returning to hobby

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

winter is approaching, and i have grandkids now, what a great excuse to return to model railroading…

my wife is quite amused at how excited i get finding “exactly what santa brought me 30 years ago” on ebay.

anyway, the first of my returning/newbie questions…

the 1/4" thick cork roadbed i see at the hobby shop seems alot thinner than i remember. did it get thinner, or am i just that much bigger (other than around the middle)??

thanks.

2

welcome back!

3

You didn’t specify the scale but model railroading has really changed. HO, in the last seven years
has seen many-many changes. The number of manufacturers , (at least 15 for diesels) selections, quality, the addition of DCC. The list goes on & on. & on. The 2004 Walthers catalog has over 1,000 pages of stuff. There are also lemons out there so my recommendation is before you buy, post your intentions. We can save you $, time & grief.

W E L C O M E A B O A R D!

Chuck Walsh

4

I don’t know if the cork is any thinner, but it is still too thick for some, who recommend using n-scale cork roadbed with HO track. The HO scale cork really represents a high, well maintained main line right of way. You can make up the difference in elevation by filling in with scenery. I have also put my buildings on styrofoam or foamcore, so that about levels everything out, allowing for a bit of a ditch beside the track in places.

Welcome back!

Andrew

5

Yes, HO roadbed is thinner, it use to be 1/4 thick, but what they sell today is closer to 3/16. In 10 years it may be 1/8. Just like everything of late the product sizes are decreasing rather than the price increasing. Notice how the McDonalds dollar menue is getting smaller along with the size of the salads on it? Yesterday the cherry tomatoes were the size of grapes. The fish at Long John Silvers is thinner, and the shrimp are smaller too. FRED

6

thanks for the welcome and the answers.

i’m going to start with atlas pieces (ho), and build the “something? valley” out of the atlas king-size plans book, where i can learn to drive two trains around mains, and play in the yard.

i also have the 101 plans book, and room (basement) to expand. it seems that when you graduate from the atlas sections books, you are either hand-laying or at least using flex. for example, the advanced plans seem to indicate the tighter curves are 22" or more.

currently, i have no interest in scenery or dcc, but we’ll see how long that lasts. i do plan on hand-laying as i expand the aforementioned layout.

…and look… there on ebay, there’s that tyco boxcar with the little guy kicking the boxes out, just like santa brought years ago. i’ll bid whatever it takes. :slight_smile:

thanks again.

7

If you don’t have the transformers, etc, required for two train control, you may be better off going DCC from the start. The advantages become apparent even faster on a small layout, strangely enough. You can work two switchers in close proximity in a yard for example, something that was virtually impossible with blocked DC. If you have a chance, try operating someone’s layout with DCC before you say no…!

You also might want to consider flex track even if you follow a plan that calls for sectional. I have sectional, and I wish I had gone flex from the beginning.

Andrew

8

Things to remember. 22" mininum radius if you have the room. There’s a lot out there that won’t run on 18"
Metal wheels enhance free rolling ability(less wheel drag) and facilitate longer trains.
Nickel silver track for the best electrical conductivity.
Kadee Couplers.
IMO, the $3.00, 2 oz tube of MAAS, wwwmaasinc.com for cleaning track & wheels.

Education is the horse;experience is the jockey and we have it here. Keep on posting first, then construct , then buy.

Happy railroading.

Chuck Walsh

9

If you are using a full basement don’t go with less than 30" radius on the main. My next railroad will have 48" radius on the mainline for a minimum. That way there are no overhang problems, close coupling of passenger cars, more realistic trackwork, etc.

10

Welcome Back.
It’s just gotten better and better with all the new goodies that are now available. If you can, take a look at DCC before you invest in the pieces needed for block control.Starter sets aren’t that expensive and the increased flexibility and control is especially nice on a small layout.

Tom Watkins

11

I’m not DCC but it’s worth your serious consideration and the best time is when one is first starting out.

Chuck Walsh

12

thanks everyone…

i’m really gonna have to kick this nostalga(sp?) thing, cause i just now entered and won another ebay bidding war for a mrc model 501 throttlepack just cause “it’s the very one…”

i do promise to look into dcc. the one chance i had at limiting the plunge was my wife, but tonight she told me she’ld do the scenery stuff…

newbie question #2 - do you have favorite web or mail order places for track buying?

thanks again.

13

IMO, there are a few good mail order firms that advertise in MR. Standard hobby & Trainworld.

I have done a lot of buying at Trainworld and you save 25% + and tax but you do pay for shipping.

There are some disadvantages buying on the web or thru mail order.

  1. You can’t hold it in your hand.
  2. You can’t pre-test it.
  3. Out of the box it could be defective.
  4. If so, do you return it for an exchange and who eats the return postage for the exchange?
  5. Who pays the postage for the replacement back to you?
  6. Manufacturers carry a warranty so should you return it to the manufacturer for free repair?
  7. Changed your mind, then there’s a restocking fee plus the postage.
  8. Out of stock, what is their back order policy and do they charge additional postage for a partial shipment?

I have been doing business with Trainworld for a few years and only had one return.

Restocking fees and postage can eat into your intended discount savings so be 100% sure
when you are ordering and find out if it’s in stock.

Chuck Walsh

14

I agree with Locomotive3 for his comments on mail ordering.There are the inconvenients he is talking about indeed,however I would like to add another one…what about your local hobby shop…vanishing?

15

agreed, i will support my local hobby shop, and lucky for them, they are only a couple of doors down from where my son has a guitar lesson every tuesday. i have a half hour to shop!

but for bulk purchases like track for an entire layout, i can’t pass up the savings from mail order.

16

Speaking from experience, you need to watch that nostalgia bug or you will end up with shelf items. I have several that run so poorly by today’s standards that they set on the shelf never to be ran. Example is an AHM rs2 from the early 70’s I had as a kid. My folks sold it while I was at college in a yard sell for a quarter. I bought one last year on ebay for too too much. It runs like crap and I’m sure they always did. It now takes up space, and for what I paid I could have a good running Athearns or Walthers loco…SO FRED

17

And what about bulk purchases from your local hobby shop?Ever tried it?Many will sharpen their pencil for a worthy sale,may even offer you a deal quite close to mail order,considering they don’t have to support the inventory.I’d try this first.

I live in Québec,so for me mail ordering doesn’t mean much I admit.When you add up shipping and handling,duties,currency exchange and so on,there’s not much of a saving by mail ordering.Some guys here do mail order as I did once when I was in R/C airplanes,but considering all the other inconvenients previously stated,I say that their saving is an illusion.

Hobby shops generally aren’t huge commercial ventures,so the owners get to know you quite well with time.They get to know what type of buyer you are,what you like and don’t as you become a “regular” and they will make a point to let you know about good deals,forthcoming specials,etc.All together,I believe that supporting my local hobby shop isn’t that bad a deal in the end.My two cents…Jacques

18

I’ve been out of the hobby for about 10 years now but have continued buying an engine now and then. My problem is DCC all my stuff is DC. I have about 25 engines from about 15 to 5 years ago and they are all DC. I’m a big guy and have big hands, I’m not good at soldering N scale. i’m also recently retired and not wealthy should I get back in this hobby in DC or DCC. I’m kind of a lone wolf and have very few friends that are model railroaders.

19

I too am returning to the hobby after about 15 years. I was going to wait another 4 years until I retire. Then the only hobby shop in town marked everything down 50% (the owner is retiring) and I just couldn’t resist. Picked up some magnificent equipment at bargain basement prices. The executive version is that I will have to order on line, since the nearest hobby shop is now 2 hours away. I am sad to see the hobby shop close but grateful he gave me the impetus to get back into what I have loved for over four decades.

20

Welcome back.