Best beginners book
Best beginners book
Hi, I am a completely beginner in garden railways. Can anyone recommend the best beginners book?
Thank's
Thank's
- tom_tom_go
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Re: Best beginners book
Hi and welcome.
There is enough content on this forum to answer all your questions and if not then just post your question in the help section and someone will know the answer.
There is enough content on this forum to answer all your questions and if not then just post your question in the help section and someone will know the answer.
Re: Best beginners book
Hi Mikael, welcome.
Tom is right, you'll always find, or get an answer on here.
However, I'd suggest reading Rik's Peckforton blogs. They will tell you most of what you need to know, starting from the beginning:
https://riksrailway.blogspot.com/p/contents.html
Tom is right, you'll always find, or get an answer on here.
However, I'd suggest reading Rik's Peckforton blogs. They will tell you most of what you need to know, starting from the beginning:
https://riksrailway.blogspot.com/p/contents.html
Philip
Re: Best beginners book
Welcome!
Are you a member of the 16mm association? I found the handbook they send to new members the single most useful overview - it's brief but quite comprehensive, giving you a good idea of which direction to go in next pursuing your interests...
Are you a member of the 16mm association? I found the handbook they send to new members the single most useful overview - it's brief but quite comprehensive, giving you a good idea of which direction to go in next pursuing your interests...
Re: Best beginners book
Welcome to the forum, If you do want a book, then I would suggest "Practical Garden Railways" by Peter Jones, published by the Crowood Press in 2008. It covers pretty much everything although I will admit there are methods for doing things out there that are not mentioned in the book, likewise there are also plenty of ideas in there that you may not find elsewhere and some really inspirational photos.
"What the hell is that?"
"It's a model icebreaker sir."
"It's a bit big isn't it?"
"It's a full scale model sir....."
"It's a model icebreaker sir."
"It's a bit big isn't it?"
"It's a full scale model sir....."
Re: Best beginners book
Welcome to the forum.
Re: Best beginners book
Thank's for the advices!
Re: Best beginners book
Welcome Mikael56,
I agree with phillipy, Rik’s Peckforton Blogs are brilliant. You will learn so much from his wonderful way of showing you “How To”.
tom_tom_go is correct also, there is loads of information in the Help section on the forum.
And there is always a member willing to help if you can’t get the answer you are looking for.
I agree with phillipy, Rik’s Peckforton Blogs are brilliant. You will learn so much from his wonderful way of showing you “How To”.
tom_tom_go is correct also, there is loads of information in the Help section on the forum.
And there is always a member willing to help if you can’t get the answer you are looking for.
ROD
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Re: Best beginners book
Mikael56,
All the advice already given is sound. This forum is friendly and the members don't judge and are very helpful. One advantage of the 16mm Association, besides the handbook is the local groups. This gives you the ability to see how others have made things and speak directly to like minded people.
Welcome to the forum and the world of garden railways.
Ian
All the advice already given is sound. This forum is friendly and the members don't judge and are very helpful. One advantage of the 16mm Association, besides the handbook is the local groups. This gives you the ability to see how others have made things and speak directly to like minded people.
Welcome to the forum and the world of garden railways.
Ian
Ian
Re: Best beginners book
Hi Mikael, welcome to the forum.
There is a lot of information here and on the web but would also endorse the 16mm handbook that has a section on most aspects of the hobby and may help your "searches" for info. Never be afraid to ask a question, we all started somewhere and learned the hard way! Rik's blog is well worth a visit.
Good luck and have fun.
There is a lot of information here and on the web but would also endorse the 16mm handbook that has a section on most aspects of the hobby and may help your "searches" for info. Never be afraid to ask a question, we all started somewhere and learned the hard way! Rik's blog is well worth a visit.
Good luck and have fun.
- tom_tom_go
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Re: Best beginners book
There are far more knowledgeable and skilled people on the forum than me. I just muddle my way through, borrowing everyone else's ideas.
Rik
- BorisSpencer
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Re: Best beginners book
But then you document what you've done so us mere mortals can understand, and have a go ourselves.
When I decided to put a railway in the garden last year, I read your blog from start to finish, truly inspirational.
My other primary source of inspiration was reading through the threads in the layouts section, watching peoples ideas develop, and then unashamedly stealing them .
- Busted Bricks
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Re: Best beginners book
My recommendation is also to join the 16mmngm. You get an nice membership package and a superb magazine.
Re: Best beginners book
My approach exactly. I take other peoples ideas and experiences and adapt them to suit my limited ability.
Ian
Ian
- Peter Butler
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Re: Best beginners book
Hi Mikael and welcome... like you I was a complete novice in garden railways when I joined the Forum and from the start all my questions were answered but, unlike a book where there is usually only the authors preferred choice, several different solutions to the same question are often available for you to choose.
On the Forum regular updates can be made available if something is found to be a more suitable alternative or where things have been proved to fail.
Your first and most important step is to listen to advice on what NOT to do. Failures can be time wasting and expensive.
Just start with the basic questions and there is always someone here to help.
On the Forum regular updates can be made available if something is found to be a more suitable alternative or where things have been proved to fail.
Your first and most important step is to listen to advice on what NOT to do. Failures can be time wasting and expensive.
Just start with the basic questions and there is always someone here to help.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?
Re: Best beginners book
Peter Butler’s advice is worth taking note of….
ROD
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Re: Best beginners book
Welcome aboard - totally agree with all the points above - the 16mm society handbook is great but meeting people locally via the groups is a great way to learn so much more
And I also would recommend Rik's blog - it shows how a line can develop and Rik is brilliant at explaining how he does things!
And I also would recommend Rik's blog - it shows how a line can develop and Rik is brilliant at explaining how he does things!
Where did I put that uncoupler?
- Soar Valley Light
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Re: Best beginners book
That's like Sir Christopher Wren saying he'd designed and built a couple of churches¬!
"Smith! Why do you only come to work four days a week?
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"
Re: Best beginners book
Good Heavens, Andrew. That's very kind of you, but totally unwarranted. You've clearly not seen any of my models close-up. I think if ever I did engage in church building, mine would end up like Chesterfield's noted spire.Soar Valley Light wrote: ↑Thu Aug 02, 2018 7:12 pm That's like Sir Christopher Wren saying he'd designed and built a couple of churches¬!
http://www.derbyshireuk.net/chesterfield_church.html
I'm more Barratt Homes than Wren - cheap, cheerful, utilitarian and, more often than not, jerry-built.
Rik
Last edited by ge_rik on Fri Aug 03, 2018 7:45 am, edited 4 times in total.
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