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2 Posts
I modeled trains in my teens and early 20’s. I had a nice single line HO freight layout of inexpensive hobby store quality (as opposed to Toys-R-Us) loco and stock. It was a nicely detailed 4’x8’. I lost it in a flood in my mid twenties and didn’t have the time or $$ to replace it.
I am interested in returning to the hobby (with a little help from my 5 1/2 year old boy) and would like to model a fantasy line – think steam-punk novels (I’m sure I already have purists sighing). I have a 10.5’ x 11.5’ room to work with.
Things have changed in 20+ years and I have a few questions.
First is about scale. N-scale was not really around in a big way 20 years ago – the models lacked any sort of detail. Now they seem to have come of age. Is n scale a worthy consideration for the above project?
Second is about DCC. This was something I could only dream about 2 decades ago. I would like to run multiple steam locos with passenger cars perhaps from the early, middle, and late age of steam. I am aware this can be done with DCC if I can find the locos and cars, but the old timers used to run multi lines without DCC. How was this done?
Third… is there a decent source of used models? I’ve checked Craig’s List in the Chicago/Milwaukee/Northern ,IL /Southern,WI markets and come up empty.
If I must by new, is there a good discounted internet store? The local Hobby Lobby seems too expensive and the only other hobby shop in town is more expensive and has no real stock.
Thanks for your help.
I am interested in returning to the hobby (with a little help from my 5 1/2 year old boy) and would like to model a fantasy line – think steam-punk novels (I’m sure I already have purists sighing). I have a 10.5’ x 11.5’ room to work with.
Things have changed in 20+ years and I have a few questions.
First is about scale. N-scale was not really around in a big way 20 years ago – the models lacked any sort of detail. Now they seem to have come of age. Is n scale a worthy consideration for the above project?
Second is about DCC. This was something I could only dream about 2 decades ago. I would like to run multiple steam locos with passenger cars perhaps from the early, middle, and late age of steam. I am aware this can be done with DCC if I can find the locos and cars, but the old timers used to run multi lines without DCC. How was this done?
Third… is there a decent source of used models? I’ve checked Craig’s List in the Chicago/Milwaukee/Northern ,IL /Southern,WI markets and come up empty.
If I must by new, is there a good discounted internet store? The local Hobby Lobby seems too expensive and the only other hobby shop in town is more expensive and has no real stock.
Thanks for your help.
