Getting a neighbor started in HO

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Life has been a bit of a blur lately, but during that blur, I met one of my neighbors who was wearing a B&O hoodie. We started talking and it turns out that he's just retired and is interested in getting into the hobby.

He's accumulated some HO stuff, and so I want to give him a good starting point with it.

I've been doing this stuff for so long that I don't even know all the stuff that's second nature. Stuff like "how not to create a short circuit with a return loop", "where to get cork roadbed", etc... So I want to find a good guide for getting started for him.

Do any of you know good resources for beginners? Is there a Kalmbach book that does a good job of "my first model railroad" for folks (that wasn't written in 1978)? Are there good websites I'm not aware of?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Anyone have this? Is it any good?
https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/product/book/12495

[dem34]

Had that book as a kid. Its good as a start, but I do suggest whenever people buy at the LHS that it is more a general overview for a starting "board" and that they should, afterwards also acquire the books on Wiring, Trackwork, and Benchwork once they feel they want to take things further.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Yeah, it's weird that Kalmbach doesn't have anything comprehensive.
There's a lot of stuff that looks at slices of stuff, but something like "read this to get going right" might be really handy.
You'd think that'd be a no-brainer.

[Mike C]

   Didn't there used to be a book called HO Railroad That Grows ? I remember seeing them in the Hobbyshops at some time .   Mike


   Here it is https://www.amazon.com/Railroad-That-Grows-Linn-Westcott/dp/0890245150

[learmoia]

I recall a few good all in one books.. but they were based on 1970s era modeling.. and definitely are all pre-dcc.. 

There was an all in one DCC Book too but as I recall the DT100 was the top of the line throttle at the time of publishing 

I'll look through the books at Caboose Stop on Monday before the show and if I find anything I'll grab it..

I'll bet the reason there isn't a good all in one book today is:
A: Many Smaller focused books sell more $ than one all in one book.
B: One all in one book could hurt the feelings of advertisers if their products were not featured..

Oddly enough.. the book that stands out in my mind as a good 'all in one' book was published by Tyco.. (or featured all Tyco stuff)..

https://www.amazon.com/Model-Railroad-Manual-Robert-Schleicher/dp/0801968569
Found it... It goes from basic benchwork to kitbashing, airbrushing and weathering.

[nkalanaga]

Basic wiring is the same for DC and DCC (or AC two-rail, for that matter).  If it shorts with one, it will short with all.  A book on DC wiring will work fine for DCC, at least on a small, basic layout.

[mu26aeh]

Have him talk to the Borg, next thing we know there will be another Windsor St yard available  and you'll be building YorkRail from PoorHouse to Lincoln 🤣

[learmoia]

Basic wiring is the same for DC and DCC (or AC two-rail, for that matter).  If it shorts with one, it will short with all.  A book on DC wiring will work fine for DCC, at least on a small, basic layout.

As long as he doesn't common rail wire..

It would be cool if he could post his progress on a layout engineering thread.. 

Have we had an layout documented from the perspective of someone who is new to the hobby?

[pjm20]

Those small guides that MRR periodically sells with their magazines are usually tailored to the beginner, a few of them have track planes.

[strummer]

   Didn't there used to be a book called HO Railroad That Grows ? I remember seeing them in the Hobbyshops at some time .   Mike


   Here it is https://www.amazon.com/Railroad-That-Grows-Linn-Westcott/dp/0890245150

I had a first edition of that book, back in the day. Judging from the "new" cover, the only difference looks to be the guys' clothing and hair; the little Tyco 0-4-0 is the same...

MM

[John]

Ed .. I got some stuff he can have ..

[Spades]

If you want a beginners book from Kalmbach.  This is their latest and greatest.

Build Your First Layout Paperback – September 21, 2020
by Peter Vassallo

A lot of basics, but no roundy round track plan. Still I think you can find  plenty of info.

How To Build A Switching Layout Paperback – September 17, 2010
by Lance Mindheim

[Rivet Miscounter]

What you want is an updated version of a book called "HO Primer" by Linn Wescott.  I bet there probably is something that matches up to that pretty closely, but I'm not up to speed on the current "Kalmbach Dept of Repackaged Crap" as Jeff/Rossford Yard puts it so eloquently.   (EDIT: It looks like that "Getting Started in Model Railroading" book is pretty close to what I would imagine an update HO Primer book would look like)

[peteski]

Why not have the neighbor join TRW, then post questions to the collective here.


Um, on second thought . . . maybe not a good idea.