Sorry, a newbie here

[Anonymous]

Hello I'm a fifty-five year old guy here that wants to get into HO model hobby. I'm formally an old car guy but as time goes on I just can't seem to work on these like I used to. So...Here I am wanting to start this new hobby. I need your help if anyone would like to help me out. I have started with buying some good locomotives and wanting to know where to start buying a layout too.
please help me and let me know how to get started as My love has always been trains. [;)] [:D]
Thanks for any help or advise in advance

Steve "Smokey" Kimball
A three year cancer survivor :~)
An advocate on getting your annual physical

[Anonymous]

Welcome Steve! You've come to the right place!

These guys are great and you'll learn a lot just by watching, but ask any and all questions you might have! I still consider myself a newbie and I've been around model trains most of my life!

Enjoy!

[jwmurrayjr]

Steve,

I'd recommend starting with some of the good Kalmbach books on MRR planning, basics, wiring, benchwork and scenery. Start doodling some track plans and trying to decide what you really want to model in terms of location and time-period.

Don't buy too much rolling stock or kits yet as they may not fit your final plan. If you have the space you can always put up a "table" and run a few trains and fiddle around with the "basics" while you read about them.

Just have fun and don't worry.[:)]

[Anonymous]

Steve,

Don't be sorry about being a newbee. Everybody was at one time. We're glad for the company. Before you buy too much stuff you may want to think about what you do and don't like about trains in general, and the hobby in particular. For example, I enjoy switching, so I have what is primarily an industrial switching layout. Someone else may enjoy main line running and not like switching at all. They would build a very different layout than mine. Also give consideration to era. Do you want to depict the 1950s or the 70s or whatever, or do you even care? Some guys run 1950s era stuff and the latest, most modern stuff side by side. Hey! It's their railroad! Read the magazines and visit any layouts you can find in your area. Most of all, enjoy!

Cheers,

[Anonymous]

Yes, Steve welcome! I suggest starting with a smaller layout that might be able to be incorporated into a larger one later, if you find the bug really biting you and you have the room! Do some "Armchair Railroading", bone-up on the subject and build some freight car and/or building kits. Subscribe to Model Railroader and any other magazines you like. Try and determine what interests you: standard gauge, narrow gauge, modern or old equipment, etc. Go slowly and enjoy every minute of the process!

Mark

[AntonioFP45]

Hello, GNRR and Welcome!

It's neat that you have the same last name as famous Disney cartoonist and model railroader "Ward Kimball", who also hosted the 2nd season of "TRACKS AHEAD" on PBS.

Don't feel bad. I'm 41 and am still in the planning stages of my layout. EBriley has stated it so well regarding your "Theme". The questions for establishing your theme: Do you like to see long trains rolling or do you like switching industries. Do you like passenger service. Would you like a locomotive servicing facility? If you're like me you enjoy a "balanced combo".

As for industries on your layout consider getting structures that support the freight cars that you favor. I like sliding door boxcars, covered hoppers, centerflow hoppers, and refrigerated cars, so I'm planning on a warehouse, furniture company, Purina Feed mill, a cement plant, and a frozen juice & vegetable plant. These industries would heavily utilize the type of cars that I just mentioned.

An observation though I may be mistaking: I read your post and it sounds like you want to buy a ready-made layout. Is this the case? If so, there are several companies advertised in Model Railroader magazine and its competition that custom build layouts for clients. Can be expensive, but if I had very little spare time and a sizeable budget I wouldn't be embarassed at all about going this route.

Would you give us a little more detail, if you don't mind? How big is the space that you have to work with? Are you considering going with the traditional "Board Layout" or are you considering an "along the wall" system.

Expenditure: Are you budgeted to buy quality track and powerpacks? Code 83 looks very realistic and is available in 3 foot sections. Go with an MRC "Tech 3 or Tech 4" series.

Not trying to overwhelm you, but these are just some things to think about. Go slow, keep asking questions and read. If there's a hobby shop near you, get aquainted with the "regulars" that patronize the shop.

Go to www.allenkeller.com
Consider purchasing some of these videos that feature well built layouts with the planning and details that went into them.

Hope this helps!

[locomutt]

I don't usually get on this thread,but,
WELCOME Steve!!!!

BTW,DON'T worry about age,I'm 53,and have been
modeling for about 40+years!!![:D]

(still not a lot acomplished!)

[johncolley]

GNRR, welcome to the fold. I am also a "Rocky" fan. My suggestion to go along with all of the above is for you to check the listings in model Rairoader Magazine for any clubs and shows in your area. Maybe even D/FW if you can get around the state OK. Ask at your local hobby shops about clubs, swap meets, shows, and any possible layouts to visit. Most model rails are happy to show off their layouts no matter what stage of construction they are at. Oh, another thought, for the Great American Train Show check out www.gats.com Have fun!

[88gta350]

I, too, was curious as to whether you wanted to buy a ready-made layout, or build one yourself. If you're building one, the others have already given you good dvice. Visit your hobby shop, find some clubs near you, consider joining the NMRA, and read all you can. Start with a small layout. That way you can get things accomplished quickly and not get discouraged. It doesn't have to be something world-class, just something that will teach you the basics of bench-work, track-laying, scenery, wiring, and operations. A simple oval with some sidings would suffice. That's how most people start.

Welcome, and have fun!

[Anonymous]

I think its more enjoyable to build the layout from scratch myself.
I know there are a few places that custom build layouts, I have never known anyone personally who had a prebuilt layout but one of the guys featured in GMR had one built and shipped across country after its assembly and the layoputs settling to the climate it turned into a derailment nightmare and was tossed out. I am not saying these companies do not build quality stuff but humidty and climate cna do a huge number on a layout. Just somthing to consider. As for model railroading welcome to a hobby that is multifaceted so many things to learn and do and enjoy.

make it fun

[Anonymous]

Hey another GN fan YIPPEE.

Don't feel bad Mr. Kimball, I envy you actually. You are old eneugh to remember vividly the time period I model (Late 1960s GN [decked out totally in the big sky blueness]) I unfortnunatly missed it by being born about 30 years to late. You can rest assured that if a Time Machine were made this sprite lad of 21 years would be on the first trip to Cascade Pass in the summer of 69.

I have to agree with everyone's advice, get a few books by Kalmbach. My choice for a beginners library would be,

HO Railraod from Start to finish. (Coveres the building of a 4X8 layout and a small expansion)
Painting and Wheathering Railroad models. (A book dedicated to puting a realistic finish on the models on your layout.
Detailing Tips and Techniques (A compilation of old Model Rairlaoder Magazine articles that is great for getting ideas on how to detail your layout. (My favorite is the animated kite flying scene)
The ABCs of Model Railroading (Another compilation of old Model Railroader Magazine articles that cover all the basic points of the hobby and cover what are now what can be considered "old school" techniques that I still find come in handy every once in a while.
Finally every trackplan book you can find. These are really good for generating ideas for a layout and the more you have, the better.

James

[CP5415]

Welcome to the club Steve!!!
You can "buy" a layout, but most of us just build our own.
As someone already suggested, but a couple of magazines & or books to help you decide how you want to go about doing this.
You could start out with a 4x8 piece of plywood & a basic oval with some sidings. This would be the easiest way to get your feet wet.

Gordon

BTW, thanks for your insight that cancer can be overcome. I recently lost my mom to that awful disease.

[rogerhensley]

We were all newbies at one time or other. For some basic info including a basic layout plan that expands, you might want to visit the NMRA 'Introduction to Model Railroading' pages at: http://www.nmra.org/beginner/

Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

Hello and welcome to the Hobby.

Find a "Quality" hobby shop that has all sorts of trains and someone who will actually take the time to answer your questions, test run engines, hunt down a kit or allows you to actually explore everything else in the store.

You may remember from your car days that it could be a month or two before that one part turned up from timbucktoo, Pacific Atoll USA that will fit the need just perfect. Sometimes the Hobby is like that.

Train shows will bring you up to speed rather quickly. I do advise some caution on what to buy, sometimes people try to sell 20 year old items at today's RTR prices.

Visit various websites of model railroaders and "armchair" across the books and magazines availible while thinking of your ideas for the future road.

Buy some 24" radius sectional track curves and make a loop on a table. As soon as you have something running you will probably understand what the future may hold. Layout space, equiptment considerations, power and work table needs etc.

Good Luck and enjoy your new hobby.

Lee

[Anonymous]

Welcome aboard Steve, You've deffinately come to the right place. If you can't find the answers that you are looking for here, You probably can't get them anywhere. There are so many talented & very knowledgeable modelers on this site with many different answers & opinions. Truely I'd be lost without this forum. I've come over many obstacals through these folks. Also look around for Model Railroad shows in your area, You can get alot of hands on ideas & alot of bargains.......Once again,..... "WELCOME ABOARD"..Mr. Kimball...."Happy Rails"

[fiatfan]

I can't add anything to the above other than another Welcome to the hobby!

Tom

[Anonymous]

Running a model railroad is a great hobby.....I just wi***hat I had a layuot of my own to run my BNSF SD70MAC's.