AI-generated illustration, not a photograph of a specific product
The most common mistake with a first N scale purchase is not picking the wrong brand. It is buying a box that cannot move.
"Starter Set", "Basic Set", "M1", "My Plan", "Rail Set" — on a shop listing they all read like entry-level products. Some contain a train and run the moment you unpack them. Others contain only track. One of them does not even include a controller. This page sorts them out so you do not open the box and discover there is nothing to put on the rails.
Six kinds of box — which have a train in them?
This table is the whole point of the article. Read the "train?" column and you have avoided most of the ways this goes wrong:
| Box type | Train? | What is inside | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Set (KATO 10-001 / 10-002) | ✓ Yes | Train + R315 track + Standard SX controller + power supply | First purchase — runs out of the box |
| Basic Set SD (TOMIX 90194) | ✓ Yes | Train + C280 track + N-600 controller + feeder + power supply | First purchase — the TOMIX equivalent |
| Train basic set (e.g. KATO 10-1697S) | ✓ Train only | Rolling stock and nothing else | You already have track and power |
| Add-on set (e.g. 10-1698 / 10-1699) | △ Extra cars | Intermediate cars; usually no powered car | Extending a formation you own |
| M1 / M2 / My Plan | ✗ No train | Track + controller + power supply | You have stock, or want to choose it yourself |
| Rail Set (e.g. TOMIX 91025 / 91027) | ✗ Track only | Track; may include neither controller nor feeder | Already running — extending the layout |
Our advice: for a first purchase, go straight to a set that includes a train. You will have something running the same day, nothing will be missing, and that early success matters more than saving a little money. Be especially wary of the notably cheap "M1", "My Plan" and "Rail Set" listings — they look like bargains, but the price is low because there is no train in the box. You will spend the difference later, with an extra wait. The trainless sets are the right answer only once you already know which locomotive or unit you want.
What is in each box, and what it costs
| Part number | Cars | Contents | Japanese list price |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATO 10-001 (N700S Starter) | 4 | M1-equivalent R315 track + Standard SX | ¥25,740 |
| KATO 10-002 (E5 Starter) | 3 | M1-equivalent R315 track + Standard SX | ¥22,000 |
| TOMIX 90194 (Basic Set SD) | 4 | Hankyu 2000 series + C280 + N-600 + feeder | ¥31,900 |
| KATO 20-852 (M1) | — | R315 basic oval + Standard SX | ¥11,000 |
| KATO 20-853 (M2) | — | R315 oval + passing siding + Standard SX | ¥19,800 |
| TOMIX 90949 (My Plan) | — | C280 layout + N-600 + feeder | ¥11,000 |
| TOMIX 91025 / 91027 (Rail Set) | — | Track only, no controller or feeder | ¥8,360 / ¥13,200 |
Japanese manufacturer list prices including tax, checked 2026-07-13. These are the published reference figures; what you pay depends on your region, importer, shipping and duties. A product page existing does not mean the item is in stock where you are.
A starter set is a short train, not a full-length one
The other common surprise: the train in a starter set is a runnable short formation, not the prototype's full length.
KATO's 10-001 N700S Starter contains four cars. The real train is sixteen. Getting there means adding 10-1698 (four cars) and 10-1699 (eight cars). The same pattern applies to the others:
- KATO 10-002 — the E5 "Hayabusa" set is three cars (the same stock as the 10-1969 basic set). The prototype runs as ten, so you would add 10-1970 (three cars) and 10-1971 (four cars).
- TOMIX 90194 — the Hankyu 2000 series set is four cars, and TOMIX's own product page states that adding the separately sold 97218 (four cars) recreates the prototype's eight-car formation.
This is a design decision, not a shortcoming. A short formation is cheaper, takes far less space, and runs perfectly well. Starting with four cars and extending once you know you enjoy it is a much better order of operations than committing to a sixteen-car train and a table to match before you have run anything.
Starter set, or buy the pieces separately?
A reasonable question: would buying a track set and a train separately come out cheaper? Usually not — the starter set is normally slightly ahead. Using KATO's N700S:
| Route | What you buy | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Starter set | 10-001 — train, track and controller in one box | ¥25,740 |
| Assemble it yourself | 20-852 M1 (¥11,000) + 10-1697S four cars (¥15,840) | ¥26,840 |
So if you happen to like the train that comes in the starter set, buying it is both simpler and marginally cheaper. Assembling separately makes sense when the starter sets do not offer the train you want, or when you need a different track arrangement than the oval they supply.
Three things to confirm before ordering
- Radius. The R315 or C280 in the box describes the curve supplied, not what your future trains can manage. Long stock often needs more. Check the minimum radius stated for any model you plan to add — see minimum radius and layout size.
- Space. A published layout size is the footprint of the track. TOMIX gives 90194 as 560 × 1,120 mm (about 22 × 44 in), and on top of that you need room for body overhang on curves, somewhere to put the controller and adapter, and a margin so nothing rolls off the edge.
- Power. The controller and the power supply are two different things — the controller varies speed, the adapter feeds it. These are Japanese domestic products, so the adapter is specified for Japanese mains and a Japanese plug.
Which one we would buy first
For a first set, we would pick KATO 10-002 (E5 "Hayabusa") or KATO 10-001 (N700S). Both include the train, run smoothly, and are instantly recognisable prototypes. The E5 has the additional advantage of being only three cars — cheaper, easier to store, and it needs less table.
If you would rather start on the TOMIX system — perhaps because your planned layout needs a particular FineTrack turnout — 90194 Basic Set SD is the equivalent one-box answer, and TOMIX documents exactly which add-on set extends it.
Whichever you choose, sketch the loop before it arrives: the track planner will tell you whether the oval in the box fits the space you actually have, and KATO vs TOMIX covers what committing to either system means later on.
Sources
Checked 2026-08-01 (prices 2026-07-13). Box contents, car counts, track, controller, radius and list prices follow KATO, UNITRACK and TOMIX official product pages. Prices are Japanese manufacturer list prices including tax and are quoted as a like-for-like reference, not as local pricing. Where a maker publishes no figure, this article says so rather than estimating.
- KATO product site — Starter Set range, and the M1/M2 listing stating that vehicles are not included
- TOMIX 90194 Basic Set SD (four cars, ¥31,900; the page notes 97218 extends it to the prototype eight-car formation)
- TOMIX 90949 My Plan — track and controller, no train
Check the oval fits before the box arrives
Frequently asked questions
Do all boxes called Starter Set or Basic Set include a train?
The name alone is not a guarantee, but every example checked here does: KATO 10-001 and 10-002 Starter Sets and TOMIX 90194 Basic Set SD all contain the stated train, track, controller and power supply, so they run straight out of the box. Read the contents list anyway — a retailer describing something as an entry set does not make it one.
What is the difference between a train basic set and a starter set?
A train basic set contains only rolling stock — no track, no controller, no power supply. It is meant for people who already have a running layout and want another train. A starter set contains the train plus everything needed to run it. If you own nothing yet, a basic set will leave you with a train you cannot move.
Do KATO M1, M2 and TOMIX My Plan include a train?
No. KATO 20-852 (M1), 20-853 (M2) and TOMIX 90949 (My Plan) are track-and-controller packages: an oval of track, a controller and a power supply, with no rolling stock at all. KATO's own listing for M1/M2 states explicitly that vehicles are not included. They look cheap next to a starter set precisely because there is no train in the price.
Can I run a TOMIX Rail Set on its own?
No. Rail Sets such as 91025 and 91027 are track only — depending on the set they may include neither a controller nor a feeder, and they certainly do not include a train or a power supply. They exist for people who already run a layout and want to extend or reconfigure it.
Is the KATO 10-001 N700S Starter a complete 16-car train?
No, it contains four cars. The prototype is a 16-car train, and reaching that requires add-on sets 10-1698 (four cars) and 10-1699 (eight cars) on top. This is deliberate rather than a shortcoming: a short formation costs less, takes far less space and still runs properly, so you can start now and extend later.
Is a starter set better value than buying track and a train separately?
Usually yes, slightly. Taking KATO's N700S as the example: the 10-001 starter set is ¥25,740 at Japanese list price, while buying 20-852 (M1) at ¥11,000 plus the 10-1697S four-car set at ¥15,840 comes to ¥26,840 — marginally more for the same result. Assembling it yourself only makes sense when you want a train the starter sets do not offer, or a different track arrangement.
The set includes R315 or C280 track — does that mean any N scale train will run on it?
No. That figure describes the curve supplied, not what your rolling stock can handle. Whether a given model gets round depends on the minimum radius its manufacturer states for it. Long vehicles such as Shinkansen sets and large locomotives often need more, so check the model rather than assuming the curve in the box suits everything.
Will a Japanese starter set work with my mains supply?
Check before you plug it in. These sets are sold for the Japanese domestic market and their AC adapter is specified for Japanese mains and a Japanese plug. Read the rating plate on the adapter for its input voltage range and confirm it matches your supply — the fact that a plug physically fits an outlet tells you nothing about whether the voltage is right. The controller and the power supply are two separate things: the controller varies speed, the adapter feeds it.