I’ve been looking into this hobby and have decided to start. I am going to use a 4x8 layout with a 1950’s theme. I have some questions so I hope you don’t mind all of them.
What kind of track do you reccomend? (Nothing really expensive)
What books do you reccomend for building scenery and buildings?
What tips do you have for wiring? I read the NMRA beginners guide to wiring, but I just confused me more.
Sould I go with a kit or build my set from scratch? What kit do you reccomend or what locomotives, cars, etc. do you reccomend?
First of all, welcome. You should get lots of replies to your question. For me, here’s what I would recommend.
Atlas track, code 83 nickel silver, fairly inexpensive and many other firms make code 83 track.
Kalmbach has many books for scenery and buildings, I cannot think of anything specific but a check of this website or a copy of MRR will give you some titles.
Atlas makes a wiring book. Wiring a 4X8 will be pretty easy since you probably won’t be getting into wyes or reverse loops.
Build from scratch, you can pick up a small layout book from Atlas or Kalmbach and go with a proven design or modify it for your own taste.
Locos and cars
Lifelike P2K
Walthers
Athearn
Accurail (cars only)
all are fairly reasonable and come either ready to run (RTR) or easy kits.
I would limit the locos to 4 axle diesel or smaller steam and cars 50 foot or less with a 4X8 layout.
Your questions are way too broad to adequately address, but here is an attempt.
For the beginner, Atlas, Bachmann, Kato, and Walthers (Life Like) track with roadbed are all adequate. Personally, I prefer Peco switches with Atlas flex track.
Take a look at Kalmbach’s offering.
See Kalmbach’s or Atlas’s books on wiring.
I would suggest a Walther’s set with Proto 1000 equipment, or an Athearn set. Like one of these:
Thanks for the reply’s so far. Sorry about the boradness of my questions. I don’t really know what area to do though, but would appriciate some suggestions. And regarding the books: which ones have you used that you have found helpful?
Welcome to the hobby, may you have many years of trouble free operation. I think you’ll find that this forum is a great place to get help on any question/problem you may have, I can certainly attest to that.
As for where to get started, I would agree with Rick in going with Atlas flextrack, it’s fairly cheap and readily available. I’ve also had good luck with Atlas turnouts although there are many others you could choose such as Peco.
Atlas also makes a great selection of wiring components that make wiring up your layout for DC operation a fairly simple task. If you go this route, I recomend an MRC Tech4 power pack for your control.
If you decide you’d rather go the sectional track route instead of flex track then Nigel has the right idea with one of the Proto 1000 sets. The Proto 1000 line in general I have found to be reliable and the PowerLok track makes it easy to lay your track and get trains running quickly. You should be able to use any of the track plans available in books from Kalmbach, Atlas and others with this track. 101 Track Plans from Kalmbach is a good one to start with and has many good layouts that would fit a 4’x8’ area.
Athearn RTR (ready-to-run) locos and blue box rolling stock would give you great equipment to start with and are not all that expensive compared to some of the other stuff available. The blue box rolling stock in particular are quick kits that go together easily and look decent when completed. Half of my rolling stock fleet is made of these kits, some more than 20 years old and are still rolling along great.
Atlas flex gives you the ability to make little adjustments. Atlas snap track is easier to lay, but most wish they had not done it when they are done.
Get a Walthers cataloque. Read it 10 times as a wish book, using postit nots as books marks. It will tell you what is availible, but will get your imaginations going.
Visit some layouts and read some old magizines to find out what you like and what is not of interest. Do you like scenery, or running trains, mountains or cities, tunnels or trees? Do you like bulding precise models or running trains of making scenery? On a 4x8 you can have a lot but not all. Know what excites you.
I would advise against getting a “train set”. Learn what you want and buy that.
As for wiring, decide to go with DCC at the start, save a bunch of money and simplify the wiring issues.
No matter what you do, you will discover that there is a lot to learn and that is what makes this the world’s greatest hobby
Hello, and welcome to the hobby. This forum is a great place to start as you can see you’ve already got some great answers from the other forum members. Now for your questions 1. Track: I agree with the Atlas code 83 flex track (nickel silver) . I have also had good results with Bachmaan nickel silver e-z track. Model Railroader magazine features a build a layout DVD that uses either the Kato or the Bachman EZ track. Tiip for the flex track, if you have never worked with it before, experiment with it some. Watch what happens when you form it into a curve and where and why you have to cut it. One thing I did was to cut a piece of cardboard box about 3 ft. long and 1 ft wide. Next I glued some straight ez track sections together. Parallel to that I glued standard cork roadbed and flex track and then ballasted both to see which one I liked best. (I actually use both) 2. Books on Buildings: Any of the Kalmbach / Model railroader will be great. Also there is a DVD series called Dream/Plan/Build that has excellent examples of every phase of the hobby including building construction. 3. Wiring?: Model Railroader has a beginning wiring book that is very understandable. (see my note on DCC further down) Also solder all rail connections or use a buss wiring system. 4. Kit or scratch. Your choice here. The sets now are not nearly as toylike as they used to be. There are many quality starter sets on the market now but stick to names like Athearn and Walthers. Also I have made many, many great locomotive and car/coach purchases from ebay and online hobby stores. Visit your local hobby store often, and look touch and compare. Additional: Another forum member mentioned the Walthers HO reference book. it is a must have. I read it like a kid looking through a xmas catalog EVERY DAY!!! Don’t be in a rush. Be patient All the great layouts, even the small ones were developed over periods of years. Okay heres my DCC note; just starting out, you have the opportunity NOW to decide whether you want to do DC or DCC
The best book I have ever read, that covers a thorough introduction into model railroading, and covers all of the basics is the book by Jeff Wilson, from Kalmbach Publishing, HO Railroad, from Set to Scenery. Its plainly written, well illistrated. and the techniques are clearly explained. And if you follow along with the track plan, you will end up with a nice 8’X8’ layout, with an isle in the middle at the end of it.
Then if you want to broaden your horizons, I would reccomend the HO Model Railraod Handbook, by Robert Schlicher (SP?) from Chilton Books. While this book covers some of the same ground as the first book I mentioned, It also covers more advanced techniques, and gets into customizing locomotives and structures for your own layout.
I definitely agree with you on the HO Model Railraod Handbook, by Robert Schlicher (SP?) from Chilton Books. I have the first edition (printing) of that book. I know that it has been updated but I cannot find it anywhere. Know where I can find the updated version?
I generally see the updated version in the “Historic Rails” catalog around christmas time. I noticed that it had been updated as well, as I have the “Revised Edition” and have been wondering what changes were made. Also I think Walthers carries the title, however I have not checked on that to make sure. Then if those places still come up with nothing, call Log Cabin Books in Lander WY. They are really good at finding rare and out of print books, This one should be dinger for them. And they will gladly ship it to you UPS as well.
You can’t get it from Amazon directly but here is a list of people that are selling new and used copies via the Amazon site. This I believe is for the 3rd edition from 1998?
I just want to say welcome and that we are so very happy that you have taken interest in this hobby. Remember that Model Railroading takes a lot of patience and understanding. There is a lot to learn that will not happen overnight. Once you think you’ve master something, there’s more to learn or there’s a new better way. Just like in What About Bob: it’s all about baby steps. I’ve found that, as others have said, that purchasing books and reading helps a lot. It’s just like school: read then try. Start small then grow and before you know it you will be moving out of state just so that you can have a full basement for a giant layout.
You don’t even know what scale our original poster is asking about! [%-)]
Come on guys, this is a basic question. You just assumed HO, and you’re probably right. But what if he’s talking about N scale or G scale or something. You’ve just confused the heck out of him. He’s not going to find any code 83 track in N scale for example.
So, to our original poster…
What scale are you interested in? If we know that we can answer your questions better.
If I was going to recommend trains for someone, I’d recommend HO (1/87th) scale. (There’s no “best” modeling scale–they all have their benefits and drawbacks.) However, HO scale has the most items available.
In HO, I’d start with a 4x8-foot table, an Athearn (or Proto 2000) four-axle locomotive, like an F7 or GP7, a few “blue box” freight cars from Athearn, a power pack from MRC, and a loop of Atlas nickel-silver track mounted on cork roadbed.
Keep in mind that you can always add to your layout later. You don’t need to buy everything all at once.
*I should mention that if you don’t want to deal with nailing down the cork, Bachmann, Atlas, and Kato make track with the roadbed built in.
Sorry I didn’t mention this before, but I am going to be building in HO scale.
I’ve found some good web sites and have read a lot. The major problem I had was understanding how to build scenery, but I have it cleared up so far. One final thing though, I don’t really have enough room to do a 4x8 layout. What do you reccomend I do for a smaller size? I know that I can always add to this.
Take two walls of your designated train room, get some 18" wide adjustible shelving, set it up to follow the corner of the room, and layout out various switches, and lengths of track and make you a nifty little switching layout. My favorite switching plan is Atlas HO 19
It seems like when ever I need an industiral district that needs to go around a corner. I always come up with some variation on this one.
and there is plenty of opprutunity to expand off iether end.
Additional: Another forum member mentioned the Walthers HO reference book. it is a must have. I read it like a kid looking through a xmas catalog EVERY DAY!!! Don’t be in a rush. Be patient All the great layouts, even the small ones were developed over periods of years. Okay heres my DCC note; just starting out, you have the opportunity NOW to decide whether you want to do DC or DCC