Entering Model Railroading With $500

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Sat, 2012-07-07 16:25 — SurvivorSean

Well this isn't something I planned on posting, but I thought it is one myth that needs to be busted. There is only so many things you can say to inspire others when you first get into the hobby. Your layouts will be limited in size, industries will be typical either condensed or spread out. Fact of the matter is the reason why you see so many super layouts both home and club in the pages of magazines and online is because they are done by those who have learned quite a bit from the hobby, and reached bigger goals. But if I was looking in the heads of most modelers I would always see that most can never get big enough.

Regardless, they all started somewhere. My start like many others was a 4 x 8 or slightly smaller if I recall because it just allowed 18" radius curves. The 4x8 was a step up for me because I was getting real now 22" radius curves was the minimum radius. Now for most in the hobby 22" is very tight and only recommended for industries. I do recall having a passenger train on my 4x8 though but it kind of looked silly.

Generally before you do anything, you need to consider what your goals are first. Is operations important to you? Is continuous running important to you? How much room do you have. Remember this is about how to get into model railroading with $500. Considering that some people spend what amounts to the cost of a new car on their layouts that is a good entry fee to get you started. If you believe money will be tight for years to come you may want to also consider how you can take what you have an expand it later. Personally I wouldn't go into modular, but it is something you can look into.

If you just want to run in nice scenery and don't care about operations you can get a 4 x 8 to get you started. Train sets are a good source to get you in, but I personally wouldn't recommend it. Most train sets are 18" radius curves, and the stock in many cases are difficult to make look more realistic. This is up to you, remember this is your empire. A train set can cut some of the costs down, but assuming you want to buy something your not going to just ditch if money is tight, let me take you a different way.

Personally I believe purchasing a 4 x 8 is a cheap way to get you in. If you have a little bit more money you can certainly consider other forms. What open or L grid and other methods give you is the ability to put realistic geometry in your scenery. I am not going to go into that as I have personally never done this. Simply put I never had to as I was in a club before it ever came to this decision.

Depending on what you are looking for will alter the decision here. Lets say for example you value a bit of a run over complex switching. Keep in mind no matter how big you make it, it will never be big enough. Take the 4 x 8 and cut it, or have it cut into 2 sections of 2 x 8. This can either be a 16' straight shelf section or can be used in an L if space is limited. For the sake of argument lets create a small 3 track yard no longer than a say 4 feet on the longest track. To maximize length of the yard tracks have the top track flow to where the bottom track will come out. For example the top track can be your mainline 6 inches deep, and the bottom track is 2 inches deep. The other side of the yard can be a latter and also sub in for your connection to the outside world 2 inches from the edge. This allows you to use shelf or box staging at the end of the layout.

Lets say in this layout we will have 3 industries for sake of argument. They can be set whatever way you like. Now switches get expensive so I won't recommend another run around track if you have facing point spurs. Since track planning is really beyond the scope I won't get into solutions for this.

So for track work you are looking at about 7 switches. You will want 1 engine, and at least say 6 cars. Now this I haven't priced all of this out but I believe it is attainable for $500. There are plenty of deals out there if you look around. Regardless this will certainly get you started. So where do you go from there?

Scenery, ballast, buildings, are all things that can be done cheaply or free in many cases. Many of the things you need for ballast can be found in natural soil, even old railroad ballast (grind down of course). You will find tons of stuff out there used that is in good condition, provided your careful that it works.

Once you have your layout built at this level, you can begin researching on detailing what you already have. Many of the best modelers have done what they have done on budgets and not buying up the best ready to run thing they can get their hands on. Honestly I haven't done any of the tough stuff personally. But that doesn't mean you can't learn from others who can show you tricks to get more bang for your buck. But this I know is how I would start in the hobby today if I was limited and didn't want to join a club or if none was around.

Thanks

Sean

Comments

Interesting post, Sean!

Sat, 2012-07-07 18:04 — joef

Hey this post gives me an idea.

How about an official MRH contest - you've got $500 to get started in the hobby, how would you spend it? I'm thinking we could award a prize, even.

What do you think the parameters ought to be for such a contest?

Joe Fugate
Publisher, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine

All supplies should be

Sat, 2012-07-07 19:51 — trainman6446

All supplies should be sourced through MRH advertisers.

1 piece of 4'x8' plywood cut any way you like ( cost of lumber not figured into the $500).

Prize could be a lifetime subscription to MRH :)

Sorry....I don't think 500 is enough

Sat, 2012-07-07 20:09 — noah_count

I mean really I don't. Unless we are talking something very simple that someone will grow bored with within a few weeks, that amount won't cut it. Not trying to rain on anyones parade but let's be realistic.

Michael

You'll enjoy having the longest main if you build that first

Sat, 2012-07-07 20:13 — proto87stores

My suggestion. Spend what you can afford on the baseboard wood, the track for the main and just a used test car and loco and a cheap dc power pack. If any left over funds, then FIRST splash out on a DCC base unit and a couple of decoders before any real motive power.

If you split up your 4 x 8 into shelf lengths or the much larger hollow rectangle like the "HOG" or "Heart of Georgia" design, you'll get the space to have a much longer main line right from the start and the option of larger radii curves. Plus doing as much of one type of work as possible at one time makes you more efficient. You get on a roll and each action you repeat gets easier and quicker.

If you balance the cost of the baseboards and just the main line track so that you end up with the maximum initial running length, you'll have a decent run for the first real locos (with dcc) and cars you buy later as you get more, but smaller, amounts of extra spending money. And right from the outset, you'll be able to run and admire your full-length trains. Only when you are ready to start actual operations, do you need to add the sidings, yards, etc. and by golly, the baseboard is there all ready to lay more track! And again you can spread out the cost by cutting one or two turnouts into the existing main, etc. making just manageable changes at a time. Your trains will keep running with hardly any down time and your experience to date means you'll make less planning mistakes along the way.

So many starter layouts quickly end up with more cars and locos than they have room for, and too short trains and runs. (so do big layouts eventually). And the too small layout quickly becomes boring and frustrating. But expanding the layout size, main, etc., later is a big job and expense, and is then often put off, because some other special loco or cars suddenly become announced , or appear on Ebay, and the cash reserves go back down again.

PS. This isn't about selling track. I've had this experience myself in the past and this is a far better way to proceed. Just like Real Estate - it's location, location, location!

Andy

$500 is small enough to be challenging

Sat, 2012-07-07 22:13 — joef

I think a contest with a good prize (like an iPad) and limiting it to $500 could be interesting. Notice you don't have to get everything brand new - for instance, you can buy stuff off eBay or the HO yardsale Yahoo list.

It would be interesting to see just how far you *could* go on $500, and how creative people could get. I do agree with the point that the $500 should be train stuff, not lumber or benchwork materials, for example - so that would allow for a bit more outside the $500 budget.

Joe Fugate
Publisher, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine

How about this as a starter

Sun, 2012-07-08 03:32 — pierre52

A quick search on Train Sets revealed this for $214

Bachmann Digital Commander Dlx HO

A large 56" x 38" oval track layout (with switch and siding) of snap-fit E-Z Track® with nickel silver rails on molded gray roadbed.
The Santa Fe GP40 (#3507) and FT-A diesel locomotives are all-wheel drive & DCC-equipped with 28/128 speed step decoders that are factory-programmed to address button 3 on NMRA-compliant DCC systems.
The Bachmann® E-Z Command® Digital Command Control System incorporates the latest digital technology that's easy to use, with one-button, on-track programming.
Plug-and-play compatibility with all DC and DCC systems * 2/128 speed step control * 100% backwards-compatible with standard DC (non-digital) With the DCC On Board technology, you can digitally control the direction, speed, and lighting of multiple locomotives in N, HO, and On30 Scale.
3 accurately molded freight cars with blackened metal wheels and prototypical paint schemes: - 40' Open Quad Hopper - 50' Plug-Door Box Car - 36' Extended Vision Caboose Locomotive and all cars come equipped with Bachmann's exclusive E-Z Mate® Mark II Magnetic knuckle couplers with metal coil springs 1 amp AC wall pack power supply and plug-in wiring for the command control center.
Written and DVD format video instructions.

Not a bad deal that gives you a good basic start in DCC and leaves $286 for a whole range of other items.

Contest is a great idea!

Sun, 2012-07-08 04:27 — DKRickman

I like the idea of a contest. I would require a track plan and complete parts list, down to the last wire and bag of ground foam. While not putting the lumber in the budget makes some sense, I would argue that you have to budget for benchwork unless you are using some sort of structure which is already available. Also, I would not require the use of only MRH advertisers (although it is to be encouraged), since some supples can not be found there, and some can be found second hand to help with the budget. As long as the item and price are valid and verifiable, I would accept it.

Ken Rickman

Danville & Western HO modeler and web historian

http://southern-railway.railfan.net/dw/

One possibility,...

Sun, 2012-07-08 05:10 — Prof_Klyzlr

Dear Joe,

My first foray into O scale SG (2-rail) cost under AUD$500 if we're not factoring in the "benchwork",
(brass loco, full roster of cars, handlaid code 100 track with sleepers to UP branchline spec INC jointbars/tieplates", all wiring, scratchbuilt industry inc lighting, scratchbuilt fencing, "layoutsound" deployment, and integrated layout lighting rig),

and cost something less than AUD$750 if we are...

http://carendt.us/scrapbook/page97a/index.html#chicago

Assuming the spec for the contest is open to any scale/gauge,
(not just N or HO standard gauge)

and accepts the Carl Arendt definition of "Layout"

".... that nonetheless have a clear purpose and excellent operating capability..."

What say ye?

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

PS as a straight-up scale/size comparison
http://carendt.us/scrapbook/page103a/index.html#chicago-fork

Prize should be for model railroading

Sun, 2012-07-08 05:15 — jlrc47

I like the idea for the contest.

I think the prize should be for model railroading, like a DCC system, buildings, rolling stock or collection of how to videos.

I bet you could get manufactures to donate items for the grand prize.

We at Amherst Railway Society are given many item from manufactures each year to auction off to generate money to donate to restoring/preserving railroading.

http://www.amherstrail.org/

Joe

Thanks,

Joe

Amherst Railway Society Member.

hey Prof hows BROOKLYN 3AM?

Sun, 2012-07-08 09:56 — LPS L1

that is one of the layouts that got me out of the "armchair" and building! as for the contest the most i have spent on any one thing in this hobby is $180 for an IHC 2-10-2 (when purchased i had a "go big or go home" mentality) and the layout i'm building now so far i've only spent $9 on. so if the modeler is resourceful (read scrounge)$500 would go pretty far. but i don't think every thing has to be purchased for the project as if you have been in a while you have plenty of stuff "laying around"