I'm fairly new in the hobby as well and I had the very same questions. I found it was very helpful to talk with a group of people in the area I live in. The Model Railroaders I've met have been a great help to me. Is it possible for you to join a club first? If you can then you will get first hand knowledge and you will be able to see the difference in locomotives and rolling stock.
~Track is like the Ford/Chevy debate. SOme will swear by and only use Atlas {the given industry "most prolific"}, whle others will say only Micro Engineering track with Shinohara turnout switches is the cat's pajamas. Right now track shortages abound, so a mix of them might be had to fil a particular order. KEEP an eye on the etailer suppliers daily to get your track needs met if you choose say, Atlas. I personally like Atlas, it is relatively cheap and is just as good in the Nickel Silver variety as the others. {avoid te steel tracks} Some track turnout switches {such as curved mailine and curved divergant} are found in the other brands, but I don't use those. It comes in flexible or sectional varieties with variety of turnouts switches for use.
~DCC IS more expensive,and you are right, a cheap lcoo may be no fun, BUT: Bachmann, for example, makes great quality at reasonable price locos, so don't think the expensive ones are automatically better. I have seen more complaints about the $300-$400 lcoos from the expensive companies than about the Bachmanns,for instance, and Bachmann is supposed to have a fantastic service department. People who HAVE had to use it, pften rave about it. Having 14 DCC Bachmann locos, I can say I have never used their service department yet. Just like autos: Buying a $60,000 car doesn't automatically mean it is better than the $20,000 car.
~You don't want to "be cheap", well there are LOTS of things one can do on the cheap for a layout. Old sheets ripped up and dipped in plaster of paris over wadded up newspaper balls can make mountains and terrain.
~Scratch builidng or kitbashing cheap building kits {built up or not} found at trains shows {often under the table in big boxes to rifle through}. Half the fun is in building a kit or kitbashing it and detailing it to your liking, so a expensive, already built up one may not be to your liking. They are often not painted either, a kit you can paint ot your desired colors.
~ personally, I don't like the built in track bed. I Do like the Woodland Scenics Foam instead of cork, but that debate is the Ford/Chevy debate all over again.
~ here is the best advice I can give: do what you can as cheaply as you can and spend the big bucks where they need to be {good DCC system for example}. PLAN your layout carefully and get only what you need, to avoid wasteful purchases. KNOW what you Really want/nFIRST before you open your wallet. IT ALL looks "cute" "good" "nice" when perusing the aisles of a LHS or the online stores. READ up and shop carefuly. then you get only what you need and want when you need/want it. GET the BASICS, YOu can always add more or details later.
HAve FUn,. Enjoy the hobby, it isn't government work!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Jermo what is the best brands and types of track, Electrical, engines, cars, scenic supplies, etc.
what is the best brands and types of track, Electrical, engines, cars, scenic supplies, etc.
Just looking at the length of peahrens reply gives you some idea of the broad nature of your question.
Your best bet is to go at this slowly and more methodically.
Start with the track. Are you planning to use flex track or sectional track or integrated roadbed track?
Atlas, among others, manufactures both flex track and sectional track as well as a wide variety of turnouts.
Figure out what you want to do for track work and road bed, then worry later about locomotives, rolling stock, and scenery.
Rich
Alton Junction
It would help if you could clarify your interests and budget a bit. What size layout are you considering? Do you need insight on layout planning? On plywood (flat, cookie cuter?), foam, etc. How do you see your budget limitations (e.g., DCC adds cost but has lots of advantages). Having said that...
- I built a 4' x 6' layout in Jr high with Atlas Snap Track, on cork. I built a 5' x 10' layout for the kids (really for me) later with Atlas Custom Line (I think) switches, Atlas flextrack and undertable Atlas switch machines, using Atlas Selectors and Controllers, again on cork, but still DC. Lots of derailments, as i did not understand effective track laying. In retirement, I'm building a 5+' x 10+' HO layout with Walthers-Shinohara code 83 turnouts, Atlas flextrack, still on cork, Tortoise undertable switch machines, NCE DCC system, still on plywood (cookie-cutter to add elevations).
- There is no "best", it's what's right for you, and of course some items to avoid. Do use the search feature (sometimes a Google search is better for a "relevant" thread as the forum feature lists most recent items first) or ask specific questions, as your question is so broad. There's lots of threads on turnouts (Atlas, Walthers-Shinohara, Peco, build your own, etc), track (Atlas, Micro Engineering, etc), DCC systems, structure kits, metal wheels, etc.
- On locos, you will find threads on what people like and why, including Athearn Genesis, Kato, Intermountain, Broadway Limited Inc (BLI), etc
- On freight cars, do you want to buy ready to run or kits primarily? I enjoy kits so I lean towards them. Old Athearn blue box (at train shows) and today's comparables such as Accurail and Bowser, plus others, which can get more detailed and slightly more intricate to build.
- On structures, I like the Walthers Cornerstone as a starting point. If you want laser wood kits, there are lots. But some don't like the non-scale appearance of wood grain / splinters. So you have to try some of each, various brands.
- Do get ahold of a Walthers HO Reference Manual (catalog). It will give you a broad idea of what is available, though they don't cover all suppliers. It's lot easier than using the website for me. I don't have a nearby local shop, so I mail order a lot from modeltrainstuff.com (MBKlein) and what they sell will give you another source of what's available and popular.
- I also found very useful obtaining several booklets on various subjects, almost all purchased from this website: layout planning, benchwork, track laying, DCC, scenery, etc
- You might check out the series of Virginian project 2012 articles and related videos (about 18, I think) on this website as they give many insights as to the typical questions arising on building a typical modest layout
Don't be shy, you'll get lots of input on any questions here.
I'll look and see if I "favorite'd" any relevant threads EDIT: here are some, in no particular order:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/202766.aspx
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/216084.aspx
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/211105.aspx
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/217866.aspx
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/171567.aspx
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Thanks to all of you again, for all of the great ideas and help. Like I was told to do, I will be spending more time here on the forums. I would like to ask for more great advice if I could. Building and HO Modern era what is the best brands and types of track, Electrical, engines, cars, scenic supplies, etc. I don't want to be cheap by any means but I don't want to go broke when building my layout. I know to spend more on electric (DCC) and engines rather then less. I also plan on building the track bedding with the cork idea, so the pre-bedded track is not needed. Thanks again
Jermo