getting started

[Anonymous]

i am new to model railroading.i do not have a lot of space,and all i have heard of are ho scale train sets.please tell me what is needed to get
started,and the differences in n and ho scale.also,do i need to worry about scenery,time periods,etc.all i like is running trains.any help would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

For starters go to www.nmra.org and on the left side
of page, click on "Beginners page"

Scale: the size of things on a model railroad relative to things on a real railroad.

N scale, 1:160
HO scale, 1:87, or 1/87th of the prototype or real
full size.
You need a plan,allow for future expansion,layout size (4x6, 4x8 etc)
What are your room restraints?
Try and get to a nearby hobby shop to see I feel the difference in scales & COST.
Look thru their magazine rack for the many books
available on the hobby.
You have to set some price goals, a budget.
The HO Walthers catalog has over 1,000 pages.
The N Walthers catalog has over 400 pages.

In HO, there are over 15+ locomotive model manufacturers, many making similar models.

There are Chevies, Fords, Chryslers, Lincolns Caddies and a few Lemons in our hobby.

You can see similar locos made by two different
model manufacturers with a $50.00 price difference

In a nut shell, it's what's under the shell that counts,(motor, superior operating performance)

The variety available can be overwhelming.
Generally, modelers have picked a particular time era to model and relate back to a train time when they were younger and there are those like myself
that go from steam models to late diesels.

You are the President of your RR and can do what you wish.

Happy railroading.

[Anonymous]

I am relatively new also. If you are young N scale will allow you more trackage in a small space. Unfortunately I got started when I retired and N scale is too small for my fingers and eyes. i went with HO and sometimes have a little trouble with big fingers. Also, I have see severeal layouts now where ther is hardly any scenery. The people just like to see trains move and do a lot of pretending.

The trend seems to be selecting a time period and a prototype to model. My layout is some what 'today" but the prototype never has existed except in my head. Do what you want and have fun.

Fred

[Anonymous]

When I started in HO five years ago, all I wanted was track & trains. !WRONG!

My in-house supervisor said the layout need character, life & scenery. O God, was She right.

A country airport with a few planes suspended by clear nylon thread from the ceilng, two mini connecting fish ponds, 200 little people, 200 cars
plus bldgs.

I now have Trains-Planes & Automobiles.
She was right.
Happy railroading

[Anonymous]

My advice is to start small, chose an era and most importantly try to save money! Whether you choose HO or N it can be expensive, especially if you decide to change scales, like I did! HO is a great scale because there is a huge variety of EVERYTHING available for modeling any era. N scale is great for getting a lot of operational railroading into a small space or more into the same amount as opposed to HO. What do you like most? Steam & wooden reefers, Diesels & intermodal, mixed freight, cabooses or EOT devices, classic cars, modern cars, trucks, farms, trees?
Planning is the key to happiness. I would make a list, putting your favorites at the top and go with your top 10-20 wants. I would definitely choose the era you prefer right away and try to stick with it. (Diesel engines are a great start because they run a lot smoother than the steam engines). Spend the time to plan your building process or setting up your layout, roads, scenery plans, train equipment, etc. As you piece it together, you can get a feel for what you wan even before you spend a penny.
I would suggest to stay small, aquire a great engine, some rolling stock, some vehicles & people too and building kits. Starting with one good quality engine would be a great way to start too. START OUT with a definite track plan also, and build it as soon as you have it planned. Once you get some trains running you'll feel good about your work and maybe get some more inspiration! Also by the time you plan, lay track and run some trains you will have a greater idea of what you want as your ultimate goal for your layout. Have fun and dig in!
Pete

[BR60103]

I suggest that you consider what attracts you to model railroading and work from there. Nothing is compulsory in model railroading, but seeing what others do will give ideas. Since you're just starting, you can restrict your purchases to items that go together.
What do you mean by "running trains"? Is this watching mainline freights and passenegers pass by or moving freight cars around in a yard? You'll probably find that scenery makes train watching more enjoyable.
You probably need to worry about which scale your trains are (so they work together) but beyond that they will work together but look stupid.
As you get experience and learn more, you'll find things that you like (and things that you hate).
--David