How to books on model railroading

[handorf]

I posted a question on 2/26/10, asking the members on how to get started with model railroad layouts etc, and many of you came back with a tremendous amount of very useful suggestions and comments. Some of you also suggested that I buy books or dvd's on the subject that would help me along the way..I've pretty much dicided to go with a HO scale RR. in the 11'X18' room that I have dedicated to this project. One book that I have ordered is " Model Railroader's How-To-Guide" by David Popp....it appears geared toward N scale, but seems to have all of the basic information I would need to get started, such as building benchwork etc.

 

Question:   Are there any other books that would be helpful, that may be more focused on HO scale?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Gerry

[cowman]

Go to the top of this page to SHOP you can then get a listing of MR's books on many How To subjects.  RMC and other publishers also have some, most are listed on the Walther's web site.  If you have a local hobby shop see what they have.  Sometimes one book on a subject is more like what you are specifically looking for than another, though they may be on the same subject.

Good luck,

[tgindy]

Model Railroader authors tend to use their own layouts, which in David Popp's case is N Scale, as an example of their plan design to scenery to operations rationale.  You will find that more articles and books are written (by default) with the most widely used -- HO Scale in mind.

For example, currently out-of-print (see eBay), Dave Frary's The Pennsy Middle Division in HO Scale is a superb soup-to-nuts reprint of his 10-part 1983 Model Railroader magazine series.  While I now model in N Scale -- that did not matter -- as virtually everything Dave Frary covers applies to any scale.

A suggestion for a similar soup-to-nuts but basics-approach is Model Trains Step-By-Step -- also note the enclosed DVD -- backing up the book's articles.

Also, while you are there, see the other 8 Special Books of the "How to Build Realistic" series -- I personally don't miss any issue and always pre-order to save $1.00 + postage.

Get yourself on Kalmbach's weekly e-mail, and you won't miss anything that comes down the pike.

Here are two links to bookmark that you'll find very handy:  [1] Kalmbach "Model Railroading" Bookstore, and; [2] The Model Train Magazine Index -- where I find its easier to start at the page for Books & Special Issues.

[larak]

handorf

 Are there any other books that would be helpful, that may be more focused on HO scale?

 

Start here - go far ...  http://stremy.net/SRA/Tips/Books.html   the first one is almost essential.

Have fun!

Karl

 

[abbieleibowitz]

If you are thinking of building using foam (which I would recommend), get a copy of Dave Frary's book, The Pennsy Middle Division in HO Scale. It's from 1996, so it talks about dual cab control rather than DCC, but otherwise, it takes you through everything you need to know. Thelayiut is11'6'' x 16'3'' so it may fit your space! Good Luck! A

[ratled]

I would look at something like this

 http://www.kalmbachstore.com/12121.html

Or this

http://www.kalmbachstore.com/modeltrains-railroading-model-railroading-books-basic-book-series.html

Also check your Inbox (to the right of this)  I sent you one more link

ratled

[IRONROOSTER]

 Track Planning for Realistic Operation by John Armstrong is one you should have.  Most of the examples are for HO, but really the book is for all scales.

Enjoy

Paul

[mobilman44]

Hi!

There is a plethora of MR books out there - most of them very useful.  I have several that were put out originally in the '70s, and still use them today.  Of course stuff like DCC is not in them, but the basics of design & operations, etc. is still pretty much the same.

Check out Ebay, for a lot of the older Kalmbach books are out there - used but inexpensive.  There is one called HO Primer that is particularly informative.  By the way, one book will not answer all your questions - or stimulate the ideas.

Mobilman44

[nbrodar]

 The best two soup to nuts HO books are both out of print...

Building the Pennsy Middle Division in HO Scale, Dave Frary

A Realistic HO Layout for Beginners, Lou Sassi.

 

Nick

[partimelarry]

Go to Dave Frary's web site and he downloads videos and e-books. One e-book is the Building the Pennsy Middle Division for less than $6.00.