why I am glad I bought the scout set

Anything that lets you play with the kids is great!

Since I'm trying to decide on what track to use, can I assume you are comparing MTH RealTrax to Lionel Fastrack? If so, would you care to comment further?

I have both MTH RealTrax and Lionel FasTrack.  For me it's a no-brainer.  FasTrack wins in every comparison.  It is easier to assemble and easier to maintain.  The electrical connections on FasTrack are very solid whereas the electrical connections on RealTrax are always getting bent and distorted.  Neither track is easy to assemble, but I have had pieces of FasTrax that were nearly impossible to assemble.

Earl

The only Fastrack I use anymore is around the Christmas tree.  I think it is a bit better all around than the MTH, which is quite good.  Fastrack seems to be a bit more robust when kids play with it. 

Remote Thomas is a big hit although I have a Scout, too.  As to going back to something else in a few years -- Not sure anything else will every be acceptable to the little ones, even though I'm sort of tired of him they can't get enough . . . the Scout gets no attention.  They really like the handheld control . . .

I use FasTrack on my small size layout. I also have a "carpet" loop that has been put together and taken apart about 25 times. I personally think it's great,

It seems to go together easier than MTH track, they both come apart easy when under the tree and there are children, but the MTH is harder to put together and the cooper connections get bent. 

FasTrack is a cinch to put together. Eat your Wheaties and you won't have any trouble. The connections are quite robust and the roadbed texture is very good. If it wasn't so darned noisy, I'd give it an A+++++++++++++.

I really wish they would give this set a more "normal" paint scheme for next year.  I was tempted to buy one for some young children in the family this year, but the color treatment turned me off.  It's great otherwise. 

Quick, somebody get the krylon....

I think Marty said it best!

--Greg

I figure since it is for the little ones to play with and not for my main layout and they do not care about how paint looks that it is perfect.  So far I am real glad I am using it.  The 3 year old wants to rebuild the track elsewhere in the room, and can put it together, though loosely, but he can do it.  The 1 year old and the 3 year old have both played with it by rolling it back and forth on the track.  I want to expose them to trains without damaging my good ones, so the cars are the cheaper kind as well as the loco.

i guess it's a mater of personal taste but i really like the orange and blue. been thinking about getting this set for awhile.

Dave

And once again, the primary reason so many folks have trouble with RealTrax connections and assembly is that is is NOT like a track with pins.

Hold two pieces in a V with the rails touching, rotate flat while pressing together.

Then hold the next piece up at and 45° angle, with rails touching and rotate down and into place, ect.

Separate by holding one flat and lifting the end of the next piece.

Do that and your connection / bent contact problems will go away unless you are damaging them in storage / transport.

My Christmas loop of RealTrax is up for the fourth time, no issues as long as no-one kicks the track. And when they do, I simply reconnect it. No damage yet and I have 5 kids running around it every day since Thanksgiving. 1, 2 4, 6 and 8 years old.

I do park the train behind the TV table and tree/presents so they can't derail it.

I have been running a 11 ft x 23 ft layout in the basement for several years now. Realtrax has not given me any disconnection or power connection loss issues in that time.

And I much prefer the rail shape and the roadbed color.

Both Fastrack and RealTrax have the noise issue. Fastrack just a bit worse than RealTrax due to rail internal open area.

Bed them on Felt, Cork, homosote, soundboard, carpet or some other sound deadening layer and they are much improved.