As the title says I am getting back in the hobby after a long time away. I have a good size basement 20" x 28’ so I can build a nice size layout. I live in Genoa Illinois and I am wondering if there are other modelers in the area?
Mike
I was out of the hobby for 17 years to devote all hobby time to my first love hot rod cars, but I always knew that when I got old I would return to model railroading. Fortunately I still like my track plan and what I had done.
Mike,
Welcome back to the hobby. I can’t say if there are any modelers in the area but it would be a sure bet that you can find some just by checking out your local hobby shop. Thats of course if there is one in your area. unfortunately it seems that a lot of them have been closing their doors the last few years. Being there in 1982 (tech school in the usaf) at Rantoul AFB, there was a hobby shop right off base that I used to hang out at, don’t think its there anymore though.
Wish I had a basement that size for my layout, heck just wish I had a layout right now! Someday soon I will get back into it with a vengence, just as soon as my old house sells. Well the washing machine buzzer just went off so I am off, good typing at ya and keep it on the tall skinny stuff.
Neil
Welcome aboard. [#welcome]
A small suggestion:
Start with a small section and get some trains running. That way you will not get overwhelmed and frustrated with the progress as you work on the big layout.
Good luck. There is much you can learn in here. I know I have.
Welcome to the forums and back to model railroading.
As suggested, get started, but go easy, it can get overwhelming if you try to do to much too fast.
I would also suggest getting a good book on getting started in model railroading, either from our host at SHOP above on this page or your local hobby shop. While you are there (assuming you have one), you could leave your name with the proprieter to give to other modelers. It is not good form to ask for others names for confidentiality issues, but if you say you want your name given to others interested in model railroading, it is OK. They can contact you if they want, you have asked them to.
Good luck,
Richard
[#welcome] to the forums and back to the hobby!
I re-joined the hobby again about 7 years ago. I suggest you read some books that can be purchased form MR at the Link “SHOP” on the above gray and black tool bars. There is some things that have changed “since then”.
One thing that changed that I wasn’t so aware of is the new-fangled thing {not so new anymore} called DCC. Digital Command Control {DCC} is a new way of controlling each loco individually NOT controling the locos via control of the track electrical juice. A “computer decoder” on board the loco tells it what to do. You can speed-match locos to have 2, 3 or 4 in a single consist. DCC can ALSO run accesories like remote control switches form the one controler!
Here is a primer: http://www.tonystrains.com/tonystips/dccprimer/index.htm
May I also suggest you hang on tight to your wallet first, except to buy some books on “modern” MRRing. WHy? Well I, for instance, bought all kinds of DC stuff in HO {my previous were O/O-27 and N} and THEN found out I 'd rather go with the DCC setup! {while SOME DCC systems will allow you to run a DC loco on a DCC layout, I found mixing the two to be hazardous…I can fry anything by taking it out of the box!
Now, mind you, I am not trying to talk you into DCC, just making a suggestion to investigate it before adding equipment to your roster. There Are staunch supporters of either DC or DCC and they will stick to it!
Wiring with DCC is much easier than DC. Not as much needed.
Now as for older equipment…My old N scale stuff needed some work after being in storage at room temp for years. I found that I didn’t care for the way it worked as they were old DC stuff {NOT that I minded that, and I changed my mind to HO anyway}. and some had bad pickups and sparked and went wizz bang clank clunk when they ran. servicing them didn’t necessarily do the trick. SO if you have olde
Why is dyslexic so hard to spell? Anyway thanks for the info guys. I have one motor a Lifelike Proto 1000 F3. It has a dcc board in it but I dont have dcc yet but from what I have read I want to go that way. Speaking of money, my wife wanted me to build a garden railroad, but that is way too costly for me. Ho is the way to go…
I’ll bet there are closer shops to Genoa. I had to look at my Illinois map, but found it’s northwest of Chicago. There are good shops up that way, but I have very little experience in the region.
As for Rantoul, lots of changes. The base was closed more than a decade ago. The shop you’re talking about, Slot & Wing, has long since decamped to Champaign, where it’s located at the northeast corner of the I-74/Prospect Ave interchange. Even the building is gone at the former location outside the old main gate (also gone).
Wanna bet??? You got a good size area to build in so I would start making a list of what you want in your railway. List all the industries that interest you, how many bridges you would like etc. DON’T BUY ANYTHING YET!!! Don’t make the same mistake 99% of newbies do. They go out and buy something that looks good to them and then find out later that it doesn’t fit the era you have decided to model. Pic an era and a Railway you like and start to research it.
What I learned returning to the hobby after 18 years:
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Join The NMRA and attend division meetings. You will meet the people and learn good stuff.
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Plan for wider curves than you think. I always wanted a mining and lumber layout, so that is what I started. After a while I remembered that I like big steam engines and my 18" curves cause some problems. Save room for a change of mind.
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Build what you like first.
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I really like my DCC (Digitrax radia)
You can check on the NMRA website for groups in your area. That’s a great size basement for a layout. Hopfully you’ve still got enough structures,rolling stock, track, etc that you can get a section up and running pretty quickly.
richard
I don’t know any modelers in that area since I’m in Georgia but I would recommend purchasing Pelle Soeborg’s new book that just came out…Rebuilding a Layout from A - Z. It is well put together with great color photos and outstanding advice for building an incredible model railroad.
Tim
Mike.
Not to put a damper on your intentions, but if your basement is unfinished, do some basic preparation first. Put some covering on the ceiling, even if it is only to staple some plastic sheeting up over the area you intend to set up your layout. You wouldn’t beleive the amount of dust and dirt that can fall down from the floor above. The other things to do is to give the walls and floor a coat of a good quality paint to help to keep the cement dust down.
When you do start your layout, MAKE HASTE SLOWLY. Build your benchwork solidly so that it doesn’t rock if you bump into it. When laying track, make sure that it is on a smooth surface, and no kinks, bumps or dips when you lay the track.
Good luck.
Blue Flamer.
[quote user=“Blue Flamer”]
CGW121:
As the title says I am getting back in the hobby after a long time away. I have a good size basement 20" x 28’ so I can build a nice size layout. I live in Genoa Illinois and I am wondering if there are other modelers in the area?
Mike
Mike.
Not to put a damper on your intentions, but if your basement is unfinished, do some basic preparation first. Put some covering on the ceiling, even if it is only to staple some plastic sheeting up over the area you intend to set up your layout. You wouldn’t beleive the amount of dust and dirt that can fall down from the floor above. The other things to do is to give the walls and floor a coat of a good quality paint to help to keep the cement dust down.
When you do start your layout, MAKE HASTE SLOWLY. Build your benchwork solidly so that it doesn’t rock if you bump into it. When laying track, make sure that it is on a smooth surface, and no kinks, bumps or dips when you lay the track.
Good luck.