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Predicament: Slot Cars, Trains or Grow Up Already?

Anonymous Mon 07 Oct 2024 16:28:37 No.11188360 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By: >>11188981 >>11188995 >>11189001 >>11189016 >>11189020 >>11195158 >>11195955 >>11200028

As the title says, really. I was big into radio controlled aircraft, but federal regulations are making me want to find a different hobby because it is on a crash course for being banned outright in the U.S.

So the question is, since I am quite young (19), should I look into slot cars (specifically kits of ones from Scalextric or Autoworld) or model trains (I am looking at a Rapido GER J70 train pack, Hornby Stephenson's Rocket or a trolley from Leopold Halling/Ferro-Train, I prefer British/European locomotives to American ones despite living in America)? Alternatively, should I just do what most people my age do? (I am not sure what is popular, but probably sports like skateboarding and beach volleyball).

Any input? Thanks.

>Captcha: Gr1m

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Oct 2024 02:41:55 No.11188981 Report

Quoted By: >>11189042

>>11188360
>Grow up already
If you are progressing and growing up in the parts of your life that actually matter when being an adult why cant you build a train layout or a track circuit for slot cars. Id do whichever one really pulls you in like knee jerk reaction whichever one you gravitate to. Also I wouldnt totally pull out of RC flight unless you live in a state that is really shitty about it. Your horrbies are yours and you cant let anyone pressure you out of it when theres objectively zero issue with them.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Oct 2024 02:54:21 No.11188995 Report

Quoted By: >>11188998 >>11189042 >>11190520

>>11188360
>grow up
When I started a train layout when I was 20, my friends made fun of me for getting an old man hobby.
Also had an Aurora AFX Thunderloop Thriller slot car set with some extra track, and that was fun when we were drinking and smoking comes.
If you want the more social, slightly less autistic hobby, go for the slot cars, but if you are looking at a long term hobby, I feel that a train layout will be the most fulfilling.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Oct 2024 02:56:11 No.11188998 Report

Quoted By:

>>11188995
*smoking cones
Stupid fat fingers.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Oct 2024 02:59:16 No.11189001 Report

Quoted By: >>11189042

>>11188360
Get into Diorama making, so like that your hobby isnt just buying shit.
Start up a YouTube channel to show your progress, learn to take photos and edit.
You can do some amazing locations for either trains or cars.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Oct 2024 03:08:09 No.11189016 Report

Quoted By: >>11189042

>>11188360
>Alternatively, should I just do what most people my age do? (I am not sure what is popular, but probably sports like skateboarding and beach volleyball).
Do what you want, but ancient boomers like trains, millennials like trains, and zoomers like trains. Everybody loves model trains.
>DC track crossing a slot car run
How does that work, electrically? I know they're both DC but the slot car pick ups are going to get an inverse polarity on one of the edges of the track I think.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Oct 2024 03:13:23 No.11189020 Report

Quoted By: >>11189048

>>11188360
>I was big into radio controlled aircraft,
Why not branch out into RC cars or even boats?Surely there's some carryover.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Oct 2024 03:34:30 No.11189042 Report

Quoted By: >>11189050

>>11188981
I live in Florida and zero fucks are given, it is not like DC or NY (which is just the City, really) where they are really shitty about it. I am not looking to give up, especially since I have, with the help of my parents put almost $5000 into the hobby since 2007 (starting with Air Hogs and working my way up to hobby grade stuff).
>>11188995
I was looking at either, I think I might need to window shop before I know for certain.
>Aurora
They have been out of business for a while, but I was looking into getting some used Aurora, Tyco and Carrera track if I was going to do slot car racing. I already have some used Bachmann track (Brass, not Steel, thank God) and for my budget and purposes brass is good enough.
>>11189001
>Dioramas
I am glad you said this since I made one. It is not too great, but I like it nevertheless, it is a hangar meant for two plastic models (both of Gee Bee racers) in 1/144 scale. I need to thin my paints more but other than that, it looks passable for my purposes. (I will take pictures tomorrow). I plan on building slot cars from kits if I go that route, unless I find one of a few pre-made models I want (Scalextric Reliant Regal comes to my mind, which has an unorthodox mechanism anyway). I plan on a lot of self-made scenery for things like buildings, platforms, bridges and (possibly) trees (if I can figure that out). I want to use papercraft (from cardstock) because of how cheap it is as a material, though obviously this sacrifices some detail. The point is to have fun, but also run what I would like to run (which unfortunately is not carried in my local shop, which only does American, Japanese and Marklin trains, which are either too expensive or of stuff I am not interested in.
>>11189016
I am not sure, but I think Tyco might have figured it out with their "Road & Rail" set(s). This is what is depicted, but with what looks like a Bacjmann locomotive (Tyco used a Rock Island C430 in their set).

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Oct 2024 03:44:35 No.11189048 Report

Quoted By:

>>11189020
Actually it depends, I was honestly looking into RC Hovercraft and Submarines, there is more carryover there than with cars.

My first order of business for RC is to finish the aircraft that I am working on, as I acquired a bunch from an estate sale and also purchased some from a guy I know who has his own company (located in Poland). I think I might still dabble with some more new RC aircraft, maybe an autogyro, a helicopter and a blimp (which would be regulation exempt). Then I think I will move on to other RC.

Also cars usually have a different style of controller to aircraft, that said an aircraft controller can be used on a car, but not the other way around (unless you like crashing).

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Oct 2024 03:48:14 No.11189050 Report

Quoted By:

>>11189042
>Bacjmann
Bachmann, but most people probably know what I mean.

Also, I might as well say that I am not interested in Lionel stuff because they want people to "consoom" (just look at their catalog and you will understand). They are also known for poor reliability and QC.

Older Lionel is great, though.

Excuse the long response, I just checked this thread and I though I would take time to respond to everyone. Thank you for your time.

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO turbo.jpg, 630KiB, 1566x1166

Anonymous Wed 09 Oct 2024 09:42:07 No.11190520 Report

Quoted By: >>11190774

>>11188995
Neat, I still have my Aurora AFX set from those days.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 09 Oct 2024 17:36:24 No.11190774 Report

Quoted By: >>11191009 >>11195161

>>11190520
Nice.

Also, can any anons give me tips on how to import trains and/or slotcars for the cheapest price? Most of the stuff I want is old in the UK, but I live in the US.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 09 Oct 2024 21:33:10 No.11191009 Report

Quoted By: >>11191027

>>11190774
Try going to local train shows. They're not usually advertised so well, but your area probably has a lot of them. Oftentimes there are British items there that don't really sell all too well, so you can score at amazing prices. As for online retailers, eBay is probably the only one I can think of... Sometimes if you set your region to US and then search for specifically OO scale models (British HO scale, basically) you can find guys selling British things in the States. Good luck!

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 09 Oct 2024 21:55:12 No.11191027 Report

Quoted By: >>11191689 >>11205976

>>11191009
Alright, thank you. The local shop does carry some Hornby (through Rivarossi) and Rapido, so I might inquire about Rapido availability first (they do not stock the Hornby items that I want).

The next train show is in December (it is hosted 4 times a year on odd numbered years and three times a year on even numbered years to make room for the plastic modelling society). I will have a look there.

I am also open to narrow gauge, but I doubt I will find too much.

Also, I think I have an "if all else fails" option, which is to buy from Rails of Sheffield and pay postage (and pray that the model weight is not enough for it to go to Parcel Force). I have ordered model airplanes from the UK before of a Microaces RC model of Manfred von Richthofen's (the Red Baron's) Fokker Dr.I Triplane. I spoke with Jon (the owner of the company) in advance to make sure that the shipping process would go seamlessly, which it did.

Is Rails a good source, or should I look into DeRails, Kernow Model Centre of one of the other model railway suppliers from the U.K? (I knew that Hattons was reputable, but they are no more).

Right now, the only offer on EvilBay is a Canadian man, who has the LNER J70 with skirts (imagine a faceless Toby from Thomas the Tank Engine, if you grew up with that series). His price is steep for a used locomotive, since from what I have calculated from shipping, Rails of Sheffield would be cheaper for a new train pack (or at least a better value for money).

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 10 Oct 2024 10:18:31 No.11191689 Report

Quoted By: >>11191828

>>11191027
I've heard Rails of Sheffield has some of the best prices but customer service may be slow if something is wrong.
This guy did a comparison test between most of the major retailers and there were some interesting results. https://youtube.com/watch?v=qsleZU6PE84
He also does a lot of in depth reviews of UK models, and I quite like his format. It may be helpful to you, going forward.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 10 Oct 2024 14:19:50 No.11191828 Report

Quoted By: >>11192270

>>11191689
Alright, that is good. I have seen some videos from Sam, specifically concerning Hornby, as they seem to be a mixed bag. He is also the reason why I am not bothering to look at EFE, DJM, Heljan or KR (though this one is not as bad as the others).

Are there any other good Youtube channels or television programs? I have seen the ones with James May in them, but that is about it.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 10 Oct 2024 20:34:06 No.11192270 Report

Quoted By: >>11194914

>>11191828
Yeah Hornby is definitely hit or miss. It'd certainly be disappointing to import something from overseas only to have it be a lemon. I have a few Hornby locomotives from train shows and flea markets and they're pretty cheap and poorly designed. I imagine they must be from their cheaper product catalogs.
As for more channels, I quite like SMT Mainline, Classic Model Trains and Darth Santa Fe, though most of the stuff they deal with are repairs and mostly on American styled models. They're useful resources to the beginner model railroader and/or the less bold handymen among us.
Those James May specials were fun. The German team from those shows have their own channel called Miniatur Wunderland that serves as an advertisement for their layout of the same name, and it's quite amazing to see in-depth. They don't have a British section just yet, but many European countries are represented beautifully.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 12 Oct 2024 16:27:55 No.11194914 Report

Quoted By: >>11195253

>>11192270
Alright, good to know.

Are there any brands I should avoid other than Lionel H0 and Heljan?

Also, my Google-fu produced since conflicting results, would I buy track with it without a built-in railbed? I will probably be getting used track, since that is what my budget can afford, probably PECO and Austrian made AHM track, either brass or nickel-silver, unless I should be looking for a track with a railbed.

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO Model+Train+Scales.jpg, 69KiB, 807x323

Anonymous Sat 12 Oct 2024 19:45:55 No.11195158 Report

Quoted By:

>>11188360
What if I told you there is such a thing as professional slot car racing?

Carrera is the correct choice for slot cars, they make some of the highest quality car models and track, and they have lots of options for digital and analogue track, and they offer track that supports 2 scales, 32th and 24th scales.

If you just want to build a static sculpture and work on making lots of tiny props and terrain, then trains is for you. The main thing would be to do a lot of research on scales, and decide what you want to use, cause once you pick one, its very hard to switch later on.

But if you want to do both, you can easily do both, in separate or in combined layouts.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 12 Oct 2024 19:47:42 No.11195161 Report

Quoted By:

>>11190774
1 check your area for local hobby shops, that is where you will find your best deals.

2 ebay.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 12 Oct 2024 20:47:23 No.11195253 Report

Quoted By: >>11199838

>>11194914
The railbed question depends on what you want to do. If you want a quick and easy to disassemble layout, the Bachmann nickel silver track (it has gray roadbed) or the much more expensive Kato Unitrack works fine. If you're looking to do something more permanent, the roadbedless track with a cork roadbed is nicer because you can decorate it with ballast rocks much better. Also, PECO is the one you're going to want to use, at least for switches/points. If you're going to be running British OO gauge trains, or older models in general, you also want to make sure you're going with code 100 rails. The code refers to how tall the railhead is. Since OO is a bit larger than HO scale, the flanges on the wheels can be bigger, but code 100 rail should be sufficient for even the largest flanges in both OO and HO. Also, brass tracks aren't ideal for DCC layouts, so if you can afford to, I'd stick with nickel silver to avoid having to upgrade later. If you happen upon a ton of brass track for cheap though, you can always use them for sidings and stuff.
As for brands to avoid, I try to avoid Bachmann America locomotives since I've always gotten lemons from them, but it seems their OO British stuff is a lot higher quality.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 13 Oct 2024 06:01:32 No.11195955 Report

Quoted By: >>11199838

>>11188360
They're pretty different hobbies, aren't they? Slot cars usually seems to be focused around racing with friends. You can take a set to college. Model trains is more about building terrain, similar to what you might do if you play Warhammer or something like that. I'm into trains; I find it relaxing to build a layout.

If college seems likely, I'd look at N scale instead. You can build yourself a small loop with an Inglenook puzzle on a 2'x4' piece of plywood that would fit in a lot of cars.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 16 Oct 2024 19:00:53 No.11199838 Report

Quoted By:

>>11195253
Thank you.
>>11195955
I thought about N, but decided against it, because a lot of what I want to run is not available in that size.

I might do narrow gauge, still, as I found that a really liked on Evilbay, but it needs cog track.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 16 Oct 2024 20:42:50 No.11200028 Report

Quoted By: >>11200899

>>11188360
>I was big into radio controlled aircraft
Why not move over to cars.
The drift scene is pretty awesome.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 17 Oct 2024 12:49:53 No.11200899 Report

Quoted By: >>11201174 >>11204530

>>11200028
I thought about it, but I kind of want to do construction vehicles, like they do in Germany. I used to like the RC cranes they had in Toys R Us.

That said, I think I might but a new RC tug boat kit, probably the Tony Ray Mini Mersey Fun Tug.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 17 Oct 2024 16:37:30 No.11201174 Report

Quoted By:

>>11200899
I think I will work on trains first, then RC boats and slot cars afterwards, I will post my progress periodically.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 19 Oct 2024 18:23:40 No.11204530 Report

Quoted By: >>11206622

>>11200899
If you're into scale realism, you could build a model train track with basically a sandbox in the middle that you could use rc tractors to load the train with sand and do mock deliveries, would just have to find a scale that you like.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 20 Oct 2024 19:14:21 No.11205976 Report

Quoted By: >>11206622

>>11191027
When you go to the train show, find the guys that sell the biggest variety of stuff and tell them what you're looking for. Chances are they didn't bring them to the show because basically nobody is looking for that stuff, but they're more likely to be the guys who buy huge collections and have access to the oddball stuff. Don't be shy about actually talking to them and giving out your phone number.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 21 Oct 2024 03:59:14 No.11206622 Report

Quoted By:

>>11204530
Noted, I like OO and HO the most.
>>11205976
Noted, the next show is in December.

Thank you both.

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