Doesn't seem to be a hobbies forum, so...Model Trains!

Abbymoo

Anyone who can advise or suggest?

I've got this for the OH http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hornby-R1167-Flying-Scotsman-Electric/dp/B006ZL69JO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384875811&sr=8-1&keywords=flying+scotsman+set
for one of his Christmas presents, it's his first set. He said he wanted one coz they remind of his grandad who had a whole setup. It seems a bit bare by itself? Would you be happy just with that or would other bits make it more fun? I've no idea what else to get at a reasonable-ish cost.

Any suggestions gladly received!

Frith

That's what arrived for my smaller son this morning! He's wanted one for ages, pondered about getting the Mallard but eventually decided on the Flying Scotsman.

I'm in no way an expert but it comes with an oval of track. The amount of extra carriages/scenery seems limitless but I did find online sites where you can print out sheds etc onto cardboard then glue them together. Also bricks and tiles to print off for bridges and buildings.

I think our next step here will be getting a rectangle of board because really the track should be nailed down.

Abbymoo

Frith wrote: »

That's what arrived for my smaller son this morning! He's wanted one for ages, pondered about getting the Mallard but eventually decided on the Flying Scotsman.

I'm in no way an expert but it comes with an oval of track. The amount of extra carriages/scenery seems limitless but I did find online sites where you can print out sheds etc onto cardboard then glue them together. Also bricks and tiles to print off for bridges and buildings.

I think our next step here will be getting a rectangle of board because really the track should be nailed down.

Ooh I hope he likes it!

Printing stuff out seems like a really good idea, I might do that and save money!

I was thinking about a Hornby collectors club membership to go with it but no idea if it's worth the bother for a casual-ish hobby. Mind he's casual-ish now, he may get obsessive when he gets his mitts on it :eek:

Tropez

I would say just that on its own is enough for now.

It is easy to be nostalgic about things and even as an adult initial excitement can wane a bit after the original surprise and interest. My view is to see if he takes to it as a long term hobby now that he has the chance to. He's got a nice start there, extra bits of track aren't too difficult or expensive to obtain and if he really dives into it I'm sure there's collectors fairs and everything where cheap bits and bobs can be picked up.

Abbymoo

Tropez wrote: »

I would say just that on its own is enough for now.

It is easy to be nostalgic about things and even as an adult initial excitement can wane a bit after the original surprise and interest. My view is to see if he takes to it as a long term hobby now that he has the chance to. He's got a nice start there, extra bits of track aren't too difficult or expensive to obtain and if he really dives into it I'm sure there's collectors fairs and everything where cheap bits and bobs can be picked up.

You may be right. He's being very spoilt this year so I have to draw the line somewhere, really. I'll be firm with myself!

Bazey

Abbymoo wrote: »

Any suggestions gladly received!

Divorce???

bruciebounus

This just reminded me of a recent post by SimonSays, he said his hobby was model trains so might be able to advise!

andygb

This used to be one of my hobbies when I was young, as my dad bought me a s/h train set on a sheet of 6' x 4' plywood. It had loads of track, points and sidings, and so many wagons and coaches, as well as some interesting engines - Albert Hall, Deltic Diesel (Blue, Hornby Dublo, made of metal), Mallard.
I wish that I had them now, because all I have is a little Hornby freight set in the loft.
How about getting you OH to convert the loft - then you can buy him stuff every birthday and Christmas:D
If he is into the model train thing, then you can pick up cheap railway modelling magazines ("train !!!!!!":eek::rotfl:) at markets and the like.
I am envious, never mind nearly Christmas, and time for the Scalextric set to come out - for the lads of course.:)

Humphrey10

These cardboard buildings are great: http://www.metcalfemodels.com/
They are really easy to assemble you just need proper glue (I recomend Rocket card glue, it's not too runny or too sticky), and craft knife. Also pens to colour in the edges of the card so they don't show, Faber-Castell Pitt artist brush pens come in exactly the right colours.

If it's going to be a countryside landscape then grass mats look good: http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/model-railway-grass-mat

Also ballasted underlay: http://www.gaugemaster.com/item_details.asp?code=GM200
That specific one is good because it's got loads of little stones, it looks just like real ballast. You'll need pins to pin it down to whatever the railway is on.

You can make your own grass mat and ballast trackbed by getting pots of model grass and stone and gluing it down, but it will be tedious and messy and won't look as good as the two options above. Plus you won't be able to move the track around - if you use use a grass mat and ballasted underlay and pin (not glue) it down, you can move the track if you decide to change the layout.

Mr_Toad

Trains are like any other hobby, it's not the having it that matters. It's the building, the extending and the making of the layout and the buildings to go on it and the obsessive attention to detail.

A finished layout is a miserable thing, all you can do with it is watch the trains go round, no fun at all!

I used to restore classic motorbikes and as soon as I finished one I'd ride it a few times then get rid of it and buy another wreck and start again. My hobby was restoring them not owning a pristine old bike and riding it.

Many hobbies are like this, look at Agent Gibbs in NCIS. He builds boats in his basement. He he spends months or years building them but can't get them out when they're finished so he destroys it and starts another.

There was a program on TV about model trains and the people who do them as a hobby. There's a huge layout in the midlands somewhere and the people who were building it were horrified at the thought of it ever actually being finished.

I hope he enjoys it and I hope you realise what you might have let yourself in for. :eek:

heartbreak_star

Calling SimonSays...you could help here

HBS x