I'm 55, and brand new to model railroading. I'm not sure where to start, as you all can probably imagine.
I've looked through the books at the hobby store in town, and I'm not sure they cover what a real beginner needs. I'm looking for basics like what tools to have, how to find an engine and cars for a particular period. Things like that.
I believe I'm interested in narrow gauge, either HO or N. I've run into things like HOn3, and I gather that's HO size cars that run on N gauge type track. That seems handy but I can't imagine that the N gauge track would look right, since the ties would be spaced wrong.
Also, I have no idea where to look and what to look for in the way of rolling stock for such a railroad.
I'm interested in a logging or mining type of small layout at first.
So, if anyone can point me to a web site, book, or somewhere to gather the type of info a really new person should go to for help for the above, I would appreciate it.
Welcome Old Grape,
I'm very new to the hobby myself, so there is not to much info I can offer but I would suggest searching for old post in this forum for things like narrow gauge, there are all kinds of useful info on here. (unbelievable information).
As for the tools, I would start suggest start out with all the major tools that you would have in a basic toolbox. xacto knife, screwdrivers, razor saw, wire cutters, pliers, needle nose pliers. Things of this nature.
I would also suggest that at your local hobby shop look for larger books, like HO for beginners or getting into the hobby. Although it might not be narrow gauge it would give you loads of info on other aspects of the hobby.
Also don't be afraid to ask questions, there are alot of smart people here that are more than willing to help out....
Hope this help, enjoy.
Norman......
A few thoughts as a long-time narrowgauger.
HO scale modles on N scale track is HOn30. HOn3 track has a wider gauge.
Alternatively, O scale models on HO track is On30.
The bible of narrowgauge modelers is the Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette. You'll want to get a subscription to that if you want the best place to find out what's currently on the market, as well as getting introduced to all the different items new to the market. There are some items listed in the relevant Walthers catalog, for instance, but given narrowgauge is a niche market, many manufacturers are not listed there.
In the last couple of years, a lot of RTR items in HOn3 have started to appear. On30 has had RTR stuiff available for almost a decade now. HOn30 is very much still a kit and kitbashing area. There are lots of kits available in any of those combinations.
For more specific info and help, check out the various email lists at Yahoo groups. The HOn3 list there is where I mostly hang out and it can put you in touch with all sorts of skilled moedlers eager to help new modelers get started.
Gotta go now, but I'll check in later to see if I can be of further assistance.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Welcome to the forums.
One thing which might be confusing you is that some larger-scale narrow gauge runs on rails with the same real-world track gauge as some smaller scale's standard gauge (On30 on HO standard 16.5mm gauge, HOn30 on N standard 9mm...) The track gauge is the same, but the ties have to be driven by the scale of the rolling stock. On30 on HO flex track makes me think, "Too closely spaced toothpicks."
There is flex track available in limited quantities for the most popular narrow gauges in the most popular scales. Lately, a lot of nice ready-to-run models have been produced as well, but only for the most popular prototypes. You can get Colorado prototypes, but if you want to model the East Broad Top you'll have to do some serious scratchbuilding. EBT 2-8-2s have inside frames, so you can't just slap the EBT name on a D&RG 'mudhen' mike and have it be accepted as credible.
Another thing to watch, but not necessarily avoid. Some prototype 3 foot gauge rolling stock is being produced and distributed with scale 30 inch gauge wheels. Make sure that everything you buy will be the same scale and roll on the same gauge track.
Once again, .
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Have you picked a particular setting for your narrow gauge? (mountains, forest, costal, etc.)
I've always been fascinated by narrow gauge and finally decided at the first of this year to do it. I had previously done N-scale and while it was OK it wasn't what I really wanted. The only HO gauge track that's the same as N scale track is HOn30. Not a whole lot is available commercially in that track gauge. But you are right, the tie spacing and size is not rightFor me it was always going to be HOn3 anyway. Not that there's a whole lot more (when compared to standard HO) but recently there has been much more available to the modeler than just 5 years ago. N scale narrow gauge is much more limited in what's available (IIRC Nn3 can use Z scale track and trucks as well as loco chassis).
You're pretty much going to be resigned to special ordering couplers,trucks, track, turnouts, locos and rolling stock. Most hobby shops just don't carry these items because it's a small niche. The good thing is HO scale is still HO scale and you can use structures, vehicles and other accessories that are availalble. Blackstone has started producing some absolutely georgeous D&RGW rolling stock and K-27 mudhens in HOn3 that are RTR. There are other manufacturers that make rolling stock but you'll have to build from a kit and buy the trucks/couplers seperately.
The nice thing about narrow gauge is you run shorter cars (30' typically) that look good on those smaller radii curves. For flex track the best way to go is ME. I use code 55 but they make other codes as well. Finding narrow gauge turnouts is another matter entirely. You can find what you need sometimes at narrow gauge swap meets but trying to get any from Walthers is a hit or miss proposition. I resinged myself to the fact to get what I want I'll have to make my own. I'm going with the FastTracks #5 turnouts. They cost more but I can make what I want, when I want.
If you're wanting to model Colorado narrow gauge from the mid twenties to early 50's and don't want to have to do a lot of scratch building then the Blackstone and Micro Trains stuff is the way to go. Other narrow gauge lines like those in Maine, Utah, California, Tennesee etc. are going to require a bit of kit bashing and extra work. Since you're new to model railroading you may not yet have the skills or experience to do that....not a judgement against you, understand. With Colorado narrow gauge you can do either mining or logging. Both were industries served by the narrow gauge. There are plenty of references available.
Here are a few links I've found:
http://drgw.free.fr/index_en.htm
http://home.mountaincable.net/~va3cp/frameset.htm
http://www.drgwrr.com/
Check out Pentrex Videos for some good DVD's on real narrow gauge operations today (Durango & Silverton scenic RR, Cumbres & Toltec scenic RR ). There are lots of good books available as well from Heimburger House publishing (http://www.heimburgerhouse.com/) on narrow gauge. Their main model focus seems to be Sn3 but the same principals apply to HOn3.
hth
-G-
Here are some results from a search. Have fun.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=hon3+logging+model+railroads&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ned=us&q=hon3+logging+model+railroads&btnmeta%3Dsearch%3Dsearch=Search+the+Web
http://www.hon30.org/
Some may be duplicate links.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Old Grape wrote:I'm looking for basics like what tools to have,
how to find an engine and cars for a particular period.
I believe I'm interested in narrow gauge, either HO or N. I've run into things like HOn3, and I gather that's HO size cars that run on N gauge type track.
A scale is the basic size of the model. Something in HO scale is 1/87th the size of a real thing. So 87 box cars in HO scale placed end-to-end would be as long as the real box car. N scale is much smaller. It would take 160 N-scale representations of that same box car to be as long as the real one.
Model railroad narrow gauge equipment is designated by a small "n" and a number. The number represents the distance between the rails. So HO scale comes in standard gauge equipment just called HO, 3 foot gauge called HOn3, and 2 feet 1/2" gauge called HOn30. It is ALL HO scale.
I have no idea where to look and what to look for in the way of rolling stock for such a railroad. ... I'm interested in a logging or mining type of small layout at first.
if anyone can point me to a web site, book, or somewhere to gather the type of info a really new person should go to for help for the above, I would appreciate it.
While narrow gauge can be done in any scale, I would suggest On30. Bachmann has some wonderful engines and cars to get you started. The equipment size is a little bigger than HO (about the size of S standard gauge) and easier to work with. Plus you can use HO mechanisms if you later decide to build your own engines.
Enjoy
Paul
IRONROOSTER wrote:While narrow gauge can be done in any scale, I would suggest On30. Bachmann has some wonderful engines and cars to get you started. The equipment size is a little bigger than HO (about the size of S standard gauge) and easier to work with. Plus you can use HO mechanisms if you later decide to build your own engines.Enjoy Paul
I agree. ON30 is coming on strong. Bachmann has nice stuff. You do not have to pay full price as suggested by the companies. There are good deals on the 'Net. Also, ebay. Just check the sellers rating first.
we're about the same age and if i were starting out now i'd take a very serious look at On30 . one reason being our eyesight isn't going to be getting any better over the next few years and you might want to start out with something large enough to see the details when you look at it ! go down to the hobby shop and have a look at the Bachmann On30 Shay (if your LHS doesn't have one you need a new LHS) , if you're not hooked the first time you see it then look into one of the HO variations .
as mentioned above Narrow Guage and Shortline Gazette http://www.ngslgazette.com/ is the best source of info . it's also a great magazine and i read it even though i'm not modelling narrow guage .
whatever you decide , have fun and visit often !
I'd like to offer my .
You may have gathered by now that there are special challenges associated with narrow gauge track, mostly in the turnout arena. What I do is run a standard gauge layout as if it were narrow gauge. I use code 70 track (micro Engineering) and run small locos - mostly geared steam - and I do everything as if it were narrow gauge. It's worked out fine:
Phil, I'm not a rocket scientist; they are my students.
Here is a link to someone working in On30.
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/
"For flex track the best way to go is ME"
What company is ME?
If I had my druthers, I would do some HOn3 for lumbering or mining, or better yet, both from the west coast. For about 6 years I lived in Mendocino, CA., about 3 hours north of San Francisco, on the coast, and fell in love with the area, which used to have quite a few lumbermills, logging operations, and some mining.
Thanks for the input so far everyone.
I'm a narrow gauger myself and model in large scale and On30. As others have posted, the Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette is our bible. It has unbiased product information and reviews, many plans and in depth construction articles that are non-commercially oriented, prototype information, and excellent photos. The Light Iron Digest is another good magazine for modeling logging/mining and other small railroads.
I'd suggest you look into On30 which is O scale narrow gauge that uses HO standard gauge track. The On30 Bachmann locos are beauties, run great, are readily available, very affordable, and can take 18 inch radius curves (the bigger radii the better). There are also many big discounts on the equipment and it's much easier to work in a larger scale: you can see the detail. While there are some HOn3 RTR products on the market and more are becoming available, most are limited runs and expensive (all at MSRP, no discounts that I'm aware of) compared to On30.
Old Grape wrote:"For flex track the best way to go is ME"What company is ME? If I had my druthers, I would do some HOn3 for lumbering or mining, or better yet, both from the west coast. For about 6 years I lived in Mendocino, CA., about 3 hours north of San Francisco, on the coast, and fell in love with the area, which used to have quite a few lumbermills, logging operations, and some mining. Thanks for the input so far everyone.
ME is Micro Engineering. Here is a link to a search for Micro Engineering track. They do not have a web site as far as I know.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=micro+engineering+track&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8
I have tons of links on my website for narrow gauge stuff if you are interested.
http://fsm1000.googlepages.com
Greetings Old Grape,
I'm very new to this hobby myself, this site has been a gold mine of information for me and the guys here are super nice and will do what they can to get new people in the hobby on their way, I've asked some silly questions here but I never was put down for doing so, I've stopped at other Train sites and asked questions only too be called all sorts of strange things, New bee, green horn, Rail baby and other crap so I stopped using such sites, this is the BEST Train site on the web bar none!
I choose HO because of the large selection of ready made and kitted buildings, the rolling stock seems endless and I like to be able too see what I'm working on as my eyes are not as good as they once were.
The only advice I can give too another person starting out would be, buy or put metal wheels on your rolling stock or use a truck tool to rasp the trucks so the plastic wheels turn better, other than that I don't know what too say except , "Welcome to the best darn hobby in the world"!!! and too the best darn Train site in the world also.
Have fun in all your steps towards building a layout and I'll give you some free advice...The folks here LOVE pictures so I hope you have the ability to post pics???
Again, Welcome Old Grape.
The most common narrow-gauge in the US was 3' gauge. On3 has been popular for many years, and as noted HOn3 has more and more stuff available. Sn3 has been gaining popularity for many years too. One factor to keep in mind is availability of non-train/track things...HO is much more popular than O scale, and has many more kits available for structures, bridges etc. But then again O scale takes up a lot more room, so you need fewer structures.
There were some real 30" gauge lines in the U.S., but most of them were small industrial operations. In HO years ago some people started using the then-new N scale track, trucks etc. to model Maine 2' gauge lines. N scale track comes out to about 30" in HO scale, so was 'close enough' to 24" gauge track. On30 originally had a lot of 3' gauge western equipment (Denver and Rio Grande Western for example) but lately has been going more towards Maine 2' stuff too.
Keep in mind too it depends where you want to set your model layout. My home state (Minnesota) outlawed narrow gauge lines in 1911, although the last narrow gauge line was gone by 1903 anyway. But in Iowa narrow gauge lasted into the 1930's.
One of the more interesting Narrow Gauge combinations is to model Sn2 using HOn3 gauge.
See this site http://www.trainandtrooper.com/ for what's available in n2 modeling.
HOn3, Sn3, and On3 all have quite a bit available for modeling Colorado - other parts of the country less so. This is one site http://www.troutcreekeng.com/
See this site http://www.trainandtrooper.com/ for East Broad Top models.