Hi Everyone, I am choochoo and am new to this hobby. I am looking to get into z scale or n scale due to the space that i am limited with in my apratment. How should i approach this hobby and if anyone can point me in the right direction on purchasing my first set of trains that would be awesome. I am really excited (my wife sure isn't lol) but planning to buy some trains this weekend. Which scale do you prefer and what do you think i should look for or stay away from if i am interested in these scales. Any help would be great!!! Thanks and can't wait to get started. cool: ChooChoo
Hi Chooch! Welcome to Trainboard! We are happy to have you aboard! As a old HO, HOn3 guy, your questions are tough. Not knowing what your interest(s) are in operational railroading (point to point; round and round; switching, or a combination of all?) it's difficult for me to suggest anything. Are you going to build a 'shelf railroad' or a table / open grid layout? Lots to consider before you get started. I'm not familiar with much in Z scale, but there are several members in the Z scale forum here in Trainboard. I would suggest you hop into the Z and N forums or join a group and pick some minds. As far as equipment goes, well .. like everything else, you get what you pay for. Visit our sponsors and get a feel of what you want and what you can afford. Start slow. How 'bout it guys! Give Chooch a few words of advice!
My advice? Get out while you can!!! Seriously though, I'm an HO guy but there are tons of n-scalers on this forum who I know can point you in the right direction in terms of sets to get you started. From what I have heard and read and seen of n-scale, the Kato sets are very good as is their track system (Uni-Track).... Much of it depends upon the era you are interested in (steam vs. diesel) and how involved you want to get in track laying... This website has some great advice as far as track laying and layout design. Other websites such as Model Railroader.com have a wealth of how-to's as well as track plans to help you along. Good Luck!
One thing I recommend is to stay away from the cheap N scale train sets you see in many stores. Z scale can be a little more expensive but I think most Z scale sets are all top quality. Try and find a train show in your area with layouts already set up to see what you like. Welcome to TrainBoard!
thanks!! Thanks guys for welcoming me to the forums. I do want to get good quality trains. Planning to do a table configuration, since I am limited on space in my apartment. I like that advice, get out while you can!! lolz...But fulfilling my childhood of having trains is awesome. Again, thanks again for the warm welcome. ChooChoocool:
Hi ChooChoo Both N and Z are great scales and more can be done in them then most think. N is less expensive but with Z you can do more in the same area. Check out www.ztrains.com has lots of good beginner info there. I do both so can't help on deciding. rich www.rslaserkits.com
Welcome To MODEL RAILROADING Welcome to Trainboard and the great hobby of MODEL RAILROADING. please, Please, PLEASE don't rush right out and go buy some trains! I know this sounds sort of funny, but I have my reasons. You didn't mention where you live in California, but you have several of the FINEST model train layouts in the country located in several different cities on the west coast. In San Diego go to: San Diego Model Railroad Museum Online for more information. A top line layout in anybody's book In San Pedro go to: http://www.belmontshorerr.com/ One of the BEST layouts in the state[maybe country] Not to be missed! Check the many active model railroad clubs in California for other information and other places also. Don't just jump into a scale, check them all out. MODEL RAILROADING is a fine hobby, you will meet a great group of people in the hobby (NO bums, drunks, & general lowlifes) and this hobby may seem to aimed more towards the males, but it is very FAMILY oriented. And with the Model Railroading hobby, the whole love of TRAINS issue can be involved. I happen to like STEAM ENGINES and have ridden on as many as I can. This is another minor area to get involved with, operating steam engines.
ok, there are a few things that we need to iron out before we can really guide you. 1. Space....yes, I know, you are limited on space, but how much do you really have? 2. Era...what era do you want to model? some items are just not available in Z 3. Budget...A Bachmann 2-8-0 is a great steamer in N Scale for under $100, and a Marklin 2-8-2 is a great steamer in Z Scale for over $200...Atlas makes a great GP9 in the $80 range in N Scale and the American Z GP 9 is in the $180 range
Give serious thought to "N" scale & "Unitrack"............for a beginner, it's "bullet-proof", and easy to get trains "up & running". I would avoid "Z" if I were you, as although it will fit your space requirement, it is much more expensive than "N", and you can do as much or more in "N". Atlas or Kato locomotives.........start with the best & don't mess with the rest. My 2 cents..............:tb-cool:
Wonderful Thanks for the great info! Sorry i forgot to say where in california. One of you mentioned San Pedro. That is like 2 minutes away literally. That is awesome!! I'm going to take my wife so she can see how wonderful the displays are. Then she won't say anything once i get rolling. haha..ok..it seems that "z-scale" is quite expensive based on your comments. I guess i'm rolling with "N-scale" since i have more options and more to work with. I hope it's almost bullet proof. hehe.. I did look into the other scales but i just don't have the room in our apartment. I'm thinking of 2x3 , 2x4 or 3x4 or anything along those lines. I know it's not much but, with the space and what i have seen on youtube, i think i can crank out something decent for a beginner. I have no clue of the train lingo, i am truly a noob at this. Thanks guys and let me know. choochoocool:
2x3 is about useless...I would personally look at 3x6. I know, it is bigger than what you were thinling, but it will look better. You can make any 4x8 HO layout in 75% of the space and have more realistic looking curves.
Welcome to model railroading, Choochoo. You have already received some great advice. One of the best suggestions is not to run right out and start buying things before you have done some learning and planning. It's always fun to buy things, but it is even more fun to buy things when you are an informed buyer. I recommend reading the Beginner's Guide provided by the National Model Railroad Association. Lots of good information there, regardless of the scale you choose. Another bunch of good advice is Space Mouse's Beginner's Guide to Layout Design by Chip Engelmann. As others have mentioned, you will make better decisions if you think about what you like about trains and what you might want to do with a model railroad layout. Some people just want to watch trains run around and around. Others find this extremely boring. Some people like to operate their model railroad like a real railroad, moving freight or passengers from place to place, servicing industries or towns that ship and receive goods by rail. Many model railroaders enjoy both types of activities, sometimes watching trains run and sometimes operating like a real railroad. Likewise, some model railroaders enjoy modeling a specific railroad, such as the Union Pacific. Others choose a particular time period, such as the 1950's and select trains and accessories appropriate for that era. Or you can decide the be completely "freelance" and run anything you like, without regard to authenticity or time period. It is, after all, YOUR railroad. I'm simply pointing out some of the ways that other model railroaders find pleasure in this wonderful hobby. If you are interested in small track plans, you may find inspiration at Micro Layouts for Model Railroads and Mike's Small Trackplans Page. - Jeff
Chooch, When I lived in Belmont Shores, I used to set pins at the bowling alley to make $$ to buy train kits. Additional suggestions: 1. In as much as you are living in an apartment, maybe you should consider building module(s) in NTrak specs. That way, if you have to move you won't have to destroy your work, and you can transport your module(s) to the club and operate yours with the others. Check for a local NTrak club at your local hobby shop. 2. If you can get your wife interested in certain aspects of modeling, that would be a tremendous plus. We have several female members in Trainboard, but the first one that comes to mind who actually does modeling is Candy Streeter. Maybe your wife could contact Candy and develop some enthusiasm. Good luck.
Hey ChooChoo, Welcome to the TrainBoard, we're all glad that you're on board. Another thought not yet mentioned, consider a Hollow Core Door layout. Two major plusses are: 1) It's an inexpensive ready-made layout platform, and 2) It's rigid so can be stood in the corner/closet when not in work, and can be laid on the bed or saw-horses when working. Of course a HCD requires that everything be securely fastened to survive being stored vertically, and Unitrak is the best bet for that. Scenery will be your challenge. Have loads of FUN, I sure do. :tb-biggrin: EDIT - Here's what one TB member is doing with a HCD. He works with his on the dining table, I assume with his wife's permission. :tb-wink: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=99020&highlight=hollow+core
