Hi all as the topic states I am very new to this.I got into it for the ability to be able to model and recreate favorite places or great looking scenery. I have always been drawn into the scenery aspect of this hobby. I just recently started building my very own layout and I have to say I may have bit off more than I can chew but Im going to stick with it. I bought a few things from hobby lobby Im working on a river waterfall and bridge module and was wanting some advice. As far as trains and train sets go hobby lobby has a few to select from. But Ive read on various forums that you get what you pay for as far as trains go. I was wondering if it would be worth my money to buy any of the train sets from hobby lobby? I am going for realism here and I havent really decided what my overall layout will look like or even what era I want to do this in I guess it is going to come down to money. But anyway any advice? any resources you could share with me ? Im also very interested in building my own buildings and especially building my own bridges. So any help in that aspect would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks guys Im so glad to be apart of this wonderful and interesting hobby.
The first thing I would suggest is to find out if a better hobby shop – a real train oriented shop – is anywhere nearby. The greater choice of goods is one reason, and the chance of there being a knowledgeable and helpful salesperson behind the counter is another. Even if it is a couple of hours away that is preferable. Buy a cheap train set and you’ll spend those same hours making the darn thing stay together anyway [B)]
My own advice would be, not to necessarily focus on train sets per se unless it is one of the better quality and higher priced sets such as Walthers Trainline. As a rule the LifeLike train sets seen at Hobby Lobby are not the highest quality trains. They can get you started but ideally your first locomotive(s), cars, track, and power supply will be good enough that you have some hope of using them once you are no longer a beginner, and frankly most train set stuff doesn’t last long enough to pass that test. Often the track and “power pack” are particulalry marginal.
If we are talking HO I would look for trains that have knuckle couplers, such as Kadee, McHenry, and other lines that are compatible rather than the “horn hook” or X2F couplers that come with the cheapest train sets.
The one thing some (but not all. and not all the time) Hobby Lobby shops have is scenery from Woodland Scenics and sometimes they box stuff up into scenery kits intended for school dioramas and such. Those can be a logical and fun way to start out with scenery. Don’t be in a hurry to build your waterfall. Make some hills and valleys and trees and get the feel for landscaping, and then perhaps a small pond so you get a feel for how the various water products work.
Dave Nelson
I have a Hobby Lobby near my home and their selection is very poor. There prices are not too great either. You need to find a hobby store dedicated to model railroading. You will find more of what you are looking for there. Also, I can not say enough about the customer service from the local model railroad hobby shop. They can order just about anything that you need if they do not have it in stock. Get a copy of the Walther’s catalog. It has most everything listed in the hobby. I like to scratch build structures in wood. So I use Northeastern lumber. I use Grandtline windows and doors. I might suggest buying a Fine Scale Miniature kit and building it. The kit has a lot of parts, but the instructions are detailed and if followed correctly, you will have a great model. It will teach you a lot about structure building and weathering techniques.