Just got my first paycheck ever $920.88(I know I can spend that fast on model trains, LOL) I dont know what I should buy first. Would you buy things to get your layout going or would you buy all your loco’s and rolling stock first?
If so which one is more expensive to buy, the rolling stock and loco’s or the layout stuff like track and buildings. I am not going to have a huge layout but would like to know which you would buy first.
I understand this is a “loaded” question but let me know what you would buy first.
If I already had some locos and rolling stock, I’d spend the money on getting a MR started. Oddly enough, the ‘hardware’ to START a MR (wood, foam, screws, etc) is usually the least of your expenses. It probably wouldn’t eat into your sum very much at all. Then, track and roadbed (I’m assuming you already have a track-plan in mind), and finally, what you have left over, investing in more rolling stock and locos. But I think you’ll find that your money is going to go a LOT further investing it in an actual, physical layout.
I’ve got a few locos in mind myself, but they’re both on sale. I’d get the hardware to build the table +scenery base, then track and roadbed, then a DCC system, then locos, then cars, then buildings.
Maybe thinking more about your hobby goals is a better thing than just your bucks, as you can spend a lot or a little depending on how you go after the hobby.
Having purchased a brass NKP 2-8-4 all torn apart, putting it together was the challenge, the most valuable thing I needed was the chassis bottom which was missing. I had already bought a sheet of brass, maybe 2-3 bucks for it and with dremel and correct tools, hacked out a cover. This got the engine together to a running condition.
That cover may as well be worth millions as it did the trick for me.
If you don’t have a layout maybe nows the time to go after that dream.
Try not to spend a lot, still be frugal about the money, find some bargains and you can stretch it out.
I’ve got a few locos in mind myself, but they’re both on sale. I’d get the hardware to build the table +scenery base, then track and roadbed, then a DCC system, then locos, then cars, then buildings.
My thought on this is that by the time You are laying track, You should have at Least one Locomotive of the type and quality that you expect to be the standard for your layout, as well as a few cars, including at least two of the longest type that you expect to run. There is no point in laying track without being able to test it as you go. Imagine what it would be like to lay your track and then find that something was wrong, be it in track laying, wiring or scenery/building clearances not adequate. If You are going to be running 85’ passenger cars, 86’ boxcars or 89’ flatcars, get two and make sure that they behave properly through all your turnouts and curves TOGETHER and also mixed with shorter cars as well. Don’t forget to check long cars/Locomotives through tunnel portals, if your tunnels are near(less than 1/2 of your longest car length) curves. You also want to be able to check your wiring as you go. Lay and wire some track, then TEST it as you go. Finding a short circuit af
It depends on what you have now. If you have at least one loco and a few cars, work on getting track down so you can run them. If you have track down along with a loco and a few cars, get some basic supplies and learn how to scratch build so you can save up for other things.
My answer would be none of the above. If I had it to do over again the first thing I would buy would be … books. I would read about all sorts of railroads, read railroad histories, read biographys of the Robber Barons & Empire Builders, look at tens of thousands of photographs and begin to get an idea of what I really want to model.
Good reference books are forever, all the other stuff gets old and becomes yesterday’s technology.
In this day and age, I would add in a GOOD track planning program - one that can deal with such niceties as spiral easements and vertical curves, then give you multiple angle views of the result.
Then, take the time on your word processor (or the back of an envelope - and then transcribe) to figure out exactly what your givens and druthers are this week. I know that there’s a temptation, while you have the check in your hot little hand, to charge in and BUY SOMETHING!!! You’ll be a lot happier in the long run if you’ve taken the time to figure out exactly what you’re trying to do, and then channel your buying accordingly.
(As a military type, I concentrated on building up my rolling stock roster, since I knew that a layout of my very own would be out of the question as long as I had to move every year or so. In the late '50s and early '60s, I didn’t have Dave Vollmer’s N scale option.)
Without a doubt…TRACK. Even if you haven’t decided on a track plan, buy track, flex track {the boxes of flex track are pretty economical}, switches[several each of right and left hand], at least a couple wye’s, crossings, {45 and 90 deg., at least a couple of each}, some sectional track {it’s always nice to have that around, even if you use flex track as much as you can}, and road bed {cork or foam, unless you’re planning on using that awful plastic roadbed track}.
Once you’ve got a nice big stash of track, then you can start adding equipment. With all your track ready to go it’ll be much easier in the construction of your layout, this I learned from experience, and having to make runs to the LHS for track. Take full advantage of sales, Walthers, Discount Trains Online, Tower Hobby and EBAY are excellent places to find great deals on track and track accessories.
Yes, then read some, study some, and in a month make a new list of druthers without refering to the first…repeat. Compare the lists over time and one will start to get an idea of what one really wants. Make certain your reading and research is about a wide variety of things.
When I say variety I mean things like: There was a thread here about a New Jersey dock railroad that was really different and interesting compared to the normal class 1 type stuff most people model. Unfortunately I can’t remember the name. Read and think about short lines like the Louisville & Wadley, or Belfast & Moosehead Lake. Then there are all the interesting older seldom modeled smaller class 1s, things like the Minneapolis & St. Louis or C&EI.
One person’s great idea is another person’s ROFLMAO - and could prove to be a third person’s biggest blunder.
Flex track - Right. Which of a number of brands, two different kinds of ties and several different rail heights? Good idea to KNOW before spending the money. Your 19th century 4-4-0 will look odd (to say the least) on concrete-tie track laid with 134# (prototype) rail.
Turnouts - what number, which manufacturer… Or maybe you’d be better off using FasTracks jigs or just rolling your own (which can’t be too difficult if I can do it!) Buy now, sell on E-bay later?
Crossings - do you even NEED crossings? If so, what angle? As my plans have shaken out I will need ONE crossing, which will nestle down in the middle of a puzzle palace surrounded by double and single slip switches. The angle will be determined when I bend flex track to the various routes, and it will be built in place.
The one sure thing about shooting from the hip is that your toes are at risk!
I stand by my original statement. Plan FIRST.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - several kinds of flex, hand-laid specialwork)
Books are an overlooked idea. I can’rt top that, so I’ll cast ahead for your next paycheck:I’m myself at a point where I have track, and benchwork. We need foam, and the DCC system, but right now I’m waiting on it to cool the flip down. So here, we accumulate a little of everything else. The layout’s base can’t really proceed to be assembled. Right now, it;s rolling stock, since that’s RTR. But here shortly, I think I’m about ready to get onto the basic buildings. I can pile things together as they’re done, and then when the ground is down, I can start placing the buildings, and run cars. And as the building process goes, if there’s a moment when tools and lumber and scenery rack up and need to be handled a good RTR car or if your doing freelance, use extra time to paint and decal. You’ll need it. I’m keeping busy with train projects. Examp[le: Circus Train
Also, if and when you do start this, invest in a good OPs software if you think you’ll ever want to run operations, or at least a good cataloging software. I’m using Yard Office, may wanna convert to something else, later, But for now, it’s free.This does several things, it helps you keep track of what you have, you can figure value and take it to be insured, NMRA “has” insurance, I want to look into it more though) which you may/will wnt if you kick into big or highly detailed engines. And it’s a lot easier to catalog 4 cars than 40…
Rule of Locomotives: Plan on getting it around then if it fits your Givens. Odds are, if you don’t Layaway, or otherwise stockpile money for it, it may just dissappear from your grasp. Keep an eye on pre-order pages. These can help you plan the next paycheck and will usually have an expected by date on them. So if you know an engine is coming in August you want, and you have enough to keep you occupied the rest of that payment, (see first note) then get it. If nothing’s c
Second that to. The first year I built a small 4*8 and used a cheap DCC starter set. But mostly I bough books like a madman. Both on prototype and model railroading. I bought a few hundred books that allowed me to make better choices.
But for this first paycheck I would get John Armstrongs book on track planning. It’s a must. Then I would order Joe Fugates DVD series for 99$. Best investment ever, This will teach you to do things effectively and often saving a buck since he doesn’t always choose the most expensive alternative. Get that series and you’ll learn a lot!
I would figure out what kind of motive power you want to run first. That will determine what track (radii and switches) you will need, thus determining your space requirements, thus determining what lumber you buy to build the layout.
I have very tight space limitations, and thought I could get away with 15" curves, but a 2-8-2 mikado or an SDanything simply do not like them. SO I’ve had to add on to get at least 18" in there.
The Chicken of Course! That way you won’t have to buy the eggs[:D]
I’m not to far off the mark here either… Think about it, if you were to take $100 from each of your pay checks and invest it, unlike the rest of us old “Geesers”, who so fool hardy threw our earnings to the 4 winds amongst other things, by the time you hit 55 (eons away you may think) you’ll be able to buy that Ranchero house that is built around your $Million$ “Mega Layout”. All for a paltry $100 a paycheck investment…
Makes ya wanna think doesn’t it… Just don’t tell the Future Mrs. about it!