New To Model Railroading?
If you are just starting out in the model train hobby and you want to get some guidance you've come to the right place. In this guide, we will walk you through some of the major categories and propose some questions you will need to think about. It's very important to have somewhat of an idea of how you would like your finished layout to look before getting started. You don't want to spend all your time and money building a layout just to find out halfway through that you should have used a smaller scale for space, or that a bigger scale would have looked better. It's like the saying, "those who fail to plan, plan to fail." We're going to make sure that doesn't happen.
What is scale? Does scale matter? What scale is right for me? These are probably the most important questions when starting out. The scale you are working in will decide everything you do from this point on. So, does scale matter? Yes. What scale is right for me? It depends. There are quite a few different scales: G, O, OO, S, T, TT, HO, N, Z, ZZ and even more. We carry a subset of these scales that are more popular to work with.
The scale is basically a ratio between the real thing and the model such as 1:24. Most people have heard of this because of scale model houses; where 1 inch on the model house would be equal to 24 inches in the real house. Model trains have the same thing, but it's just represented with letters instead of the ratio of the scale. Some places will substitute gauge for scale; this is incorrect. Gauge is the ratio of the distance between the rails of the real thing and the model. But wouldn't the gauge of the track be the same scale ratio as the train? Not necessarily. While the train may be one scale, it could be running on track that is narrower than what it should be. This is called narrow gauge, but we'll get into that later. Let's show you some of the scales we carry:
Types of Track
Now that you've decided what scale you are going to build with, it's time to move on to the type of track you are going to use. Don't worry, the hard part is over, and there are only four options to choose from in this category.
No matter what track you decide to use, it is important to note that as you run your train, dust, dirt, and grime will get on your tracks and on your trains. Proper cleaning and care for your trains and track will ensure your trains run for a very long time.
Buying Model Trains
Now that you've decided what scale and track you are going to use, it's time to talk about buying your first train. There are two types of trains, those that are made for hobbyists, and those made as toys. We only carry trains by manufacturers that make trains for hobbyists. Toy trains are found in toy stores and some department stores, and are designed to be cheap in cost, but also run that same way. This is understandable when you have someone buying for a young child. No one wants to spend $300-$400 on a locomotive just to have it broken in a couple of weeks. But buying a cheap "toy train" set can make the child lose interest because of the problems of derailing and poor overall quality of the train.
When buying trains and accessories, it's best to buy from your local model train hobby shop, or from an online model train site like ours. You want to find a place that carries trains for the serious model railroader, and by well-known model train manufacturers. That way, you know the quality will be high, and you will be able to get answers to any questions you may have.
We hope this guide has been helpful in starting your path into model railroading. The best thing about this hobby is that you can go as far as creating your own little world, or you can just buy one train set and be content with that. No matter where you are on that spectrum, we hope that this hobby will provide you with years of enjoyment.
Types of Scale
What is scale? Does scale matter? What scale is right for me? These are probably the most important questions when starting out. The scale you are working in will decide everything you do from this point on. So, does scale matter? Yes. What scale is right for me? It depends. There are quite a few different scales: G, O, OO, S, T, TT, HO, N, Z, ZZ and even more. We carry a subset of these scales that are more popular to work with.
The scale is basically a ratio between the real thing and the model such as 1:24. Most people have heard of this because of scale model houses; where 1 inch on the model house would be equal to 24 inches in the real house. Model trains have the same thing, but it's just represented with letters instead of the ratio of the scale. Some places will substitute gauge for scale; this is incorrect. Gauge is the ratio of the distance between the rails of the real thing and the model. But wouldn't the gauge of the track be the same scale ratio as the train? Not necessarily. While the train may be one scale, it could be running on track that is narrower than what it should be. This is called narrow gauge, but we'll get into that later. Let's show you some of the scales we carry:
- G Scale Trains – this is the biggest scale we carry; it's a 1:22.5 ratio to the real thing, with a 45mm gauge. This scale is also known as Garden scale, because of its size, it can be run outside through your garden. Not many people will be interested in this scale, because of its size and its price, which can be just as big. You really can't get a very good layout if you don't have space the size of a garden. Some skillful people make shelves near the top of the rooms, and have a G scale train running throughout their house.
- O Scale Trains – this is a 1:48 scale with a 31.8mm gauge. This is the next biggest scale we carry, but is also a popular scale. If you have a fair amount of space you can dedicate to your hobby, O would be a nice scale to work with. The size is big enough that you can handle it easily, and you will also be able to enjoy the realistic fine details of the train.
- On30 Scale Trains – remember narrow gauge mentioned earlier? This is an example of that. On30 scale an O scale train (1:48) on HO gauge track (16.5mm). So the "O" stands for the scale, the "n" stands for narrow gauge, and the "30" means the gauge is based on a real 30 inch gauge track. This is like the best of both worlds, because you can have bigger more detailed trains running on smaller track that is more versatile at utilizing space than O gauge track.
- S Scale Trains – a 1:64 scale with a 22.4mm gauge. S scale originated with American Flyer, and is like a midway point between O scale and HO scale. It's not as big of a train as O scale, and the layout space needed is only slightly more than you would need for an HO scale layout.
- HO Scale Trains – a 1:87.1 scale with a 16.5mm gauge. It is arguably the most popular scale in model railroading, with a vast selection of products from many companies. The name HO comes from Half O, because the scale is about half of O scale. Why is HO scale so popular? It's kind of like the sweet spot between size, price, and space utilization. It's big enough to still enjoy a great amount of detail, and not have to worry about small children swallowing the pieces. The price is lower than the bigger scales due to its size and its popularity to provide competition between manufacturers. And you can get complex and elaborate layouts in a reasonable amount of space.
- N Scale Trains – a 1:160 scale with a 9mm gauge. N Scale is the most popular when it comes to small-scale modeling. It's about half the size of HO scale, and is called N for its 9mm gauge track. N scale is great for those who don't have a lot of space to work with, but would like to make a fairly extensive layout. This scale is not recommended for those who have small children, because the pieces are small and can be swallowed.
Types of Track
Now that you've decided what scale you are going to build with, it's time to move on to the type of track you are going to use. Don't worry, the hard part is over, and there are only four options to choose from in this category.
- Brass Track – this has been one of the most common types of track used. Brass conducts electricity well, which is a good thing; however as time goes by it starts to oxidize (tarnish). This oxidation is a poor conductor of electricity and will cause your train to run slower because it's not getting enough power from the rails. Therefore, while brass is good for conduction, it requires the most care and cleaning.
- Zinc-Coated Steel Track – this was one of the other more common types of track used. The zinc coating helps keep the steel from corrosion, and conducts electricity well. However, over time the zinc coating will wear off due to oxidation, and friction between the rails and wheels. Once this happens, the steel will be vulnerable to rust corrosion.
- Steel Track – the same as zinc-coated steel track, only without the coating. Over time the track will begin to rust due to the track being wet, or moisture in the air around it. It's important to keep the track as dry as possible to prevent rusting.
- Nickel Silver Track – this is the most popular and recommended track to use. It's not as good of a conductor as brass; however, the oxide that forms on it also conducts electricity. It resists rust and corrosion, and because of this, you are able to run your trains longer without having to frequently clean the track.
No matter what track you decide to use, it is important to note that as you run your train, dust, dirt, and grime will get on your tracks and on your trains. Proper cleaning and care for your trains and track will ensure your trains run for a very long time.
Buying Model Trains
Now that you've decided what scale and track you are going to use, it's time to talk about buying your first train. There are two types of trains, those that are made for hobbyists, and those made as toys. We only carry trains by manufacturers that make trains for hobbyists. Toy trains are found in toy stores and some department stores, and are designed to be cheap in cost, but also run that same way. This is understandable when you have someone buying for a young child. No one wants to spend $300-$400 on a locomotive just to have it broken in a couple of weeks. But buying a cheap "toy train" set can make the child lose interest because of the problems of derailing and poor overall quality of the train.
When buying trains and accessories, it's best to buy from your local model train hobby shop, or from an online model train site like ours. You want to find a place that carries trains for the serious model railroader, and by well-known model train manufacturers. That way, you know the quality will be high, and you will be able to get answers to any questions you may have.
We hope this guide has been helpful in starting your path into model railroading. The best thing about this hobby is that you can go as far as creating your own little world, or you can just buy one train set and be content with that. No matter where you are on that spectrum, we hope that this hobby will provide you with years of enjoyment.
