someone please help a beginner! i want to make a good train layout, but i’m out of cash [
]! tips, anyone? respond soon!
Join a club, hit the flea markets and start with one fun thing. If you are completly out of cash, find another hobby. This does not have to be expensive, but it cost a little. I built my first three pikes while below poverty level. Now that I am retired it is more fun with a little cash, but it doesn’t take much if you go used and small. There will be code 100 brass track to be given away in some places. Its not nice but I built three leayouts with it. Buy one really hard building. It will give much fun for the buck. Good luck.
Get a job, and stop using so many periods!
Cutter,
Welcome to the forum! [:)]
Since you are only 12 then it’s going to be a little tough for you to go out and get a summer job. Schools out pretty soon. Do you have a lawn mower? Can you canvas your neighborhood to find out whether someone needs to have their lawn cut on a regular basis? How 'bout a paper route?
Is there any thing that you can do around the house to earn some extra cash? Ask your mom or dad? How 'bout our grandparents? Use your imagination and ask around. You might be surprised to find out there are a number of ways to earn money for something that you really want.
Remember: In all your spending, make sure that you set aside a portion to put in your savings account - and KEEP it there. Sometimes we adults have a tendency to want to spend what I have NOW and not save anything for later.
As ARTHILL stated, flea markets are a good place to find used locomotives and cars. Since you know how to use a computer, you can also find some good deals on NEW locomotives on the Internet. Trainworld.com (http://www.trainworld1.com/index.html) has some great deals, if you poke around on their website. Keep your eye out on what they refer to as “Blowouts”. Be careful though, Cutter. Some of the blowout deals are good; some aren’t as good.
Here’s one that is a VERY nice locomotive that I got myself last year. It’s a Like-Like Proto 2000 S1 switcher. Here’s what one looks like:
http://www.lifelikeproducts.com/proto/holocoarchive/description/hoalcos1locodesc2nd.htm
If you were to buy it at a hobby shop, it would probably cost you over $100. (That’s quite a few cut lawns, huh?) You can purchase one from Trainworld.com for only $29.99. (A lot cheaper than $110 [:)]) This is a VERY nice locomotive and will most likely run much better than the ones you could pick up from a flea market. I’ve been very happy with mine.
Cutter, I’m glad you came on the forum and asked your question
Gee, thanx, I’ll go ask my parents for jobs (unless, of course, I have bugged them so much that they refuse.[:D])
Are you really only 12? How did Tstage know that.? If you are 12, I have a really good idea for you. I’m not 12 but it worked for me.
Well then what are you waiting for: SPEAK UP![:0]…please?[:I]
Jetrock,
Bad boy. Be nice.
trainfreak245,
Welcome to the forum and the hobby.
Your going to need a few bucks to get started, but once you are up and going you can scratch build many of the things for your layout out of things that you have all around you. Remember that nature will very often replicate itself on a smaller scale and if you keep your eyes open you will find all kinds of things to use. Some plants yield some very nice tree structures. Around the house you can use cardboard or even paper to make buildings. With a little paint you can use your mom’s old lipstick tubes for propane tanks (just make sure its OK with her, and that she knows its for the layout, not you!), things like that. Just keep your eyes peeled.
One thing that you can do is go to some garage sales to find track, transformers and rolling stock. If you have a Goodwill store near you I’d look there. You don’t see trains there real ofter, but I have seen them there before. Keep in mind that with these options the equipment is pre-used and sometimes in sort of rough condition, but thats what makes it CHEAP. Besides, half the fun of modeling is taking the raw materials and improving them!
Like has already been stated, new is the easiest to work with, but it costs a little more. If you look around though (particularly on the web), you can come across some really good deals.
If you show some real interest in this, and are willing to do the work needed to get it going, I wouldn’t see why a parent wouldn’t want to help out, either with money or time or maybe just hooking you up with jobs, so that you can keep developing your interests.
It sure beats some of the alternatives that kids are into these days!
ARTHILL,
Easy. If you click on the user’s profile name in the upper left-hand corner of the post, it takes you right to user’s profile page. (Course, that all depends how much info someone fills out their profile page…)
Tom
Cutter,
I forgot to ask you: What scale are you interested in? N? HO? Larger?
Tom
Email me your address and I’ll send enough stuff to get you started. The only thing you will have to come up with is turnouts and incidentals like nails, rail joiners, etc. Oh, and of course a place to build and wood.
“Here, I’ve come to save the daaaaaay!” [:-^]
Spacemouse!..OUR HERO!!!
Way to go, Chip! Good thinkin’ ! [:D] (Now I’m going to have that tune running around my head the rest of the afternoon…)
Tom
Ask your parent to give you a “going to be a teenager party and you need to stay at home more”. Include in the invitation that you are interested in Model railroading and they should all bring something to do with your gauge and timeframe. Include the location of a good hobby shop. If all goes well you will get more stuff than you can use in a year and everyone will be happy to know you are interested in something the older types will consider “safe”. I’m not 12 but it worked for me. Best party I ever had. My kids put it together. With some code 100 track and a couple of turnout you can get started for next to nothing. With what spacemouse has you should be set. Good luck
Thank God for those who have plenty, and who share with those who have not.
I must remember to do that some time. Share.
Thanks, Mouse.[;)]
Sorry for not responding: I’m only here on Wednesdays and weekends. tstage, to answer your question, I am intrested in HO, preferably Amtrak (tell me: is that weird to you?). To everyone else: thax for the massive response; maybe there’s hope for me yet![:D]
P.S. SpaceMouse, thanx for the offer, but I don’t think my parents would feel comfortable with getting stuff from “Internet Strangers” (no offense!). Sorry![:(]
Cutter,
He’s no stranger…He’s SPAAAAACEMOOOOOOUSE! Seriously, if your mom and dad are a bit squimish about accepting a package, I’m sure Chip wouldn’t have a problem receiving a call or e-mail from them just to verify things. Personally, I think it’s a great offer but it’s your call…
Tom
It makes me realize how lucky I was at 12. Growing up on a farm there was always work to do to earn money. Back then a Tarzan paperback set me back about 4 hours of shoveling manure or putting up hay or whatever. Those were the days.
Freak, I would not turn down Mouse’s offer just yet. I can vouch for him, as will virtually every other person who regularly reads his posts.
Ask your parents to contact him via his e-mail, or here if they wish, and they can get ahold of me, privately, if they so desire. If Mouse sends you some stuff, you will be well served.
Sorry, guys, but now I am absolutely sure I won’t be able to get your stuff, SpaceMouse. You’ve been EXTREMELY generous to me, but I’m gonna have to back down.[] Thanx for all your help, but I’ll have to help myself. THANX AGAIN!!![:D]
But… maybe you guys can still help me out. Do you know any good web sites to find discout trains, trak, etc.?
Cutter,
Read the first post that I wrote to you about Trainworld.com. A great place to get some locomotives a good discount. (Some a GREAT discount - See “blowouts”.) The Proto 2000 S1 switcher is a terrific deal for 70% off MSRP but it sounds like you want to go with more modern diesels. At any event, poke around their web site and, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to bounce them off the folks here.
Tom