Dust and other debris is one of the biggest threats to the small scale model like N scale. Within a short period of time, a steady layer of filth builds up on the wheels of your favorite locomotive. The good driving characteristics are hard to find. Time to enlist the help of a mobile vacuum cleaner.
After a round on our test track, in addition to a lot of dust, we also find grass and loose ballast in the collection bin.
A vacuum cleaner on your layout will certainly be used often during the construction phase. For cleaning up the last bit of grass or other remnants of work. Once the track has been carefully provided with details and perhaps an overhead line, the vacuum cleaner is better kept away. The Japanese Tomix makes a moving vacuum cleaner wagon for scale N. And it works amazingly well.
Tomix is a brand name of the Japanese Tomy, one of the largest toy manufacturers in the world. The Tomix cleaning wagon is also released by Gaugemaster in N scale. The wagon then looks slightly nicer and bears the logo of the fictitious railway company “Network Rail”. There is room for a decoder, which in some cases has already been built in by the store.
Two functions are possible. First of all, this wagon can be used as a vacuum cleaner. The power of this piston is impressive. After a round on our test track, in addition to a lot of dust, grass and loose ballast are also found in the collection bin.
It is also possible to clean the rails. For this, a rotating disc is mounted on the underside. This eliminates the vacuum cleaner function. Liquid can optionally be used for cleaning via a reservoir. The disc change mechanism is quite fragile. It is then more advisable to buy two wagons, one as a vacuum cleaner and the other as a track cleaner.
Two cleaning pads are included: white for light soiling and a dark one for heavily soiled track. The latter is more like sandpaper and is not recommended. A classic cleaning block is a better alternative.
To move forward, a locomotive must be coupled. On the right side, so that the vacuum cleaner works optimally. During the first rounds on the model railway it is advisable to follow the wagon carefully. Because it hangs very low, it sometimes gets stuck on elements that lie between the railway tracks, such as a railway crossing.
Tomix has made a very useful product with this. And Gaugemaster has indicated a nice jacket, for which you pay a little extra. An absolute must on every layout.
- Cleaning car
- Supplier: Tomix or Gaugemaster
- Item number(s): 976425 or GM2250101
- Target price: € 58.00 – 94.99 (digital)
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