Beginner Model Train enthusiast?

Question

My girlfriend and I are beginner model train enthusiasts and are looking to start building layouts and grow more complexed as we go.

Any old hands who have advice on the do's and dont's?
Any great websites for beginners?

THANKS!

Answer 1

Well, the first thing you need to do is start "small", and work from there. An even better way is to go "modular", and join a modular club where members build small 2' x 4' sections to a certain standard, and then join them together into a huge layout, many times doing public displays with them. This way, you can learn track ballasting, small-scale detailing and weathering techniques, before moving on to a much bigger layout.
Another thing is, have you decided to model a particular era, or railroad, or industry? No point in collecting coal cars, if you want to model lumber, or mixed freight. Do you want steam era, early or late, diesel early or late? There are LOTS of decisions to make, which will determine what detailing to buy. If you model the '50s, you will need to only buy 1950's automobiles and earlier, structures suitable to that time period, etc. Are you modeling a country area, or city? So, decide whether you are going to both go the same way, or if you will diverge some. Then you can start planning a layout. Because without a base plan, you'll just be laying track aimlessly, and for what purpose?
Actually, if you just want to "get started", you can build a simple layout, decide the themes later, and start RUNNING trains. Some people spend too much time trying to decide what to do, then lose interest because they're not running ANY trains. So you can go too far either way. But, you really need to decide if you like steam, diesel, early or late either way, and buy your rolling stock and engines by that. Personally, I like C& O, but you can model any tiny railroad empire that existed, or even create your own. Don't limit yourself, but do get started on a small layout, and run trains first, then detail later.
You also have to determine how much space you can devote to a layout. If you don't have much, you can do a shelf, or a point-to-point operation, or whatever space you can fit a layout into. Some people have made layouts that hang on the back of a door, then set it up when they want to.
Anyway, good luck, start making some plans, theme decisions, industry choices, then you can move on to designing a suitable layout ONCE you know what you plan to do. Good luck, and welcome to scale railroading!

Member, PWMRC club
www.pwmrc.org

Answer 2

First, I'd get a subscription for Model-Railroader magazine... and search on www.nmra.org for some clubs and displays near you.

I just got BACK into the hobby about 2 years ago after doing a Christmas window-display: I live in a small apartment, and spent almost 6 months THINKING and sketching !!

I DID cheat and had a short loop (n-scale) to run while I worked on the layout... a shelf around my bedroom.

ALWAYS sketch and sketch again !!
Buy a scale ruler !!
When building... measure 3 times, cut once !!
Be CAREFUL with grades !!
Befriend your hobby-shop folks !!
ENJOY !!

Answer 3

Try nmra.org--modelrailroads.com--atlas.com.Or just type "HO Scale" or "N-Scale" into your browser,you will get hundreds of sites.Just about every model site has links to others.This is a great way for a couple to "bond" and participate in a great hobby! Subscribe to "Model Railroader"for ideas,tips,layouts,plans,etc.