Here comes the n00b...

[SirTophamFatt]

Hello everyone,

Let's see if I can do this without telling you my life's story.

I decided to create an account on here because I've always a railfan and I've seen the amazing sets you people create, so I thought I'd join up.

Perhaps your genius will rub off on me.

Anyhoo,

The point being, do any of you have recommendations for this hobby?

I'm not planning on any major sets now, but it'll nice to have some information for the future.

Thanks.

Edited April 20, 2016 by SirTophamFatt

[Ashi Valkoinen]

For really first you should consider, what are your aims.

I mean you would like to be an "amateur" (in the not negative meaning of the word), playing at home with your sets and own creations, or by an exhibitor and attend events where you show (in couple of years) what you've built on your own.

For first - and you have the place for this hobby at home - you should not make too many compromises - just grab a couple of Power-Functions (train motor, battery box, remote control, IR receiver) parts or buy a train set - and get started.

Being an exhibitor - mostly including a membership in a LUG (LEGO User Group) in your are - needs more compromises, especially if you share a layout with fellow members.

Also you should consider what you really want - make fantasy train, MOD sets or collect sets, or design a model-replica of some existing real train.

Then choosing train system - in these times the older 9V (DC controlled from metal rails) and newer PF (Power Functions, battery and IR-remote based stuff) systems are available for you. Older sets and systems like 12V (DC controlled from inner metal rails between those rails which drive train wheels) and 4,5V (battery-based, very old system) are available if you can afford it.

Choosing scale or the size you build in - 6,7,8 studs wide trains are common, but 4,5 studs wide trains for narrow gauge, and 9,10+ studs wide monsters also appear. The bigger you build the more details you can put into your model, but more bricks it costs, and sometimes driving long trains on LEGO-curves and points is not a trivia.

First try to answer these questions for yourself to start this hobby without unnecessary costs and dead ends.

[Duq]

To get started with the hobby I have two recommendations:

• Start buying sets. Any sets. You're going to need bricks!
  
• Start building. Anything. Fail, and try again.
  

Be realistic; don't expect your first model to be like some of the models you've seen posted here. Most of the builders of these great models have spent years building to get to where they are now.

Oh, and finally, start small. Build a little shunter and some freight cars. Don't start with a Big Boy ;-)

Oops, that kinda turned into four recommendations, didn't it?

[M_slug357]

To get started with the hobby I have two recommendations:

• Start buying sets. Any sets. You're going to need bricks!
  
• Start building. Anything. Fail, and try again.
  

*snip*

Also:

~Take out a loan

~Get a 2nd (or 3rd) job

~Tell kids to pay for college themselves

~Sling lemonade on the sidewalk

Cuz you're gonna wanna buy more bricks!

More bricks!!

MoRe BrIcKs!!!

Just a suggestion though...

[pirzyk]

Build what you like. Build what you know. Have fun :)

[Hod Carrier]

Seconded.

The joy of Lego is that you can build whatever you can imagine in whatever size or style. There are only two real restrictions.

The first is the gauge of genuine Lego track. If you want to have a train to go round and round you will need to build to that gauge.

The second is lesser and self-imposed if you want to be limited by it. If you want to build cooperatively with other individuals or a group you will need to agree on things like size, gauge and style.

However, you don't HAVE to be bound by these or any other conventions. You can do whatever YOU like.

Another thing to consider is your own motivation. Are you more interested in designing and building trains, operating trains or a mixture of the two? If it's design and build that floats your boat, a better starting point might be to download Lego Digital Designer (LDD) and have a play with that rather than buying a set and following a set of instructions.

This is the joy of Lego. There is more to the hobby than just one thing. Speaking personally I'm a design and build kind of guy and don't buy sets because that doesn't interest me. But I can see the joy of sets for those with different motivations.

[xboxtravis7992]

To get started with the hobby I have two recommendations:

• Start buying sets. Any sets. You're going to need bricks!
  
• Start building. Anything. Fail, and try again.
  

Be realistic; don't expect your first model to be like some of the models you've seen posted here. Most of the builders of these great models have spent years building to get to where they are now.

Oh, and finally, start small. Build a little shunter and some freight cars. Don't start with a Big Boy ;-)

Oops, that kinda turned into four recommendations, didn't it?

Yes buy any set! Not kidding, I actually don't own a lot of Lego trains yet, but the few I have purchased have given me a lot of experience in the limitations and capabilities of the system. But don't discount what you can learn building sets in OTHER themes. Star Wars, Ninjago, Modular buildings, Technic, Superheros etc; all will teach you Lego building methods and ideas that can all be used later to build trains. The only theme that hasn't taught me stuff that I've applied to trains yet is Bionicle (and I'm thinking about a way to get around that, Toa Train anyone?).

Also download LDD. The learning curve is a bit steep, and you need to be careful to not design something that wouldn't support its weight in the real world. But LDD despite the draw backs offers the advantage of a lot of digital bricks. And it's all FREE!! Great place to start brainstorming ideas and screw around a bit.

Also like any scale modeler, don't shy away from railfanning to gather info on what you want to build. Going trackside and learning how the prototype operates and looks is useful, wether it be HO scale or Lego bricks.

Edited April 19, 2016 by xboxtravis7992

[Rail Co]

This hobby is meant to be fun and somewhat soothing. Build for you first no matter what you build. If people don't like it that just means they don't have the same view on your build as you. Make sure to have a budget and make sure you have fun!

-RailCo

[KlodsBrik]

First of all, sorry for "trashing" your thread.

As i first saw the post with weirdest/funniest train MOC's in here some months ago, I guess. The thought of building a TARDIS train has grown on me. Then the whole train hype took me .

Unfortunately i dont own any train set's at all. Being that they are quite expensive in DK, and that I really want to go all in having taken a closer look at all the awesome mods and MOC's in the Train forum, ive been looking to what options i have.

Just yesterday i found two great sets (60052) and (10233) with a 25% discount on them. These I'll buy the first of May. Now im taking off.

Now, my questions are: How to expand. Offcourse I'll need some sets with tracks (7499) and (7895). For every train MOC Im going to make I'll need "wheel's": Whats the cheapest option to get more sets of wheels. Are there any set's that include wheel's to expand this collection cheap ?

Is bricklinking them cheaper ? ( considering that one can never have enough bricks, im thinking that a cheap train set including wheel's would be cheaper than just buying them from "BL") ?

I'll need some powerfunction set's as well to power my MOC's.

Anything I havent taken into consideration ?

Thanks in advance.

[marook]

First of all, sorry for "trashing" your thread.

As i first saw the post with weirdest/funniest train MOC's in here some months ago, I guess. The thought of building a TARDIS train has grown on me. Then the whole train hype took me .

Unfortunately i dont own any train set's at all. Being that they are quite expensive in DK, and that I really want to go all in having taken a closer look at all the awesome mods and MOC's in the Train forum, ive been looking to what options i have.

Just yesterday i found two great sets (60052) and (10233) with a 25% discount on them. These I'll buy the first of May. Now im taking off.

Now, my questions are: How to expand. Offcourse I'll need some sets with tracks (7499) and (7895). For every train MOC Im going to make I'll need "wheel's": Whats the cheapest option to get more sets of wheels. Are there any set's that include wheel's to expand this collection cheap ?

Is bricklinking them cheaper ? ( considering that one can never have enough bricks, im thinking that a cheap train set including wheel's would be cheaper than just buying them from "BL") ?

I'll need some powerfunction set's as well to power my MOC's.

Anything I havent taken into consideration ?

Thanks in advance.

Hi 'John',

Are you a member of Byggepladen.dk? If not, head over there and you might find train interested people in the areas around you - we are quite a few in DK :-)

I've not gotten around to build MOC's a trains yet, other than MOD'ing the sets I've bought - so can't really say where to buy, other than BL is great if you Just need some special parts. Remember to buy from EU, so you don't get 25% VAT added (and the DKK 160,- Post Danmark fee) from overseas!

For train PF items, use lego.com or the Store in KBH if possible, and get a SBrick to avoid the annoying IR part.

Best,

Jakob - KBH

[KlodsBrik]

Hi 'John',

Are you a member of Byggepladen.dk? If not, head over there and you might find train interested people in the areas around you - we are quite a few in DK :-)

I've not gotten around to build MOC's a trains yet, other than MOD'ing the sets I've bought - so can't really say where to buy, other than BL is great if you Just need some special parts. Remember to buy from EU, so you don't get 25% VAT added (and the DKK 160,- Post Danmark fee) from overseas!

For train PF items, use lego.com or the Store in KBH if possible, and get a SBrick to avoid the annoying IR part.

Best,

Jakob - KBH

Sorry for the late reply. Been dead busy with work.

No. I'm not a member og Byggepladen ( yet ). Iv'e been wanting to join up for some year's. However never gotten to it. This year's LEGO Copenhagen, had me convinced to join in however. Still just need to get it done.

I just recieved my 60052 yesterday and begun making a review of it. Iv'e never been into trains, but this set has blowen my mind so far. This is gonna be an expensive hobby.

Thanks for the advices as im gonna have to spend serious money in the future, not just to expand my collection, but also have to rebuild my apartment to make a train layout that doesn't have to be removed. I have no clue as how to do this just yet.

I still have so much to learn about the PF. The Sbrick sound like a solid solution. But hey, when my review is up, all you train masters will have to correct me, and teach me about all the stuff that Iv'e gotten wrong within it.

Thanks for making me a train nerd too. This is so fun !

[Jimbo Cactaur]

I am very pleased to see all the encouragement you guys are giving this newbie. I think I will like this place. As for my two cents; I haven't bought a train set yet, but I've gone over the instructions for a few of them on the Lego website. The Maersk GP38-2 was very illuminating when I went to build my first real-world train MOC last year, an SD40-2. And the Lone Ranger train set was helpful showing me the basics of simple steam locomotive setup. But #1: Have fun!