I've been interested in model railroading for some time now and have decided to put the model cars and plain's in the closet and focus on a hobby that I think will be much more rewarding. The only problem I have is I'm unsure where to start. I've been reading through magazines, books, and computer searches and I see lot's of ideas that I like. Someone please steer me in the right direction!
First, you have to give us a little more info. Is there an area or Railroad you would like to model? How large of a layout are you looking at? If you want just something small to start with, check out the 4x8 layouts MR is featuring. Then you have to choose a scale. HO and N are the most popular, and have the most to offer. I prefer HO but N scale is good if you are short on space. After we have a rough idea of what you would like to do, we can help you with what items you would want depending on your budget. Personally, if I were starting fresh, I'd avoid starter sets and work on a decent track plan of my own.
Decide what it is you like about Model Railroading: Building kits, laying track, running trains, making scenery, doing great benchwork, elaborate electronics, collecting trains, etc? You will eventually get to all the parts, but start with what you think you like.
If you want a layout:
1. Know your space
2. Know your scale
3. Know what you want it to look like. If you have been looking at the mags, pick three pics that you can focus on
4. Know your level of complexity
5. Get a track plan: from a book, from the computer, draw one on a scrap of paper, lay it out on the floor with masking tape. It does not matter. You will find people with great layouts from all the approaches.
6. Select a building stye, flat, open grid or what ever.
7. Start building something. Don't worry. You won't get it right the first time anyway, none of us do. If you are doing what you like at first you will get to all the rest.
8. Ask lot of specific questions as you go. We love to give opinions on all aspects of the hobby.
When you get to scenery I will lobby for pink foam and a steak knife, but that is not first.
HAVE FUN and DON"T WORRY
Get books on track laying, wiring, and scenery to get Ideas. Decide on the scale you want and buy some cars and a loco to experiment before investing too heavy in any aspect of the hobby. A single board can give you enough space to experiment.
I do know that I like the HO scale. I have an unfinished basement which I am looking to devote a portion of to the hobby. I used to work out of Willard, Marion, and Kenton, OH and would like to model one but not limited to those. I only picked those areas to work with because that's what i'm more familiar with. I'm not sure how much of the basement I'm going to give to it, but I do have room to work with!
Looks like B&O and ARTHILL have the basics covered. there is no wrong way to do things since its YOUR way. there are however some technicly better ways. I gather you are in Wisconsin, if you are a fan of the WSOR or any of the roads around Milwaukee then you have a baseline.
To reiterate, know your timeperiod, know your railway, know where it will be and why, whats its purpose, freight or passenger or a mix. whats the history of the area? How big a physical area do you have to work with? What scale and guage?
In the beginning there is a lot of research and decisions to make, its not just slapping down track and running.
Welcome to the forums and to model railroading.
A lot of good advise above. I would suggest you work at getting your area finished where you plan to put your layout. A tight ceiling keeps dirt off your layout. Think about whether you want recessed lightinin or not. Finished walls are much easier to work in front of, whether you put your backdrop on them or in front of them. Flooring should be easy to walk on and something you can find the things you drop.
While working on the room, do some more reading. There are several good books from MR on beginning in model railroading. Follow these forums and see what other people are talking about. You will have to decide on the type of electrical system you want, DC or DCC.
I have found that the combination of reading, watching videos and following the forums is a great way to learn. You will find that there are several ways to achieve the same end. None are "wrong", so try ones that appeal to you and figure out which works best for you. You may also find that one method works better in one place and another method in another.
When you come back with layout questions, be able to list the obstructions that you are facing, stairs, water heaters, support columns, doors, windows, whatever. Also, answer the questions above on era, location, etc. You can find some answers by going down the right hand column to Search our community. If you don't find a satisfactory answer, there are plenty of folks here ready to answer your questions.
Good luck,
Richard
GoBucks2169
First,to the forums. There are a lot of great people here who are willing to help. I am sure that you will get a much greater kick out of being able to run your train models then just looking at static displays (not to say that there is anything wrong with any type of modelling).
You said that you have seen lots of ideas that you like. Perhaps the first place to start would be to look at all those ideas and choose which things strike your fancy the most. Do you want to run trains around or spend more time switching freight cars? Do you have a particular preference for certain types of engines or cars or particular railroads? Do you have industries that interest you? Do you like passenger cars or freight cars, or both? (A caution here - many have said that simply running trains around a loop or two will get boring real fast. Look at what happened to Gomez Adams!!!))
I know you have indicated the location roughly that you would like to model and that you will likely choose HO. That is a good start.
Maybe after thinking about what type of operation you prefer you could spend some time studying the track plan database on this site to see if anything connects. That might give you an idea of how much space your layout will require.
The point is that ultimately you are the person to choose your own direction. Once you have a theme and a concept of what type of operation you like the rest will follow.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
GoBucks2169 I've been interested in model railroading for some time now and have decided to put the model cars and plain's in the closet and focus on a hobby that I think will be much more rewarding. The only problem I have is I'm unsure where to start. I've been reading through magazines, books, and computer searches and I see lot's of ideas that I like. Someone please steer me in the right direction!
Get yourself an Atlas "Trainman" train set, take it home and set it up and "play" with it before you make any other decisions about anything. All of the most well intentioned advice in the world is useless until you can get some "hands on" with some equipment.
Atlas is excellent quality equipment and they make some very nice "train sets" for the beginner who wants to get his feet "wet" in the hobby without spending a lot of money.
Then after you have some "train time" under your belt you will be able to ask questions that will pertain to what you want to do.
If you decide you want to "mount it" get yourself a 4X8, two 2bys, and a pair of saw horses.
In other words, "keep it simple" from the start and go from there.
Mark
WGAS
Getting started into the hobby of model railroading is not an easy thing to accomplish. There are just too many wonderful models available. Quite a lot of beginners rush into a shopping spree, spending a sizable amount of $$$ before developing an idea of what they really want to have.
Why not start building a small and failrly simple layout? How this can be done you can find here.
A series of videos show you how to build the benchwork, lay track, do the wiring, add scenery and structures. Now this is not the most complex layout, but a nice way to start and try your hand at different techniques before spending top $$$ amounts.
First, to the forum and to the hobby.
Your first move should be to run as fast as you can as far away as you can!!!
Just kidding.
You have recived some good advice so far. I would suggest reading more and more before buying anything so that you know what you want in a layout, then determine what space you have to devote to what type of layout you want.
You seem set on HO scale already so that choice is done.
You also need to decide how much space you have to devote to a layout and what pattern of layout you want. {4x8, 5x9, around the walls, duckunder, center operating pit, etc.} How much space your other half will voluntarily let you have in teh basement for your layout.
You will need to decide how you want to build your layout...on extruded foam base over supporting grid, a solid wood table, "cookie cutter" method.
You also need to figure out what you want your layout to DO...operations, round and round, switching, point to point, "tourist lines", etc.
What type of trackwork will you want to go with? and what type of roadbed? Will you be able to do manual switches or remote electrically controlled switches? What brand would you like?.
You need to decide what operating system you want...DC or DCC. Read up on both before you decide. DC is more wiring the layout and DCC is less wiring the layout. DC is cheaper, DCC more expensive. DC controls the track for moving locos, DCC controls the locos on the track. There are staunch supporters in both camps, and some who have converted from DC to DCC.
You need to figure out do you want a fairly flat layout, or one with hills and different levels of track. DO you want tunnels in mountains, or flat plains yard to fiddle in.
You need to decide what era you want to model...that is what year or decade would you like to model? That will dictate what you want to buy for locos and RR cars. DO you want steam or diesel? do you wnat the transition era? do you wnat to model the current modern era?
Do you want to buy RTR {Ready to Run-which for locos menas DC only, but for RR cars and buildings means already put together} or do you wnat to build kits?
There are many books and websites that you can read up on the various subjects. I would suggest you read read and read some more before you decide what you really want to avoid costly mistakes and layout teardowns if it isn't "right". Read up and make some of the above decisions BEFORE you buy anything! Things in a hobby shop or online stores can look "cute" and "inviting" and "just what {I think} I am looking for, but they may not fit into your overall scheme.
That is where you start. Kalmbach, publishers of ModelRailroader magazine and sponsors of this site have two "shop" buttons on the above right side of the black toolbar, and higher up on the gray toolbar right side. They have lots of books you can buy on the various subjects of MRRing. You can try your local library to see if they carry books and magazines you can borrow.
Again, to the forun and the GREATEST hobby in the world! If you have any more questions, don't be afrraid to ask.
There is also the "search our community" on the lower right side margin where you can type in various keywords and get links to threads covering that topic. t comes in handy!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
And if you aren't already completely "confused" just hang around awhile and you will be!!
It looks like you've gotten lots of good advice. One thing I'd add is that you realize that building a model train layout isn't like putting together cars and plane models; you have to maintain that enthusiasm to keep at it. I've been working on my layout since 2001, and I'm still adding to it. They say a model train layout is NEVER finished.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
Thank you all on the Great advice! Definately need to do some more reading on weather or not I want DC or DCC and I'm going to start browsing some track plans today. Believe I want to model something more modern say about the last 20 years or so. Thanks again everyone.
Many great tips here.
In addition to all the great info on the Model Railroader web site, here is a great NMRA divisional web site with a ton of info and inspiration:
http://www.gatewaynmra.org/
Check out the project railroads:
http://www.gatewaynmra.org/project.htm
NMRA (National Model Railroad Association) has info as well:
http://nmra.org/beginner/
Hope that helps!
John Sing
Modeling the Santa Fe's Peavine Line (Ash Fork - Phoenix, Ariz) in the 50s and 60s
http://home.comcast.net/~j.sing
Welcome,
Some great advice has been given already. Its easy to get overwhelmed at first also. As others have mentioned:
Try to decide why you want to start model railroading. It is the movement of the trains, the desire to reduce a portion of Ohio into your basement, model building, etc. If you like building cars and plane's, you might find that building structures and rolling stock kits will prime your interest in the hobby at first.
I would start with the Atlas Trainman set as well. Great quality and universally expandable with more track of different kinds and also with electronic control systems. The track is easily removed from its plastic roadbed which allows you to expand it with track from different manufacturers easily.
The Gateway website is an excellent choice for inspiration and information. Some great structures on those layouts as well.
You may read about DC or DCC. Those are systems for controlling your trains, the electronics aspect of the hobby. Its nothing that you need to be concerned with at the moment. Either system will last you a long time as you learn the hobby and what you like about it.
- Douglas
I suggest you go to a train show where they have display layouts in different scales. Don't worry about some of them being toy train layouts. Just look at them for size. Larger scales have less scenery, but the trains have more presence as they go by. Smaller scales have more of a scenic setting and can run longer trains.
Next decide what you want to do in the hobby. If building models is a big appeal, look at the larger scales. If you want to run build a layout to operate (maybe with a group of folks) like a real railroad then the smaller scales will allow you to have more railroad. If you want a railfan layout where you sit and wtach the trains go by then a middle scale may be right.
This is a hobby that has many different aspects to it - not all of which are readily apparent. Don't be afraid to experiment with different scales, eras, and themes. Since you have a basement area, you probably can use any scale. The ones with commercial support are Z, N, HO, S, O, and G.
Enjoy
Paul
Welcome to the asylum! As you've noticed, the inmates are full of it (good info, I mean). You're on your way, now. Congrats on choosing a fun way to spend your time and money - looking forward to hearing more from you.
Sean
HO Scale CSX Modeler
I think everybody above covered the majority of the info a beginner needs. Two things that I always like to reiterate, (and I'm sure every modeler out there agrees with me. If not, then this is not your hobby) is to persevere, and above all HAVE FUN!!!
Boston's freeway system is insane. It was clearly designed by a person who had spent his childhood crashing toy trains.
-Bill Bryson
to the hobby of model railroading! One thing you should know about is curve radii. Since your doing HO scale, I'd say that the sharpest radius should be no more than 22" if you want to run 6-axle diesels. For inexpensive locomotives with DCC decoders, go for new Bachmann locomotives. Don't be afraid to ask questions about the terms. They can get baffling at times.
The Lone Geep
Lone Geep
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Lot of good advice here. Let me give you mine.
Consider building a kit before launching into a layout. Just to see if you like it.. A lot of us enjoy the kitbuilding, kit bashing, and scratch building aspects of the hobby. A kit is only a few bucks of investment and you will learn lots of valuable things building one.
Avoid the 'eyes are bigger than the stomach' problem when planning a layout. Plan something small and easy, that you can get running in less than a year. If the first simple layout works out, and your energy levels are still there, you can expand. If you start out building the ultimate layout, you may run out of energy before it ever turns a wheel. John Allen (very famous model railroader) started with something smaller than 4*8.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com