Book Recommendations. Starting model railways for total beginners

[zwilnik]

As the title says. Does anyone have any book (or even YouTube channel or web page) recommendations for someone who's not done any model railways or toy trains in their life but is keen to start? (skill level likely to be mixed as it may also involve building a layout with a group of kindergarten children at some point).

[Railwaygun]

keep,it simple

Start with Kato Unitrack - reliable, bulletproof, simple plug'n play wiring and you can get starter sets with controller from Train Trax or Osbornes

You can make your own baseboards, or there a number of enthusiast companies, who make baseboard / leg sets for those unable to saw in a straight line!

Read the NGF a threads on track, layout planning, scenery and buildings to hey an idea of what the Pkros do , and the rest of us aspire to!

I read Model Rail magazine - friendly and lots of explanatory articles.Worth a . Look

And remember Rule 1 - it's your layout/ model railway and anything you do or run is OK!

I started with a loop of Unitrack and built y
Up to a 4mx2m layout with 4 ovals, and about 20 points / turnouts , ove r a few years. Take your time and enjoy yourself.

[dannyboy]

Not sure if it is what you are looking for, but there is a YouTube channel - Chadwick Model Railways - that I have been looking at. Each 'episode'  is about 30 minutes long and, from what I have seen so far, shows a different topic on how Mr. Chadwick is building his model railway. Could be worth a look. 

[Newportnobby]

This will help avoid some basic pitfalls hopefully

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=35556.msg416493#msg416493

[crewearpley40]

Couple of books here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Newcomers-Guide-Model-Railways-Step/dp/1857943295/ref=asc_df_1857943295/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310817460405&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8029396425254475907&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007177&hvtargid=pla-573341408864&psc=1&th=1&psc=1   and     https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/books/graham-goodchild/building-a-folding-model-railway-layout/9781785001994?gclid=Cj0KCQjwppSEBhCGARIsANIs4p7eVIXUvFyZBtI_qBGINqUpObRqHeTIC11cJN1KAgaBINszxH5_UoYaAqGrEALw_wcB              Start small. Can always ask on this forum any aspect,  sure someone can gladly point you in the right direction

[zwilnik]

Thanks all. I think the potential problem here is all 'starter guides' assume some basic knowledge or interest in railways and model railways to start with. We're talking about someone here who wasn't allowed to have a model railway as a child, never really grew up with the idea that trains could be interesting, but has decided it could be a fun project for herself and her kindergarten class.

I've suggested G Scale as one option (as the kindergarten is one of those wilderness ones, so the nippers will all be happily felling trees and building stuff for it) or if they want to do a small one in the classroom that can involve scenic modelling, H0 of some sort (Kato track being an obvious there). It's probably challenging for any railway modeller to write a true beginners book because most of us grew up with it or started our interest so long ago we don't remember not knowing anything at all about it

[martyn]

I would have thought that the late Cyril Freezer had a total beginner's book in his writings, but I haven't personally got one.

One that I do have that is written for beginners is 'Complete Railway Modelling' by Vic Smeed, Ebury Press, ISBN 0 85223 196 2

It is quite thorough in its approach, and includes History, Track design, Track construction, Basic wiring (no DCC), Scenery, Buildings and structures, Locos, Rolling stock, 'keep it running', Developments, Tools, Scales, Glossary.

Martyn

[Steven B]

Peco have a range of "Shows you How" booklets that are worth a look. The range includes:
Planning and design
Building Baseboards
Laying the Track
Wiring the Layout
Modelling Water
Modelling the Landscape
Signalling the Layout

There's also a bigger guide:
PM-200 Your Guide to Railway Modelling & Layout Construction


Steven B.