I’m interested in model trains and want to know the first step to starting the hobby
Get a book. There is one called model railroading for begginners or something like that. It is published by kalmbach books so www.kalmbach.com should sell it. And resist the urge to go buy a train set. Train sets are junk. Buy the pieces individually.
Ah, here we go:
http://store.yahoo.com/kalmbachcatalog/12197.html
Gunit,
Welcome to the group!!
You have already started in this hobby by posting here. I have been a modeller for many years and still learn something every time I log on.
Try reading magazines at the library if you can or buy.borrow them from friends or a local hobby shop. One mistake that is frequently made, is buying a train set or locomotive and later finding out that it does not fit your desires or space. You need to decide which size or scale that you can live with. If you are young and have good dexterity and eyesight, a smaller guage will allow you twice the operation in a given space. If space is no object, than the larger sizes will give much greater detail and realism Are you mechanically inclined? Then you can build your own from scratch or kits. If not there are lots of readyt to run stuff out there. You also will want to determine in what era you like. The 1950’s are popular right now.
.Let us know some more about you and we will make more comments.
Regards,
BB
Study up on the subject. Read through these forums.Lots of good practicle advise here.
I’m sure everybody here has made their share of mistakes you can learn from.Doing a Google search for the topic is a good tool too.(weathering,train scenery,train track,ect.)
[#welcome]
Once you have read a book or two log on here and ask questions, like you just did. Take things slowly, you’ll save a lot of money by planning. I for one started too fast and wasted a lot of time and money. Much of it culd have been saved if I would have listened tothe advice here. In short, ask before you buy. Ask before you build.
If you haven’t done so yet, go to the link near the top of the page for Model Railroader magazine. On the left side there are a set of links headed Modeling, go to ABC’s of model railroading for a set of beginner articles.
Get several issues of Model Railroader and read them, many hobby stores have 2 or 3 months issues.
If you live near a hobby store that has a good selection of trains, talk to the staff there about buying your first trains. Some sets are very good, but others are not very good. In general the sets at toy stores and discount stores such as WalMart aren’t very good.
An early decision you need to make is what scale (size of the trains) to work in. If you can, go to some train shows or open houses so you can see the different scales.
But at some point you need to take the plunge and get started. Many of us started with a train set and a 4x8 sheet of plywood on legs, made mistakes, and pushed on all the while having fun - I know I did. Eventually I changed scales twice before winding up in S.
Enjoy
Paul
Find someone near you in the hobby, go to the Local hobby shop, sometimes you find people there shopping just like you that can help alot and see if there is a club near you. And of course read …
Clubs are VERY helpful. I don’t know about what goes on in your area. But at each monthly meeting in my club, one of the members puts on a clinic. Last month’s was making pine trees. They were actually very similar to “Aggro Trees”.
The first thing you need to decide is what interests you. What railroad interests you the most, or even what section of railroad? Or would you rather create your own fictional pike? Then, what time period interests you? Do you prefer “old timey” stuff, steam, diesel, or a combination? What part of the country would you like to model, and what industries are in that locale? How much space do you have to work with, and how much “action” do you want on your railroad. If you answer these questions first, it makes it much easier for you to get started. Of course, there are the “general knowledge” things that apply no matter what you do in the hobby, but if you can decide what trips your trigger best, it will help you focus and build a railroad you can be proud of.
Here’s my list, for example:
railroad: Western Allegheny, a division of the Pennsylvania Railroad
time period: 1950’s
power: steam and diesel
locale: western Pennsylvania
industries: coal mining, limestone mining and oil
available space: 10 x 13, with a 7 x 8 addition
level of action: LOTS!! [:D]
so, I know what I want and what I want it to include. Since I want to cram a lot of “stuff” into the available space, I decided to use N scale (1:160). And, since I want to run more than one train at once, I decided to use Digital Command Control instead of standard DC.
Write out your list, and you’ll be surprised how easily your planning can start to fall into place.
Plus, you’ve found the best resource there is: this place. Other modelers willing to help.
Good luck and keep everybody posted on what you decide to do!!!
Ray out
I agree that “starter sets” are junk in N and HO. They are fine in O gauge, but they will look “toy-like”, and you may soon loose interest. You will have to decide. If you have the money to spare, start with a small ammount of the better quality stuff, especially if they are steam locomotives.
Know what you want before you buy. If you want to run trains, you need a circle. If you want realistic opperation you want point to point. If you want both plan on a larger and more complicated layout. I like mountains, bridges and tunnels, thus it took six months ti jeyst get started. You can do a Woodland Scenics layout in a month if you have the money. Do you like making trees and doing detailed scenes or do you want to move more quickly? - Know what you want. You can’t have everything first. Do what you like first and remember, no one gets it right the first time. Have fun. Looking forward to hearing more from you.
Here’s my advice:
1: Let the railroad, time period and locale choose you. Indulge your interest in railroads by reading books and checking out the hundreds of railfan sites on the web. Research everything from the mainline that runs through your state, to the fallen flag that used to run through your town to the small shortline. Eventually you will find yourself returning to a specific railroad in a specific area in a specific era. For me it was the Jersey Central in Pennsylvania between the end of WWII to the mid-sixties when the railroad abandoned operations there. I also like the Jersey Central commuter operations in NJ after 1968 and The Rahway Valley. The point is, it is better to let your passion for a specific railroad be what drives your modeling.
2: Stay away from cheap trainsets. They are crap.
3: Plan carefully. Don’t start with the first 4 by 8 that you see. Design a layout with room for expansion. Consider a shelf layout.
4: Learn how to lay flex track. You will have many more possibilities than using sectional.
5: Don’t make the mistake of skimping on benchwork. It is the foundation of your layout.
Welcome to the forum gunit! [#welcome] [#welcome] [#welcome]
I second all the advise you have gotten so far but would add, HAVE FUN! After all, it is a hobby… [:D]
I reccomend buying Atlas locomotives or Kato. If money is a problem stay with Athearn rtr, they are good runners.
Besides reading a lot, I would suggest going to some train shows to observe the different scales in action and see what is ho-hum for you and what really piques your interest. Take a camera with you and also a notebook. Take a lot of notes and key them to pictures of what you like. If you can, without interupting operations, talk to some of the people running the layouts, about what control system they like. Also try to visit various club layouts and get to know some model railroaders. Try to see what you might be interested in as some folks really like round and roundrunning, while others are more into operating like the prototype. Also try to get a feel for different eras or parts of the country. Some really get into electrical, or scenery, and some just want to get trains running on the basic bare structure.
if you REALLY think you like the hobby, and plan on staying with it, the BEST advice I can give you is go DCC right from the start. belive me, its a little more money to start out, but you’ll be thanking your self for it in the long run.[;)] i have the N scale layout in DC, and an HO layout in DCC, and the dust on the N “empire” is getting thicker.[:0][;)] once you go DCC, its REALLY hard to go back. and trying to put decoders in 30+ engines to change it, NOT going to happen. just my two cents.[8D]
Hi Gunit
My thoughts are to get a few Model Railroader mags get a GOOD!!
quality train set such things do exist in the scale you choose.
Then start on one of the 8’ X 4’ or equivelants project layouts that often show up in the magazine.
This will teach you a lot of what you need to know if you have a lot more space than an 8’ X 4’ needs position the layout carefully and make sure you build in places you can extend the layout as time and cash permits
But do fini***he project layout before expanding.
The final layout will look nothing like what you started with but at no time will you have gone back to 0 operations.
Ask questions here that will also get bucket loads of advice
regards John
Welcome:
Simple:
- There are no DUMB questions, so ask away.
- Do not try and build the MOTHER OF ALL Railroads, you will have the MOTHER OF ALL FRUSTRATION.
- Do a space and time study. How much space do you have and how much time CAN you spend.
- A REAL budget helps. you and your family will be happier if the trains fit in the budget.
- HAVE FUN
The theme, track plan, benchwork and scenery will all come along if you tackle this as a hobby not a job. The new DVD’s and how to books are great. DIY is doing a series on building a woodland scenes layout from their kit.
Take Care
George P.
“no trains till after the car show”
When you have digested all of this advice, take a look at the NMRA’s ‘Introduction To Model Railroading’ pages at http://www.nmra.org/beginner/ for some ‘How To’ pages that may be of some help to you.
Welcome to the hobby.