Advice to beginners

[cacole]

Yeah, the children who attend open houses at our club always ask, "Can't it go any faster than that??? I wanna see a train wreck!!!"

[Jetrock]

Ahhh, locomotive crashing...just a matter of wiring a loco's motors backwards and starting them back-to-back on a loop...a fitting end to those 'orrible trainset engines!

[michaelstevens]

[;)][;)]
Everyone may be entirely missing gunkhead's point -- some kids enjoy seeing and/or staging crashes -- I remember that I did, up to a certain age.
Certainly, I get lots of requests from young relatives and other visitors -- such as
"when are they going to crash [?]" and "can you make'm crash [?]"

[}:)][}:)]

Hmm -- maybe there's a use for those darn "troublesome trucks" (with the out of gauge wheelsets) after all !!

[:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

Bachmann also has a HO scale version of the Thomas the tank engine characters and I'm considering geting some for my sons.

[cacole]

Gunkhead is talking about G scale models when he references the Bachmann Annie and Clarabel -- they are Bachmann G-scale train sets. From the tone of the post, he must have some pretty rough trackage -- maybe Bachmann sectional track that is not fastened down and is on some rough terrain that is causing bad kinks in the rail joints. Better preparation of the ground before putting down the track would solve most of the derailing and crashing problems. I don't think he means that the trains run head-on and crash, but just derail.

[Anonymous]

This might be obvious, but the best solution is not to crash! If you want to run some British 4-wheel passenger cars I would suggest the kits by Ratio - the "Thomas" coaches produced by both Bachmann and Hornby are not based on real prototypes, Ratio's are accurate models.

On the subject of advice for beginners, here's my recommendations:

As suggested above, ask questions. As my high school physics teacher used to say "The only stupid question is the one you don't ask".

I'm uncertain of the merits of buying seperate items rather than a set - the Athearn sets look to be very good - look at the $500 layout article in the January 2004 MR.

Always build a decent track plan. Too much stock on too little track causes boredom - you ideally want plenty of track and fewer cars at first. I agree that extra cars are far more tempting then track...

Fit Kadees from the start. They're worth it - delayed uncoupling, realistic appearence, reasonable price - what's not to like?

Again as suggested before - start simple. This is why I tend to recommend Athearn locos for beginners - if you can assemble a plastic kit you can fit and paint the handrails on an Athearn diesel. They also "dress-up" well with extra detailing parts from Details West, or similar companies, as you become more skilled/confident.

Another trick I use on my Athearn locos is to paint the sides of the metal pick-up plates on the sides of the trucks in matt black - just make sure you don't get paint into the axle slots or the pickups won't work! Also be sure to remove the wheelsets... This improves appearence immensely - especially on locos with silver truck sideframes, such as SF Warbonnet locos. The only tricky part is removing the plastic sideframes to allow you to paint the metal parts without breaking the mounting pins...

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by gunkhead

I am a novice model railroader,but I know something.I reccomend that beginners get the Annie and Clarabel coaches from Bachman.The
reason is that the wheels are not on pivoting trucks,they are just on an
axle.This can only be removed deliberately,it can't get knocked out
in a crash.

HUH ???

[mustanggt]

They dont always get knocked out in a crash. What brand cars are you using?

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here but wouldn't pivoting trucks handle curves and bad track better?

My advice would be a lot different but perhaps not any better.

1.) Decide what you like and buy individual pieces instead of a train set. Restating make your own train set with better stuff and bit more money.

2.) Start simple and work your way into the hobby.

3.) Ask questions here or a club or LHS

4.) Build an Athearn kit of something you like to under how these things go together.

5.) Buy a truck tuning tool it will help your cars roll better no matter if they are you old train set from when you're a kid.

6.) Prowl the internet and your library for ideas and generally neat ways of doing things.

7.) Read a book on starting in hobby some company that begins with a K has a bunch of them. They have a web site but I'm not sure where it is. It maybe Kalmbach and this one.

That's just off of the top of my head I might have better ones if I stop to think about it

DT

[gunkhead]

I am a novice model railroader,but I know something.I reccomend that beginners get the Annie and Clarabel coaches from Bachman.The
reason is that the wheels are not on pivoting trucks,they are just on an
axle.This can only be removed deliberately,it can't get knocked out
in a crash.