Okay so firstly I don’t do model railroads, just never interested me very much. But I have a nephew coming up on a fifteenth birthday who has been showing signs of being interested in railroads and modeling. Any recommendations for a beginner kit? What sort of things would he need to get started? I mean he’s a smart kid, so I’m not even worried in the slightest about being able to handle it. I just thought that a beginner kit to kinda get him started would be a great birthday gift.
Don’t get me wrong, your intent is great, but a nearly 15 year old smart kid may already have his own ideas regarding model railroads, so an even smarter (and cool) uncle might do really great by asking what, if any, those ideas are, and then take it from there.
Cheers, the Bear.[:)]
Oh…I tried that. “So, Mark, what do you want for your birthday?” “I dunno.” “Well what’re your hobbies?” “I dunno.” “How about an encyclopedia set?” “That’s just cruel.” But in my defense, I thought the model railroad route might be a good direction because when he was left alone for 3ish hours with one of the lego motor sets (the ones you can build various things with and power them) he had set up a fairly large track/train.
I am afraid a simple starter set won´t do in case of a 15 year old, who is most likely quite tech or computer savvy. I can picture a start into the digital era of model railroading, and maybe even a start into G scale, but these things don´t come cheap.
I agree with Ulrich. Buying a “starter kit” for a 15 year old to build a model railroad layout would almost certainly be a waste of money.
If you want to test his interest in model railroading, buy him Train Simulator 2017, a $25 software application for PCs and MACs.
Rich
[Y]
Danke!
Ok, so you’ve tried the question route, with little success. Good on ya for trying!
While taking Ulrichs and Richs comments in to consideration, whether you think you’re going to end up wasting money on your nephew, is your call.
And in light of that here’s some options…
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/HO-Scale-Train-Sets-s/334.htm?gclid=CjwKEAjwpJ_JBRC3tYai4Ky09zQSJAC5r7ru6zJsbKCDDwm6srnmU_BzhfJK3VLSk3WBxObG83GozxoCd8Dw_wcB
…and taking into consideration that I’m biased to HO scale, and have biases towards certain manufacturers, I’d be inclined to opt for one of the Roundhouse HO Iron Horse Train Sets…
Boy do I wish I had an uncle like you! Did have an aunt buy me some building kits in the wrong scale once though. Anyway, as others have noted, a 15 year old male would certainly have an affinity for electronics. More pricey, but if the budget allows, perhaps a starter set with DCC would help to ensure the hook is set. Not unlike this: http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Bachmann-HO-Thunder-Chief-Train-Set-SF-p/bac-00826.htm
May I suggest… give the young man some of the basic Kalmbach MR books - like HO Primer, DCC, Layout Design, Operations, etc., etc. These books will fuel his interest (if it is there) and set him off in the right direction. Kalmbach has been producing quality beginner, intermediate, and advanced reading material for decades. I know, I got my first ones in the '60s!
After many attempts with 23 offspring and failing, good luck. I got hooked at the age of 8 during WWII. The high tech stuff is hard to top now days.
I came close with a 14 year old grandson but . . . . it only lasted until girls and his car. Another grandson looked interested but it only lasted for about two months and his tablet won out. I was into the first with about $200 in N gauge and the second around $100 in HO when he quit. It was worth the try!!!
Again Good Luck!
Edit:
The only advice I can offer is don’t push.
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
So you’re not interested in model trains, but do you know anyone who is?
It’s a vast hobby, and there isn’t really a “kit” to get started in it that would touch on all of the aspects one could delve into.
On our website, there’s a page of clubs. If you could find something in your area, maybe you guys could go take a look, see if his eyes go wide at the possibilities, or do his hands start searching for his cell so he can text his friends.
Here’s the link to the page:
http://trc.trains.com/groups.aspx?type=2
It’s under the resources tab at the top right of this page.
Thanks for checking us out!
Eric
Teach the kid how to install DCC decoders in older locomotive models and the world will beat a path to his door. Of course it will mostly be geezers like me, but our money is good…
Going to a good club layout or large train show is a good idea. There are so many possibilities and facets and it is almost impossible to predict what “does it” for a particular person. I have known people who were interested in model structures before they thought much about the trains, for example. And I have known teens who remain intrigued by the possibilities of lego design and lego trains.
Dave Nelson
Visiting a local club as an outing, perhaps combined with a bit of trainwatching or something…
Maybe a gift certificate to a local hobbyshop and a car ride and lunch…
Ed
When I was 15 I was into wrestling and my trains took a back seat for 3 years, around 2002-2005.
I was never really into electronics devices like the Xbox, tablets and PlayStation. I wished I had more books to read about the hobby.
My hobby went back in forth because no layout, barely any locomotives, structures, track and topping this list no money.
Somehow seems so familiar, yet so distant. At the same time.
Ed
Because of his age I would recommend N scale. Younger people like it because they can still see it. Also it takes up less room and can be moved out of the way easier.
My first two train sets, Lionel O-27 and Tyco HO scale, both came with a turnout (switch) and a spur siding. Just that one turnout adds so many options to what you can do. It might have been the make or break point in whether I continued in the hobby or not. Look for a set with a turnout or buy one or two and some extra straight track. Just going around in a small circle gets old fast.
Unless you know that he is into wild west or something historic, pick a set which has the most modern locomotive. The vast majority of people model what was current when they were in their teens and twenties.
A magazine to stimulate his interest would help too so he can see some excellent examples of what others are doing.
Hello all,
I was thinkng exactly the same thing.
There is more to simply buying a kit. You need the space to setup the layout.
What do his parents think about your idea?
Are they willing to set aside a permanent space for the layout?
Just because he might take a hiatus from modeling trains due to cars and girls I would consider putting what ever you get him for this hobby in storage and bring it out when his is older.
I wish my parents had done that for me, all these years later.
Hope this helps.
If he is into Lego, why not get him a Lego train? That stuff has long left the kiddie things and grown into an intriguing system with infrared control, camera on board stuff etc.
There is (was) a set with a near to prototype GP-38 called the Maersk Train - highly faascinating! Even for an old geezer like me, who´s hands have started to tremble due to Parkinson´s diesease.
Thanks for all of the suggestions y’all. See the thing is, I don’t really know enough about the subject to even know where a decent place to begin would be. As far as the club goes, I believe there’s one in Raleigh. See, his birthday is in August (I’m an early planner). I do have a trip planned for him, we’re going up to DC do some sight seeing and such. It’ll be his first true blue ride (ie. not 20 minutes up the tracks). So it may be possible to tie in the club before hand or after. I’ll have to see about that.
This is my only nephew. And it’s his fifteenth birthday. I mean, that’s a pretty special birthday in a young man’s life.