what to start collecting

?

Hazzy.....ben100 was referring to the type of control you wished to utilise.....not the scale/gauge.

In basic terms...and I need basic terms, not being a technothingy....when choosing your starting trainset, thinking ahead is useful.

For control of the engine [at the moment] there are two methods.

[1] ....12 volts DC power supply.....which means simply, one controller, one engine. The track supplies the power to the engine...and as a result, the track needs to be carefuly divided-up electrically....so that only ONE engine moves at a time....if more controllers are wanted [more engines moving] then fancy electrical things need doing with your track...not complicated, I assure you...and done by the manufacturer, but this may mean lots of wires here and there....This is the original system of operation, in place for nearly 100 years....and is the cheapest to begin with.....and is what MOST trainsets actually ''come with.''

[2] DCC......is a new technology control system, to match our computer age......This system is more costly initially, but allows you to control as many different locos as you want, independantly...with the minimum of track wiring.
Each loco would be equipped with its own 'switch'...[decoder]....which will only respond to its own code [signal] sent by you.....so the trackwork doesn't HAVE to be broken up into a multitude of seperate electrical connections as with ordinary DC control.
quite simply, two wires from DCC controller to track, and that's it! [almost, please...]

If #2 appeals, then you choice of trainsets might be more limited......?

if you're happy to simply dip your toes first, get the feel of model rialways,etc, without too much initial outlay, then #1 is the way to go....and can always be changed to #2 system at a later date.
[if you only intend buying one loco initially, then DCC is pointless....]

Now........choices of trainset?

do you ''like'' modern trains?

or do you have a hankering after the trains of old?

do you like the idea of steam engines?

or are you not too bothered at this stage?

Are you intent on sticking with the one brand [Hornby, you mention?]

Or are you content to broaden your horizons with the offerings of Bachmann?

or even......FOREIGN STUFF?

How much 'space' do you envisage having available for your trainset? [bear in mind, it IS better, from a reliability viewpoint, to have it permanently 'set-up'...rather than erected temporarily on the floor or wherever...not impossible, but not advisable either,with Hornby track.]

are you a 'collector''?

or do you wish to gain some 'play value' from the trainset?

[ie, do you see it developing into an enthralling hobby?]

The above rather dictates WHICH sort of trainset to aim for.

However...if I were in your boots, I would start off with something cheap and basic......and because I'm old and can remember steam trains and close encounters......I would take a trip to Argos and buy their Hornby ''Anglian'' trainset...around £60 or so, with an older model of loco [the Hornby B12 4-6-0 tender loco, a favourite of mine] in an old fashioned livery [nice bit of colour]..and a couple of old fashioned coaches....an oval of track and a basic controller.

not too much outlay, initially...good idea in the present economic climate....and watch it run round for a bit....get the 'feel' of things??

also, find a really good local model railway retailer....not one who flogs Hornby alongside a million other unassociated bits.....and seek their advice...on which way to leap?

right nowi know what stuff is and what to go for thanks

want i think i should go for is dc because i have :nt exactly got the money for lots of trains and huge layout and lots of buildings a so on

I mentioned the Argos /Hornby Anglian set because I beleive it is a better-made loco than the cheaper, smaller-engined sets...although I may be wrong there......last B12 I looked at had the Triang XO4 motor in it....and because it IS a set I'd fancy buying for myself. if I had that much cash to blow on an un-necessary.....personal choice there, I'm afraid.

All depends on what one wants to DO with that trainset?

How one personally envisages developing things?

20-30 years ago, the given advice from those that knew..was to buy a goods train set, as it had greater play value than a passenger set...and goods trains of a recogniseable type were still commonly seen...or had been 10 years beforehand.

An additonal track set which included a point was also advised.....although these days, such items can be found included in sets anyway.

These days, people more associate trains with passengers....so perceptions [and consequent requirements] differ.

IF.....I were putting together a ''trainset'' that included the best items available, to achieve an objective [for a minimal cost]..then I wouldn't use most of the stuff currently found in trainsets.

the OBJECTIVE I had in mind being, to encourage a beginner into the world of model railways.

To achieve THAT, I consider RELIABILITY of operation, ie running, to be of primary importance.

so, I would assemble a GOODS train set, comprising ONE of two locos, covering ancient/modern, and importantly in this day and age,RECOGNISABLE, [bearing in mind, the accessability of Preserved lines] types.

those types would be, Hornby's J94 0-6-0ST.....for steam and preserved aspects.....or Hornby's 08 diesel shunter...which might cover all three.

both possess excellent low speed running abilities, and excellent reliability over points.

Wagons would be from the better of Hornby's or Bachmann's ranges.....ie the more realistic vehicles, rather than the current tendency to use older model designs.....or colourful ones.

Open wagons, low sided, or flat wagons...all capable of recieving ''loads'', created by the owner....[first steps in actual MODELLING???]...a van or two...maybe a nice oil tank as well.......

Brake vans of the BR sort are essential too...even if not used in more modern times, they CAN be altered, paintwise, for departmental use

If the set contained a point [it ought to] then I would include some signals of an appropriate sort....plus a loading gauge....lights, telegraph poles, level crossing bits, etc???

All cheap to make, and include in the set?

What also could be included in such a set [apart from a basic controller of better quality]........is a set of printed card [cut-out?] buildings or scenic items.

perhaps a goods shed, oil storage facility, maybe a loading dock.... signal box.....etc?

with todays excellent printing available, realistic-looking card models can be created simply and cheaply........and included as part of the packaging???

[just look at Metcalf, Superquick, etc???}

The idea of the above is to give the new buyer INSPIRATION regarding what could be achieved?

as an aside, how nice and encouraging it would be, if someone actually created a SHUNTING trainset??

the above stock would fit the bill....but for TRACKAGE......why get wrapped up with the idea of OVALS all the time?

why not....include sufficient track/points to assemble a SHELF-type layout..requiring as little space as possible...say, 4 or 5 feet by around 1 foot wide?

Sufficient track to create either something like Inglenook sidings.....or John Allen's TIMESAVER plan?

plus, instructions [or CD rom?] outlining how the real thing worked, and suggesting different sorts of shunting puzzles?

I get the feeling there is always a PRESUMPTION of prior knowledge, to a degree....when putting together trainsets...?

some of the posts on this forum prove the opposite actually exists........and there is no reason why it shouldn't.

explanation IS needed.......the trainset IS the first rung of the model railway ladder, for most of us......after all?

Hazzy, i would strongly suggest you take a few days to read some of the other threads on the forum to increase your understanding of the hobby.
Buy a magazine or 2 and look at as many pictures as you can. find some layouts that really appeal to you in style. and era. then find a few more that have trackplans that will fit into your space.

then decide how you can adapt the trackplan to suit your own particular taste.

remember there is no right or wrong way to do things but this forum is full of mistakes that people have made (myself included - i once accidently painted 3 expensive coaches lime green!!). you can learn from those mistakes if you want to. but it takes time and effort on your part.

you are starting out in a huge hobby. you will only get out of it what you are willing to put in.

for the time being it would help us to answer your questions if you could give us allot more detail. for example your budget? have you seen any layouts that appeal to you? how much space do you have? your origional question refers to collecting, do you just want to collect models or do you want to build a layout and run them?

Peter