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Who can continue to pay for this hobby?
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<P>[quote user="SqueakyWheels"]From DC, to DCC, and back now to DC. Yes, strange isn't it?<BR><BR>Bout ready to throw in the towel.<BR><BR>Last Christmas my mother and sister (I am 47 by the way) decided to buy me a train set so I would have something to do, since I am kind of retired (mental problems).<BR><BR>They bought me the Model Power Twilight Express, I think that is what it was.<BR><BR>I didn't have the heart to tell them that they bought me a box full of junk. Anyway, I pursued. <BR><BR>With having NO money, mom popped for some of the things I needed, like plywood and lumber to build a 4X8 layout for the railroad. She never realized how expensive this was going to be.<BR><BR>In the meantime, I did come into some money, and decided to go with DCC. <BR>Not only am I having problems with things I caused myself, but with decoders, and locomotive problems- BOY, I'll tell 'ya. <BR>Anyway, I am back to running just straight DC, until I get parts/decoders for the DCC equipped stuff.<BR><BR>And the greif is getting to me. How much money is to be wasted? <BR><BR>Guess I need to learn about growing plants, and give up HO railroad.<BR><BR>It is something that I don't absoulutely have to have.<BR><BR>Where is the fun? Writing a check for another $100.00?<BR><BR>Am on the verge of just breaking it all up, calling it a loss, and forgetting about the whole deal.<BR><BR>Who Cares?<BR><BR>[/quote]</P> <P>It is not a hobby where you "Instantly" finish a trainset on one night and running the next.</P> <P>DCC is a small computer using binary language to communicate with other small computers onboard locomotive, switches and the like. Once you study and learn what goes where and why (How) you will understand it. Takes alot of time.</P> <P>I myself in the hobby for 30+ years since that first trainset at christmas and I gotta tell ya, if I had a dollar back for all the junk or problem purchases I made in all that time I'll be rich.</P> <P>It's not about the money. It's about finding good place for the train, buying the trains you want and learning skills such as carpentry and scenery.</P> <P>Ultimately the hobby should be a pleasurable journey and one that keeps you free from stress and out of the hospital. When you go towards the train room you should be filled with anticipation and ready to "Play" for a short while or a evening; not experiencing negative feelings or considering getting out all together.</P> <P>Today's prices im paying for the trains is monster. But where I am with a supportive spouse and a few good hobby stores along with the net I think these are the best of times. I am constantly planning, construction and working on a operations plan.</P> <P>Yes I have that expensive DCC super chief, but I dont want to buy another DCC system again, if ever. I learned the other day with the limitations of my power (Digitrax 20 amp) I will have three districts, 8 amp on the main, two 5 amps one for yard and other for branch line to coal mine eventually.</P> <P>The power example I show here took me about 4 months to decide upon and set in stone for the future layout. It did not happen overnight and came with some anxiety regarding the capacity of house wiring in my home.</P> <P>You are an elder and I should be minding my manners, with that in mind; if you cannot handle the heat during the meal you are cooking, consider another less stressful meal.</P> <P>Try to start with one 4x8 of good quality, a locomotive that you like capable of taking 22" radius, quality rolling stock... maybe 8 with a caboose or so... decent power pack and some scenery. If you looked to keep metal wheels, kaydee couplers and adjusted the rolling stock/track to reduce derailments you might actually enjoy the humble beginning of a empire as I did.</P> <P>Best of luck!</P> <P>It seems that MR may be failing it's customer base by not indicating the cost overall of a "Finished" layout or perhaps the cost needed to get one train rolling. Perhaps there needs to be some articles produced to remind the new Hobbyists who want to participate the idea of roughly how much it will cost in the first year.</P> <P>I think we should be working on that a little more. Too many articles and videos are full of an attitude that we can throw down a stack of lumber (Few hundred dollars), spools of wire, decoders, track, switches, switch machines etc etc etc etc etc before actually getting a complete train to run.</P> <P>Let's see if we can use a sort of a "ABC" guide to those who may not enjoy a strong financial position in life shall we?</P>
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