I am new to this hobby. I am going to take my son (9) to a hobby store this weekend to start the ground work. The ultimate goal is to have a permanent set up in our basement. I know to start slow and build up over time, but I want to start in the right direction.
Should I get a set? Or should I buy to parts separately? If parts, what would be basic to start. I would to be able to add in the future.
Many thanks
I used to work at a railroad-oriented hobby shop, so I answered lots of similar questions. You’ve got good questions, and more experienced guys in the hobby should be glad you’re asking them.
Our shop only stocked sets made by Proto 1000 (a better variety of Life Like product), Walthers Trainline, Athearn and Bachmann Spectrum (again, a better variety of Bachmann product). We knew we could stand behind these sets, and our customers wouldn’t get frustrated with shoddy goods or poor performance
In terms of scales, we handled HO, N and HOn30–we just didn’t have much customer interest in the larger scales–especially for those with home layouts.
For a starter set, I would suggest something with short cars and a short (8-wheel) diesel or short steamer. They look better on curves and are less likely to derail.
Ask the hobby shop staff for their suggestions on the set vs. individual components issue. They might be able to put together an attractive package of individual items for you–we really got a kick out of doing that for customers. You might pay slightly more for individual components, but the advantage is you can skip the items you don’t need and can get certain qualities (in track and power pack, or example) that won’t tend to get “outgrown” if and when you build a big layout.
Welcome Rcar…
May I suggest that you avoid a ready made set and have the fun of choosing seoarate items to build your basic starter setup. For one thing, you will have more fun buying the stuff in the first place, but more importantly, you will end up with much better quality items that you will use for years to come. Most sets have lower quality cheap locomotives and rolling stock and you will find that you won’t want to use them once the permanent setup is built in the basement.
Regardless of the scale you choose (HO or N?) I would start with a simple loop of track and a siding perhaps. Look for Atlas Trutrack in HOor N , or Kato Unitrack in N. These are better quality track with a plastic roadbed attatched. You will be able to get a simple layout running on the floor in no time. Look for a good DC controller like an MRC. Then its really up to you on the locomotives and rolling stock. You can get ready to run, kits if you are so inclined, mid priced locos all the way to the top of the line. If your hobby shop is any good, they should be willing to guide you to better quality items that fit the budget.
You will spend more with this approach, but will have things that you will keep and run for a long time.
The key is to buy quality. If you want to buy set buy one from the makers mentioned above. If you want to buy pieces, that’s good too. Usually a little more expensive but you get exactly what you want.
Buy some how-to books Kalmbach makes, numerous ones and buy a hobby magazine MR or RMC are good basic rags. Another good book to buy are some of the Kalmbach collections of track plans. Great idea starters. Also good are Kalmbach’s Great Railroads annual issue and Railroad Planning issue. Those will give you ideas of where you might want to go with things.
Good luck. You can always ask more questions.
Dave H.
A good step would be to go to the Walthers website and go to a hobby shop listed in their index.
You’ll always be able to add more in the future, nothing is closed-ended in modeling. The first thing is to think about what you would want. Some good questions to ask yourself include:
What scale do I like?
What time period do I like?
What railroad or region do I like?
How much space will I have?
What is the amount of money I’m willing to spend?
What got me interested in trains in the first place?
With these questions in mind you can begin to narrow down the large range of options avalible to the model railroader today.
Personally, I would forgo the train set if favor of individual peices, that way you are asured quality from every peice you buy.
~METRO
I’d buy the items separately. You have a better selection of models than with what comes in sets, and you can buy better quality models separately. I wish I would have got rolling stock separately instead of in a set.
Also don’t buy any trains until you’ve decided where and what you want to model. I myself am planning a change from a western prototype to either the NKP or a free lanced line in the eastern/midwestern US.
Ask the hobby shop owner if he can put a set of seperate items together for you. Thats what I did and now he has specials all the time offering his made up sets. You will get better quality items and will have a better first impression of this hobby.
Welcome to the hobby. Here is a resource that may help your thinking. My tip is to read and digest a bit at a time. There is alot of information.
Good Luck!
Well thanks for the quick and encouraging replies. We have decided on the HO scale. We are leaning towards old west or world war 1 era. But once we get into the hobby shop who knows what my son will go for. Most likely he will be attracted to a certain locomotive. For this weekend we are planning a make a 4x8 table and trains, some tracks and a controller. We’ll take our time getting scenery.
Now I have to go check out those links. Thanks again.
rcar,
You might want to consider getting a track pack from Kato, Atlas or Bachmann. Each of them sells their own version of the WGH (World’s Greatest Hobby) track plan. It comes with all the necessary track to build the layout in the plan, which should be a pretty good place to start. I believe all three offer track with a built in roadbed, so you don’t have to lay cork or foam down to put your track onto. For starting out, this is a good way to go.
As for the train (assuming that you’re interested in steam locomotives), Bachmann Spectrum steam locomotives seem to be pretty highly rated, and are fairly affordable. LifeLike Proto 2000 Heritage steam locomotives are also highly rated, but cost a little more. Broadway Limited sells sound and DCC (digital command control) locomotives that are really great models, but they cost still more money. For the most part, any of these three brands should serve you well, and would be an easy way to get started in the hobby. As for rolling stock, you may want to start with a freight train, since the cars are generally shorter, and thus run better on smaller (4x8) layouts. Recommended brands are MDC Roundhouse, Athearn, Accurail, Red Caboose, Atlas, and Proto 2000. All are decent models for starting out, but prices vary widely. Some early passenger trains also have shorter cars, but the later ones are much longer and like wider radius turns. Bachmann Spectrum sells several sets, which would likely serve you well.
Next, you will need a controller. For that you will need to choose DC (direct current) or DCC (digital command control). DC basically allows you to run only one train per controller. DCC allows more sophisticated control with more features, allowing multiple trains in different directions, if your layout permits. DC is less expensive, and almost all locomotives are DC compatible. DCC costs more, and many locomotives are not DCC ready, but they can be modified for DCC use. Your hobby shop should be able to fill you
Lots of great advice here. I’d add one more tip: Introduce yourself to one or more experienced modelers near you and get their input one-on-one. You can probably find them via this forum. And don’t be bashful. Once you get one of us talking, your biggest problem will be turning us off.
And welcome to the Greatest Hobby in the World.
[#welcome]
Chuck
Yeah, what Chuck said!
My suggestion would be to start with a train set, but not a really cheap one. Your son and you will both become discouraged and want to do something else if you wind up with a locomotive that doesn’t run well, or a poorly made power pack that doesn’t accurately control speed.
Many years ago (1963) I started out with an MRC power pack, a Model Die Casting 0-4-0 locomotive kit, and a few pieces of flex track. I still have that MDC locomotive, and it still runs fairly well. Back then, they were bare metal kits that required a lot of assembly.
If I had purchased something cheaper, such as a Tyco train set, I would probably have chucked the whole thing in the trash after a couple of months and looked for something else to do.
WELCOME RCAR AND RCAR Jr.!![#welcome]
For strating up use the KISS principle.
I strongly recomend, for your son, using True-Track at the begining, just to get the feel of it. Atlas’ Blueprints for Ten True-Track Layouts ($3.00) is great way for begining. Atlas has great plan books for HO layouts. These come with a shopping list for all you need to buy. Start out with DC, is much more simpler and cheaper in a small (1-2 trains) layout, you can always switch to DCC eventualy. Basicly what you will need reduces into 6 main issues:
Benchwork
Track
Power
Motive Power (locos)
Rolling stock (cars)
Scenery
Personaly, I don’t like train sets. Usually they are low quality, and you may like the loco and not the cars, or you may like only two of the five cars and so on. Is better to visit your LHS and ask for the models available for your specific era and/or road. Remember, good models are like jewels. A good one will last a whole life.
Kalmbach has a lot of information books you may find very helpful. And most important of all, have Fun!!
Don’t dismiss scenery too quickly. Your son is old enough to really help out in that area.
Consider what you want to accomplish with this model train. Do you want to run it in circles every now and then? Or do you want to “operate” it?
Operations in model railroading means simulating the work that happens on real railroads – the local freight has to collect this empty boxcar and spot a new one, or move a car out of the way to put a car further along that spur; the engine has to run around the train in order to work a facing-point spur; you freight has to get on a siding to allow a fast passenger train to go by.
You don’t need anything larger than 4x8 to get some of this opeational action. And in the long-term, operations will give you more enjoyment of the hobby than simply having a loop of track. Operations will be more challenging and interesting, too. (I’m reminded of a friend of mine, whose son is mildly austistic; they can’t get him any toys that just do something repeatedly, as he’ll only stare at it. They have to make sure whatever they get requires interaction.)
So find a track plan where you may have a loop, but also some spurs for industries and at least one siding. At this point, stick with sectional track.
I’d recommend keeping in the back of your mind that whatever you do shouldn’t be considered permanent yet. Take time to experiment with small stuff. This directory has some pictures of the layout I’m working on with some friends, to buff up our skills on scenery and lighting. My son has been a big help, and he’s half of your son’s age.
I started with a set and I wish I’d just bought the stuff I needed because I replaced about 60% of the original set with better pieces before I was finished with my first layout. I’ve never heard anybody say they wished that they had started with a set, either.
You aren’t likely to get a decent power pack in a set and that’s a critical component. You don’t typically get a very good locomotive in a set and that’s another critical component. The track and rolling stock are cheap enough to buy piecemeal. Any savings you might reap in buying the bundled set you lose in having to replace the power pack and locomotive in short order if you decide to be serious about the hobby.
Welcome aboard.