Today I bought the special issue by Model Railroader Magazine called. “Model Trains” step by step. 8 easy layouts. From a grocery store. It comes with a free DVD showing everything from building a neat bench work setup, To techniques of landscaping, roadways, buildings etc. I highly recomend this one for beginners. You don’t have to do everything like they do. But they sure present a good idea as to how to make a simple fun layout. This is hosted & narated by Michael Gross, It sells for $9.95 US. & $12.95 in Canada. They did a great job on this one!.. PS; If this will help any, The top of this mag. is yellow.
I echo the sentiments expressed by the previous posters and applaud the MR/Kalmbach staff for their efforts in producing this item. Although I’ve been a model railroader for many, many years, I picked up a copy of Model Trains Step By Step just to see its content. While the magazine is minimally instructive in itself, it is clearly intended as an adjunct to the accompanying DVD. The DVD I consider the best basic instructional guide I have ever seen offered to the hobbyist and the first example of a reasonably brief book, video, or whatever, that I honestly feel would allow a novice to build a complete first layout. I also laud the producers in choosing a recognized professional actor to do the intro and voice-over on the DVD. In this day and age nothing else would really have been acceptable. My hat is off to the guys at MR on this one.
One fo the things I like is I belive Kalmbach is been donating some of the DVDs to libraries. My library has it, as well as an MR subscription, and I got the DVD through them. I must say that I like it! It’s a very nice DVD, very well done. But I sure wish I had a wall painted like a sky in my Basement! I will be using it when doing my Photo diorama, as well as while continuing scenicing my layout, and I thank Kalmbach for putting it out.
Noah, Does the the painted sky backdrop look as good in person as it did on the video. Sometimes things look a little different on video. Seeing that you’ve been in this room on the grand tour recently…Lucky duck! Just wondering. I plan on doing a backdrop kind of like this, It looks awesome!
One ofthe 4x8s that I built , for the boys over the summer is this same track plan. It is showing him just what his layout could look like… Great video.
I made the point in another thread that the magazine itself should be thought of as an entry point to the DVD. The DVD is what really makes this publication useful. And, given the technological savvy of the younger types, it could be a great way to interest them in the hobby. So thumbs up to Kalmbach for this one.
Hi James, Sorry, I missed your post about it. Well , I thought that it was very good. I’ve taken a few of the kids to a couple of different train shows in our area. When they see what people have done to their layouts I’d always ask them. How would you like to have or make something like that? The reply is usually I’d love to have one, But it’s too hard for me to make something like that. They were a little intimidated I guess. Well…After showing this DVD & mag. to them this week, They sat there in awe! Is that all there is to making a train set like at the train shows. "That looks easy to do! " They were so happy about it. That’s why I posted it for begginers & others. Everyone has to start somewhere. & this kind of guided them easily on how to get a small layout started. PS; We had to watch it 3 times in a row! That’s how much they’ve enjoyed it! I like your honest reply though! “HAPPY RAILS”
I don’t have a DVD player, was low on my list, the PS3 got for my wife is intemittant, could have gotten one instead of the locos. Price has come down…
Liked the Step by Step, would have been a big help, but the Turtle Creek was a real help, finally something I liked. The extension is good, a layout I really liked. I would have liked having N represented with more, though I get tempted to do HO when I see a train I really like, have no clue where to put one, my arms are too short for a 4x8, and no wall long enough. I’ve studied it though.
drove eighty miles to the nearest book store (hobby shop is even farther) to purchase the january issue of model railroader and the special issue of model trains with dvd. i’m still trying to decide what i want to do with my very first layout, but after seeing these issues can hardly wait to read them. the dvd has given me some great ideas.