I’m a carpet-running O-gauger, but would like to build a layout with my 8 year old son. We don’t have room for a O gauge layout, so we’re thinking about a HO shelf layout. Something “basic” like the shelf layout in Iain Rice’s Small, Smart, & Practical Track Plans book.
We’re a long way away from any hobby store, so getting hobby store advice is not easily done. We’d like to run a small steam locomotive and a small diesel. (We want to “freelance” the railroad) We’re thinking about a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidation for the steam engine.
What would be a good models to consider?
Who makes good track?
Should we go DCC and with which company’s?
Lastly, any advice on starting a 8 year old out with building models?
Neither of us are experience model makers or layout builders, but we both love running our trains. Thank you.
[#welcome] Welcome to a new modeler. I’m not a steam person so I can’t help you with that, Track use Atlas flex track as much as possible [2c] code 83. DCC is dependant on what you want to do. Bachmann’s DCC set is really cheap and quick for a starter, not real versatile. As far as a diesel any Atlas unit is good, Athearn also for a starting layout. LOt of small kits would be good for an 8 year old. search around Walther’s web site for building and such, then buy somewhere else. Walthers is a great shopping resource. You’ll get lots of opinions soon , abbout everything, enjoy and don’t get too confused by all the different views you’ll hear.
For the steamer, if you’ve got an 8 year old I’d reccomend something a little sturdier than a Bachman Spectrum, those are very detailed but also very fragile. I’d go with an IHC steamer. They make a 2-8-0 Consolidation as well as the more modern 2-8-2 Mikado that was very common durring the transition era. Also they make a smaller 0-8-0 switcher as well. IHCs are a bit more solid than Spectrums or any of the other high-end steamers, but they still are good runners and can be detailed to be right alongside the top enders, and they are much cheaper too.
For the diesel, Stewart Hobbies makes an excellent line of Baldwin diesels that would be good for a starting out layout with children (I’d reccoment the VO1000.) You can leave off some of the detail parts until your kid is older as well. Athearn’s RTR F7 would also be good, but carbody diesels (full width without side walkways) weren’t used for switching much, like you’d have on your layout. Your other two good bets would be the Walthers Proto 1000 Alco RS2, the Atlas Alco RS1 or Atlas Alco RS3. The Alco RS-series was an early set of diesels that were multipurpose engines, they did everything from freight to passenger and were great switchers too.
I would recommend Athearn blue box for you diesel. They’re tough, there’s not a lot of detail to damage and ther’re rugged. They’re also simple to work on and maintain. I can take apart any one of my Athearn locomotives and tear it down and clean every piece, reassemble it and have it running again within 20 minutes. They’re good runners and there’s not a lot that can go wrong. If you’re looking for a tough diesel loco, Athearn’s one of your best bets for a young child.
Building a layout to have fun with kids is very dear to my heart and frankly one of the main things that got me back into this great hobby. My boys are 6 and 8 and have learned to be really careful with models, so I don’t totally subscribe to the theory that things have to be bullet proof. It depends on your son, and how much you want to trust him and develop a sense of respect for the models.
For locos, the IHC models are IMO excellent value models that are quite sturdy, run well and can be fairly easy to convert to DCC opperation, though they will require use of a soldering iron for this installation. They would be a good choice for a steamer.
Atlas makes the excellent S2 diesel, Stewart has been mentioned above and also you can get some good deals on LifeLike Proto 2000 and 1000 models.
As for modelling, consider starting with some basic freight car kits like Athearn Blue Box kits or Accurail. These are quick to build and will give you some freight to move around on the layout.
Don’t know the trackplan but a shelf layout is a really good way to go. Keep it straightforward/basic. Once you’ve built up some experience you can always add or start on something more complicated.
Important things are :-
1 build the best track base you can… everything else depends on it.
2 whether you go straight (conventional) DC or (micro chip) DCC make sure that the mechanical side (wiring) of your electrics is sound… saves it going up in flames and there’s nothing worse (especially for an 8 year old) than trains that don’t go.
3 As far as possible set up your electrics so that you can throw one switch to power up when you start and the same switch to shut EVERYTHING down when you finish. this could keep your house standing. don’t blame the kid if your wiring burns the house down. (Scarey but look at other threads here… e.g. "Apollo 13, Houston we have a problem). Get in the habit of checking that he’s turned off when he’s done (bet he’ll soon catch you out)!
4. Fit and maintain a smoke alarm.
5. Get a fire extinguisher
(Am I making you nervous)?
6. Get into safe habits with sharp tools, power tools and solvents… this is an excellent way to get your boy working safely… (This should get you worried/annoy you) YOU are his role model… if you’re doing it right he will start to pick you up on your bad habits…don’t yell at him…
7. Get into a habit… if it won’t work/falls off then look for a scientific reason don’t just cuss it and/or poke it.
8. Take your time. this applies to most everything but especially track laying… if you don’t know it already you want track to be smooth both vertically and horizontally… things fall off at kinks.
9 Remember… SOLDERING IRONS ARE HOT.
10. get a good first aid kit with burn gel. (Bet there isn’t a contributor on this forum that hasn’t burnt themselves at one time or another). First Ist Aid for a burn
Welcome. I have an 7yr old Gson. He is not the problem with my trains. I have a Broadway Limited Mikado with sound that is really cool. I have a Spectrum which is nice. Both run well with the kids. I had 8 cub scouts here the other night and the problems were with the adults.
I would go DCC to start. With a child, I would start with the radio control if the money was there. I went with Digitrax because the people I know had it, and it is nice to have people to talk to. All the good systems have fine helpers on this forum.
I, too. am a fan of Atlas flex track. I have code 83 but there are days when code 100 looks good. It certaily runs better.
As far as helping a youngster get interested, make sure that everything they do has enough help so it is fun. I found my Gkids love to make trees and scenery stuff. Putting models together takes A LOT OF HELP at first. Try to avoid letting them be frustrated. Frustration is reserved for the grownups.
Have fun and post lots of questions. We like to be helpful.
See the two clinics at the top of the page for some of my advice. Feel free to check out the rest of the site as well… The recent work link may spark some ideas for a somewhat compact shelf layout in HO. Welcome, ask a lot of questions, and most importantly, remember to have fun…
For most of my life I have found that treating children as small/young adults and adults as big/old children works really well. Same thing goes with expectations… when kids see that I expect them to be mature/sensible they mostly are… er… maybe that says something about the adults…?
I didn’t know model trains could be so dangerous. I’m a bit overwhelmed by the complexity of HO. Things seem simpler in O gauge. I can see that I got a lot more researching to do.
Don’t worry about DCC now if you cant comprehend the jargon… i’m still D.C but am slowly learning and am almost ready to switch to DCC… from what i can tell, MRC prodigy or digitrax zephyr are good starter sets, but the Bachmann kit might be good to start with and dip your toes into.
