Thanks to All Respondents for taking the time to share your advice. Have Fun!! Cheers, the Bear.
Rich
Alton Junction
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
My advice?
Patience.
Rome wasn't built in a day, and us "old timers" didn't get these huge collections in a day. I still have the first Athearn boxcar I bought in 1970, and it still runs.Make a budget, make it reasonable, keep to it, and in four or five years you'll be astounded at how much stuff you have, just like the rest of us.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
"Yes, you can do it."
Too often, modelers are intimidated by the great work of others. But, none of us was born with a modeling gene. We don't have an airbrush instead of a middle finger. We learned everything we know. You can learn, too.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
JaBear,
WOW! I'll be 82 then. Think I'll live another ten year's? Who knows where evil's lurk, EH!?
Frank
CTValleyRRSo what I'd like to know.... have any Newbies seen this thread and found it helpful, or is it just us old farts pontificating?
CTValleyRR So what I'd like to know.... have any Newbies seen this thread and found it helpful, or is it just us old farts pontificating?
So what I'd like to know.... have any Newbies seen this thread and found it helpful, or is it just us old farts pontificating?
Probably the latter, as I think this will end up being like a time capsule that someone will unearth in a forum search in 2024.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
You need one thing... a sign. A nice big sign that prominantly reads:
"DO NOT DISTURB when I am in train mode. Violators of this rule will be shot. Survivors will be shot again!"
Actually if I was to pass on just one item, it would be 'time'. Time for all the little things. In life, you get out of it what you put into it. So, the more time you put into your modelling, the better your result will be. That includes all facets of this hobby, design to benchwork, trackwork to scenery, operations to enjoyment.
This and the sign will serve you well grasshopper.
Wash all Plastic Structure kit pieces before assembly. Some may have traces of mold release left on them from the factory to which paint will not adhere well. Pre-paint pieces on the Sprue before cutting them off, then touch up paint after assembly.
Get wheels rolling sooner, rather than later. It may slow progress (the hand on the throttle isn't using spiking pliers) but it's the best way to justify the effort needed for progress to occur.
For the longer view, don't expect your first layout to be your last. Skills improve with use, and interests change with time. If, when I was railfanning the New York Central and trying to figure out how to model my favorite (NY,NH&H) Scherzer rolling lift bridge, someone would have told me the theme to which I'm building my, 'Last in this lifetime,' layout...
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Yes, yes, and perhaps.
Richard
There is no one right way to built a model railroad. Don't be afraid to jump in, build something, run it awhile, and then take it apart and start over. A 4x8 is not wrong if it works for you and you learn something. Mixed eras, equipment, etc is not wrong if you're learning. Try one path a while and then change if it suits you. Freelance, prototype, whatever starts you on the path. All the rest, research, planning, search for perfection, can come later as you learn and explore. This is a lifetime hobby with as many do-overs as you want to try, not a one chance to get it right exercise.
jim
Don,t be cheap by quality products from the begining. You'll save more and be happier in the long run
Joe Staten Island West
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
Do not try to glue foam with Cement (Learned that thehard way!)
Get cheap stuff to practice on-whether it be track to practice weathering,etc or a 3 dollar car to practice weathering on.
You do not need to have expensive locomotives to start out with
Bachman is a fine model building company-no need to be ashamed of their most recent productions
YOU WILL GET BETTER AS YOU PROGRESS THROUGH THE HOBBY! Model railroading is a learned skill/hobby and do not be afraid to ask for help/second opinions.
Get a scale ruler,track gauge,tweezers,etc.
The most important tip though-HAVE FUN!
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Don't be afraid to dive in and start working. Even an hour here and there amounts to prgress.
Gidday, I'd just like to thank everyone whose contributed so far for your words of wisdom though......... richhotrain Get out of the hobby before it is too late ! .........I would have thought that you'd have taken some time from counting your Fuji War Bonds to elaborate, and by doing so, enlighten us further Rich. Thanks and Cheers, the Bear.
Gidday, I'd just like to thank everyone whose contributed so far for your words of wisdom though.........
richhotrain Get out of the hobby before it is too late !
.........I would have thought that you'd have taken some time from counting your Fuji War Bonds to elaborate, and by doing so, enlighten us further Rich.
Thanks and Cheers, the Bear.
LOL
Just making sure, Bear, that you are monitoring your own thread.
Setting my War Bonds aside for the moment, my advice is:
Just Do It. Get in there and lay some track. You can always read books later.
All I can say!
As for advice? I know nuttin', get Your feet wet, when You're done reading.
Ornery! My other ''new name''
richhotrainGet out of the hobby before it is too late !
dknelson Avoid doing tricky or difficult projects when you are tired or angry. That is what Athearn blue box kits are for! Dave Nelson
Avoid doing tricky or difficult projects when you are tired or angry. That is what Athearn blue box kits are for!
Dave Nelson
So I'm not the only one who's had to learn this lesson! I avoid ALL model building when I'm angry, especially outside-the-hobby causes. That's a disaster begging to happen. That's a law, not a rule. (to me) Some people can turn to the hobby as a way to cool down. I'll likely "vent".
All good replies
So as to not to repeat what has been said go to the top of this page and you will various topics listed.
Click on how to or help depending on the page and that's what you will get
Good luck with your efforts and oh, if it hasn't been mentioned a camera will see things your eyes don't. Some of my track has spots that looked good to me but in a picture not so much.
We love to see pictures and it they are amateurish all the better, I'll have some company.
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
Enjoy the "process" as much as - if not more than - the "finished product"...if there is such a thing.
KISS. Keep it simple stupid.
Plan so you can get trains running as soon as possible. Build first just enough benchwork to support just enough track to run a short train. Lay that track, power up it, and watch her run. Highly satisfying. Expand the layout to it's full size later, after you get a small portion of it running. If you bite off more than you can chew, you may never get her running.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
Build, Baby, BUILD!
Then you will know what you want to do differently next time.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Start with a basic layout design you are certain you can complete- don't try for more than is realistically feasible, as within a year of work. I have a small engine/car rebuild/servicing yard+ small yard with some pass-thru trackage that I am building on a 7.5x2.5 plywood table. After I get the track (already pinned in place) laid, wired with sufficient feeders and electrically up to par, then I will look at integrating it into a larger design. While I come and go with the trackwork, as Bear says, do something else and hone your skills with structures, painting, car modelling, etc. That way, you don't get bored or burned out doing just one thing all the time. Besides, many times that you walk away from one task, you return later with new perspectives and ideas.
Read, read, research, research!!!! Many modelers have spent considerable time writing and documenting their work for others to learn from- I know that with every project I do, my first turn is to the internet or local fellow modellers for information and advice. This forum is your number one place to start and don't be shy. If you are shy, PM some of the regulars, but don't be a lone wolf when it comes to learning.
Be frugal- those swap meets contain much you can get at low cost, as does E-Bay (buy it now, not just bidding)- don't spend $200.00 on a new engine, when you can get a decent used inventory of cars and engines for that same amount at a swap meet. Then, when something new and irrestistable comes along, the money you saved earlier can be spent a bit less carefully- if you so choose.
Then, enjoy!
Cedarwoodron
Run Away, Run Away while you still can for if you do not you are surely about to spend more time and money than you ever imagined. There is so much neat stuff to buy and not enough time or money for it all. So stick to one thing and don't jump aroun.
alco's forever!!!!! Majoring in HO scale Minorig in O scale:)
Don't take the advice given by anyone on these forums as the correct or best way to do things. Everyone has an opinion on what woks best for them, and it may not work for you. Because of the differences in skill levels and experience, none of the answers may be the best.
Those folks who really push their opinions on you hard, usually don't have the best way to do anything.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Learn the new ways of doing things like foam. Build your layout module style, even if it ends up a 4x8. If you build a box and put foam on it for a 4x8, even if the layout dose not meet your needs long term, you can either clear off the old foam of flip the boxs for your dream layout and if you need to move, the main parts can go with you.