I am currently trying to involve my son in the experience of model railroading through Cub Scouts. I just do not know where to begin. I have asked him what he would like to put on this layout but I have never done this before and can not give him guidance. What would be the easiest for a father/son experience to start with??
I think the first question you would want to answer is … what are the goals for your layout? Is it to build models? Learn about history? Operate trains prototypically? ???
Once you have answered the goals question (and assuming that model railroading is still right way to do achieve the goals), you can start to ask about:
- era - steam or diesel, or combination, or something else (electric, traction, subway…???)
- theme - rural or urban, big industry or small, freight or passenger?
- industries you might want to have - small town, big city, one gigantic operation or many smaller?
The answers to these questions do not have to be “black and white”, as there is a lot of room for compromise, overlap, and so on.
Then you might want to think about how this will come together on a layout. I would highly recommend www.gatewaynmra.org for their small layout plans and plenty of advice and pictures. They build a lot of layouts and have articles on how-to etc, etc…
Also look at www.greatesthobby.com for information about getting started. You can search the internet for info, find yourself a good local train shop (LTS - sometimes LHS - local hobby shop), and start asking questions. If you look through this forum, or others, you will find plenty of newcomers seeking advice, and you will have a lot of the same questions. Just jump in and ask away!
Good luck! Looking forward to hearing about how things progress!
Andrew
Seriously consider the Woodlandscenics layouts. I have built the Grand Valley. This was an excellent
learning experience. It is a bit pricey, but considering what you get, it’s a bargain. it includes easy step
by step instructions and once you build it( it took me about two months), you will have the skills and
confidence to tackle any layout. It is also expandable if you use a couple of turnouts. Dave
P.S. If you bought all the items that come with this layout separately, you would spend ALOT more. http://www.woodlandscenics.com/
I agree, a very nice deal for teaching yourself and your son something new and interesting. infact the woodland scenic sets don’t even have to be train based if you don’t want them to be. they’re very adapable.
Jay.
I to have a son, and Im new at the dad thing, Hes my step-son , hes right at that age where he wants to be invoved in everthing I do. I would sugjest that you and your son learn together, come up with a layout with a goal that you both like and work on that goal together, that way your son wont think he is just helping dad out with his train stuff. This way hes more invoved with the layout . Make decsions together and have fun doing it!
- era - steam or diesel, or combination, or something else (electric, traction, subway…???)
- theme - rural or urban, big industry or small, freight or passenger?
- industries you might want to have - small town, big city, one gigantic operation or many smaller?
I wouldn’t worry about the above. The Woodland Scenics sounds like a good idea, for loco and rolling stock get the Hogwarts set. The point is to ENGAGE his imagination, not bog down in details. If he’s a Cub Scout, then you don’t want to overwhelm him.
I also concur and recommend one of the Woodland Scenics Layout Kits. They come in HO and N Scales. The Kits include everything to construct a layout. The kit does not include buildings, track, or the train. Woodland Scenics offers a seperate building set, or you can select your own from other manufacturers. Woodland Scenics suggests that Atlas track be used. And you can select or put together your own train set. For an HO set, I recommend an Athearn, Bachmann Spectrum or Life Like Proto 1000/2000 locomotive of your choice. Any HO scale cars will work (I like the Athearn car kits, but ready-to-run cars are available as well).
Others on this forum can recommend N-scale equipment.
Find a local Hobby Shop and tell them want you want. Big discount stores don’t know anything about the model trains except how to sell poorly made train sets. A good hobby shop will be very knowledgable about the products and will work with you personally. They will also be able to answer questions you may have as will this forum.
Unless he seems to have a historical interest, you should probably look for your local railroads and something contemporary. Or someplace where he’s been on a train ride. Or something from a RR museum that he’s been to.
Look for smaller lcomotives and cars if you go with the ready made track or layout. The long cars will not look nice on 18" radius curves and may not run well. (ask the hobby shop).
I didn’t mean that the answers to the questions had to be limited to the examples above. Bikerdad, you are right - the answer to “theme” might be Hogwarts, or Thomas, or even “what if Saruman built a railroad in Middle Earth”… The questions were just a suggestion about a way to get started.
Chiefbear - In model railroading you will find that there are many, many “right” answers to every question! The trick is to find what works for you.
Andrew
The trick is to get something up quickly, even if it track on plywood and nothing more. The refrain “when will the layout be ready” will be constant in your life if you don’t do something. I wanted a bigger layout that I knew was going to take years, so I bought a “used” layout from a chap who has over time become a friend. My son used that for years and was very happy with it. But before that, it was the great plywood central.
Next, do some rail fanning with him but make sure the trip includes a stop at a Mc Donald’s or the like. Maybe even a camping trip over night at a great rail fanning area, he will love that - have him bring a friend.
Naturally he will want to model what he sees so don’t censure his choices because they aren’t the ones you would make.
Get a book with lots of pictures of engines and trains.
If there is passenger service or commuter passenger service, take him on short train ride, bring lots of junk food.
Buy MR’s and let him read them.
After you have something up and he has played for a while, let him build a paper dream list, probably he will say he wants a tunnel, mountains, etc etc. Then work with him, but accept you might be more interested in the modelling and scenery than he is. He will want a finished layout, you want the “experience.” If you can do this, you will remember those times with him as magical.