Looking to start into this hobbie please help

[Anonymous]

Hallo there i want to get into this great hobby please point me in the right direction as far as choosing the layout and is ther a starter kit available? I also wanto to know can the tracks from different brands be used with eachother? I need to learn everything is there dvd available to purchase?

[egmurphy]

Okay, first step, go up to the header block on the forum index page. On the right hand side you'll see Magazines: Model Railroader. Click on that to go to the Model Railroader Magazine home page. On the left side are a number of menu items that you can click and read to start to get some general info.

Yes, there is a beginner's book and DVD. Check out "Model Trains Step-by-Step" :
https://secure.kalmbach.com/AdvantageWeb/eCirc/Offer.aspx?PromotionCode=I4A5

Do you have a LHS (Local Hobby Shop) near you? There's no substitute for actually looking around a good shop and talking to people there about the relative differences in scales, what's available, what you might like.

A subscription to a good model railroad magazine, like Model Railroader, is always a good investment (in my opinion, anyway) if you can afford it. Is there a public library near you that might have a subscription to this or any other model railroad magazines where you can read them free? See if they have any books on model railroading also.

Kalmbach books, the publishers of Model Railroader Magazine (and others) and the sponsors of this website also publish a number of excellent introductory books about model railroading which can be purchased by mail, over the net, or at your LHS.

You might also try the website for "The World's Greatest Hobby" although I'm not sure how much info they have there. The address is :
http://www.greatesthobby.com/

Okay, let's see what other info comes up in other posts. You can start with some of these ideas and can always ask more specific questions.

By the way, welcome to the forum. [#welcome]

Regards

Ed

[lupo]

[#welcome] to the forum Brian !
almost all the questions you may come up with can get answered on this forum, ( check out the other MR forums as well ) , just browsing topics helps a lot, and If you want a DVD on how to start a layout it is available:
check this out http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/160-44596

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BrianCur

Hallo there i want to get into this great hobby please point me in the right direction as far as choosing the layout and is ther a starter kit available? I also wanto to know can the tracks from different brands be used with eachother? I need to learn everything is there dvd available to purchase?

Hello Brian,

A Hearty Welcome to you![#welcome][swg][tup]

Can't help noticing that your writing pattern is similar to Ben_Ringnose. Hmmmmmm.

Well anyway, you've asked a very broad question. You didn't indicate what scale you're interested in. Currently HO and N are the most popular. For tracks: Bachmann EZ track and Kato Unitrack come built with roadbed already, but for realistic looking track in HO scale at a reasonable price I would recommend Atlas Code 83.

I would strongly recommend subscribing to Model Railroader as there are always articles in there for beginners. I still enjoying sitting down to relax and reading through my past issues.

Since you're already on the internet, take your time and read through these threads, page by page. Click on the ones that you find interesting as a lot of the threads have titles that give newbies hints that it's valuable info. Take your time and explore.

Post some "specific" questions and the guys on here will be more than happy to help you!

I have a few for you:

What Scale?
What interested you in trains?
Do live near a rail line?

Do you want to just run trains or are you interested in imitating the prototype (real) railroads by being able to drop off and pick up cars from industries.

Is there a particular railroad or paint scheme that you like?
Are you interested in running passenger trains? Amtrak? Or a commuter agency?

Cheers!

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys good info.

AntonioFP45 Scale i was thinking HO since it is very popular. I was watching the do it yourself network and saw a great layout well developed. I live on the island of Curacao in the caribbean no rail roads. I am into RC gas powered boats.

To start of i want to develop something on a 4 by 8 foot board have no idea what way to go just know that i want to start building.

Does anyone like post or have sites how they got started and their progress

once again thanks for all replies

[Anonymous]

1.) Hang out here alot

2.) Subscribe to Model Railroader magazine

3.) Visit your local library

4.) Trial and error

These are your best learning tools, and Welcome aboard!

[egmurphy]

Curacao, huh? Okay, forget the suggestion on the library and the Local Hobby Shop.

Regarding websites where you can see layouts or progress, there are probably a number of them. Many of the posters here have, in their signature, the address of the album where they have their layout photos. For example, you can see that I keep my photos at railimages.com. If you click on the link you'll go directly to my album there.

Rail Images has a bunch of people who have their layout photos there. Their index pages list each person, and by clicking on the photo by the name you can 'enter' that person's album and scroll through their fotos. Might be worthwhile doing. They have people in all scales. Not all the shots are of layouts and model railroading, some are of railfanning photos of 1:1 railroads.

Just a suggestion.

By the way, I spent a year and a half on the Paraguana Penninsula on Venezuela's north coast. We used to fly out through Aruba all the time. Never had enough time to make it over to Curacao.

Regards

Ed

[PennsyHoosier]

Years ago (more than I care to remember), I read Linn Wescott's "HO Primer." It got me interested in the hobby and has helped keep me interested. Perhaps that little book is still in print. Otherwise, go to your LHS (local hobby shop) and have them help you find a book to read through. Soon you find that you want to "Dream it. Plan it. Build it."

And, of course, [#welcome]

[Anonymous]

Ed I will try the library but my chances are slim. No local hobby shop hahaha. I already have someone from Miami sending me magazines and a book or so. Should have them on Monday. Can't do that much in weekends since i run a sportbook here in Curacao. So pretty busy with all the games.

AntionioFP45 Sorry, but don't know who Ben_Ringnose is I will asure you thats its not me y name is Brian Koolmeyer Male age 34 From and living in Curacao. That is a small island in the caribbean close to Aruba and about 90 miles north from the coast of Venezuela.

[hminky]

Brian,
I am chronicling the building of a 4x8 layout on my website, it is On30 not HO but it might help.

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com

Welcome to the hobby
Harold

[Anonymous]

Welcome to Model Railroading. You will have a great deal of fun, and learn alot from the hobby. Ask any question you have, and no question is stupid. This is a group of young and old and alot of wisdom.

ENJOY..........

Hey Pennsy how did you read Wescotts book years ago, aren't you only 29 like the rest of us non aging people [:D]

[Anonymous]

Is there a set that one could recommend to buy to start of somewhere? I have soemone coming from Miami to the island and would like to get my hands on someting.