Can anyone recommend a train set to start my 5 year old son with? Are these sets easy to put together?
If it will be one the floor, may be a G scale set up. It would be easier for him to handle than an HO set. It could be put on a table but it would probably be making frequent trips to the floor.
Thank you, I will look for that. we are probably going to put in on a board to slide under his bed. Does the G Scale have the lights you can buy to put on the track like the HO Scales?
I only see HO, O, N and On30 Scale on the website. Is the G Scale in retail stores?
On this web site Bachmann lists it as Large Scale. Some retail stores like Hobby Town and some hobby shops carry large scale equipment by a number of manufactures. Several of the web retailers also carry large scale.
All of the large scale sets would be fine for your son. The steamer has a light, it makes smoke and has sound. All the sets have cars, track and a speed controller. here is a web page of some of their offerings
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=bachmann+g+scale+sets&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_stpos=14609&_sop=16&gbr=1&_dmpt=Model_RR_Trains&_odkw=g+scale+sets&_osacat=0 (http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=bachmann+g+scale+sets&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_stpos=14609&_sop=16&gbr=1&_dmpt=Model_RR_Trains&_odkw=g+scale+sets&_osacat=0)
I would be concerned about the motor skill development of a 5-year old (let alone the level of cognitive development). Most model railroad 'equipment' is designed for 8+ year old children. Having said that, any one of the Thomas the Tank Engine sets would not only provide interest; but would correlate to the popular TV show (and the seemingly endless DVDs). Professionally, I would not recommend any scale below O-gauge (little hands and little trains do not mix). I believe Lionel has an extensive 'Thomas' line...check with one of the retailers on the Internet. Another source would be a well-stocked hobby/toy store.
Good luck to you and our future model railroader,
Ray
I'd start with a cheap HO set and see what happens. Big or little (HO or G), you'll probably have a few broken parts when he puts the pedal to the metal. Large scale locos are pretty heavy.
I'm still thinking about the 6 year old Cub Scout and his camping tool at school. He seemed pretty squared away to me.
Like Ray said above avoid S, HO, N, & Z scales. Also avoid purchasing engines and rolling stock with a lot of delicate parts because, God knows they won't make it past the first day. Try going with an introductory G or large scale set, the only drawback is that it is more expensive than an introductory HO set. I remember my father had an American Flyer S-Gauge layout and when I was a kid about 7 yrs old I went downstairs to run the trains and there was a B&O streamlined Hudson on the upper tier of the layout and of course I was running it pretty hard, and I ran it against a switch causing it to derail and fall 6 feet to the ground...it never ran again and the back part of the cab even broke off, not to mention the front pilot...looking at makes you wince. So moral of the story when you have kids younger than 8 avoid anything below O scale, or you'll be sorry when your band new engine doesn't run anymore because junior got a little too excited and...(you fill in the rest). It's great to get them started a young age, but use something that is suited to their ability/age, something safe for them and safe for the loco's sake.
But, if you are going to get an O (2 or 3 rail set) avoid steam locomotives as they tend to be more fragile, stick with perhaps an F unit (ie F3, F7, F9, FT, etc) , Baldwin sharks or an E unit (E6/7, E8/9, etc) they have the least amount of exterior parts to be broken or lost, all you can do is break/lose the horn for the most part on lower end models. So if you go the HO route, although I wouldn't recommend it, consider these...
Thomas with Annie and Clarabel (set)
This ready-to-run train set includes:
Thomas the Tank EngineTM with moving eyes
Annie & Clarabel coaches with international style hook-and-loop couplers
Product Code: 00642
Santa Fe Flyer (set)
The Santa Fe Flyer includes:
• EMD FT diesel locomotive with operating headlight
• open quad hopper
• gondola
• wide-vision caboose
Product Code: 00647
Norfolk Southern Thoroughbred (set)
This ready-to-run train set includes:
* F7 diesel locomotive with operating headlight
* open quad hopper
* gondola
* wide-vision caboose
Product Code: 00691
I have a grandchild about to turn 6 for whom I am building an HO layout. I cautioned him on how to handle the rolling stock and he has impressed me how careful he is. Unless you plan to continue to grow a layout with G scale I would go with HO. For a starter set I would recommend one featuring an F series passenger diesel locomotive. It is fairly robust and has the least amount of fancy detail that can be broken off. Also easier to get only 8 wheels on the track. For the same reasons I'd avoid a set with a steam loco - too many fragile working parts, tough to get little wheels on the track, etc. If you're willing to go on the internet, I have found "trainsetsonly.com" to be friendly and reliable. They have pretty good sales. You will probably find Ebay prices to be lower on average - I've found "internetrailroad.com" and "thefavoritespot.com" to be reliable, with the former offering lower priced items (the Model Power brand) and the latter the more expensive stuff (Bachmann Spectrum). I'd avoid the used Ebay stuff and buy only new items with a warranty. All this just my opinion based on my experience.
they have thomas in large scale. should be a good seller
ABC's post reminded me about the Thomas line. They are the most robust, easiest to get on the track, and easiest to couple up that you will find. I have some for my soon-to-be 6 yr old. He doesn't mind mixing Thomas and proper HO scale stuff on the same track. The EBay sellers I mentioned offer Thomas also.
Quote from: train2b on October 15, 2009, 07:18:42 AM
Can anyone recommend a train set to start my 5 year old son with? Are these sets easy to put together?
you did not say but i have to assume he does not want a push toy. i have seen a wooden set with wood track at my local hobby show that has a lot of stuff for that age.
if you go with electric type modify the power pack so the knob cannot go full speed. an engine flying of the track on a table cam be damaged when it hits the floor. he will not be happy.
lex
In our family, we have always started off with larger trains. At 7 I got my first electric train - a MARX 0 gauge set - which I had no trouble putting together and running at 3 am Christmas morning, long before everyone else was up. But I did have the advantage of playing with a Hafner 0 gauge wind up train for two years before that.
At the age of 4, my son was so frustrated with not being able to run my H0 layout that I bought him a used Lionel set. He needed help screwing the track down to a 4' x 8' table, but he was quite capable of putting the train on the tracks and running it. His train occasionally went flying off the table onto the concrete floor below but suffered very little damage. In part this was because his table was only about 2 feet high, an appropriate height for a 4 or 5 year old.
Speaking of tables, I would deffinitely recommend one for your son's train, no matter what the scale. A table keeps the trains up out of the dust/hair/lint on the floor and avoiding that keeps the trains happy and healthy for a long time to come. But be sure to build the table strong enough to walk on. Because of his size, your son will have to. Even better, build it strong enough for you to walk on for times that you decide to join him.
There are basically two types of 0 gauge trains that you are likely to run into. One type runs on 2 rail track and is made with more detail (which equals less ruggedness) than the 3 rail variety. The other type of 0 gauge trains run on 3 rail track. While the 3 rail trains are more toy like and have less detail, that equates to tougher and fewer pieces to break off. The three rail track simplifies wiring, eliminating the complexities of wiring two rail track. While there are many of us on this forum that can advise you on how to wire sidings, loops, wyes, figure eights inside ovals, and a host more problematic track configurations, these and other problems with 2 rail track will discourage your son's experimenting with different track configurations which is part of the fun of trains and painlessly educational to boot.
Lionel has already been mentioned as a source of 0 gauge trains running on 3 rail track. Williams by Bachmann is another. The MARX trains that I cut my teeth on are no longer made, but they and Lionel had a reputation of building tough, long lived toy trains. I don't know about ruggedness of the modern 0 gauge 3 rail trains so I hope someone who is more familiar with aspect of them will chime in.
Jim
some years ago my grandson came with me to a model railroad show and we bought some lionel 027 and a couple manual switch tracks. with a 4 by 8 foot layout he was very happy.
i have some tinplate marx 027 i use to set up for christmas but stopped doing that. they are much to loud when running.
I found some plastic linoel 027 that are much quieter.
lex
My three year old has a Bachmann HO Thomas set that he plays with while at Grandpa and Grandma's. It didn't take him long to learn how to use a re-railer and he rarely needs help with it (though he doesn't use it while not being supervised).
The advantage of the HO Thomas sets is they don't have a whole lot of detailing that can be broken off.
If you go HO and he's not into Thomas I'd recommend starting a cheaper set because they don't have the fragile detailing and are cheaper to replace.
Whatever you get I hope he enjoys it, I have fond memories of playing with trains as a kid my son's face lights up whenever he is around trains.
Modeltrainstuff.com has some very low prices on everything. They have nearly the whole line of the Thomas and Friends line. They have all the starter sets as of right now.
My two bits
For a kid that young,,a Lionel set, much easier to find Lionel stuff than G scale.
Fastrack is easy to work with too,,just like Bachmanns EZ track is.
A sheet of plywood with casters that can roll under his bed or if a table is desired,
a pingpong table works out well.
I will also say that my 6yr old does well with the HO too. We started at 5 1/2 with an HO. We do also have O and G those are mainly just for Christmas.
And the Bachmann Thomas HO trainsets are great too.
I will also add that the Bachmann E-X track work well for him it is a great track is it is going to be played with on the ground.
Finally the Bachmann E-Z Command was easy for him to learn as well.
At that age kids learn quick. Sometimes too quick.
My 5 yr old daughter Loves her thomas HO scale electric train set, it has lots of options with sturdy cars, most are two axle which makes it VERY easy for her to place on the track the hook and loop couplers are reliable My 2.5 year old also helps and has little problem with them, the Set comes with EZ track which they can put together so long as you keep the rail joiners in good shape, this track can also be nailed down to a board. G scale stuff has to many parts that will break off of the engine and you wont be able to slide a G-scale set under the bed with the train on the tracks very easy. The Last and best thing about HO is there is so much to buy. one more recommendation I would make is to add a few extra retailer track's around what ever layout you come up with, they will help keep things running smoothly, (they look like road crossings) another thing about HO is hot wheels, matchbox and a lot of the other popular LOW PRICED cars trucks planes or what ever are in the correct scale range.
Quote from: NarrowMinded on October 17, 2009, 12:45:28 AM
another thing about HO is hot wheels, matchbox and a lot of the other popular LOW PRICED cars trucks planes or what ever are in the correct scale range.
When most people say Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars, they refer to the 1:64 scale cars that are better suited for S scale or O scale layouts, however, some companies do make cars in 1:87 scale well suited for use on HO scale as well as some for N (around 1:160 or so) and G scale (i.e.1:24, 1:25, 1:18 etc)...so I'm might be correct in guessing that the "Hot Wheels & Matchbox" cars you were referring to may or may not actually be 1:64 scale and not 1:87 scale which is closer to HO scale. But if you were referring to the smaller 1:87 scale cars I apologize. I think maisoto and model power make 1:87 scale cars.
ABC,
How do we decide that 36% oversize is too big but 25% undersize is okay? To me, they are both out of scale if you are an engineer. And they are just fine in context if you are an artist.
I guess that makes me an artist. (Hello right brain, good bye left brain.) Most of the vehicles on my layout are small, cheap diecast trucks, some marked as 1/100 scale, some marked as 1/87 scale. There are a few cars marked Matchbox and a few marked Hot Wheels, but none of those are marked with a scale. I also have some plastic cars marked 1/87. Most visitors refer to all of them as Hot Wheels or Matchbox toys. A few of the older ones even use the term Dinky toys.
Surprisingly, the assorted sizes all look okay. I must admit to using some trickery call "forced perspective" not only on the scenery but also with the cars and trucks. I tend to put the larger (1/64? scale) ones up front near the observer, the 1/87 scale ones farther away, and the 1/100 scale ones still farther away. This works well when I start putting people in the vehicles. The oversize, up front ones will take full H0 scale people. For this reason, the up front vehicles tend to be overly heavy with convertibles. The H0 people often have to be reduced to torsos and heads to fit the H0 cars, but even at just a foot away, this is hard to see, particularly as most of my H0 vehicles are enclosed. Farthest away are the TT vehicles, often without figures. H0 figures look too large while N look too small.
Bottom line, if I and many, many other model railroaders can live with slightly out of scale vehicles, I am sure that a six year old can too. For six year olds, I would be looking more for rugged, metal, low cost vehicles with limited details than I would for exact scale, fragile, expensive ones. I would rather hear
"Oh my, Nancy has stepped on another car and scuffed the paint a little."
rather than hearing
" [expletive deleted] the [expletive deleted] kids. They just smashed a [expletive deleted] $30 dollar [insert vehicle name here.]"
Jim
Well its hard to argue with cheap and durable, great point Jim. But I was just saying, when I was a kid I had the old Lesney cars on my layout, which was pretty much the predecessor to Matchbox, and they were metal and were roughly 1:72 to 1:90 scale which was good enough for me...they were both durable and competitively priced at a nickel or dime a piece. The greyhound bus was my favorite...see here http://www.fcarnahan.com/img/75i/66c3.jpg (http://www.fcarnahan.com/img/75i/66c3.jpg)
Who knows maybe this 6 year old is a real stickler for details? Maybe he wants all brass locos, and code 83 track, and exactly to scale cars and scenery, etc... But, you're probably right in that 99.9% of the time
s/he could care less and would be satisfied with a simple Life-Like F-7, 2 Boxcars, a caboose, a 36" diameter circle of track, and
his/her Hot Wheels cars.
Granted with little kids you probably wouldn't even have people, telephone poles, lamp posts, signs, trees, and buildings with a lot of detail built to scale. But you could have Hot Wheels cars, roads, a big life-like Styrofoam tunnel, and buildings built more sturdily with less detail parts.
Note what is in bold. I was referring back to the kid from the original question (but I had the ages mixed up):
QuoteCan anyone recommend a train set to start my 5 year old son with? Are these sets easy to put together?
I suspect NarrowMinded's daughter is probably a girl. And at the risk of being sexist, I will concede that girls tend to notice details and incongruities quicker than boys. Hopefully her father will be able to keep her in the dark about brass locomotives until she is 20 and can afford to buy her own. As far as smaller details (people, telephone poles, etc.) her father might want to wait until she starts wanting them and is old enough to install them herself. That is great motivation for being careful with them. Having said that, let me say this. A week and a half ago, we have two thousand 10 year olds visit our large scale portable layout at our local museum. According to my calculations, 50% went around the layout clockwise and the other 50% counter clockwise. They all passed a long road bridge where we normally display a car (1/32 scale.) Over the three days, it seemed like the car went from one end of the bridge to the over and back again a 1000 times. For some reason, it was irresistible. And yet, the guard rail of the bridge, made of tooth picks and thread, suffered absolutely no damage. These kids had probably been warned not to touch anything, but when compelled to, they did so very carefully and gently. Maybe we underestimate young people. But I still think even a precocious girl will be happy with hot wheels at the age of six.
Jim
Hi, ABC, Mr.Banner,
ABC, for my Layout I am very picky about scale. I carry a caliper with me when I am shopping for Items to put on my layout, that is really my only rivet counter trait.
If you notice I inserted the word "Range" My kids have set their own range for what is acceptable when they play with the "HO" Thomas Set, they have Large Tonka and very small micro machine vehicles but they usually stick with the Hotwheel sized vehicles. +/- a scale or two. second if you have ever seen the vehicles that are provided with the thomas set I am sure you would shutter Sir Topham Hatt would scale out to about 20+ foot tall.
We are talking about suggestion's for a 5yr boy here and I am sure he wont mind that a bit.
Mr. Banner,
Brass is the last of my worries, We are fortunate (or not, Brass is cheap compaired to these) to have a 7 1/2" gauge Railroad just a few minutes from our home, they give rides the first and third sunday of each month, Aly 5yrs old often asks if we can get a "Real" steam engine to ride at home.
www.southerncalifornialivesteamers.com/