Dave,
Welcome back to the hobby. DCC is something you can learn. I did and it was a fun learning curve. I'm still learning about it. One of the scariest things was adding decoders to a loco.
To help me, I asked questions and read about wiring for DCC in a Kalmbach book and online. Youtube is a fantastic resources since I'm a visual person. Having the video on the phone while working with DCC greatly reduced the "fear factor."
I also found that asking for help is invaluable. There are plenty "lone wolves" out there. Talking to others makes me feel more confident venturing into unchartered territory. Besides a large train show, contacting a local NMRA club is another way of meeting others.
Good luck and keep us posted!
thanks for taking time with the great replies, I appreciate it! I will check out the Amherst show, would be perfect to see whats out there! I am excited to have some direction to start reading up and looking around.
Yes, I have been out of the hobby for many years due to getting out of the military and transitioning to my new career. Lots of moves and not enough time / space to get into a long term project. I still have many of the books mentioned and cherish them for sure!
I will post more questions as I read up - thanks again!
Dave.
As Henry said, if you are able to make it to Springfield, MA on Jan 26th & 27th, for the Amhrest Railway Society's Railroad Hobby Show, you'll be attending probably the largest train show in the country. Almost every manufacturer you'd want to see will be there. You can talk to them, see their products, and see hundred of vendors selling almost everything imaginable. There are also around 60+ layouts along with many other displays. Really, almost more than you can examine in two days. You can probaby get many of your questions answered there.
I won't put a link since, apparently, a moderator considered it advertising, but there are other threads discussing the show. Hope you can make it!
Jim S
Welcome back to model railroading. I see you have been on the forums for awhile, just biding your time I take it.
Yes, a lot has changed and is still changing rapidly.
As for online shops, there are many good ones. Our host has many good books, including ones that will some of your other questions, especially DCC, Walthers, Modeltrainstuff and Trainworld come to mind, but there are many others.
There are also many good loco brands including Atlas, Athearn, Kato, Bowser, Proto (Walthers/Life-Like), even Bachmann has cast off it's toy train image with some reasonably priced, good products. Some brands even have multiple levels of quality/detail. There are also other brands, check our hosts magazine for advertisements.
When looking at DCC there are several popular brands. My suggestion is find out what people in your area have. If there's a club or operating groups near you, first, the folks that have the systems can help you learn, second, if you choose to join, then you can take your own throttle to meetings and you don't have to use an unfamiliar controller.
Our hosts magazine is very helpful and as said, they have books on specific topics that can be useful. I suggest reading and asking questions here will get you up to date and on the road to an operating layout before too long.
Good luck,
Richard
Glad to have you back.
.
I switched from N to HO sometime in the 1990s also.
I do not use DCC, but I love Kato products. They do not make as much in HO as they do in N, but no complaints.
If you ask specific questions, or just keep this conversation going, I am, sure you will get all the answers you are looking for.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
pilotguy72 I know its a lot to catch up on over the last 20 years, especially DCC, product development, and latest trends - but any direction where I can read up on those issues would be great.
DCC can be learned. There is definitely a learning curve and an introductory book by Kalmbach would give you a basis on which to ask questions. Your life will be easier if you stick to one brand of decoder. Sound is controversial. Not everyone likes it. From the factory, most find it too loud, but that is an easy fix.
This is the online reference site for DCC, he gets too carried away with light bulb circuit breakers. http://www.wiringfordcc.com/index.htm
https://dccwiki.com/Main_Page is useful too.
Track Planning for Realistic Operation by John Armstrong is a must have.
Detail has increased a lot in the last 20 years. Wireless and blue tooth control and battery powered locos are now options.
Lifelike was bought by Walthers. I've seen a lot of complaints about Walthers reliability. Never owned one.
Athearn was the last major manufacturer to accept LED lighting, which has been the standard.
Bachmann is reliable but it's sound loco's are low budget dcc decoders
Atlas has alway produced reliable locos
Kato has a good rep, but they do not produce locos in my time period.
Bowser is good with loksound decoders.
Scale Trains is new to you and produces highly detailed locos
Broadway Limited BLI produces a lot of steam locos. There seems to be a lot of issues with there electronics, but they have good customer support.
Rapido is very good, but Canadian oriented, eh?
MTH with DCS should be avoided at all costs.
I'm not sure if I am violating Forum rules by recommending Youtube people but Ken Patterson, Luke Towan, JLWI2000, Kathy Millatt have good channels.
edit The Amherst show is coming up soon. It is reasonably local to you, you should go.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Hey Everyone!
I am excited to be getting back into this amazing hobby. I built my last layout in 1997 in N scale and will be switching HO for my next big, permanent layout. I was around the time where DCC was just starting to become mainstream, we didnt have app controlled anything so I am sure lots has changed.
I hope I am not reapeating a recent thread, but I'd appreciate any links or info about a few things to get me back up to speed.
- I will be new to HO so where are the best online shops? I loved Kato & Lifelike for N scale locos, what do you guys prefer for HO?
- I know its a lot to catch up on over the last 20 years, especially DCC, product development, and latest trends - but any direction where I can read up on those issues would be great.
I loved the people in the hobby as well as the hobby itself so Im really looking forward to plugging back in. Thanks for any help or advice, I will take any and all!
Take care and happy new year!