Favorite N Scale Manufacturer

Favorite Manufacturer

  • Atlas

    Votes: 23 31.1%
  • Bachmann

    Votes: 7 9.5%
  • Kato

    Votes: 30 40.5%
  • Life-Like

    Votes: 1 1.4%
  • Micro Train

    Votes: 8 10.8%
  • Other

    Votes: 5 6.8%

  • Total voters
    74

shaygetz

Active Member
Early Atlas and Con-Cor, without their contributions in the late 60s and early 70s, I don't know that N scale would be as popular as it is today.

N0-8-0.jpg


Atlas 0-8-0 circa 1972

y6b2.jpg


Con-Cor Y6b circa 1976, though MRC came out with the originals in 1970, only 4 years after the scale was first introduced to the marketplace. Con-Cor bought out the molds and retooled and re-engineered these with the aid of Rivarossi.

All the latest engines are great and run like fine watches but offerings like these kept folks trying out that corn fangled new scale.
 

MCL_RDG

Member
Having grown up...

...from 2 Postage Stamp sets...I decline to vote. There's too much out there.

All N Scale manufactures are my favorites. Geez, what- I need to make one more voted for than the other? Where's Blair Line, J-N-J, Gold Medal, and every other company that contributes to our satisfaction as N Scalers?


Mark

PS- Thanks for the pics shaygetz.
 

shaygetz

Active Member
You're welcome, Mark. I've slowed down my modeling a good bit, just enjoying the archiving of the good old daze of modeling on a very small scale with my trains. Reaping the benefits of all this new fangled technology that puts my favorites in the junk bins for next to nothing.:thumb:
 

Will_annand

Active Member
Depends what you are rating...

Track: Atlas

DC Power supplies: MRC

DCC Systems: MRC

Passenger Cars: Athearn (only guys making cars circa 1890).

Locomotives: I have
3 Bachmann 4-4-0 not the best
1 Model Power 4-4-0 good runner, pulls prototypically (3-4 cars)
1 Atlas Deisel (gift from Robin Matthysen) runs great at all speeds.
1 Kato Deisel (GP38 gift from my Uncle, before he knew I was steam only) use it to test tracks, however it runs like crap and cuts out more than it runs. Gave it to local club, sits in their roundhouse diorama with another bad Kato.

a friend has the Atlas 2-6-0, runs so great it is on my list.
also club has a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 best steamer I have ever seen running..

If we are talking people, Woodland Scenics hands down.
If we are talking scenery... Woodland Scenics again, for some, but mostly what I sell in my shop or the local Dollar Store. Or mother nature herself.

So, what are we voting on?
 

Will_annand

Active Member
Biggest surprise so far is that anyone voted for Bachmann. Cheap crap.

Maybe that Bach-mann (or is it Bach-man?) dude is being paid OT to add votes to the poll!

Kevin

Actually Kevin, our club has the Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 N Scale. It is one of 15 locomotives in the roster.

It is the best N Scale locomotive they have, runs smooth either slow or fast, pulls 20+ cars around the level layout. Also looks great doing it. The club has only 2 Katos and they spend more time sitting in the roundhouse on the layout becuase they are poorer runners than the Atlas and Minitrix we have.
 

Mountain Man

Active Member
...from 2 Postage Stamp sets...I decline to vote. There's too much out there.

All N Scale manufactures are my favorites. Geez, what- I need to make one more voted for than the other? Where's Blair Line, J-N-J, Gold Medal, and every other company that contributes to our satisfaction as N Scalers?


Mark

PS- Thanks for the pics shaygetz.

I agree - no Athearn, either.

My personal favorite is the one that happens to make the item that I am currently looking for. :cool:
 

Biased turkey

Active Member
I voted Atlas for the engines
Microtrains is an excellent rolling stock ( boxcars ) manufacturer.
Life-Like make good engines ( Be sure to get the ProtoN one )

For the Canadian fans ( CP , CR, TH&B ) PWRS ( Pacific Western Rail System, why did they choose such a long name ) has some special run .
Jacques
 

Trainiac77

Member
There's really no way to have a number 1 for me, but my favorites would be:
Kato, Atlas, and Heritage engines
Kato Unitrack
Athearn, Atlas, Micro trains Rolling stock

I have 2 Bachmann 2-6-6-2 and they are very loud and choppy running at best. The first time I put one on the track and power it, all the running gear fell off on the right side, Bachmann did replace it though.
 

Boilerman

Member
I do not have a favorite manufacturer because there is not one that furnishes all the locos, cars, buildings and things that fit the time frame I choose to model, so from my stand point they all are special in one way or another, the same goes for the places that I buy from, I do not buy from just one outlet.
 

babbo_enzo

New Member
Well, my favorite is.... (will be?) :
the first who manufacture a 0-6-0 steam switcher that run well and smooth!

In the meantime... IM have done a good job on his AC-12.
 

eddieb

New Member
Definately Kato for me, although I have Atlas and Intermountain locos as well. Kato out performs all the rest.
 
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