HELP IN GETTING STARTED

[Anonymous]

I WOULD LOVE TO GET INVOLVED IN MODEL TRAINS BUT DONT KNOW WHERE TO START. IT IS FINE TO SAY GO TO A HOBBY SHOP AND ASK FOR HELP BUT IT APPEARS IF THEY ARE ONLY KEEN ON SELLING THEIR PRODUCT AND ARE NOT VERY HELPFUL.PLEASE HELP

[egmurphy]

My recommendation would be to start looking at info available on the web for beginners, like:

The Model Railroader Magazine home page:
http://www.trains.com/maghomepage/maghomepage.asp?idMagazine=3
Look down the menu at the left side and start reading topics.


The World's Greatest Hobby website:
http://www.greatesthobby.com/
Info aimed at newcomers in the center of the homepage.

The National Model Railroading Association website has a lot of info for beginners:
www.nmra.org


Or read hard copy stuff. Go to your local library and see what they have in model railroading books. Maybe they even have model railroading magazines you can read.

Kalmbach (the people who publish Model Railroader Mag and sponsor this website) have a bunch of introduction to model railroading books. See what your local hooby shop has available in their book/magazine section.


You can also ask questions here, although it's usually better if you've read enough to at least have a good idea of what you want to ask about. Real general questions are tough to answer. Hope that's enough info to get you started.

Welcome to the hobby and the forum.

Regards

Ed

[Anonymous]

Look here too:
http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/001/361qldnu.asp

Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Welcome aboard! Lower case messages/posts are easier to read.

What scale are you interested in modeling, time era, steam or diesel, freight or passenger, both?

[Anonymous]

[#welcome]
Ok, lets start. And dude, turn the cap lock off please, all that yelling gives me a bummer of a headache! [{(-_-)}]

Tell us why do you like model railroading?
When you think of trains, what do you see?

[dwRavenstar]

Research is the most important place to start and the books, magazines and archived posts on the various forums are all great sources.
When you visit the local hobby shop (LHS) look around and get a feel for the percentage of floor and shelf space that's devoted to the railroading hobby. Better than half would indicate that the owner shares your interest and isn't just stocking rail items as a side consideration.
Soon enough someone will ask if you need help finding something. People love to talk about themselves and their interests. Perhaps you could tell him/her that you're just starting out and ask how they got involved in the hobby and what they've learned. If you follow this track at the Patch Hobby Shop in Sioux City, Iowa and you're talking with the owner you better not have plans for the afternoon. [:D]
Through your reasearch you're going to experience what we used to refer to as "bucket training" ie. a bucket of information will be dumped over your head and some will stick and lots will splash on the floor. I often find myself awestruck by the talent and insights of the others who share my interest but there are plenty of things they are doing that I feel capable of replicating and refining to my own needs and wants.
Preplanning will eliminate lots of potential frustration and your interest will grow with continued nurturing. There's no specific order you have to follow when dreaming; the end can lead to the method and vice versa. Develop some ideas on operation and scenes, work out how it all fits together and then design a track plan that incorporates what you want to accomplish. It's as easy to say as "let's go to the moon" and at times only slightly more difficult.

Good luck in your travels and efforts.
Dave Wyland (dwRavenstar)

[selector]

Those who have responded so far, wynand, have expressed the wisdom that considerable experience in any endeavor generates in a person.

I would like to welcome you, and add my name to those who advise you to be patient, keep that inquiring mind, and read lots. A good idea is to keep a note book where you can jot down ideas and questions that come to mind as you read or discuss things here with us.

There will come a time when you suddenly realize that you are ready to go for it.

By the way, Model Railroader released a How To magazine in the fall that contained an excellent complimentary DVD. You might still find one at your LHS or in local magazine racks.

Good luck, and it should be a heck of a journey!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by egmurphy

Kalmbach (the people who publish Model Railroader Mag and sponsor this website) have a bunch of introduction to model railroading books. See what your local hooby shop has available in their book/magazine section.

i would recemend model trains step by step

[IRONROOSTER]

[#welcome] to the hobby.

In addition to the book above I would recommend "Track Planning for Realistic Operation" by John Armstrong. This is an excellent book for beginners and also has some good first layouts in it. My first layout came from the back of the book, a twice around with a small yard and turntable on a 4x8ft table.

When I first started, I didn't know what I liked other than trains and steam engines. So I bought some that appealed to me, some kits, some track and followed the plan in the book. My advice is read a little bit, then dive in. Come back here and ask questions.

Enjoy
Paul