Posted: 3/17/2005 3:56:51 AM EDT
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Thinking of getting my little one into model trains, I'm sure all I need is one more expensive hobby. Can anybody give me some pointers as to good websites (like ARFcom for model trains), places to buy, track setups, etc? Thanks, Michael |
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two excellent forums: forum.atlasrr.com www.trains.com/community/forum/default.asp?CAT_ID=8 I am just finishing up my trackwork now on an 8X8' HO scale layout |
| Pick up a copy of Model Railroader. It's a great magazine that represents the hobby well. They have beginners articles all the time and special novice issues every Christmas time. I started ou thinking of a department store quality set, but changed my mind after some studying. |
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I grew up around locomotives. Dad worked for GE as, beleive it or not, a locomotive salesman. Little Ramjet got into trains when my father purchase his first Lionel for Christmas. And it has grown over time draining my checkbook a few times. One of his favorites is his Desert Storm UP locomotive that he raised money for (more then $400) at the age of seven. I like MTH more then the Lionel line, but that's assuming you're talking or thinking about O-gauge. If you go "O" get the MTH track. It locks together. www.mth-railking.com/index.asp It's a fun thing to do with your child. |
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I could go on forever about model trains... here is my layout... These shots are of its progression.....      These are just pics from my layout....         I built the case myself. Much of the stuff is brass, and I painted it with an airbrush.  And these were from the Club Layout at the Ohio State Fair, of which I was the HO Scale Coordinator. It is no longer there. The fair decided to use our club building for something other than model trains.    
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If you do have any interest in buying some trains, especially HO, feel free to contact me. I will try to stear you in the right direction so you get the most engine for the amount you care to spend. I buy a lot of trains on ebay, with 100% success so far. And also with online shops. |
Model Railroading is a great hobby. I had trains when I was a kid and started my son at the age of five. We have spent many quality hours working on our railroad, watching real trains and attending train shows. Last summer we moved and, while we salvaged the main part of the railroad, are in the process of rebuilding it much bigger and better. My son is now ten and helps alot while learning much. I'd encourage you to GO FOR IT. Take plenty of pics/video when your boy is little with his trains! Get a copy of Model Railroader, it'll help you get started. Here's some pics of the old layout. 
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BIG +1 on this.... Model Railroader is an excellent magazine. I read it for many years and it's full of little train goodness  \I had a cheesy 4x8 layout when I was a kid, many years ago, but I thought it was cool. My grandpa got me started on HO scale trains and my great grandpa had some beautiful lionels, when I was really young. Would love to have those now, but they're long gone unfortunately. I miss my trains, sure wish I had room for some nowadays. They're certainly a bunch of fun.  |
ahhhh. thanks for reminding me. I forgot this was on the server. It is my tribute to O Winston Link. I should reshoot it with some better lighting. It was a picture that was very bad in color. I used some lighting effects in PSP to make it look dark and B&W. 
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Ever been to Slater's, or Smokestack in Lancaster? Smokestack has a ton of train stuff. |
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espee.railfan.net/espee.html? lrs.railspot.com/ FYI I took some photos on the espee railfan site, of numbers on the roster they did not have. They were GP40's and 35's down in Galveston. |
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get him a "Model Power" "Missile Force" train set, it is a U.S. army set that even has an ammo car that explodes when hit with a missile fired from a spring loaded laucher, a Railgun, a car you can drop the sides on and hidden inside is two Flak 88's! and you add cars later and other companies make 1/87th scale tanks etc. that will expand the set, heck if you get a "Walthers" HO scale catalogue you can even get Ho scale bunkers, barracks, even an Military obstacle course and troops in miniture!! I Have all this and model HO scale U.S. Army!  And yes it does get expensive!!Probably have $2000 in rolling stock etc. and haven't even statrted the actual layout yet!! I just grab extra cars, "ROCO minitanks" etc as i see them at Hobby shops! I even have two M1A2 Abrams i'm working on now, have several hummers, 900 series trucks and am getting two 1000 series cab overs, an m-2 bradley, m-577 command post, two M-109 SPG's, a Chapparal anti aircraft system, M-109 SHOP VAN, M-48 AVLB and even a Apache Longbow in HO scale!!! And yes i NATO camoflauge them and even put Unit numbers on the bumpers!! 
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