Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

The Complete Beginner's Guide to Model Trains

1418 views
13 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2013
  • From: PA
  • 481 posts
Posted by Schuylkill and Susquehanna on Monday, April 22, 2013 1:03 PM

Order now and we'll DOUBLE hour offer!  That's right, to absolutely, positively, completely USELESS books for the price of won!  Plus well throw in the Ginsu knives - a $10,000 value, your's for only $39.95 (plus $295.00 sipping and handling.)

I couldn't resist either.Big Smile

Put the money towards a subscription to Model Railroader.  Kalmbach publishing also offers introduction to model railroading books - for quite a bit less.

My "print preview" page says that it is 16 pages of unintelligible hype.  Sure seems a lot longer when you try to read through it.

S&S

 

Modeling the Pennsy and loving it!

  • Member since
    April 2013
  • 75 posts
Posted by kevinrr on Sunday, April 21, 2013 10:26 AM

Thanks to all who replied.

Kalmbach's books (some of which repeat information in their other books) are ~$20 each. Two of them and I'd be money ahead getting this one. OTOH I can look at some of the Kalmbach books in a hobby shop and decide whether to spend the ~$20.

This one is a pig in a poke; I'm going to pass.

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Sunday, April 21, 2013 10:24 AM

mbinsewi

Wow,  I thought hypes like that were only on late night shopping channels.  I would MUCH rather spend my money on a RTR detailed freight car, like the ones mentioned in another thread.

Mike.

 
Yes,operators are standing by to take your order and if you order in the next ten minutes we will include a free NMRA gauge a $50.00 value just for shipping and handling..Laugh
 
Sorry,couldn't resist the temptation..
 
 

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, April 21, 2013 9:59 AM

Wow,  I thought hypes like that were only on late night shopping channels.  I would MUCH rather spend my money on a RTR detailed freight car, like the ones mentioned in another thread.

Mike.

  • Member since
    March 2013
  • 450 posts
Posted by EMD.Don on Sunday, April 21, 2013 8:38 AM

As a fairly new member of this hobby (having only been at it for a shade over two years now) I can say that I have learned more from forums like this, YouTube, and Model Railroader Magazine then I could from a generic all encompassing "Beginners Guide" type book. Now, having said that, I do pick up various copies of Model Railroader books because there is some great information contained in them and the pictures/photography are very educational and inspirational (Pelle Soeborg's books are outstanding).

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that both engines have failed, and we will be stuck here for some time. The good news is that you decided to take the train and not fly."

N Scale Railroader.
  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Sunday, April 21, 2013 8:12 AM

IMHO hobby tutorial books is becoming obsolete thanks to the instant information one can get on his computer by doing a simple Goggle search or a search on You Tube for tutorials on   various modeling techniques including installing a decoder.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Culpeper, Va
  • 8,204 posts
Posted by IRONROOSTER on Sunday, April 21, 2013 4:12 AM

For that kind of money stick with Kalmbach.

Here's their beginner page of books.  Check your train hobby shop or train show, or order some from Kalmbach.

This site also has a lot of information.  See the grey menu bar above under How To>Articles.

Good luck

Paul

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Southwest US
  • 12,914 posts
Posted by tomikawaTT on Sunday, April 21, 2013 2:12 AM

I wonder if this isn't a reissue of the same title from a few years ago.  The consensus then was that investing the same or a little more in Kalpubco books would yield far more useful information.  Very basic, and largely obsolete.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alabama
  • 1,077 posts
Posted by cjcrescent on Saturday, April 20, 2013 11:22 PM

Trouble is that almost as soon as these types of books are published, they start becoming obsolete. Today with the internet, monthly magazines etc, the information changes. New techniques, new models and new information.

Many years ago there were several "Beginner" guides published, Schlicther (SP), & Sutton (IIRC) & I think one other. They were all obsolete within a year. I believe this one will be as well.

Carey

Keep it between the Rails

Alabama Central Homepage

Nara member #128

NMRA &SER Life member

  • Member since
    September 2012
  • From: Fraser Valley, BC
  • 538 posts
Posted by Rastafarr on Saturday, April 20, 2013 11:10 PM

I doubt there's any info in that book you can't find in this forum for free. The spelling mistakes on the website don't raise my hopes at all...

Stu

Streamlined steam, oh, what a dream!!

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • 596 posts
Posted by charlie9 on Saturday, April 20, 2013 11:07 PM

my first guess is you would do well to save your money.  sounds like way to much hype to me.  you can probably find out a lot of what you need to know by going over this forum and asking a few questions.

charlie

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,247 posts
Posted by tstage on Saturday, April 20, 2013 11:02 PM

Well, if they had thrown in the Ginsu knives, I might be tempted to get it.  Hard to say.  It might be worth $37...and it might not.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    April 2013
  • 75 posts
The Complete Beginner's Guide to Model Trains
Posted by kevinrr on Saturday, April 20, 2013 10:46 PM

I just ran across this.

Good resource or waste of time/money?

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!