Hey everyone, new to the board and glad I found it. Looks like it's full of information. I am looking for a completed (or nearly) HO layout. I am in the metro Detroit area, and willing to travel a few hundred miles. Looking for one for my 3 sons and myself. Also wondering what your thoughts are on this: http://www.internettrains.com/woodscenhosc.html Any help is appreciated!
Howdy! Welcome to Trainboard! The Woodland Scenics package is a kit, just so you know. That means you get the fun of building it yourself. And I do mean fun! Many people think that building a layout offers most of the enjoyment in the hobby. It's really hard sometimes to find a good small layout you can purchase. If you do find one you like, make sure that it runs very well before you buy it. Many layouts aren't bullet-proof, and you really don't want to fix someone else's mistakes. If you can afford it, you might try contacting a custom layout builder. The cost for a layout is not cheap - figure about $100 per square foot - but you'll know that the layout will work the way you want it to. You might also check out your local hobby stores that specialize in trains. Sometimes they have a demo layout for sale; and again, these generally run well. Still, I'd recommend that you try to build your first layout yourself. Get your boys involved! The Grand Valley kit is good, much better and simpler than the second Woodland Scenics package in HO. And if you make a mistake, so what? That's the best way to learn in this hobby. Good luck! Pat
I would have to agree with Pat on this one. Building a layout together with the kids is a great bonding experience. And by bonding I don't mean glueing your hands to the layout bench!!
CHECK EBAY I SAW A COUPLE OF TRAIN LAYOUTS CLOSER TO YOUR WAY THAN ME HERE IN CONNECTICUT. THE IS ONE THAT THEY WILL SHIP BUT IT IS AN N SCALE. I MAY BUY THAT ONE JUST FOR THE SPARE ROOM. GOOD LUCK
Hi there 31Ford, welcome on board. I newly joined myself, so am still finding my way around the forum. I agree totally with what Pat says, and also agree that you should try building your layout yourself and involve your sons as much as possible, because it's a great way to develop a relationship with each other. Give it a try and enjoy model railroading. Simon
Welcome to TrainBoard 31 Ford and boys! I am too far away here in Texas, but the guys are offering you some excellent advice here! My Dad (and I) started our first layout back in 1935 (when I was 5) and I will never forget what a great Dad he was. He taught me how to saw without loosing any blood, how to hammer nails without mashing my thumb over a couple of times, and which way to turn a screw driver. The rest came along in stages. The main thing is to keep the boys interested by having them "help" by bringing you tools, and then replacing each one back where it belongs. My job was to clean up our mess after each evening of work. Then we would get out the train and talk about what we would do "tomorrow", so I could look foreword to that all the next day at school (Kindergarten). We finished that one by 1937 and all the kids around would bring their trains and run on my layout on Saturdays. Mom made cookies and served Kool-Aid. It was great fun! He even made some roads so we could run our cars and trucks, taking turns to run trains. The main thing is to lay some track as quickly as you can, so you can run a train even a little ways. Then continue work. This will keep the thrill going for the boys, each gets his turn.
Santa brought my brother & me a train in 1953. We now have over 25 family members with train layouts and a bond between us all that can never be cracked. As the other guys have posted, there's nothing like building a layout with your kids to spend time together while they learn woodworking, scenery & electrical skills not to mention patience, responsibility and sharing. Buy a "How-To" layout book by someone like Dave Frary or Marty McGuirk and get started. Welcome to The Boards. Cam
Welcome to Trainboard. You might find building a layout is a good way to get your three sons involved in Model railroading. A RTR mlayout might be nice, but you'd get more satisfaction from building your own. Have fun no matter what choice you make. Stay cool and run steam....
Welcome to TrainBoard! It's good to do some railroading with the children. Our daughter was about three years (now thirty!) when she did run a train and stopped it at the cornfeeld. My question, there's no station, why did you stop? Her answer; the engineer has to pee. That's memories!! Wolfgang
I would sell you my almost complete layout here in Norwich connecticut but I have a bond with it that has grown over the past 2 years so I am stuck with it till I die or move whichever comes first. Sorry man Good luck on your hunt
