I am now venturing into an area of the hobby that I have not been involved in for quite some time. My son will be asking Santa for and electric HO train set of his own. We have discussed this and he will be keeping the set in his room, but he wanted something that he could run on the layout in the basement, thus it has to be HO.
Now I can figure out what new locomotive or rolling stock kit I want for need but sets I have not looked at for years. So here are some questions.
Who manufacture sets? The one thing I am pretty sure of is that we will stay away from the low end Life Like sets. I know from past experience that the red and yellow box Life Like stuff is unreliable. I guess that leaves me with Bachmann and Athearn? Does Atlas have sets?
If Athearn makes sets what type of track do they use? I am currently using Bachmann EZ-Track with the temporary layout set up. Eventually this will be phased out in favor of Atlas.
Next point is I would prefer a diesel locomotive. I like the steam and I know he would not mind the Harry Potter set. The problem I have with the steam locomotives is that he will be handing them and grace is not one of his strong points.
Lastly where can I get a good price? I have looked at a few Internet sources and have come empty. Ebay has not had a great selection either. One of the LHS had no HO sets. At another the sets were so old that they set off an allergic reaction to dust when I moved them. I still have one more LHS to check out.
Now I can figure out what new locomotive or rolling stock kit I want for need but sets I have not looked at for years. So here are some questions.
Who manufacture sets? The one thing I am pretty sure of is that we will stay away from the low end Life Like sets. I know from past experience that the red and yellow box Life Like stuff is unreliable. I guess that leaves me with Bachmann and Athearn? Does Atlas have sets?
If Athearn makes sets what type of track do they use? I am currently using Bachmann EZ-Track with the temporary layout set up. Eventually this will be phased out in favor of Atlas.
Next point is I would prefer a diesel locomotive. I like the steam and I know he would not mind the Harry Potter set. The problem I have with the steam locomotives is that he will be handing them and grace is not one of his strong points.
Lastly where can I get a good price? I have looked at a few Internet sources and have come empty. Ebay has not had a great selection either. One of the LHS had no HO sets. At another the sets were so old that they set off an allergic reaction to dust when I moved them. I still have one more LHS to check out.