hello every one. i am new to the forums. and would like your help. i would like to get me a train set. i haven’t had one since i was a kid. and would like to get a simple figure 8 train lay out. so i can add to it. and I’m not sure which would be a good gauge to start out with. should i just buy a starter kit and then buy more track to make it in a figure 8? i plan on putting it on
Both Athearn and Atlas make good quality starter sets. Stay away from the big box store bargain sets - they’re only good for scenery after an hout or two of running!! The A & A sets include an oval of track & a basic transformer. Both sets have locos that can be adapted to DCC without too much trouble. If you subscribe to MR, reviews on these are available. [:D]
First of all, I wouldn’t recommend you start with a train set although that is probably how most people begin. Generally speaking, trainsets are bottom rung from a quality standpoint although that has changed somewhat in the past couple of years. There is some mid-range equipment quality wise now available in trainsets, but I would still buy your starter locomotive, cars, track, and power source as seperate components. That way you will get what you want instead of what is available in a set. If you are determined to go the trainset route, this website has a review of trainsets which you should check out. I would also find a reputable hobby shop with a good selection of train materials and get some advice there.
A 4x8 is a good place to start although it is just a matter of time before somebody comes onto this thread to tell you not to go with a 4x8. If it was me, I would refrain from a figure 8 and go with either a single or double track oval with a scenic divider down the middle to seperate the layout into two distinct scenes. The divider could be a double sided backdrop, hill, or a row of tall buildings. The double sided backdrop would be my choice.
The big choice you have to make is what scale to go with. HO and N scale are the two most popular scales, especially for a 4x8 layout. You didn’t say what type of disability you have but if it limits your ability to work with small items, I would stay away from N scale. Otherwise, each scale has its pluses and minuses. Everything is a trade off. Decide what is important to you and go with the scale that best serves those desires.
Hi,
It wouldn’t hurt to read my Beginner’s Guide to Layout design. It will haelp you ask the right question so that what you buy now will not be something that sits on the shelf later. Click my signature.
Hi there,
Welcome back to the hobby, Do a bit of studying first but if as I have you wanted a 4 x 8, consider “growing” a layout to fit everything into your means.
My own is on www.xdford.digitalzones.com and you can also check out budget ways of working in the hobby with signals etc. I have the original article for my layout scanned so if you want a copy, please let me know offline! My website has my emails. The article will back up most of what has been said by everyone else here so welcome aboard…
Trevor www.xdford.digitalzones.com
Also check out www.mremag.com for British railway news and my hints and tips www.xdford.digitalzones.com/hintsandtips.htm
I would suggest that you determine how much space you have available. Do you want to be able to walk all the way around the layout, or will it be up against the wall? Nothing wrong with a 4’x8’ layout but there are lots of alternatives for small spaces. 4’ can be quite a stretch if it is up against a wall. I always suggest that people measure the total floor space available and start there. Nothing says you have to use all of it.
As for starter sets, avoid the cheap ones, Bachmann, LifeLike(cheap toy line) etc. Athearn and Atlas would be good choices. An alternative is buying track, power pack, locomotives, and rolling stock all seperate.
Most GOOD hobby shops will put a package of quality products together for you. I always tell people to stay away from train sets but if you must go that route then get an Atlas or Athearn set but just remember what you are buying is the bottom of the barrel in their lines.
Basement, you took the words right off my keyboard. My track is 4 foot wide, against the wall and is a real pain in the caboose to work on. If you can keep it away from the wall, 4 foot will be fine.
TA462, yes the kits have there bottom end models. But a bottom end Athearn or Atlas is still a great starting point.
On the cost you can get a diesel set with around 5 cars between $79.99 to $100.00 or so. Steam set by Bachmann for around $150.00 to $200.00.
As stated, stay a way from the Life Like kits! Life Like are TOY’s not model trains. If you see a kite that says Life Like (Proto1000 or 2000) they are great. Same maker but it there high end stuff and run great.
Welcome to the site as well.
Cuda Ken
I agree with the Athearn or Atlas advice.They are at least a good quality set. One other plus for purchasing in pieces. The track. There are several types of track out there now. The kind with built in roadbed, and the kind without that you are probably familiar with. Some people will argue as to the benefits of either, but that is not my point. The built in road bed type, called different names by different mafactures, is much more expensive than the regular old Atlas snap-trac. You mentioned money is tight and I would hate to see you get discouraged because of the cost of the track. Compare the prices of additional track before you decide. Yes your locomotive will be expensive, IF, you get a good one. But you will not have to replace it for a long time with normal maintenance. But, if you still are a little up in the air over the prices, consider a less expensive locomotive such as Bachmann Spectrum . (here we go[:-,]). I have a couple of these and no, they are not detailed like Atlas, no they are not near the quality of Atlas. What they are is inexpensive. You get what you pay for. so don’t expect them to last a real long time (though no problems with mine). Your wallet is as big an influence over your decisions as anything. Don’t scrimp on the track, but get up and running. Then when you get bit by the bug, you will always buy loco’s and cars but track that cause you fits is the most discouraging. I also encourage you to visit SpaceMouses website. Welcome aboard.
Wilson, Let me continue the welcome back to model railroading that the other posters have extended above! I am an N-scaler, so let me throw in my advice if you are interested in choosing N. The N-scale version of the traditional 8x4’ HO-scale layout is the “hollow core door” layout. You go down to the local home improvement store, buy a hollow core door and some cheap folding table legs and your benchwork is done. Like the 8x4, you can quickly have trains up-and-running quickly and then make changes over time to make it more “permanent.” As an added bonus, the door layout can easily be collapsed for storage when not in use. Here is my 36" x 80" door layout leaning against a basement wall while my larger layout is under construction in the next room:
I still use the door layout regularly to test new equipment and DCC (digital command control) installations, and also just when I want to run trains. As for scenery possibilities with such a layout, take a look at what Dave Vollmer has done with basically the very same track arrangement as what I have above:
Dave Vollmer’s N-Scale Juniata Division
http://www.thevollmerfamily.com/Pennsy/
Just my [2c]
Jamie
i like that lay out. or maybe something like it. can i add extra track to that lay out? i plan on getting a track together by summer. so maybe i can just buy a few things at a time every month. i want to first just get track and a engine and a few cars at first.
i have always liked modal railrods. i go to one called youngstown modalraiload association. it shows its layout to the puplic once a year.
http://www.youngstownmodelrailroadassn.org/
One of the reasons hollow-core doors work so much better for N scale layouts than do 4X8 plywood sheets for HO layouts is that the hollow-core doors are proportionally much larger. Scaling up a typical 30"X80" N door layout would yield a roughly 55"X147" HO layout (about 4.5’X12’). A 36"-wide hollow-core door N scale layout scales to over 5.5’ wide in HO … a much more accommodating width for a layout that will work more reliably with a wider variety of equipment.
Byron
Model RR Blog
Here are some tips from someone who became re-infected with model railroading after being disease free for several decades: [list] [] Don’t spend a bunch of money until you’re really sure what your goals are. [] Find out where the local hobby shops (aka:LHS) are and visit them often. They aren’t all the same. [] Spend $15 at the LHS and buy a Walthers catalog. This will provide hours if not days of fascinating reading. [] Visit a local club and talk to the members. Consider joining a club if you like what you see. [] Search around on the web. This is a great site and there are several others depending on what you are looking for. There is a ton of free information out there. [] Have fun. [/list] Keep in mind that its a whole new world with DCC. The stuff nowadays is really good. If your eyesight is like mine, I’d consider HO scale or larger.
Another thing to think about is joining the Youngstown club, assuming they are not too far away. I checked their website and they say they are accepting new members. Many model RR clubs offer clinics to members who want to learn beginner skills, or new techniques for modeling. Members can also give you advise on good local hobby shops.
[#welcome] and good luck
One of my suggestio ns is to know where to find help informationb and go to it when your ready. You might wander the book section of a Hobby Shop, there ar a lot of How-To’s that might grab you. f you see one on, say Passenger operations, then look through it. We can suggest all the best infoi n the world, but until YOUR ready to dive into the topics we’re going off about, it won’t stick as well as it would if you were ready to hear. Yes, they may be the bascis of hwo to build a Model Railroad, but some, if not all of us, realy stoart out with the I want this, and this, and one of these, and six of those…" anyway. we can’t change that. Make of list of these wants, talk to a friend, and us about the list, and see where you go from there. Then we can start talking about building the layout to fit you.
Also in the book section are usually historical books on different railroads, different engines, etc. This might point you back in the direction of what road you want to model, or if you want t Freelance your own road if nothing grabs you, or everything grabs you. Which is possible too. More of your wants
If you like roadtrips, then While Gas prices are down, I reccomend train trips, especally to places that are warm or close. Even a weekend run to a sleepy town near some tracks is a trip well worth it for you if not for the trains. Get out of going to a big city regularly, most layouts have more scenic country than city country anyway unless it’s a switching layout. Wathcing the trains may instill you with motivation.
Most important is to hav fun. If your not having fun, your doing it wrong.
Wilson,
I’m in a similiar boat and just about to build my first HO layout (Dad had an HO when I was a kid and now I have a Lionel for Christmas time).
Anyway, one thing I found useful on this site was the Track Plan Library available to subscribers and they have several nice 4x8 track plans listed. 2 of my favorites are Maggie’s Cove and Deer Mountain… do a google search on them and you can find the track plans for free.
Take care and good luck.
Welcome aboard. Couple of things you want to do before buying. Read an issue of Model Railroader magazine. You can get it at the hobby shop, or even off the magazine rack at Walmart. Then, visit a train show. They have working layouts and sell tons and tons of quite good used stuff, locomotives, track, cars, power packs, for a lot less than new. This website (http://www.littletoytrains.com/) has a list of train shows for all over the country.
In my opinion more people stay away from the hobby because they bought a poor quality train set and became frustrated with its performance. While the Athearn and Atlas train sets are better then most they really are still just toys. They are designed for kids aged 8 and up and are built to a cheaper standard then their other lines. They are a far cry from the detailed models from their Athearn Genesis and Atlas Silver and Gold series lines. If you want to get your kid in the hobby then yes I would say they are a good starting point but for someone older that wants to get back into the hobby then I would say no, stay away from them. You will be disappointed and eventually sell it off and buy better quality and detailed items, that is if the person stays in the hobby. Like I said before, any GOOD hobby shop will put a great package together for you with QUALITY items. When I first got into the hobby thats what I did. Instead of buying a train set I purchased a Tech II transformer, a Atlas Classic locomotive, 5 Athearn Blue Box kits, a Atlas oval track kit that came with two switches for a passing siding and a few packs of Kadee couplers, all for $150 bucks. It was only 20 dollars more then a train set and I got better quality items then I would have from a set. Sure the BB kits were cheap but I got to build something right off the start. The important thing was I didn’t get frustrated with poor performance because my transformer, my track and my locomotive were good quality items, not train set quality.
The new Atlas Trainman sets in N-scale contain the same locomotives, freight cars and track that you would buy individually from the LHS. The set is just a collection of basic items to make a starter set, but the quality is not any less than what you would get right off the shelves. I realize the ones you are talking about are mostly cheap-o stuff (like the ones you would get from Hobby Lobby or another big box store), but there are at least a few good set options out there. Jamie
The Atlas Trainman line is their lower quality entry level line. Like I said already, they are better then the Life Like etc crap but they still aren’t that good. I don’t know why people think that the Trainman line is good, maybe because its produced by Atlas?