Hey Everyone,

I am a complete noobie here. I know absolutly nothing. My dad used to have a set-up and I would use it but that's about it.

I would search old posts but I don't where to start.

Richard

Hi Richard.

It's a series of decisions at this stage.  Which outline?  US, UK, EU, ?

Then possibly, end to end or round and round?

DC or DCC?

Once you have an idea about those, try going to the Home Page and have a rummage around in the various headings.

Also tell us about your Dad's set up.  Some of those old ones are a bit hard, but it might be a starting place.

Sir,

I am in the US. Looking for a round and round.

What is the difference between DC and DCC?

My dad built a Wooden table with legs. Had the tracks nailed down to the wood. Then off to the side had the control boxes with wires connected to the track. Then plugged into the wall. Then of course had decorations.

Hi Richard

There is a huge amount of experience and advice available here but one thing is common to us all.  We all started out as beginners with no knowledge, skills or experience at all.  Remember that when you look around the work shown here.  You too can achieve the levels of skill and expertise shown by the best of us.

How to begin?

Max has given some good fundamental advice.  Where will your model be sited?  Will it have to move or can it be fixed permanently?  Will you have a whole room and could you increase the useful space by having a lifting flap across the door?

Depending upon the space and your budget you can move on and consider scale.  The most popular is HO (1:87 scale) or for UK outline 00 which is 1:76 scale though in most cases uses the same track and structures with HO.  N scale is half those and handy for those with liomited space but the scale makes it harder for anyone with poor eyesight and some people find it frustrating simply because it is small and fiddly.

Which area (or theme) do you wish to model?  Us and UK are very popular, European and Canadian are up there, others are a little down the list.  In general the more popular the theme the more there is "ready to run" off the shelves which means you don't have to start out by learning to scratch-build everything.

Work up a track plan and think of the reason why your railway might exist in its setting at all.  Is it a freight yard, a locomotive depot or simply a piece of plain track running through a city or rural scene?

Thing often develop organically as you work up the plans.  Share your thoughts with us as you go alongand we can offer advice, support and encouragement as you proceed.

I have a empty room that will fit it. It will have to move as I live in an apartment. I want an HO model. Just with trees and dirt around it.

[user=582]rsinger23[/user] wrote:

My dad built a Wooden table with legs. Had the tracks nailed down to the wood. Then off to the side had the control boxes with wires connected to the track. Then plugged into the wall. Then of course had decorations.

Hi, Richard!  By this description your Dad was enjoying O scale railroads, probably Lionel.  Is this the size you want to continue? If so, I might be able to advise a little.  If not, and you wish to model in a smaller scale such as HO, then this forum is definitely the place to hang out:cool:

Ooops - you beat me to it, Richard.  HO it is:thumbs

Hi Richard

Lots of good advice coming through.  Another decision might be which road you like.  I'm a Nickel Plate tragic and a member of the NKPHTS.


I'm sure you're aware of the many road associations available in the US.  If you're that way inclined, it tends to focus your thoughts on rolling stock, scenery and the like.

I'm sure that DC vs DCC has been explained, but your hardware sounds like it's DC.  You might want to think about Digital Command Control before you start, as it will open up some other areas of interest you may find appealing.

 

Hi Martin

Thanks for posting………….what an amazing video………I must get the audio fixed on my computor………a fascinating video nevertheless

Cheers

I'm concerned that all the above information (although very useful) will be daunting to Richard.
Perhaps, Richard, we could guide you through baseboard construction - bearing in mind your need for it to be portable - and proceed from there.

"HO" US outline will probably suit you best as the models are cheaper to buy because of the larger production runs, but that is a matter for you.

Just bear in mind that no question will be regarded as 'silly'.

Richard,
If you start with the standard 4 x 8 table, keep in mind you have to be able to reach in to the middle for many reasons. So the layout needs to be accessible from all sides, and not up against a wall.

Wayne

Ok. I wasn't planning on anything to big right now. Martin I will watch those videos later. I'm at work and they are blocked. I will look around the forum more to get a better idea of what I will do.

Thank You Everyone.

But my next question is....where do I buy trains and accessories from? I live in the USA.

If you want British stuff Hattons, Rails of Sheffield, Trains on Time, Hereford Models.

What price they have you get 20% VAT knocked off but not sure on the Mail to the states.

Subscribe to their email lists and you will get a heads up on the bargains.

Hobby shops and specifically model railway stores don't exist on every street corner but when you find a good one they can often seem like a gold mine.  Many cities don't even have one.  

As you have internet access you could try a search for model rail stores either in your state, in the US or even world-wide.  Sometimes it is surprisingly cost-effective to get things imported through the mail.

I get a lot of my model rolling stock from the UK for example although I buy the scenic stuff locally sometimes.

Here are a few links to start you off.  Many of us have favourite shops so these are only a guide to where you might start looking.

Model railways in OO Gauge, N Gauge & many more from Hattons Model Railways
Kernow Model Rail Centre
www.eurorailhobbies.com/

For tools, bits and pieces and some rolling stock it's hard to go past these guys: www.MicroMark.com  but don't be put off by the huge array of tools, gadgets and things they offer.  As a beginner you won't need 99.5% of all that.

There will be many many more.

Remember you may need to allow for local tax requirements when you import but in most cases that can work in your favour.  When you buy from the UK for example you pay a massive 20% less than the listed price as you are outside the European zone.  Even if the item is offered at a discount you pay 20% less than the discounted price. That often offsets your shipping costs nicely.

Happy hunting.

Here you go, Richard:

http://www.google.co.u…1l1l0l268l2927l0.6.8l14l0

Don't  know how far away you are Richard but Bruce's Train Shop in Sacramento looks like an Aladdins cave if you
want to model American railroads…..
http://brucestrainshop.com/storephotos.html

Richard,
I live in Florida and have been in this hobby for only 4 or 5 years now. When I started I went to every hobby store in several states, looking at everything.

When I buy an engine, I buy it at my local hobby shop. If something goes wrong or I don't understand how to program it (yes I'm DCC, and that still happens) they are just around the corner and are very happy to assist me. I don't get that hands on from the internet.

Train cars are not so complicated so I buy them anywhere I can find them at a good price. One thing I have found though is quality varies dramatically. The very best running train cars and Engines I own are made by Atlas. The couplers always align up right and they run very smoothly. Their weight seems perfect, they are not too light as many others are.

By all means make your own decisions, it really does come down to what you can afford to spend.

Wayne

Thank you

Here's my ideas:

I want to go DC. I was going to get some 4x4's and sheets of wood.

For my layout it doesn't really matter to much. I just want my trains to run throught thick trees and maybe add hills?? Also rocks and thick grass. I guess my theme is woods. lol.

I have been looking at the bachmann trained. The sante fe one. Maybe because i had one when i was a kid. HO of course.

Not sure how the train would act on a hill or how I would even make a hill?

 

Santa Fe has been done by Kato (the best brand); Atlas (made by Kato originally); Proto 2000 Lifelike (Walthers); Athearn (nearly as good) also Bachmann (not bad,either).

Pretty much any brand of diesel will pull well.  Try to keep your gradient under 3%.

Next, work out your track plan on the base board.  The hills should design themselves in as you go.