Hello All
AADD (Adult Attention Deficit Disorder) ;-)
Long Story Short:
My boy is now 5 and when he was 3, I started him off with some inexpensive ho sets for the Holidays. Now, everything is about trains for him and they even trump Lightning Mcqueen and Speed Racer. That said, I have began the searches for G Scale sets but the more I have read the more I realize a starter set will not cut it... "for me" that is and hence the AADD. I just need to settle down and am looking for some advice where I should be focusing.
So, I am hoping for a little help in finding what a good start point will be so I don't end up with hardware upgrade fever but at the same time the project is not too overwhelming for a novice. I also want the layout to be fun and entertaining for the children (I have a little girl that has an interest also) so the need for "cosmetically" perfect is not really necessary. I have pages of notes but yet my AADD keeps me drifting from one site to the next. Fortunatly, I bumped into this site and took the time to sign in and make my way through many of the postings. Finally after viewing many impressive efforts by the members here I am slamming on the breaks asking for advice.
Please provide some helpful hints and a kick in the pants so I get started in what I know will be a life long hobby.
Regards
Henry
Hi Henry, You are very welcome, Right I will try to help are you starting from scatch if so. 1 Track I use LGB radius R3 curves and turnouts this means you can have big locos IE 2-8-0 wheel set ups 2 Power a 10amp power supply will give you all you need. 3 how to control your trains I use the Aristo train engineer in anolouge format and cntrol all my accessories with aristo There are other cotrollers on the market so you have a choice, you may want to go control by MTS. Right I think that is enough to think at the moment if you need more help please ask My layout has been down 6yrs plus and I have moved track around with no problems.
Age is only a state of mind, keep the mind active and enjoy life
The most important thing is to get something, anything, running! Your mind will then explode with improvements to the layout! I'd tend to go with quality, so that you aren't replacing something a year or so down the road.
Go with a big power pac, then when you buy that SD45 you won't have to replace that dinky little starter set power pac.
I used all stainless steel track, I have the option to do anything I want to do utilizing it, track power, Revo TE, battery, even live steam!
Hey, at $130.00 for a round of golf (around here) trains aren't any more expensive than golfing; and a lot less frustrating!
Welcome aboard Henry; I agree with Two Tone and Capt. Bob. Get something running even if it’s a small switching area or just a loop of track. Use wide curves, mine are 10’ diameter minimum, trains look better and you can run almost anything. Rather than buying a train set I purchase good quality pieces of rolling stock that I want. My power supply is an Aristo 10 amp Ultima and an Aristo Train Engineer, I like to walk with my trains. Avoid steep grades, I live on a hill and have 2.5% max. And last but not least look at the Donald Duck post in the General Section.
Good luck, have fun, Rob
Thanks for the warm welcome and the advice. I like the golf analogy to put things into perspective too!
I'll post back as I begin slugging my way through the fray;-)
Hi Henry, first two question are:
How much area do you have to utilize?
Who is this layout for, you... or your kids?
This 2 basic questions will help determine your next steps, like what size track you have to consider, you DONT have to automaticly start with 8 or 10 foot diameter curves, and what kind of rolling stock to consider.
If you have a large area, then the wider diameter curves are a viable option, if you only have a small area, then you can use smaller diameter curves. I've used LGB R1 or 4 foot diameter curves exclusivley and have built several successfull layouts now doing so. The largest averaging only 10 x 20 feet on average. the R1 curves allow a much more varied track plan in a confined space, but you will be limited in your choice of rolling stock, which leads to question 2
Is this for YOU to play with or for your KIDS? if its more for YOU and you HAVE the space for wider curves, then both the above posts are correct. If this layout is for your kids, then I would be very wary of almost everything made today for the larger wider diameter curves, most of them are fragile models and not very kid freindly as they have numerous small parts that are easily broken off not to mention not very finger freindly.
If this is something you envisioned for your kids to muck about with then I would suggest looking for some basic LGB models or Playmobile models as they are very durable and mostly kidproof, plus they are designed for operations on small diamter curves which means you can get alot of track into a small area, which is an important consideration if you want to keep your kids in a specific play area.
Let us know what your thinking...
Later, Vic
Have fun with your trains
My two cent's-------------- I started with a Bachmann set from costco back in 89 in CO. and I still have most of the rolling stock and the 4-6-0 engin. 1990 I was working in St. Louis Mo. I upgraded my track to Lionel a large 5ft dia loop in my apartment. still running indoor's. Sold off all of my HO equipment. mid-90 work sent me to Ca. I moved RR to around the 10x10 room I was renting. I then started modifing and painting equipment. mid 92 I decided to move my family to Ca. rented a house with a backyard. Since it was a rental I could not make anything perminat now using r3 and 1500 series switchs. Then one more of kids moved back soooo moved two more times the last one ( 95 ) was to San Jose, Ca. after doing alot of planning, 96 My wife past away. So I had bad spell.....97 My best friend ( Nancy ) and I started dating , I moved one more time. Now I'm building Vershion 10 of D&N RR all stainless steel with 9,10.& 11.5 diamiter curves in the smallest backyard yet. To make short story longer...... Have fun start small learn as you go take your time and have fun doing it
Dave
P.S. What part of country do you live
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
Friends, below is the list of track I have purchased Friday. The layout is a simple oval at this time that is 20' long and 10' wide just to get started. Future activities could be an inner loop at just about midway within the large loop and perhaps a depot around the 3 qtr point. I'm thinking the track should be here within the week since it was all in stock...
Since the basic geometry seems ok at this time I'm now pondering the laying the track bed. Lengthwise on the oval I am very level but side to side (10') I may have around a ~(6-8"). Any suggestions you may have on the stone or gravel or even construction techniques would be extremly welcome at this time.
I really appreciate the number of responses to my first post.
Regards and thanks in advance
ARI-30120 Aristo-Craft - USA Curved Track 10' Diameter Brass G
ARI-30370 Aristo-Craft - USA Wide Switch Right Manual Track 10' Diameter Brass G
ARI-30060 Aristo-Craft - USA Straight Track 2' Brass G
Hi Over my side of the pond I use thermo lite blocks they are light and you can cut them with a good saw, Plus you can raise or lower as per your turain. If you need to raise ive used builders sand to bed them in I find grass will grow though this in a couple of months Hope this helps
HBombToo
I have to agree with steamdonkey's closing comment "You learn more from getting a short train running on a little loop of track than a millennium of reading these forums." There is a large volume on these pages on "Do's & Don't's". I'm sure you have seen a listing of "general rules of thumb" on other threads in the past few days. Every rule has its exception (read: to be broken) and I have broken every one of them. The key is to realize the drawbacks for violating each rule. There is no better way of learning what you can and cannot do than to get outside and start playing in the dirt. Starter kits are an execelent way of learning. As for the smaller engines and cars of starter kits, every larger empire needs a small "yard engine" and a couple of shorter cars for "local service". In short "go play in the dirt"
Tom Trigg
Well I have been busy with some good and bad news. Bad news is that I prepared the grade for the large oval and somehow sprained my ankle (rolled it..., ouch!). To finish the job I had to bring in a land scape crew to lay the crusher (AB3). All is good and I should be walking slowly without crutches in another week.
After the AB3 was pressed and leveled and as fortune would have it there was a G scale expo in Overland Park KS. Really cool show BTW! I found an Pennsylvania, 2-8-8-2 MALLET Steam Locomotive with USRA Tender, Aristo Craft Trains, ART21601. They did not have the PRR heavy weight passanger cars available but I figured I'd pick them up on the net. I also picked up a an Aristo Lady bug for the kids to have a blast with. Prior to the show I found an MRC Power G at a brick and mortor shop here in Grandview MO. Really nice people there and very kid friendly. I payed a little more for the supply there but I figure the extra cash is worth the good will that I received or will receive.
The rain is supposed to stop by mid week so I think I'll finally be railing in the back yard.
Thanks
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