Yes it is harder in ways but easier too. The hobby is not in decline but it is not growing. The reasons are many but space is one, electronics can be portable, not so much a model railroad. It is also harder to get a difinative answer in model railroading, too many opinions not based on resurch. I personally found this to be daunting at times. Beaded foam is one product some of us use for scenery but I see negative info on it all the time using wrong info, one example, it shrinks, true when it is first made but by the time the stuff gets to the stores, that is pretty much done with (just googled it, takes up to 30 days).
Very true. Im sure what Im about to bring up has already been discussed, but hopefully I can add some insight.
To note, no one in my family was into trains. My parents even discouraged it do to my very limited allowance as a kid.
My first experience with trains was from a cheapo bachmann trainset my aunt bought me. It was a very simple Bachmann circle of track, with Santa Fe FTA unit. A classic.
I think trainsets are a wonderful way of getting into the hobby. I commend Bachmann for making quality yet cheap trainsets. Maybe their reputation was poor years ago, but my FTa ran for 10 years, and if it werent for the fact that I took it apart completly(dumb move), panicked, and threw it out, would still run!
Making long lasting trainsets for cheap is a perfect way to get people interested in the hobby. Bachmann has hit the nail on the head with this one. With EZ track, which can be easily taken apart and reassembled if given limited space, (sometimes)solid engines with few small parts, and a few colorful cars, along with many colorful diagrams for expansion in the back of the box, I have to thank bachmann for getting me into this hobby. Not enough other manufacturers produce starter sets. Athearn, MTH seemingly discontinued their sets, making them hard to find.
I was talking to a few railroad club members at my college a few days ago. These are railfanners, modelers, and train sim players. A few of them expressed interest in modeling, but had their concerns. They pointed out:
- space. especially in college, there is no where to house a layout. Maybe some EZ track may do, but its hard to start a physical layout when you’re always moving
[deleted], duplicate post
I think portability is a huge concern for a lot of people. When I built my Dream House, I thought I would never move again. I lived there only about two years.
My next two residences were considered temporary when I moved in, and this effected my layout designs.
The second of those residences, has become my permanent residence for my lifetime. I did not expect that.
Very valid points.
I remember that when I was getting “more serious” about model railroading in the early 1980s, I was told that the three things you need to be a model railroader are Space, Money, and Time.
Those address your three concerns in order.
At no time in my life, until now, have I had all three are one time. In my previous 5 layouts I have only had two (maybe only one) at a time.
Now, after decades of stick-to-it work, I am finally ready to tackle my final lifetime layout. Time has become the commodity that will run out first.
-Kevin
I hope this get a sticky or the moderators can provide a similar tool (besides what’s on the webpage) for newer folks. Great thread folks. Keep em’ coming!
This may seem silly, but order something online. Unfortunately, that’s the LHS of the future. Look at different providers, what they offer, and what the hidden costs are.
Yes, you need to learn about shipping delays, bogus or non-existent tracking data, and dealing with lost items. Get it over with, and understand that you don’t have it until it’s in your hands.
Interesting item about hooking people whith cheap but good starting items, knew a few that got snagged into ON30 that way, they got me into DCC sound. Trainworld is great in that respect, they clearance out stuff for cheap and if you like it, you are starting to look up the food chain, I know I am.
What? I have several in various lengths and scales. I use them literally all the time. To me, they are a very important part of my tool arsenal.
I think building one or two panels of a modular switching layout might be the best introduction to this hobby. We started with the 9x5 HO size table top taking care to provide an exit track to extend but doing it again I would build a 2x4 module or something like that, maybe two.
I’d base it on foam and expand from there.
As for getting bitten by the bug in the first place you just buy an attractive locomotive and powerpack. Seriously, if I knew then what I know now 8 months later I’d have bought a nice DCC with sound locomotive and an MRC Tech 6 and gone from there. One piece of flex track is then all you need to get really hooked very quickly.
In the mid 1970’s, Woolworth’s on 3rd street in Grand Island was my go to place for AHM structure kits and some freight cars. And of all places, Miller’s Appliances 2 blocks down on 3rd street sold the better stuff, Athearn BB locomotives and car kits, using one aisle near the cash register.
No, I don’t think this happens any more.
Not to mention Kalmbach’s “Build Your First Layout” as advertised in October MRR magazine page 17.
I just got an email from MR telling me to “See what your toolbox is missing”. Coincidence? Hmmm…
After a lifetime of British Model Railways, when I first became interested in USA Railroads, I subscribed to MRR and a year later, I added MRVP and All-Time Digital Archives to my subs.
I would recomend both of these to any Newbie, since I was in a sense, starting over myself and believe me, the whole concept and approach to USA MRR’s is totaly different to BR MR’s - as are the prototypes.
The vids on Project Railroads to basic Track-laying to Baseboard design & construction - are all worthy, IMO.
The search engine in Digi-Archives works a treat and you can search for most anything to help you, from previous articles. Plus if you read thru some of the ‘vintage’ copies, the efforts of Modellers from years gone by, using what they had back then and their achievments, I find inspiring. Paul
“Hurdles to a newcomer getting started”
Money. Lot’s of money!
Just kidding. But if they look at prices these days, they have to get over the sticker shock; but lots of hobbies are like that. They just have to decide if they are nutty enough about trains to pay todays prices! Then there is always fleabay and hopefully someday again, train shows.
I am not a real model railroader and even I have a scale rule!
Lotta of opinions on this thread. Here are mine. To get into the hobby of model railroading step one is to get a train to run. You need somewhere to lay your track, you need 18 inch radius curves for HO. You need a power pack and a known good (aka brand new) locomotive, a car or two or three and perhaps a caboose. Hook the power pack to the rails, put the locomotive on the rails, hit the throttle and it ought to run. If it doesn’t post here, post some photos, and someone will give you advice.
Watch your train run, enjoy it. Read Model Railroader or Rail Model Craftsman to pick up the lingo and see some idea of what you can do.
Step 2 is the build something, a structure kit, a rolling stock kit, anything. Paint something.
Step 3 go to a train show, bring some bucks, bring something back from the show. Take some pictures. Be aware that train show stuff usually needs some repairs. I would wait until I had some skills before buying off train shows or E-bay.
Good luck, have fun, post here and let us know how you are doing.
Chuck,
I always have my Mitutoyu Dial Caliper on my desk, easily accuarate to 0.001" resolution. I just became used to converting scale measurements into one-thousandth of an inch measurements and using the caliper.
Just a different technique that I am comfortable with.
We can just add this one to the growing list of reasons why I will never be considered a real model railroader.
Oh well.
YOU’RE A WEEBLE!### What Happened To Your Avatar?
-Kevin
If you are pinched for space you can run small locomotives and cars on 15" curves. I have run my 4-4-0 with 36’ ft cars on Atlas 15" curves.
Paul
I did a basic starter HO in the 1980s and switched to a more complex N scale in the 90’s. Mostly low end Bachman trainset quality because I could run 5 trains- 2 on the upper 2 track main lines and 2 on the lower track 2 track main and one in the Steamtown Bellows Falls yard that I built from an MR article. Added some Atlas Kato locomotives-- SD 9 and RS 3, U-25 an E 8 and a Lifelike FA A and B units and a couple of Bacmann 2-6-0 so I can run steam when it suits me. All PRR, Reading, Lehigh Valley and. C & O which are common to my East Penn orientation. All reasonably priced. Less than $60 per unit. I put them all away around 2002 when we converted the basement as a living space for my son when he came home for grad school. Moved to our new house in 2008 and started over again. So I pulled out all of the old Bachmanns, Lifelikes, Katos, and Atlas locos, hooked up my MRC Tech 2s, and was pleased that all still ran after almost 20 years. Point being you can get a lot of enjoyment for a long time with lower end or used gear and upgrade with the higher end super detail if that floats your boat. I’ve had great luck with Bachmann and Lifelike.and have great appreciation for the affordability of entry level units.
This is where I think MR misses the boat, not for the newbies but for the more experianced modeler. I had a mag subscripion but let it go because of the rehash of beginner stuff and computer screen is more eye friendly for me, went to their vidio series and loved some stuff but too many glitches and too much stuff geared to the beginner. Their major competitor has issues now too, so they are not alone.