new to hobby need help

[Leon Silverman]

Just to clarify what JPM335 said. 027 is NOT narrow O gage that runs on HO gage Track. On30 is O-scale narrow gauge trains that run on HO Track. 027 refers to the centerline diameter track circle that comes with the smaller sized O-gauge locomotives that are usually include with starter sets. All 027 engines will run on any O-gauge sectional track but the larger O-gauge locomotives cannot handle 027 curved track. If you go into a Local Hobby Store (LHS) you will probably see O gauge sectional track with two different rail hights. The shorter rail is the 027 track. If you compare the 027 curved track with the O guage track, you will notice that the O guage track forms a larger circle, possible 32 or 36 inches in diameter. Similarly, 072 curved track would form a circle 72" in diameter when measured at the track centerline (third rail).
If you are considering space limitations, you will need an additional 5-6inches beyond this measurement. (e.g. 31 to 32" to support a circle of 027 track.

[Anonymous]

The BLI sound is very high quality. Walther's has kits for adding smoke to almost any loco. If you are running DCC, it is amazing what lighting and sound effects you can control with it. I would strongly recommend HO, because you can run longer trains and larger style locomotives on the same size layout than with O. N is even better, but less detail and lights and sound aren't as high quality with all of the effects.

Good Luck
Greg

[IRONROOSTER]

All of the scales HO, S, O, and G will do lights, sound, and smoke. N will do lights and sound - don't know about smoke. The larger scales allow larger speakers which can sound better. If you are interested in operating accessories such as log loaders, cattle loaders, magnetic cranes, etc you should consider O and S toy trains. These have a lot available. I would suggest you go to a train show that has layouts in different scales and see what appeals to you. Quality products are available in all scales - as are poor ones.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

I think if you want lights, sound and smoke you'll have to look at HO or larger. I would recommend you take a look at G-scale - these operate on 45mm gauge track and are designed to be used outdoors though indoor layouts are possible - you do need plenty of room though! Prices aren't all that different to high-end HO locos, especially if you compare BLI steamers to LGB ones. If you have the space and can afford to buy it G is definitely worth investigating. Better-known brands include Aristocraft and LGB - LGB mainly make European equipment but they do offer a few American items such as an F7 A/B, a set of streamlined passenger cars and assorted freight cars. The great thing about LGB is that all their stock will handle their 1st-radius curves as provided in starter sets, so you won't have to buy new track to run new equipment (though more gentle curves do look better with larger locos). Aristocraft also make great models though they need larger-radius curves, not a problem in a garden but tricky indoors!

[ksax73]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iceman24333

Can anyone give any suggestions on what manufactures are the best. like to have trains that smoke, steam, sounds lights etc. and quality. what scale is better also for that ho, o or o-27 or what ever. if anyone knows of any online resorses to.


thanks[:)]

Welcome to the hobby!

You'll definately want to move into DCC right away if you want all the action you can possibly have. DCC provides sounds but you'll need to get special sound decoders which is pricey. This is something you have to look at building very gradually.

As for as good running locos I would say the following are reliable:

Athearn
Atlas
Bachmann (SPECTRUM SERIES)
Walthers
Broadway Limited - some of thier locos come are will be coming with sound but expensive.

Just to name a few.

Good luck!

[jfugate]

Iceman:

To help you sort out where your interests might lie, what got you interested in the hobby? What prototype are you currently most familiar with? I have found if you can answer that question, you can get to the heart of what attracted you to the hobby initially, and you can find the seed of what will help you get the most satisfaction from the hobby.

In my case, I grew up next to the SP Siskiyou Line and was fascinated with its operations as a kid. Then as an adult, I branched out to modeling all different kinds of roads and operations, freelance, other prototypes, etc.

One day on one of my freelance trackplans, I thought of including an interechange with the SP and suddenly I was stoked!

Then it dawned on me -- if I was so stoked to interchange with the SP, if I actually modeled the SP, I could be that stoked all the time! So by going back to the roots of what fired my interest in the hobby, I discovered what has become a *very satisfying* model layout.

[AntonioFP45]

Iceman,

As Locomotive3 indicates iIt would help very much if you told us where your interest lay so we could give you even better info. Are you just interested in steam locomotives only, or do you also want diesels in your future roster?

Freight and Passenger service or just freight?

Is there a time period you're trying to model? (1800s, early 1900s, 1930s thru 40s, etc).
Or do you prefer to keep it generalized? If you do become interested in modeling a time period, we can help you with what types of cars you would get. For example: Since I'm modeling the mid 1960s thru the early 70s, my boxcars would be mostly 50 footers. Railroads had started scrapping a lot of the older 40 ft. boxcars that were buillt during the WWII years. 40ft. Boxcars were pretty much gone by 1982.

For now, are you looking at running trains, or did you want to get into "operations". Operation refers to dispatching trains, picking up and dropping of cars at businesses, parking locomotives at roundhouses or shops for servicing, etc. Many modelers, after just running trains become interested in operations. (Note: For operations a layout doesn't have to be large at all as some mistakenly believe.)

Just something to think about!

Cheers!

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys for all the info if i need more well you know what i will do

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iceman24333
Can anyone give any suggestions on what manufactures are the best. like to have trains that smoke, steam, sounds lights etc. and quality.

And Quality huh?
In HO scale that pretty much limits you to Broadway Limited. Bachmann also makes units that smoke but I would never recommend them to anyone. The sound units produce OK sound but it is limited by the tiny size of the speakers.

O-gauge has lots of smoke, but only the better units belch it out appropriately (syncronized with the locomotive wheels). I no longer have any O-scale (demolished my layout about two years ago), but from my experience while they had much "more" sound, much of it was low quality. It should be higher quality because the speakers can be so much larger. The O-gauge Tinplate layout was just down from us at the last GATS. We decided that they didn't have sound systems but noise systems. I personally like the Phoenix Sound systems best. They are beginning to find their way into O-gauge equipment now. http://www.phoenixsound.com/ The only onboard sound system I have which I am really satisfied with is in in my G-scale (1:20.5) equipment.

I know of no normal models that steam. There are live steamers in both scales but they are in a class by themselves and unfortunately steam doesn't scale too well.

[PennsyHoosier]

[#welcome]

You are in the best place to answer your question.

Here is what I suggest. Take some time here in the forums reading the many posts that come up each day. It may take a month to get things sorted out, but that is time well spent. The folks here have the expertise that will answer your questions. Take the opportunity to take advantage of what these folks have to offer.

And abover all, HAVE FUN!

[Anonymous]

You are in one of the best places on-line to obtain good information the members here in this forum are like the Fort Knox of information on trains,track everything you could want to know,someone here will have experience and or comments.Take your time and look around there are many choices.Vist your local hobby shop ask questions.This is a great hobby ,with many great people that will be willing to share all their advise and experience to help you. Depending on your preference,ho scale Modern diesels you have to look at Kato,Atheren Genenis,LifelikeP2k,Atlas,and Bli.If your going to model Steam BLI ,Lifelike have engines equipped with Qsi sound to me they are the best.But that is just my two cents worth.Bli just introduced a cab forward 2-8-8-2 with fan driven smoke unit and factory sound I don't think it will be much longer untill smoke is a standard feature in top of the line Steam.Welcome and Good Luck.

[Anonymous]

some of the newer BLI HO units have smoke

[Anonymous]

O and O27 has nice smoke and sounds. Both Lionel and MTH have the technology for both smoke and sound. The sounds have become very sophisticated with synchronized diesel and chuff chuff sounds in some cases. Bells, whistles, horns, voice from the station, etc. HO I understand also has sound, dont know about smoke in HO. Which manufacturers I am not sure??????

[Anonymous]

oh, forgot to mention. when you are ready to make a purchase, you might want to buy from an online train dealer. they have a wider selection than the average hobby shop and offer cheaper prices. my two favorites are www.discounttrainsonline.com and www.firsthobby.com

[Anonymous]

first off [#welcome]. heres my take on the scales. HO scale is the most popular, it has the widest selection of products available and is generally the cheapest. There are several manufacturers, including Broadway Limited Imports, referred to as BLI that make great steam engines with light, smoke, and sound that is unbelievable. Of the three scales you will be able to do the most with HO.

O scale is roughly twice the size of HO. At one time it was the most popular scale but those days are long gone. O scale will be significantly more expensive than HO and you will not be able to fit near as much track in a given space. There are also O scale locomotives with the smoke. lights, and sound but they tend to be less realistic looking than HO

O27 is narrow guage O scale trains that run on HO scale tracks. There is not a very wide selection for this scale so you would be building many things from scratch and what you do find to buy would be very expensive.

If it were me i would go HO. However, the desicion is yours. Go to some local hobby shops and look around. see what you like. Happy railroading![:D]

[Anonymous]

WELCOME ABOARD!
Look in the December edition of MR for an explanation of the scales but HO is the most popular as of now but N can't be to far behind.

We got Fords, Chevies Cadillacs Toyotas, Lincolns, Lexis and a few lemons.

You have to be a little more specific. Goals? etc and then we can do a better job
for you.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone give any suggestions on what manufactures are the best. like to have trains that smoke, steam, sounds lights etc. and quality. what scale is better also for that ho, o or o-27 or what ever. if anyone knows of any online resorses to.


thanks[:)]