New to HO Scale, a lil advice please

[Anonymous]

Howdy!
This is quite some place y'all have here. A huge wealth of info but I just cant find the answer to the one question I have. But first a little intro since I am brand new here.... I am brand new to the HO Scale and just getting back into Model RRing after a 20+ year hiatis. (I was given a Lionel train when I was 10 and played with it almost nonstop for years) Now I am wanting to share my love for model trains with my soon to be step sons. (11 and 13) I am limited on space presently so I am considering mounting a model train to a 4X8 sheet of plywood so I can take it down and put it aside when not in use. I would like a good quality HO set, but I am not sure what Brand Name I should be looking for. Any help in that direction would be wonderful!
Thanx
Bill

[CP5415]

If you're loking for a ready to go set that includes a power pack, I'd go with Athearn.
The locomotive is rugged enough for anyone to handle.
Just ask my 3 year old!

Gordon

[Javern]

here is a link to some nice ones

http://www.walthers.com/exec/sets?type=_awalthers.txt&price=all

[Anonymous]

I would go with Athearn also, but when I use to do HO I built my own, By buying different rolling stock , along with locomotives. Good luck and have fun with your new Layout

[Anonymous]

Welcome back to model railroading, Bill. A great deal has changed since you operated that Lionel set in 0 or 0/27 scale. Before anyone can sincerely make the best recommendation for your needs, some important questions should be answered. What era of model railroading do you desire? Are you wanting Steam Era, Diesel, Modern day rolling stock and engines, or combine items.

Does you buget allow you to go DCC or would anolog work best for right now ? How good or poor is your modeling skills ?

Most of us would make some recommendations like purchasing good rolling stock that allows you to use Kadee "Knuckle" couplers and purchase metal wheels to get smoother operations. Also having a good power supply such as MRC Tech equipment. The next thing is while your looking at the Walther's Catalog link for all of your railroad needs, email a good friend of mine at [e-mail] who is a good supplier most often discounting and always willing to help you get started.

You should also view some links provided below and again, welcome back into model railroading and good luck with the new family:

http://www.greatesthobby.com/
http://www.woodlandscenics.com/
http://www.ihc-hobby.com/cgi-bin/bsc.cgi?sn=013

[Anonymous]

I wouldnt buy a train set. Generally it is very low quality stuff. Buy an engine, athearn would be my pick, a power pack, MRC makes some good ones, and some cars also athearn or maybe roundhouse. Make a track plan before you buy track, then i would go with atlas track, they have a good selection of premade pieces as well as flex track and turnouts. Good luck and have fun!

[gmcrail]

I would avoid most of the manufacturers' sets, except Athearn, if you can still find any. Failing that, get in touch with Doc, at '[e-mail] ". He has a very nice hobby shop in Kansas City, and has put together his own train set package, with quality products. I don't know whether he will ship them, but I would assume that he would. Can't hurt to ask about it, anyway. Basically he does what intermodal2112 has suggested, and packaged it up for you. This guy is a model railroader as well as a businessman, so he knows what's good and what ain't.[:)]

And welcome back to the hobby!

[Anonymous]

Welcome, Bill. I am also new after a 45 year hiatus. My wife bought me an Athearn set for Christmas and it is all good stuff. A GP38-2 and all the cars are RTR (ready to roll) and nice quality. My local hobby shop has several so yours may too. If it were me, I'd stay away from the Bachmann and Life Like sets as in my humble opinion they are of rather low quality. Just my [2c].

Karl

[Anonymous]

WELCOME TO THE BUCKEYE STATE..
Consider track curve radius before nailing down. The amount of HO equip. will be overwhelming.
15+ loco manufacturers and many more in rolling stock. The Walthers catalog has over 1,000 HO
pages of accessories.

[Anonymous]

Wow, you all sure know your stuff [bow]
I went to a hobby store over the weekend and they steered me away from Lifelike. The best set they had was Bachmann and not knowing too much myself about HO, even I could tell that was better that the other.
Since you all have mentioned Athearn, I have gone looking. It appears they have set with companys like John Deere and Coca Cola etc... Those could be interesting for the kids. So I suppose that would put me into the "modern" era diesel ... is that correct?
BTW: My intial budget on train set up is about $200
Can you suggest what I should purchase with the remaining $100 . Looks like the set I am interested in is about $100
(I already own the wood for the table)


Bill

[Anonymous]

Bill,
Here is a website that sells some interesting Athearn sets. I haven't dealt with nor endorse this seller, merely passing it along as a point of reference.
http://www.internettrains.com/athosctrse.html

Karl

[Anonymous]

I have to agree Athrean diesels are winners, alkthough if you are into steam start,
with either Bachmann(DC), Athrean(DCC), IHC(DC),Browser(DC), Broadway imports
(DC &DCC), MTH(DCS), Marklin (DC &DCC), Rivrossi(DC),or Lionel (DC & DCC). As
for Freight, Diesels, & Eletric go with Athrean, Walthers, Kato, Atlas, Lionel, Marklin,
IHC, or Broadway imports. Have fun !

[Anonymous]

another easy question.
is there any particular "grass" to line to plywood with? or does all grass "grow the same" ?[;)]

[Anonymous]

Woodland scenics makes all the scenery stuff you will ever need, well, except buildings. But they have a huge selection of grass and tree type products. check out www.woodlandscenics.com or go back to the hobby shop and ask about them.

[rrgrassi]

Don't use that rolled up grass mat. The little pieces are known to get into the gears of the locomotives and cause a messy jam up. My advice, start with bare plywood, sketch out where you want to lay the track and road bed, then get a quart of dirt colored flat latex paint. You can add buildings, landscaping, etc later. It is also a good way to get your step sons introduced to scale modeling, and on learning patience. I hope this helps!

[simon1966]

http://www.trains.com/story/story_list.asp?idMenuCategory=3&idMenuSubCategory=31&idMenuMinorCategory=3107

If you have not had a look already, there are some good resources on the model RR web site (Follow the above link)

This link is not a bad place to start either http://www.nmra.org/beginner/

Have a great time, it is a great hobby to do with the boys.

[Bikerdad]

Well, the best advice I can give you is this:

Run, run!!!! Stay away from that Horribly Oversized stuff and seek peace and join in Normal scale trains. [:o)]

[:p]

[Anonymous]

I suppose since I use the screen name Zurcon, there might even be another soulution out there for me [:P]

[Don Gibson]

4 X 8' Board Layout's have limitation's..

IFyou like running passenger cosists 'N' gage would be recommended.
IF you are 'freight' train oriented HO is fine.

KATO makes the most dependable ready track - Called Unitrak .

[Paul W. Beverung]

Check back issues of Model Railroader for plans for 4x8 layouts. Also check for several books on building small layouts. Last years MR starting in Jan had a series on building the Turtle Creek Central. That was a nice layout and they did a series on an addition starting this Jan.

Good luck and have a bunch of fun.

Paul

[Anonymous]

This is where I am so far.....
I purchased an Athearn set from a local train store, purchased the wood to put it on (1/2" plywood 4x8)
Now for my next newbie question:
What kind of paint should I use for the board? I was at Lowes tonight and say a textured granite paint and a package of sparkles you could mix in. I'm thinking that the textured paint might be good for a more realistic looking ground. has anyone had experience with that?

Bill

[Virginian]

If you go with a bare board it's going to reverberate sound like a drum unless you put cork or something under the track. You do know plywood is also available in 5' x 10' pieces don't you?

[Anonymous]

Ive never seen the 5x10 but I barely have space for the 4x8 anyway, lol
I am using Bachmann EZ Track, do I need cork with that?

Bill

[Anonymous]

Zurcon/Bill,

One thing you may want to consider is puttin a piece of 4x8 HOMASOTE on top of the Plywood and then paint that with some Dirt Brown Latex paint. HOMASOTE board is a natural sound deadner, accepts track nails well. I have used something like this for the past 3 years or so with good results.

I run my trains more than do the scenery thing. My Grand Son is still too small to help out, but once he has some more modelling skills this current layout will be his to decide what to do with.

Chris

[selector]

Zurcon, most people are now urged to use Styrospan, or some other brand of 'extruded' foam layerd up to form mountains. You'll need foam-friendly adhesive to bind the first layer to your plywood, and your main line will run over that. Also, you can carve rivers and lakes into it, even down to the wood. Add layers in appropriate shapes to get mountains. A very light shade of flat 'tan' latex will cover your foam, and you will sprinkle the Woodland Senics ground foam over the wet latex to generate instant turf.

Read, read, read before you do anything...please. Don't get so keen that you blow $ and happiness by making avoidable mistakes. YOU ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING by asking here first.

I recommend that you go to the cormer store and buy Model Railroader's pre-Christmas How-to magazine that includes a free DVD. I still see them in the racks up here in Canada. It is excellent, and entertaining.

[Train 284]

I agree with many of the responses above, Atheran, Bachmann, and others offer high quility trains and train sets.

[soumodeler]

A flat tan paint will be good. Almost any type will work, and any brand will work just as well as the others. I would recommend you actually start on a 4x8 plan from Model Railroader like the Turtle Creek Central as soon as you can. It will keep you interested in the hobby for a long time, plus you gain experience for that dream layout one day. Just my opinion.

soumodeler
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