Newbie

[Dave Farquhar]

I just got back into this six months ago after being out of it for more than 15 years, so in a lot of ways it was like starting over. So here's my Top 5, I guess.

1. I'll second cnw1995's suggestion of going to the library. My local library has tons and tons of wonderful books on the subject, some long out of print. The current Kalmbach and Greenberg books are great, but the old and out of print stuff had lots of great information in it too, and some of those books will never be reprinted.

So I definitely suggest checking out everything you can find at the library. Then, buy the must-have books.

My library also keeps back issues of CTT for 5 years. If yours does too, that's a gold mine of information.

Don't discount the other scales either. We don't necessarily focus on the same things, but most of the techniques for G/HO/N/Z still apply. It's mainly a question of how detailed/realistic you want to get. So get their books on benchwork and scenery, and if/when you decide you want to start scratchbuilding structures, get those books too (there's a wonderful, wonderful book by Wayne Wesolowski on the subject, long out of print but a lot of libraries have it--it's so good that used copies routinely sell for $70+).

2. You might set up a small layout (the book Classic Lionel Display Layouts You Can Build has lots of very small but nice ones) and keep it simple, or even just set up the trains on the floor, so you can have something running. This assumes you already have some trains, of course. It can be frustrating to feel like you're spending all your time reading and no time running trains.

3. Learn what you like. #1 and #2 help a lot with that. Once you learn what you like, and if an item doesn't fit into that, don't buy it. Don't go on much of a buying spree until you've learned what you like; you'll likely end up with a pile of stuff you never use. (That was my big mistake.)

4. Find out your local hobby shops and railroad clubs. If they do any O gauge, start frequenting them. You might not buy everything from there, but buy what you can there, especially if they're helpful. I'm fortunate to have a wonderful Lionel dealer less than 5 miles from my house. I've got some less-than-wonderful dealers 5-10 miles from my house. My favorite dealer knows me by name, because he sees me almost every week. Sometimes I spend $100 there, and sometimes I spend $3. But I learn a lot from him and from the other customers. The people who are into this stuff love to talk about it.

5. Learn eBay. I've bought some great stuff off eBay. But don't start hanging out there until you've figured out what you like and want. I bought a bunch of Marx stuff before I knew much about it, and I guess I ended up with both my favorite and least favorite cars that way. (I ended up stealing the wheels off those least favorite cars to fix other cars and packing the bodies away, but there probably were cheaper and better ways to get wheels--or at the very least, ways to get wheels that would have allowed someone who did like the stuff I bought to still get that stuff.) Decide in advance what you're willing to pay for an item and hold firm to it. If it goes higher, don't worry about it. There'll be another one someday. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next year. And resist the temptation to buy absolutely everything just because it's cheap. If you like it and it's cheap, great, go for it. But buying cheap is a really easy way to end up with a bunch of stuff that doesn't work well together.

6. (Yeah, I broke the rule. But I just thought of this.) Locate sources for non-train items. Cars and figures add life to your layout. Since you're modeling the '80s and '90s, there's plenty of stuff for your layout in toy stores and such. Start keeping an eye out for 1/43 scale cars. You won't find them every day or every place you look, but you'll be surprised sometimes. I saw a bunch of 1/43s at the grocery store, of all places, earlier this week. Prices vary; sometimes you find cheap knockoffs at the everything's-a-dollar store. Brand name toys run from $2-$10. "Collectible" 1:43s can run the gamut. You can never have too many cars.

Figures can be tougher; the "Homies" figures sold in vending machines and in blister packs work pretty well. And sometimes you can find plastic soldiers and animals that are sized about right. ("Right" would be 1.25-1.75 inches tall for a human being.) Every once in a while a 1:43 vehicle will come with figures. I saw a 1:43 fire engine once that included figures.

I hope this helps.

Dave Farquhar

[FJ and G]

Every time I do a new layout, I feel like a beginner too. There's so much to learn and so many new techniques to try. I've been into model trains since I was a kid (but with a 20 year hiatus in between w/Uncle Sam). Just do like I do and ask a lot of "silly" questions. I also try to help answer others' questions when I can.

You've come to the right place, sir. Welcome.

Dave Vergun

[Kooljock1]

There's also a guy by the name of Allan Miller who posts here. He has written one of the quintessential guides to getting started with "O" Gauge trains available today. As the book is only a year or two old, it is up to date and full of current information on products.

It's available at Walden books, Barnes & Noble, Borders etc...

Jon [8D]

By the way, he's a terrific guy too!

[Buckeye Riveter]

[#welcome][#welcome][#welcome][#welcome][#welcome]

Deryck,
These guys always seem to forget one little hint for a beginner. If you live near a major city with a library the video section may have some great modeling videos.

I had no clue how to do scenery until I watched the video. There are also videos about Lionel and MTH's control systems.

My hint is: Foam

[Anonymous]

Hello Deryck, the forum is a really great place for a whole lot of information. I also keep a small library of Greenburg Books. They have everything for wiring, reparing, they even have part number lists. You can find them anywhere. I get mine from alibris books: http://www.alibris.com/search/search.cfm

Good Luck
Angelo

[Anonymous]

Kalmbach(sp?), the host of this forum, has many great books on O Guage. I have many. But for the one I used most often when I got back into trains is http://www.ogaugerr.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?preadd=action&key=BOOK-PRIMER3

Welcome to an addiction.

[Anonymous]

Hey Newbie.

Like they said...welcome! I've had my trains for a few years, but I just found this place and it seems like a great place to get advice and talk to friendly people who really like trains. I've learned a lot just by reading all of the different postings and topics here. I also ask question when I need to find stuff out and the people here are really nice and give good advice. I hope you get the same here.

[cnw1995]

Welcome! I am only a few steps ahead of you - go to the library - I found some wonderful Kalmbach books on toy trains and Lionel layouts. (You can also buy 'em off this website.) Ask your questions here - no matter how basic you think they are. They're really a bunch of great knowledgeable guys.

[spankybird]

Hi Deryck,

Welcome to the forum


I am glad that you found us to ask for some help. There is a lot of us here willing to help.

Here is a thread that was strated by one of our mainstay poster. It should help you with a lot of the basic.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9988

When you have a question, just come on and ask us.



tom

[Big_Boy_4005]

[#welcome] If you are into 3 rail O trains then you have come to the right place.

I'm not exactly sure what kind of hints or tips you have in mind. The best way to use this forum, is really to just ask specific questions when you have them and to read along when other people ask their's. There are a lot of good ideas passing through here each day.

There are also a lot of topics that don't require a lot of knowledge or experience, but are just plain fun to answer, so just jump in.[swg]

[ChiefEagles]

You'll find some real good helpers here. I sure have. Ask away and they will give you the info. Welcome aboard.

[Anonymous]

I've read all of the manuals and books and pages and such. But I was just curious if you guys had a top 5 unofficial beginner guide.

My intended layout will be themed around the 4 seasons and the decades of my life. 80's and 90's. This is something I am going to be designing in the next year or so as I am only just now moving into a place of my own.

Thanks heaps for your help!

Deryck Ramey