Returning after 10 year hiatus. Looking for Oh. modelers

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B

budinoh

Member
Hi guys,

I am looking to get back into model trains after a long 10 year period away. I am not sure if I will be doing HO or N. I will have the space for either. I have to research things as the prices are alot higher than I remember. Plus some of the brands I used to buy have disappeared.

Also looking for any model railroaders living in Central Ohio who might be interested in having a visitor. Looking at layout in any stage of completion is the best way to guage where my interest may lie.

TIA,

Jeff

PS- what happened to the MDC Roundhouse series of cars?
 
Jeff, the MDC cars are still produced now and then, but I believe the entity was absorbed by Athearn/Horizon Hobbies some years ago. I had some MDC cars when I first entered the hobby five years ago, and I can't say I like them much...not any more. I think many of us have gotten spoiled over the nicer RTR stuff put out by Athearn Genesis, Bachmann Spectrum, BLI, Walthers Trainman, Atlas, and the kit suppliers like Branchline, Accurail, new RTR stuff.

In some ways, this may improve some of the errors we have tended to make, buying up this 'n that, and then learning we ought not to have bought that. The greater expense of the newer, nicer, RTR has a tendency to force more of us to be more cautious, to read and learn more, and to make more informed decisions before laying down the plastic for a substantial hit, plus shipping charges. You can't easily walk into your e-tailer's shop six states away on Saturday afternoon and sheepishly ask him for a swap for another car that would be better for your modelling.

Even so, virtually anything you buy, regardless of price for from whom, is still going to need a thorough going over, lubing, adjusting, gauging, maybe even coupler swap-outs to a Kadee or whatever, before you enjoy reliable coupling and trailing from them. It's just that, without the modelling interest, you can get a nicer car than you could back then, and if you desire some detailing, even very expensive and beautifully finished brass items can stand some improvement.

The hobby is largely headed towards DCC use, so you should study up on that and get in on the wave crest...actually it is ahead of us both, but you can still catch up. I got into it a bit late, but have never looked back.

Be careful with your plastic...the card. Be brutal in purchasing. By that I mean do your homework, be willing to wait two days while you get advice here and try to make sense of it, read lots, and only buy from good folks with real inventory to access, and then only what you will really need or desire that won't be back in the box and added to other similar items in a Rubber Maid container in four months.

-Crandell
 
Welcome back to the hobby, Jeff. Where exactly in centrail Ohio are you located? If you're near Columbus, I would pay a visit the Central Ohio Model Railroad Club. It's a very active organization and the members have everything from Z scale to G scale layouts. There's more information at http://www.comrc-inc.com/index.html. Crandell gave you some very good advice. I wouldn't settle on a gauge until I visited some clubs and layouts, so you can see the benefits and disadvatges of the different scales. Seeing them run and talking to the operators will get you more information than anything you can get from books.
 


I live in Zanesville. We are about 50 miles east of Columbus. I haven't researched all the different clubs out here yet. I just kinda decided to do this about 3 weeks ago. I still have to get rid of about 500 model kits before I can even start. I am interested in seeing what others have done though.

Thanks for the advice that has been given so far.

Jeff
 
I'm near Canton/Akron. Just getting back into things after 10+ years. I'd also like to talk to modelers in the area.

MPB
 
Speaking of model railroad clubs..I'm from the Canton area as well. Are there any clubs around here that would accept a 16 year old? I see it as a good way of getting more hands on experience and learning from a personal perspective.
 
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