Returning to the hobby...

[Anonymous]

I was a model railroad fanatic and railfan during my teen years. During high school, I spent most of my free time at the local HO scale model railroad club or at the local freight yards. I had a nice little layout in my garage and life was good. When I went to college, though, I lost touch with the hobby, spending most of my time working, studying, and chasing coeds.

I'm now in my late 20's, married, and recently bought my first house. A few months ago, I came across some of my old Model Railroader magazines and all the old memories came rushing back. I've carved out a part of my basement to build a layout in the future.

I am trying to get up-to-speed on the changes in HO scale modeling over the past decade or so. For example, I've been reading alot about DCC. When I lost track of things, my local club was just installing an early Dynatrol DCC system (this was before NMRA had developed official standards for DCC).

What other major developments have I missed in the past 10 years? Are there any new manufacturers of fine HO scale models? Any recommendations of good online communities for HO modelers?

I am now living in the Cincinnati, OH, area. I would like to get involved in a local railfan and/or modeling club (I would appreciate any recommendations). Also, I would love to hear how things are going at my old model railroad club, the Gateway Model Railroad Club in Jacksonville, FL.

Regards,
Dirk
[e-mail]

[snowey]

First off, welcome back! I'm not in HO scale anymore, as a recent move forced me to switch to N scale, but I can reccomend a couple things to you. First of all e-bay has some great bargains on equipment! Just try it once, and you'll see. Also, Atas has an exelent model railroading forum at WWW.ATLASRR.COM

[Anonymous]

Scroll down to the topics"Getting started & Need some help for starters.
Take a look at Walthers 1,000 page HO reference catalog at your local hobby store, perhaps at Golf Manor Hobby.
The amount of HO product availability can be overwhelming.

[Anonymous]

Dirk -

For locomotive makers, the best now are:

Atlas Master series, Athearn Genesis, Kato, Life-like Photo 2000 (P2K), and Stewart Hobbies - more or less in that order (IMHO - others may rank them in a different order). These have the best detail and drives.

On a lower quality scale is Atlas Classic, Photo 1000 (P1K) and "blue box" Athearn. Walthers is "hit or miss" - see forum comments about individual locos.

Can't say about Intermountain, as I don't have any, but some folk seem to like them. I would avoid the rest!

Rolling stock: Kadee, Athearn Genesis, Atlas and P2K lead the pack in detail. Then theirs always good ol' blue box Athearn - less detail, but several models I have are very good phototypes for the price.

DCC: Check out DIGITRAX - especially their new Zephyr! Mine is on order! Also see (and "test drive") systems at local clubs.

Internet MRR forums: check out the Atlas forum and "the Gauge" for the two best, IMHO. THIS forum ranks about fourth or fifth....

Hope this helps! Welcome back to the hobby!

- George

[BRAKIE]

Dirk,Welcome back to the hobby.The hobby has a whole as changed so much over the last few years.

As far as quaility locomotives,you will do good to use the following brands.Atlas,Like Like P1K and P2K line of engines,Athearn Genesis and the newer Athearn locomotives(so called blue box),Stewart and some walthers. I will report that Kato can be a hit and miss,they have had some problems.
As far as DCC,I recommend the Digi Trax Systems.You will need to study on what set is best for your needs.May I recommend the Empire Builder II? This should be all the DCC you will ever need for your home layout.Now,for the smaller layout like a 4'x8' then indeed the Zephyr should fit the needs.There are other brands of DCC as well.You will need to check the systems and find one that suits your needs.
A Walthers catalog is a must as well as Model Railroader Magazine.
Here are some other web sites.
www.railroad-line.com
www.atlasrr.com
www.digitax.com
www.soundtraxx.com This site will give you a idea of the sound systems now available-if interested.
I also recommend a stop at a well stock hobby shop to see what is available-you will be both shocked and well please to see what is available..
GOOD LUCK!

[dknelson]

I think the big changes are
DCC (Dynatrol was/is command control but not, I think, digital -- and I know guys who still swear by it by the way). Don't overlook Signal Research's non DCC use of similar technology to allow a DC layout to be wired simply if you do not want to convert engines - check their website). I operate regularly with Lenz DCC and am very impressed with it. But DCC still seems tricky to install to me.
Couplers -- FINALLY the Kadee style can be considered standard issue for kits and and RTR, instead of having 90% of hobbyists toss away the horn hooks used by 10%. It was insane -- the first thing you did when you opened a kit was toss the couplers!
Flanges: except for some hold outs the days of cheese cutter flanges that work only on Code 100 track seem to be over. Unfortunately it means some makes that compensated with small wheels are stuck with good flanges on undersize wheels (example, many of the Rivarossi steamers)
Track: Code 83 is the new standard, although Dave Barrow points out Code 100 still has better structural integrity, a point worth keeping in mind.
Mantua is gone. Athearn is like two very different companies now. If you remember when Life Like and Bachmann were pure junk -- you are in for a surprise (but oddly enough, both of them STILL sell the junk too).
Prices: gulp. But we are paying for quality.
Scenery: thanks to Woodland Scenics and some other outfits, scenery can be purchased at regular hobby shops not just the huge ones and the techniques are easy, the materials of high quality. Unless you were into model trains in the early 1960s like I was you cannot believe how different -- read: better -- layouts look now. The trees alone are incredible.
Track design: more point to point, more staging yards, more prototype accuracy. Cleverer ideas for small layouts.
Operations: more car forwarding based on a system other than "I think I'll put the red car near the green factory"
As a committed HO gauger I have to admit the other big advance is how much better N scale stuff looks and operates. There is some fine modeling going on in N. On the flip side of that coin, man I drool over some of the beautiful O scale stuff too!

Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

Dirk, Welcome back....I see from the replies, you have got some good information so I'll spare your from repeating things. I will say that you are in a great MRR town. I moved to Cincin in 84 and have met many great people in the hobby. Cincinnati also affors the opportunity toget invoved in the real thing ...I mean full size trains. If you have time and want to get involved, Whitewater Valley RR in Indiana is run by all volunteers. You can work your way up to working on an Engine or just go out and help with whatever is going on..As for the HO and other gauges of the hobby, the NMRA chapter is very active with some great local layouts to visit and operate. If you would like more inof, please write....Good luck ....Rich P ( [e-mail] )

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the information! I'll drop you an email.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the perspective. A few people mentioned the improved quality of Life Like locomotives. Hard to believe (can't wait to check them out). I read the review of the Athearn Genesis F units. Sounds like a significant increase in detail and quality (and, as you said, price). I am looking forward to seeing what people are doing with scenery and track design. It's good to be back!

[Anonymous]

i still use the dynatrol system today. it is a analog system and is limited to 18 frequencies. this is ok for my use but the new digital systems are much larger in capacity. they have up to 99 frequencies. the front runners are north coast engineering (nce), my favorite, lentz digital, and digitrax. all these systems have many functions and cost about the same. if i were just starting out i would choose one of these.. goiod luck!

[Anonymous]

i still use the dynatrol system today. it is a analog system and is limited to 18 frequencies. this is ok for my use but the new digital systems are much larger in capacity. they have up to 99 frequencies. the front runners are north coast engineering (nce), my favorite, lentz digital, and digitrax. all these systems have many functions and cost about the same. if i were just starting out i would choose one of these.. good luck!

[dknelson]

I operate on both Dynatrol and DCC (and regular DC) and the general agreement is that there seems to be a problem with dirty track on DCC that Dynatrol does not have. Nobody can figure out why. Also the Dynatrol seems more durable and less prone to burning out engines. But that 18 channel limit is more of an annoyance than most people would think.

[Anonymous]

Dirk it just happens that I live in jacksonville Fl. I'am new to the hobby ; only about 18 months, but in that time I have been to many shows. I met one of the Gentelmen from that club at one of the shows and was invited to attend one of their meetings but so far I have not been their yet.

I have read the replys so far and would agree with all that has ben said. I have purchased all of the Locos that have been mentioned, and all are very good.

No one has mentioned what track to use, I use code100 but most people reccomend code83 or smaller. I purchase all my atlas track from
http://www.hobbiesrus.com/. I just checked their price for flex track and code100 was $1.55 and 83 $1.99. And the shipping is very low.

Mike.

[Anonymous]

I hope the club in Jacksonville is still doing well. Are they still located in Five Points (above the pharmacy)? I am going to try to drop by next time I'm in town (I think I 'loaned' one of the guys a Hobbytown RS about 10 years ago ;). I spent alot of hours down there handlaying Code 70 in the yards. Lots of good memories.

[Anonymous]

Yes dirk it is still their. Like I said I plan on droping in on them on friday knight after work. I work in the roosevelt mall which you know is not to far from 5 points. How long have you been gone from Jax?
Mike.

[Anonymous]

I was born and raised in Jacksonville (grew up in the Riverside area and could walk to Five Points). I took a job in Cincinnati and moved up here about five years ago. My wife and I still have alot of family in Jacksonville and we try to get home for the holidays and such.