Just getting started and have some questions

[Anonymous]

I'm looking at getting started and I am trying to gather as much information as I can before I really get going. I am thinking about starting with a mid size gauge, but other than that I haven't made any decisions. I would like to build up my set over time, and I want to get started with a resonably priced quality set. Any help with the previous two items would be appreciated.

[retsignalmtr]

HO is a mid sized gauge. it is also the most popular gauge. there are a lot of accessories available and quite a bit of rolling stock for any era that you wi***o model. do not purchase a train set. they are usually somewhat inferior to buying individual locomotives and cars from the leading manufacturers such as atlas, kato, athern, lifelike proto series. good luck.

[cwclark]

HO is !...you might want to hop on over to the Kalmbach publications website and start ordering some books on model railroading...the more you read the easier it's going to be for you when you start...get books on benchwork, wiring, tracklaying & design, and scenery...the investment you make will be worth it...it costs a lot of money to fix mistakes when you first start out and the money invested in the "how to" books will save you a lot of money, time, and grief...chuck

[Anonymous]

One of the ways to be a successful layout builder is to chose the size or scale of trains based on the space you have. Usually the reverse happens, the modeller choses the scale, then tries to find the space. "On average" the more simplistic your layout is the more likely it is you will become bored with it. The most simplistic is an oval, with no sidings or passing tracks; you can see how bored you would become no matter how spectacular the scenery with a train only able to traverse the loop in one direction, then the other.

Also era can help determine scale. This is something new and many aren't aware of it. If you are modelling the transition era, HO has the most options. However, if you are modelling contemporary trains - trains you see on the Class One RR's today, you might be better off in N scale. An SD90 in HO is a very large engine and if you add to that SD90 long contemporary cars, like articulated intermodals, center beam cars, new Auto Cars, etc., you will have short trains unless you have a large basement sized layout. The same train is very doable in N scale. In fact, in N an SD90 is about the same lenght as an HO F unit, and a center beam car is about the same length in N as an HO box car.

IF you are going narrow guage and really want to emphasize scenery over operations, then S scale is a great scale.

And if you're a masochist, enjoying punishing yourself, then TT is a good scale as acquiring rolling stock can be a challenge.

[ndbprr]

The most important thing to get in your head early on is nothing is permanent about a railroad and chances are most of what you do initially will require rebuilding in some way or another. If you can master that thought and be objective about your skills you will improve rapidly and have a great layout some day.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info. I was going to just start with a set. As far as track and a starting controller does anyone have any suggestions on what to go with?

[SpaceMouse]

I'm a beginner and I started with EZ track. It is easy, but I feel like I should have gone with flex track. It is versatile and there are more varieties int the types of turnouts available.

[TurboOne]

I am a returning newbie. I have an indoor set for my son with eztrack HO size. My garage will be a bigger layout, with flex track as I learn more. Read, read, read, read, ask on this forum, and when you are ready, go for it. Great folks on this and toy train forum, willing to help all, so enjoy the hobby.

Tim

[Anonymous]

I'm a beginner as well, but I've lurked for months on these forums and am finally feeling qualified to start asking questions that I haven't found answered elsewhere.

That is to say, very little of anything I feel I "know" I've actually proven. Still...

I started with two sets, both LifeLike, one a small circle and the other a large oval with easytrack. For the cost of the sets of course I could have already invested in better engines, better track, and certainly better rolling stock. However, through the purchase of these small and relatively cheap sets I've already learned about certain things that I like and others that I don't without having to have made more expensive mistakes on a more difficult to change permanent layout. I'm going with atlas flextrack (currently have about 150 feet of it waiting to be laid) in the basement. As I started with the cheap included engines I do already have a couple that'll run on DC until I'm certain which DCC I want to get; when I upgrade they will become switchers, and when I upgrade the switchers they'll be retired but still loved as my first engines. This way I don't feel rushed to get a hastily built layout up just so I can start having fun now. I'm free to take my time and get it right.

And with that easytrack...I can use it upstairs on the carpet in a small oval to demonstrate engines. My basement is a disaster with framed out walls, decking, track and insulation everywhere as I get building. I just got my first big Kato Dash 9 yesterday and spent the afternoon carefully breaking in the engine. My mom and sister came over to see it last night; because of the mess in the basement (and the comfort of my livingroom) it was easy to have a small oval of flextrack set up upstairs to demonstrate the difference between a quality Kato and the cheap Lifelike engines my family had been used to playing with previously.

The moral is that even if you get something now that you decide you want to replace down the road, you don't necessarily have to consider it a wasted expense. Think ahead, start small, figure out what you like and build up from there. Money spent on educating yourself is never wated. So far it's working very well for me.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by EricO

Thanks for the info. I was going to just start with a set. As far as track and a starting controller does anyone have any suggestions on what to go with?

The packaged train sets are a convenient way to get started but it should be noted that the quality of the parts in those sets is pretty low. The locomotives, rolling stock (cars), track and power pack (controller) all suffer that fate unfortunately.

If you think you might stick with the hobby, you would be better served to research how you want your layout to look and buy better quality items individually. Yes, you'll pay more, but the quality and reliability will be worth it in the long run.

That's my $.02 worth!

Doug

[Anonymous]

If you decide to start with a train set, consider getting one of the better ones. There aren't too many brands out there to choose from, so it should not be too difficult to get a fairly decent set. Mainly, I would suggest that you stay away from the low end Life Like and Bachmann sets. Bachmann "Spectrum" sets contain higher quality pieces than their lower end started sets, and would generally make good sets that you can grow with. I believe that both Athearn and Walthers also make sets these days, and either of those should be pretty decent, as well.
I recently purchase Kato's WGH Track kit, which contains a "layout in a box" but does not include and rolling stock or power supply. Basically this is just a small part of what would come in a set, but contains a lot more track than what comes in a set. To put a set together with this track kit, I would still need a power supply, at least one locomotive and several freight cars and a caboose. The cost could be easily 4 times what a basic "train set" sells for, but would not need to be thrown out a year or two down the road.
The main thing to consider is what you want to get out of what you put together. If you just want to watch a train go around in a circle, then your basic train set is all you need. If you eventually want to have a 40' x 60' layout with all the "bells and whistles" (pun intended), then buy everything individually and grow into things. Most importantly, have fun and come to this forum any time you have any questions you need to have answered. There are lots of very helpful folks here who would love to help someone new to the hobby!

[IRONROOSTER]

The midsize scales are TT, HO, and S.

TT scale is 1/120 and this site will give you information on it - http://www.ttscale.com/
There is a little available to help you out with track and rolling stock. Engines are a little tougher.

HO scale is 1/87 and is the most popular scale and has the widest selection available.

S scale is 1/64, this site has quite a bit of information http://www.trainweb.org/crocon/sscale.html
S scale has good support in track, rolling stock, and structures. There aren't many steam engines available, but this is slowly improving. Diesel selection is very good. S is not carried in a lot of hobby stores, but mail order and train shows make up for that.

I personally started with HO, switched to O, and then to S. I find S to be a good compromise. Construction is more enjoyable than HO since the parts are bigger; and S doesn't have the operational problems that HO has. It's smaller than O so I can have more scenery and trains on the layout in the same space.

In the end though, all scales are a compromise, you just have to decide which works best for you.

Enjoy
Paul

[SilverSpike]

[#welcome] To the wonderful world of scale model railroading!

AND [#ditto] to all of the above.

Personally I model HO because it is not too small and not too big, just right for me!

It helps to have people that support you in your hobby, and this is a great place to start! I was fortunate to have started in the hobby back in the 1970's as a teenager and had my dad and granddad that were already versed in the field of modeling in HO so I stuck with it. But having just returned back to the hobby after a long hiatus, the learning curve is still on the upswing for me! I find that I cannot read enough about the hobby, get your hands on as much reading material as you can find, including these forums! And practice makes perfect, don't be afraid of trial and error, and also learn from others mistakes too!

A "set" is a quick and easy way to get started, but you will get tired of that soon. There are some great 4X8 track plans in MR and ditto too on the Kalambach periodicals that can get you started quite quickly without too, too much expense!


Yours in model railroading,

Ryan

[davekelly]

As for power packs. I don't think you can go wrong with a MRC. These guys have been around forever. I"ve owned about a half dozen of these through the years (anyone remember the old Controlmaster X?) and have never had a problem.

[steveblackledge]

I would say HO scale, it's easily available anywhere. look at what you want it to do, look at what space you have and can you set asside an area dedicated for railroad use, get some ideas on paper before buying anything and then speak to your local hobby shop or contact the Worlds Greatest Hobby Campain on the MR website to see if there is an Ambassador near you who can come round for an informal chat,
good luck

[Anonymous]

N scale and HO are the two most reasonable both in price and size. I model in N scale because I have a spare bedroom only for my layout. If I had more room, I would model in HO. As for engines, Atlas and Kato are the tops.

[Anonymous]

one thing to keep in mind is space... if you have room in a garage or basemet I would go with HO but if you don't have much room at all go with N.

Personally I model N because of space. I just got some atlas code 80 track ( 1 straight pack and 2 packs of 9 3/4 curve). a MRC dc controller. a Life Like loco and 2 passenger cars for under $120

controller $40
track $3 a pack
loco about $35
passenger cars $16 eaxh
and the power wires about $2.50