Rocky
Welcome back to the hobby and the forum. Join us in Jeffries Diner where we talk on and off subject.
YGW
A Lurker! ( )... I hear Lurkers are good in soup.
I am a LION. Lynx to my layout is below. Please pass the salt.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Welcome aboard! You'll find that this forum is a great place to get advice, an education, and sometimes, a serving of humble pie!
I would suggest that you pick up some books from Jeff Wilson before you begin to really plan the layout. His books are very user-friendly and offer a ways of doing things easily and cheaply. Keeping costs down is invaluable because you have a lot of manage; that is certainly true when you have young kids.
Keep on eye out for the forums and ask questions but also ask yourself what you want from the layout, size, time frame etc. Having a game plan of what you want and how is critical to avoiding wasting time and money.
Welcome!
I second what riogrande5761 said. Also, if you're into it, you can take some older models and detail/upgrade them to prototypical or near prototypical. Many older models sell on internet auction sites and at train shows for very reasonable prices. Also, you can get some recent but older releases at very reasonable prices as well at the venues mentioned above. about the detailing, there are many articles to be found for specific prototypes, as well as photos and drawings from various websites.
Welcome back and yes, prices have gone up a lot, but since 2000 what is being offered in HO is truly stupendous! There are models being made now with fine detail and many very close matches to real loco's and freight cars, even accurate passenger cars. They aren't cheap, but if you can focus on modeling something fairly specific, you can manage it and create a nice themed and prototypical train! Keep in mind that you can find some good bargains at train shows and ebay too if you sticker shock has you concerned.
BTW, noticed your forum name - would you be a Rio Grande fan - thru the Rockies, not around them. Thats one of my primary interests, along with SP where I grew up in northern California. I was a teen in the 1970's so 70's and 80's back when cabooses were still used is what I am fond of.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Just wanted to say hello to everyone and that i loom forward to adding what little i can and getting more then i need lol just a quick overview did model railroad in my teens 97 to 2000 then ljfe happened now 34 and back i to it no layout yet per se but working on it and what can fit in my spare room have a general idea and have been working on several build and kitbash and scratch projects for one of the main areas which is a grain/modern day town or at least whats left but just wanted to say hey and look forward to participating and before i forget thanks to all already helped .ake going from 2000 to now a little easier minus the sticker shock lol