Hi Help Me

[Anonymous]

I am totally new at model railroading but am determined to give it a good shot.
I have admired you guys for many many years (thats why I am Pops) I have wanted a Model Railroad since  way back. My wife just came back from a visit to the States  and she bought me a Bachmann set with a Santa Fe deisel in it. I am so looking forward to starting but hey I need so so so much help I am so green. Where do I start? I have noticed that the E-Z track in the box is so much more expensive than others and does not seem to be neccessary as I will solder the track together I spose. Is other track compatible, can it be adjusted or will I have to start over with the lower priced track. What is the best track to buy. Layouts where to go? etc etc etc 

[GearDrivenSteam]

Maybe SpaceMouse will see this. I think he uses EZ track. I have used Kato Unitrack before, which is very similar, but you still have to solder that together for best results. I don't know if the EZ track is any better. Welcome aboard, by the way.

[Anonymous]

Thank you real nice to be aboard. I would imagine soldering would be best in most if not all situations there must be a fair amount of movement. Do you know if I can simple connect atlas track to ez.
I have N track my thought is i should be able to get so much more in the space available. What is a good Mag for a novice like me

[Anonymous]

The best thing to do with track is just go with Atlas flextrack. It is a lot more reliable than EZ track if you lay it down reasonably well, you can flex it into any size turn you want, and it is WAY cheaper than EZ track. You are correct that you can do a lot more with N scale in a given space, but N is too small for me. You have to decide what you like.

A good magazine for anybody is Model Railroader. I'm sure you must be able to subscribe from this site or maybe just buy one issue. Also, you should buy some of the Kalmbach books. They have several books for beginners which are packed full of the information you are looking for. I think you can buy them on this site too.

Good luck.

[selector]

EZ-Track is fine, but it is expensive relative to flextrack, and the flex gives you infinitely more variation in curvature.  I used about 50' of EZ-Track until just recently, including their #6 snap turnouts (switches).  I soldered nowhere, and had everything running nicely for exactly one year.  Never cleaned the track, either.

EZ-Track is quick and effective, but limits your track footprint to what the curves will allow.  On the other hand, flex requires securing, and usually on a form of cork or thin foam roadbed to keep it quiet, especially on hollow doors, ping-pong tables, and flat plywood.

A hint for you.  Don't spend any money until you have read and digested lots!  Figure out what you want from the hobby from the advantage of learning, and save your cash for purchases that will be useful for a longer period of time.  An example would be EZ-Track.  Most of us lament investing in it before long.  It serves us well for a while, but then it gets cast aside, money value and all, when we realize that we could have so much more.

Another hint.  Negotiate now for space, aiming for about 150 ft. sq., more if the winds are right.  That way, you will be able to enjoy seeing your trains running around wider curves that will look better, and on a track plan that affords variety...some fast, smooth running as well as some engine servicing and operations.

Welcome to the hobby, Pops.  Yer in fer a heckuva ride!

[ARTHILL]

Welcome to the forum and to the hobby. You already have good advice. Some will say start small and learn the hobby, there are lots of parts to it. Others will say determine what you want and start with that. Give yourself one to three years to get much built.

 

One big decision it layout style.ie "4x8 tabletop walk around" and "around the room walk beside". Around the room tends to give better running, but you have to have the space.

 

READ first, and decide what you want. Keep us posted and we will give you more help than you want with each phase of development. It is called the world's greatest hobby for good reason.

 

Have fun

 

 

[CANADIANPACIFIC2816]

Welcome to the hobby of model trains, Pops. I would suggest that you go to your local hobby shop and purchase any of the various "how to do it" books by Kalmbach, the publisher of Model Railroader and Trains Magazine. Read and digest everything you can find on the subject of model trains.

And if there is a model railroad club in your area, you should consider joining it. You can build friendships with other club members and learn a lot of things from guys who have been in the hobby for a while.

CANADIANPACIFIC2816

 

 

[Anonymous]

I recomend as a beginer you check out this site of Stephans, It will take you step by step through the prosses of building a layout! http://fsm1000.googlepages.com/modelrailroading

David

[railroadyoshi]

Other people have mentioned much great advice. I believe you had asked a question on connecting E-Z track to Atlas brand Snap or Flextrack. This connection is posssible, but not the easiest thing to do. E-Z track comes with installed roadbed and ballast, so you'd have to grade the Atlas track up to the EZ using cork roadbed or another material. The standard in the hobby is flextrack. Atlas sectionals work as well. I find that the EZ track (And other similar types: Kato Unitrack and Atlas Truetrack) are best to get you into the hobby, but eventually becomes very limiting.

Here are my tips, some of which have been previously mentioned. Before purchasing anything more, find a local hobby shop as well as a local club (If you tell us around where you live, we can help you find a club and LHS). While internet forums such as these have people from all different backgrounds, and therefore much in the way of varied information, help on the basics of model railroading will come best from people who you can talk to in person and people who can show you how to do things right in front of you.

Best of luck, and welcome!

[railroadyoshi]

I thought I'd add a bit more...although I should just edit the other post...

I noticed you mentioned "N Track" and using it. I am pretty sure EZ track only comes in HO Scale. I want to make sure you are not confused about the differences between scales (and guages).

Model railroading can be done in many different scales, the most popular of which are HO and N. HO Scale is 1:87 (really 1:87.1), meaning that trains in HO Scale are 1/87 their real-life counterparts. N Scale is 1:160, meaning that they are 1/160 their real life counterparts. HO Scale equipment is typically not compatible with N Scale equipment (some minor exceptions).
It is true that in N Scale you will get much more railroading in your space. However, both scales have pros and cons, the likes of which could justify an entire topic of their own.
The popular scales, from smallest to largest, are Z, N, HO, S, O, and G.

You may also see variations in scales like HOn3. These are variations of Guage. In the case of HOn3, the trains are still HO scale, but run on 3 foot guage railroad. On3 and Nn3 are trains running on 3 foot guage in their respective scales. Aother guage is n30, or n2 1/2.

You asked about a magazine to subscribe to. My personal recommendation is MR (Our host magazine). They cover all facets of the hobby, from the extreme basics to more complicated projects for expert railroaders. MR also shows layouts of other model railroaders which may provide you inspiration. The only thing to remember here is to not get overly caught up in them. These railroads are the very best. Many have tens of thousands of dollars in them. The way these layouts are portrayed may cause you to believe that this level is the norm and your work is inferior. Believe me, it's not that way. Most of us out here can't compare to what we see in MR. Also, remember that many people in MR have built previous layouts where they made all the mistakes you will. Many of these people are fellow members of this forum.

You should be proud of whatever you build. What is most important to remember is that model railroading is a hobby. When it stops being fun, it has stopped being a hobby and become work. Keep that in mind, and take it slow. To help remind me, I thumbtacked papers on the wall around my railroad saying "Remember, Model Railroading is Fun!".

Again, best of luck

[beegle55]

Hello and welcome to the hobby and this forum. First, Model Railroading is fun and don't get detailed to a unbelievable extent. Second, I believe HO scale is the best. And third, I used some of the EZ track stuff except it was life likes version, and it was disapointing, poor connection that I could have soldered to make better. Good luck! - beegle55.

[SpaceMouse]

Hi Pops,

I've used EZ track and I don't particularly like it. However, I model HO not N so take that into consideration. Either way, you can get good deals on EZ track if you look around. There is always plenty on eBay so long as you don't try to get it right after Christmas.

The good: It is easy to set up. The bad: it is not proportioned well and the turnouts need a lot of work. The turnouts all must be serviced from underneath, so you have to pull them to work on them. That can be a pain especially if they are part of a yard.

Also, I recommend reading my beginner's guide to layout design early on. You can get to it by clicking on the picture below.

 

[sfrailfan]

Again Welcome Aboard Pops,

Just one thing about that Bachman, if it is a spectrum (especially a new one) and also as with all trains,

Keep lint, pet hair ect. away from them. But ESPECIALLY the bachman engine, the new spectrums have a electric pickup sysytem that will jam easily and you will loose power. Hair is rather difficult to get out of these areas ( i know i'm doing it now ) and you may ruin detail parts as you work.

[Anonymous]

I have just been reading a reply to to me from Spacemouse and I went to the site where he says that he set it up in a way to say thank you to all the guys who have helped him in his first year and a half and I simply want to say how I do so understand that already. It has in fact brought tears to my eyes to read the responses and offers of help and the wonderful advice you guys have given me. I cannot thank you enough. I have not really had the chance to read through and digest all that has been said but I have started acted on some of it already. I have ordered the MR and have purchased a couple of mags on Trade Me a site we have here (New Zealand) for Buy and Sell. You really have made life for me so much easier and less costly as the availability is so small in NZ.
look forward to more chat
Again thanks