Bachmann Online Forum

Discussion Boards => Large => Topic started by: heliboy on December 10, 2008, 08:35:11 PM

Title: Beginner to g scale
Post by: heliboy on December 10, 2008, 08:35:11 PM
I was asked to move this thread to this topic area


I want to start a G scale collection but I really would like some info on the hobby.

What brands to collect? I knoiw its buyer choice but I want to hear about quality and parts avalibility?


what to look for when buying?

Live steam? do they really run on steam?

Are all the brands interchangeable meaning can they all run on the same system? track, power

Thanks
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: Paul W. on December 10, 2008, 10:08:07 PM
Your absolute best bet is to get a copy of Garden Railways magazine, and visit some open houses or sit in on a local large scale club. Bachmann trains are a great way to get into the hobby. This board is also a good way to get info, but sounds to me like you need to visit some operating railroads to get some ideas of what you like, standard guage, narrow guage, steam, diesel, etc.

As for your question, do live steam models actually run on steam, yes. They are actual minatures of full size steam engines.

I'm sure whatever area you are in, there are currently some Christmas layouts running close to you.
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: Hunt on December 11, 2008, 02:03:53 AM
Hmm... I answered the overly broad questions, most repeated here, you posted in the General Board at a general level. Providing details for a Collector or Hobbyist would fill a very large book.

Realize most, if not all, of the knowledgeable people who frequent this and other large scale train websites are interested in large scale trains as a hobby not as a collector. The perspective of the hobbyist is different than that of a collector.

The website http://girr.org/girr/tips/tips.html contains a few large scale  technical tips from a hobbyist perspective. George Schreyer's tips are likely of no interest to a collector.

So what is your objective, Collector as stated or Hobbyist? Of course you, as some are, can be both. If both is the case, specific hobbyist questions are likely to receive usable information at this board.  Broad questions are going to get you broad answers.
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: tac on December 11, 2008, 08:53:35 AM
I recommend that you also join in on www.mylargescale.com, like many of us here.

tac
www.ovgrs.org
www.mylargescale.com 1st Class Member
www.largescalecentral.com
G1MRA #3641
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: bnsonger47 on December 11, 2008, 10:00:26 AM
From a sort-of beginner to an "I don't know your level of knowledge" beginner.

Hey, jumping on a form is a quick way to learn things if you know the lingo. It's a hard way to learn if you don't.

The above suggestions are great ones.

Collector vs. hobbyist -- the terms need to be defined. Someone wanting to start building a G gauge setup could be a "collector" and not a hobbyist. I mean, you could get a bunch of rolling stock and have an descent setup and not be a hobbyist. By that I mean someone that really applies aging techniques, etc. to the cars or someone that makes his/her own cars with his/her own line name. A collector isn't always someone that puts engines in a display to place on a shelf. We're using English which is, at times, an imprecise language.

The thing I quickly learned about G is that is isn't at all like HO. In HO-land scale and gauge can usually be used interchangeably. In G-land it ain't necessarily so. As you've probably learned, scale refers to the general proportions of the finished product. You can still have 1:32 running on track the width of G as well as 1:22.5 but the proportions don't exactly look appropriate running in the same area. A good website for proportions vs. gauges is http://www.csgnetwork.com/modrrscalecalc.html (http://www.csgnetwork.com/modrrscalecalc.html).

Now, having said that, it is possible to get away with 1:20.3 and 1:22.5 because they're close enough for the non-purist's fudge factor.

Mixing equipment for different manufacturers -- that's another "it depends" type of answer. If the quality is similar then watch for the two types of couplers; hook/loop or knuckle. With some good products you can change out the couplers. To me, the main thing is to watch for quality. There are some products out there that are strictly for toy application -- New Bright and Buddy L, for instance.

You can run some engines, like some of the early Bachmann and others converted, made for battery with remote (radio) control on the same track as track powered systems. You can't, however, run track powered motive power on plastic track. But, you probably know that.

You have the answer on live steam. And, you probably know that it takes money and expertise for this.
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: Loco Bill Canelos on December 11, 2008, 02:58:50 PM
Welcome to G Scale!!

The best thing you can do is follow the good advice give above.

I woud especially recommend you find a club in your area.  The member are a wealth of knowledge and will be a huge help to you. 

I also recommend getting started.   Bachmann Starter sets are a great6 value.  You can set them up inside a have some fun, & later if you want to run outside you can buy outside track later as your budget allows. 

Get a Garden Railway Magazine and check out the Bachmann set prices in the Trainworld Ad  They have great prices on Starter sets.

Merry Railroading!!
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: heliboy on December 11, 2008, 06:21:56 PM
Thanks to all of you for the great info and advise.

collector or hobiest, the answer would be, I want to build a nice large scale display for myself and my grandson.  Since this will all be his someday I would like to incorperate quality and brands that have and will be around for a while.

Steam, I love it, my job is steam related just industrial not tains.  I would love to have a true steam operating train on my layout.

I have looked at Aristacraft , Backmann, Marklin and USA train (I think thats a brand)  just don't know enough about the diffrent companies and products

I picked up Garden Railways and they have so much, I just thought I would learn more by posting on here.

I'm in nothern Ohio and have no idea if a train club exsist but I will check into it.

I need to understand more about locomotives and rolling stock. The comment about couplers was a concern of mind but I didn't know how many styles exist. I will look into both mentioned, which do most of you perfer?

This is long so I'll stop for now
Once again thanks for all the replies and hope to recieve more
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: Jon D. Miller on December 11, 2008, 07:10:49 PM
heliboy

The best investment you could make since you are just getting started is to pick up a copy of Getting Started in Garden Railroading.

Getting Started in Garden Railroading by Allen W. Miller (no relation) is published by Krause Publications.  Library of Congress Catalog Number 00-111291.  ISBN:0-87349-232-3

This publication covers just about every aspect of large scale railroading. It is a wealth of information.  Well worth its price.  Many of your questions will be answered and it should help you make educated decisions on any aspect of the hobby.

JD
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: heliboy on December 11, 2008, 08:30:38 PM
THANKS I ORDERED A COPY
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: grumpy on December 12, 2008, 12:58:40 AM
My advice is to buy what you like to look at and keep the scale to  that which will not look out of place running together eg. 1:20 ; 1;22.5; 1;24 . I have 10 locos all are Bachman and Aristocraft. I have a small layout and so I have to make sure the locos will go around narrow turns. The gauge is big enough that you can build most structures yourself  usin standard woodworking tools
Don 8)
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: bnsonger47 on December 12, 2008, 01:45:36 PM
Here's a listing of garden train clubs for Ohio.

Columbus Garden Railway Society
Columbus, OH 43229 USA
www.cgrs.org (http://www.cgrs.org)
   
Northern Ohio Garden Railway Society
Uniontown, OH 44685 USA
www.nogrs.org (http://www.nogrs.org)
   
Riverside Railroad Club
Warren, OH 44484 USA
Contact Person - Juanita James
Phone - 330-399-8846

I wasn't sure how close or far away you are from Columbus so I listed it just in case. (To those of us in Kentucky Columbus is "north". We also hate driving across the desert to Cleveland.)

If you can get to Dayton/Cinci area then check out the EnterTrainment Center.
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: heliboy on December 12, 2008, 05:00:03 PM
THANKS, but I am on the lake Lorain Ohio which is 30 miles west of Cleveland

I will check with the ones you listed to see if they know of any closer
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: OGReditor on December 12, 2008, 06:04:30 PM
Brother Jon!

Thanks for recommending my book!  I'm hoping to do a completely new book one of these days because the Large Scale segment of the hobby sees continual growth and development--especially in terms of products--even though the basic techniques of garden railroading are much the same as they were back when this book was originally published.

I was a member of the Tidewater Big Train Operators Club in the Norfolk, VA, area back when this book was written and published (I now live in Ohio), and Jon is a long-time member of that club and a very knowledgeable contributor to the Large Scale Online discussion forum.  I can tell all here that even though I'm currently having a great time producing "O Gauge Railroading" magazine, I definitely miss the BTO Club and the wonderful fellowship it offered.  I'm still active in Large Scale, but pursuing it indoors at the present time.  It is a great and family oriented segment of the hobby!

My best to all in the club, Jon, and I hope the annual Christmas Show in Virginia Beach is the great draw now that it always was in the past.
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: zubi on December 12, 2008, 10:09:23 PM
Heliboy, Yes, they run on steam! Some of them that is. If you have the budget for that and interest in real steam locomotives not just electric driven boxes, you should explore this direction. You will also be able to learn some physics and engineering and teach your grandson some valuable skills. I advice you to stick to narrow gauge as the locomotives and rolling stock are larger and easier to maintain, plus you will need fewer rolling stock to make a credible train. Best wishes from Tokyo, Zubi
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: heliboy on December 12, 2008, 11:07:44 PM
thanks Zubi,


who makes live steam units?

what brand do you perfer and why?
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: tac on December 13, 2008, 01:04:49 AM
Quote from: heliboy on December 12, 2008, 11:07:44 PM
thanks Zubi,


who makes live steam units?

what brand do you perfer and why?


Accucraft - British narrow gauge in 16mm scale [that's 1/19th], South African NG/G16 Garratt [HUGE!], British Gauge 1 live steam, US Gauge 1 live steam, Canadian gauge 1 live steam, US Fn3 live steam [Denver & Rio Grande - the Colorado lines, soon the Tweetsie].

Roundhouse - British and Himalayan narrow gauge live steam in 16mm scale [1/19th].  Run straight out of the box - the DEFINITIVE NG loco builders

Aster - Gauge 1 live steam - German, US, French standard gauge and Japanese narrow gauge.  Top line and price stuff - their narrow gauge is VERY limited to the Western Maryland and Alishan Shay and a three-truck Climax - all serious money and seriously hard to find.  Deep pockets needed here.

Regner - German kits and rtr of astounding value and hauling capacity, from cute to downright formidable.  Nifty little Shay soon to hit the dealers.

Here in UK we have an astounding range of accessories and buildings [British of course] to match the enormous range of model ng locos.

Both Zubi and I are great fans of Roundhouse locos - they are virtually fool-proof and run in any weather, as we have proven in a howling gale on top of the Hands department store penthouse roof in Yokohama.

There are US based dealers for all these models - Royce Brademan of Quisenberry Station is an enormously helpful guy to any noob.

I suggest that you get yourself on www.mylargescale.com where we have a large steam gathering, as well as a noob forum.

Lots of luck

tac
www.ovgrs.org
Title: Re: Beginner to g scale
Post by: zubi on December 13, 2008, 01:24:51 AM
Heliboy, Terry said it all... for a beginner there is no better start as Roundhouse. If you have the funds, why not get yourself a Darjeeling B-tank in R/C version? You are unlikely ever to regret it... If you are in a hurry and like good price, there seems to be one second hand for sale at http://www.svrronline.com even with some coaches. If you order one from Roundhouse you will have to wait a few months at least... But beware, once you step into this hobby you will soon run out of space and money;-))))) Best wishes from Tokyo, Zubi