I'm living out my second childhood. I had an HO layout back in the early to mid 70s as a young teenager. Now barreling down on 50, I've been working on a new layout that is 8' X 5'. While I appreciate the prototype layouts, all the detail and hard work that goes into them, and the dedicated folks who build them, I don't think I have the patience or skills to complete something of that magnitude. So, my layout is pretty modest. I'm hoping to learn a little bit about DCC, and some of the entry level controllers and decoders. I'm sure I will have many questions. I'm sure I will get a lot of great info from this site. A bit more about my background. I'm a former machinist, and now work as a mechanical engineer. I'm originally from Harrisburg, Pa, and now live in NH with my wife Andrea, and our 6 year old daughter. I've also been an licensed amateur radio operator since 1978. I also enjoy working on old cars. So I have a lot of irons in the fire. Well, thanks for reading, and now it's off to explore the forums, and see if I can answer some of my questions through previous discussions. Cheers, Rick
Rick- Welcome to TrainBoard! Nothing is wrong with modest. And some day you may just decide to try something of slightly greater magnitude. Who knows? It's your empire.
Rick, Welcome aboard for sure! I think you'll find a lot of folks who also have areas of strength and areas of weakness. For me, I've done locos with all the details (N scale w/wipers, lift rings, grabs, etc) but scenery always scared the you-know out of me and my idea of wiring would probably be good for a laugh. So enjoy what you're good at, try things and remember it's all about enjoying yourself!
Rick, welcome to Trainboard! I'm originally from Boscawen NH, just up the road from you. There is a good club that meets weekly in Penacook if your interested. Nothing wrong with your approach, as you will learn more and hopefully make less number of mistakes in your quest. Do you model a certain road?
Welcome aboard Rick. There are a lof of amateur radio operators among our ranks as well (counting myself as one of them). We're glad you found us. Charlie
Hi Rick, welcome to the TrainBoard, glad you are on board. I agree with your approach to simplicity and freelance. Although I kinda model the B&M Minuteman scheme of the late 40's, the prototype exists only in my imagination. That way my only critic is myself.
Thanks for the big welcomes everyone. I get my interest in the hobby from my dad, and growing up in Harrisburg Pa. He has a bunch of old Lionel stuff, but hasn't done anything with it in years. He worked as a machinist and used to tell stories of repairing retarders for the Enola yard. I was also quite fond of watching the trains in that area. Also, when I was younger we went to Strasburg Pa several years to the live steam show. When I was about 4 or 5 years old, my parents took us to Roadside America, which was an unforgettable experience back then. We've since taken my our daughter back there, and she enjoyed it, even though I found it a bit dusty and out dated now. It is still worth the entrance fee. But my most memorable experience yet was a visit this past winter to Miniature Wonderland in Hamburg Germany, while we were visiting my wife's family in Bremen. If you ever have a chance, you must really try to visit there. I have some photos and video if anyone would like me to post them. I really am not modeling any particular road. Although, I think I would find myself gravitating PRR, Conrail, or maybe New Haven (which my daughter thinks is New Hampshire (NH)).
