuff I have seen
east of Caboose Hobbies.
-Darren Williamson
( glad to see you spell your name correctly! :o) )
TomasSz
My father in law has asked me to help with a layout for one of my
nephews who is five years old. I plan to suggest HO as the
consensus of opinion seems to be that N is too small for a child
that young to handle. I had HO scale as a young child and got N
scale later.
The locos and cars are no problem. I will probably get him a
Lifelike P2K switcher and some matching freight cars. The track
system, on the other hand, is a real issue.
Bachman EZ-Track and Atlas Tru-Track (sic.?) seem like good
potential candidates for this use. Both should be less expensive
than Kato Unitrack. Having no experience with any of them, I
need some advice. Bachman EZ-Track and Kato seem to have a track
section lock system. Based on advertising photos, the Atlas
appears to have no locking mechanism to hold a layout together,
other than standard rail joiners.
I would appreciate input from anyone who has used either or both
the Bachman or Atlas systems. (I assume Kato is good, but more
expensive). One of the troubleshooting hints in Bachman's
EZ-track system booklet says it is not unusual for locos to
stutter (lose power) over a turnout. They advise turning up the
throttle. I am of the view that there should be no such problems
if locos and track are in good repair. I won't put up with
"stuttering" locos in N-scale, and I am sure none of you would in
HO. Therefore, I wonder if that piece of advice results from the
design of EZ-Track, i.e., is there something in the track
geometry or frog design that prevents reliable electrical
pick-up. Or is it just Bachman's apology for their usual train
set locomotives. Has anyone had electrical pick-up troubles with
EZ-Track, Tru-Track or Unitrack turnouts?
The opinions of anyone with relevant experience would be greatly
appreciated, as I would like to make sure the track and trains
will work reliably.
Another question. Is there an easy way to install permanent
magnet uncouplers in these track systems?
Thanks,
Tomas Szoboszlai
Ken Bessler (KG0WX)
I made a "break in" track with a mix of Bachman and others of the same type
that came in an Athearn set. There was a big problem with both types bowing
up between the joints (I used no nails until I saw this and even then nails
didn't help). This alone would preclude me from ever buying this stuff again.
You will have trouble putting magnets in Bachman track - the rails are steel
and would react with the magnet (I tried). As for the others, just cut out
the ties between the rails to make a shallow pit for the magnet. Shim with
card stock or construction paper then glue the magnet in with goo or liquid
nails.
--
Ken Bessler
Design Services Company
http://www2.southwind.net/~kg0wx
Model railroad designing
Daniel S. Dawdy
>>I will be in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend and would like to have
>>opinions on the "best" hobby shop in Chicago and surrounding areas. My
>>idea of a good shop is one that has detail parts, brass models, book
>>selection, etc. All opinons count!!
>
Add to Rich's list:
Chicago Land Hobbies - brass, heavy into CTA brass
Hills Hobby - lots of brass in all scales, Lionel
Des Plains again :-) Large store, good brass and
Ron should be in a good mood :-)
Dan
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Steven Gordon
I
I am about to get my six year son (six in June) his first train set for
his upcoming birthday. I also was thinking about the N gauge with the ez
track by Kato. But the hoppy shop guy said that they are too small for the
AVERAGE small child.
He showed me a Bachman Spectrum starter set with the ez track. With the
fly wheel motored engine, ez track and better power pack. I plan to get it
this week.
The kit includs a rerailer, but I am going get a car mounter gismo to help
him slide the cars on the track.
Good Luck,
Stevem South FLa
>
Ken Bessler (KG0WX)
If you get bachman you WILL regret it! Athearn offers set now - get one
of thiers....
nwb...@ix.netcom.com
af...@icanect.net (Steven Gordon) wrote:
>I
>I am about to get my six year son (six in June) his first train set for
>his upcoming birthday. I also was thinking about the N gauge with the ez
>track by Kato. But the hoppy shop guy said that they are too small for the
>AVERAGE small child.
I could have a non-average son...my son has a simple nscale layout,
just a loop on 2" foamboard (its light and easy to put on the top
shelf of a closet!) He has managed with N scale since he was 3. I do
have a rerailer in the loop, so if all else fails, he uses that. We
have been slowly adding scenery. He collects little stones, twigs, and
small pine cones and we paint them with water based kids paints. He
has a blast. I use a rechargable battery and an MRC trottle (their
"hand held" unit) as a power source. At 3, he was able to hold onto
the nscale units more reliably. An HO F unit was pretty hefty for his
little hands, and anything with details tended to dig in since he cant
reach around the body like grown up hands can. - Maybe its in the
blood, my first trainset was Bachman N (1968...it still runs and I
have most of the cars - the loco performs better than a lot of their
current stuff, but has athern style hoods ;). My dad has HO from way
back. Now I do both.
I've only experience with Kato's N modular track. It fits well, stays
together, and works fine. I suspect their HO would do the same.
Modular systems have the advantage of fitting in a (reasonably sized)
box, and can be put together on the kitchen table in short order for a
day of running. N scale allows a lot more operation in the same space.
The price will be almost the same piece for piece. Get something that
works reasonably well from the start. Their is nothing quite like a
broken train to cause severe lack of interest.
Nate
nwb...@ix.netcom.com
Steve Rosnick
af...@icanect.net (Steven Gordon) wrote:
Bachmann EZ Track - Not too bad, the turnouts aren't great. Also, get
the newer stuff with the gray roadbed. This is nickle-silver track.
The older black roiadbed is steel track and it will rust, corrode and
basically make running trains a pain.
Atlas True Track - is good stuff. Nice Code 83 track. The sections
do indeed interlock. In fcat, they lock so well it's difficult to
disconnect them!
A third option is Life-Likes entry. It's main advantage is no rail
joiners. They built contacts into the roadbed and you slide the track
together sideways to connect sections. Haven't seen the stuff first
hand, but the ads make it look real good.
>I
>I am about to get my six year son (six in June) his first train set for
>his upcoming birthday. I also was thinking about the N gauge with the ez
>track by Kato. But the hoppy shop guy said that they are too small for the
>AVERAGE small child.
>He showed me a Bachman Spectrum starter set with the ez track. With the
Bill Dixon
Kato's N-Scale track is very good. I have used it for demo's at
several model train shows. The HO track is just as good but
expensive.
I have not seen any Atlas track other than samples brought back
from last year's Chicago trade show. No sign of the Model Power
product.
Botchmann EZ-Track is poor (polite term for total F***ing sh*t).
There was a 50% failure rate in turnouts at a local store and now
that the Christmas season is over, it is in short supply.
Roco makes a very nice HO scale code 83 product 'Roco Line'. It
may be harder to get than Kato (Walthers carries it) and costs
about the same as Kato HO. It has a soft roadbed rather than the
hard plastic others have.
--
Support the NMRA DCC Standard
Peter King
The problem with many 'systems' like this is that every few years, the
manufacturer feels compelled to offer something new, and discontinue the
old system! (Owners of Kodak cameras will recognize this phenomenon.)
At least with the Atlas, you can easily remove the roadbed and have
usable track. Also, I would suspect the quality of Bachmann switches.
The Kato should be of good quality. Also, less likely to be discontinued
since it has a large worldwide market.
Peter King in NY