Hi --
I've read through some of the archives, but am still feeling quite confused; I am REALLY stupid about this stuff, so please be kind.
My parents and I are looking to buy an N scale set for my son for Christmas.
He is 7 1/2 years old, and though I know that a larger set would be
preferable, we simply don't have the space for it. Even a small HO layout
would take every available spare inch of the room he shares with his twin
sister, and she's not likely to be too thrilled at that development. Thus
the N. He has been a complete train nut since he was two, and I suspect
that this will be a long-term fixation for him. Thus I want a set that can
grow little by little over the years, especially once he has (or if he ever
gets...) his own room.
I am leaning toward a Kato, possibly the Chesapeake & Ohio F7 Unitrack set, or maybe the F3 set. (what does EMD stand for?) One website with the details on the F3 set notes that it's a "perfect starting point for DC or DCC layouts". I know that this means that it can be Digitrax compatible; can it also be used with a standard controller? Is that what DC means? With a child, is there any reason to start with one or the other? He will of course have only one train to start, and likely a simple oval; for his next birthday we will probably get some track to put a figure eight inside the oval, etc. He is already a computer nut, so I could see him possibly wanting to get a PC involved in the action in a few years.
Is there any difference between F3 and F7, or is that just a model number difference?
Is Unitrack compatible with other brands of track, or are you committed to it once you start?
Re the Digitrax, I take it that trains must have a control chip of some description, and there's a special controller? Can a "regular" train be easily converted at a later time? Down the line, he can use non-Kato trains on the track as well, right?
Any input into this would be appreciated. If I'm headed in the wrong direction and should be looking at a different brand, I'd appreciate hearing those opinions as well. We're looking to spend about $150-$175, $200 tops, and unfortunately we're in a rural area with no model stores nearby, so I'm sort of stuck with ordering on-line.
Thanks in advance for any input or for setting me straight.
Julie
I've read through some of the archives, but am still feeling quite confused; I am REALLY stupid about this stuff, so please be kind.
I am leaning toward a Kato, possibly the Chesapeake & Ohio F7 Unitrack set, or maybe the F3 set. (what does EMD stand for?) One website with the details on the F3 set notes that it's a "perfect starting point for DC or DCC layouts". I know that this means that it can be Digitrax compatible; can it also be used with a standard controller? Is that what DC means? With a child, is there any reason to start with one or the other? He will of course have only one train to start, and likely a simple oval; for his next birthday we will probably get some track to put a figure eight inside the oval, etc. He is already a computer nut, so I could see him possibly wanting to get a PC involved in the action in a few years.
Is there any difference between F3 and F7, or is that just a model number difference?
Is Unitrack compatible with other brands of track, or are you committed to it once you start?
Re the Digitrax, I take it that trains must have a control chip of some description, and there's a special controller? Can a "regular" train be easily converted at a later time? Down the line, he can use non-Kato trains on the track as well, right?
Any input into this would be appreciated. If I'm headed in the wrong direction and should be looking at a different brand, I'd appreciate hearing those opinions as well. We're looking to spend about $150-$175, $200 tops, and unfortunately we're in a rural area with no model stores nearby, so I'm sort of stuck with ordering on-line.
Thanks in advance for any input or for setting me straight.
Julie