Moving up from Thomas

[5150]

My son is four and is pretty hardcore into trains. He loves Thomas and Friends and has pretty much all the wooden trains and a nice train table and wooden track. We also live in a pretty big railroad town that the BNSF runs through, so we visit the tracks quite a bit and watch the freight trains and Amtrak.

For his fourth birthday his grandma gave him a Tyco HO model train set that is pretty basic, I think it is the Spirit of 76 and includes some brass track. It's ok, but we really don't have anything big enough to put it on.

A few weeks ago I got him a little $30 Life-Like set from Toys 'R' Us with the Power-Loc tracks which seem pretty good, at least they work good on the carpet.

So, what I want to do is start building him a model railroad based on HO scale. We don't have a ton of room, but a 4' x 8' table will fit. I'm not a great carpenter, so I was looking for some good instructions on how to build a good table for an HO setup. We also don't have any model train shops in town either, so the Internet is really about the only source I have for information. I've done some Googling for table designs, but haven't found much. If someone could maybe point me in the right direction or have any pointers I would greatly appreciate it.

Also, what is the professionals answer to getting some nickel-silver Power-Loc tracks versus the normal nickel-silver track? The Power-Loc is obviously very easy, but I don't want it too look shabby, which I think the gray Power-Loc tracks do.

Anyway, I know that is a lot of information, but I really would appreciate any help. I was planning on building all this for him as a Christmas present and I hoped to get the table built before it starts getting cold in Montana (which is probably likely to be tomorrow )

Thanks!

5150

 

[StrasburgNut]

Well 5150,

I am getting back into this hobby after a long hiatus. You came to the right place. There are a lot of people here who can give more first hand experience than I can, but the Model Railroader website and Kalmbach Books website might be a good start. I know Kalmbach has a good selcetion of books and there are always good articles in Model Railroader. If you have a Barnes and Noble or a Border's near you, check out their magazine section. They should have it.

Good luck!

 

[UP2CSX]

Search for user called Space Mouse here. He has a good beginners guide to layout planning. That's the first place I'd start. Thee's nothing wrong with the power-loc track and, unless you are going to lay roadbed and track plus ballast the whole thing (before Christmas!), I think you'll find the power-loc track is more than acceptable compared to standard track nailed down to plywood.

 

[Joe Daddy]

You or Him?

I think the big question is this, are you going to build this for him or yourself? Both is a trick answer. That means for you.

Yourself, spend alot of time reading back issues of MR and looking at the dozens if not hundreds of 4X8 layouts they have in about every 2nd or 3rd issue.

Him, keep it simple, couple of big, simple loops with re-railers on every side. Glue the track down, make it solid so when he plays, it won't slide around. I'd use silicone latex caulk (clear) on plywood. Build it low, about coffee table height. Paint roads around the outside edges where they are easy to reach for a small guy. Make it so the trains are easy to keep moving. Might even find a couple of MRC sound generators, the ones with the speakers and buttons and set them so he can control it. Paint it with latex paint and sand the edges a bit so he'll not get splinters. His toy box can slide under it. I'd even consider a smaller layout, something like a 4 X 5 or 4 X 6.

You'll learn a ton doing it too and when he is ready to move up, you can scrap this one and start on teh next increment.

I so wish I would have had my head on better when I was younger with my boys. It is about letting them play safely in their own space.

Just my 2 cents, nothing more.

Joe

 

[jbaakko]

Personally, my own views of Powerlock are very depressing. I have a loop that I use for testing, that came from a Wal*Mart train set, and allot of the larger units pick the gaps. I'd suggest upgrading to Atlas, or Kato.

 

[Joe Daddy]

Personally, my own views of Powerlock are very depressing. I have a loop that I use for testing, that came from a Wal*Mart train set, and allot of the larger units pick the gaps.

Since I've never bought a 'train set', I don't even know what Powerloc is. And WalMart is not, nor will it ever be my LHS. . .

Joe Daddy

 

[jbaakko]

Since I've never bought a 'train set', I don't even know what Powerloc is. And WalMart is not, nor will it ever be my LHS. . .

Joe Daddy

Lol, no cheap model cars for you layout, or cheap paints, or cheap paint brushes, or, even after Christmas cheap trains?

I shop there for the low cost, but trust me in the topic, that powerloc is the worst of them all. They connect sideways not lengthwise like everyone else, so they are more prone to uneven joints. But hey it was free. Pay for a $30 train set and sell 3 of 7 items (Caboose, flatcar, & boxcar, and keep the F59PHI, gondola, tractors, and track) and it cost me nothing.

 

[Joe Daddy]

Lol, no cheap model cars for you layout, or cheap paints, or cheap paint brushes, or, even after Christmas cheap trains?

I shop there for the low cost, but trust me in the topic, that powerloc is the worst of them all. They connect sideways not lengthwise like everyone else, so they are more prone to uneven joints. But hey it was free. Pay for a $30 train set and sell 3 of 7 items (Caboose, flatcar, & boxcar, and keep the F59PHI, gondola, tractors, and track) and it cost me nothing.

LOL, yourself, Josh, I've not seen at thing at WalMart that I'd put on my railroad. My experiences with their off brand paint, glue, brushes, tools etc have always left me disappointed. HD/Lowes/Ace get my bucks.

It is easy to understand why you don't like this Powerloc stuff if the entire train set cost 30 bucks. I thought I was slummin when I bought a couple Spectrum Locomotives for a $150 each.

Glad it works for you.

Just my 2 cents,

Joe Daddy

 

[OldGettysk]

Hi I would look at Atlas site it has some good 4x8 layouts and also a beginners manual that you can get for free. The powerloc track is good to set up on a carpet to test Locos but for something more permanent I owuld shy away from it !

 

[jbaakko]

LOL, yourself, Josh, I've not seen at thing at WalMart that I'd put on my railroad. My experiences with their off brand paint, glue, brushes, tools etc have always left me disappointed. HD/Lowes/Ace get my bucks.

It is easy to understand why you don't like this Powerloc stuff if the entire train set cost 30 bucks.

Oh am I by no means downing your view.

The paints I refer to are Testors, and the tools, Xacto knives. you just have to know, when & where to look. Wal*Mart does still carry Testors cements, and brushes, and paints in some cases, are are cheaper then a hobby store. Xacto knives are stocked in the wood arts & crafts isle, again cheaper then my LHS.

It's an Athearn train set, so its Athearn Blue box quality. The train sets are another thing all togeather. I only get them for $30 because I know how few people go to Wal*mart to find trains (your self included) for the same reasons you mention. For $30 though, its a deal I won't pass up, if there's something in it I can use, lol.

Now, as for the off brands of paints in the crafts section, I'll avoid them, and the House of Kolor model paints, I only bought because they were $.10 for a 1oz bottle. They've served me well.

House paints? I've have no clue, never used anything other then hardware store bought (True Value).

Hummm, brings up a good point, who else avoids model related supplies at Wal*Mart?

 

[RCH]

Hummm, brings up a good point, who else avoids model related supplies at Wal*Mart?

Actually, I avoid every single item at Walmart except the die cast HO vehicles. That's been the single exception I've made to making purchases there in quite a few years.

 

[jbaakko]

Cool, I guess I just shop there more, because I work there. Though, I do NOT condone some business practices, I'm just a cheap bastard, I go where its cheapest!

 

[RCH]

Cool, I guess I just shop there more, because I work there. Though, I do NOT condone some business practices, I'm just a cheap bastard, I go where its cheapest!

I understand, Josh. I'm just stubborn!

 

[Joe Daddy]

I know yoiu meant well Josh. Finding that you work there is also helpful in understanding your view point.

Several months ago after reading the big deal raised on the 1/87 vehicle thread about WalMart having cheap HO scale cars in good quality, I busted my rule and went looking for them. Never found anything that looked like it could have even been HO in several different stores. Asking the help was no use either. Later, a good friend showed me the cars and they were indeed nice, except that my RR is pre-1960, so pacers, gremlins, camaros and mustangs don't help me.

There may indeed be something worth while at that store, but finding it is not worth my time.

I went to the Caboose this afternoon and it was just grand, ran into a dear friend, picked up a few things I needed and found a way to spend a hundred bucks. Plus, I found the date for the Boulder County Train show! Stopped by the brass cases and looked at a few jewels. That always puts my train costs into perspective.

Joe Daddy

 

[jbaakko]

Now that works for me, I wish I made off with a date from a train store. However, my wife would not like that, lol.