Looking to get started with G Scale

PhilP said:
:sweating:

A battle of 'wills' between, 'you will spend some money' and 'I have only come to look'.. :(:eek::nod::nod:

Just count your fingers after you have left the premises! ;):giggle::giggle::giggle:
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I guess I’m going to have to discover what’s in princess risborough. I suspect a specialist 3mporium?.
 
idlemarvel said:
I live in Ascot. You are very welcome to come and look at my DCC g-scale small indoor and outdoor layout and we can discuss that you want to do. I am also of an IT background and have dabbled in DCC automation. Let me know.
Cheers, Dave
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That’s a kind offer Dave, I may well take you up on that....
 
PhilP said:
http://www.grsuk.com/home

Other Emporia are available, though not in Princes Risborough! ;):nod:
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....Though they are getting fewer, after losing a couple of them this year.....
You definitely want to pay a visit to GRS, especially as it's so close to you. They are NOT the cheapest, by a long way, BUT they are probably the best stocked, and a good poke around there is always fascinating, Usually a good selection of second-hand stuff, including a lot of bundles of used track. Allow a good couple of hours at least for a thorough look round, ideally without someone nagging you to hurry up...... ;)

You're fortunate to be so near to them, though your wallet and cards may not agree afterwards..... :rofl:

Jon.
 
Zerogee said:
....Though they are getting fewer, after losing a couple of them this year.....
You definitely want to pay a visit to GRS, especially as it's so close to you. They are NOT the cheapest, by a long way, BUT they are probably the best stocked, and a good poke around there is always fascinating, Usually a good selection of second-hand stuff, including a lot of bundles of used track. Allow a good couple of hours at least for a thorough look round, ideally without someone nagging you to hurry up...... ;)

You're fortunate to be so near to them, though your wallet and cards may not agree afterwards..... :rofl:

Jon.
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Just out of curiosity, which other shops are out there that are worth looking at who might be a bit cheaper??

I will definitely take a trip to GRS in the next couple of weeks.
 
idlemarvel said:
Welcome aboard! I would always recommend a starter set for any newcomer, so you can get a feel for the size and scale of what you are getting into. Even if you eventually don't like the rolling stock in the set there is a ready market for disposing of second hand stuff either here or ebay, and an oval of track even small radius is always useful.

If you are committed to DCC you might consider this starter set from P&S Hobbies. New but virtually half price, includes track, digital loco with sound, wagons, 5A power and CS2 central station. P&S are a very reliable retailer.
https://www.pshobbiesandmodelshop.co.uk/lgb-78530-cs2-digital-stater-set-2-p-6395.html

Otherwise get a cheaper analog starter set then you can choose your own DCC setup at a later date.
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So I took the plunge and ordered the starter set, it's due to turn up tomorrow with a bit of luck. I intend to play about and start to explore what I can do with the various options for digital control. Also want to see if I can get my wife interested in a bit of engineering with it......
 
Jon-P said:
Just out of curiosity, which other shops are out there that are worth looking at who might be a bit cheaper??

I will definitely take a trip to GRS in the next couple of weeks.
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Well, from personal experience, most shops vary a bit - but I've found that Kent Garden Railways (KGR) in Orpington is usually very competitive on new LGB prices. There is also Chalk Garden Rail in Gravesend who are the "official" LGB spares and service agent for the UK. Glendale Junction near Peterborough is one of the ones that is sadly closing down, but they are still open limited hours for this year at least and are often pretty good on second-hand prices.
For those who dare to venture "North of Watford Gap", I have heard good things about P&S Hobbies (with two shops, York and Scarborough), though I've never been up to visit them myself.
I'm sure others will chime in to this thread with their own favourites too.

Jon.

EDIT: didn't see your last post till I'd posted mine above - that's really a VERY good value purchase, I'm sure it will give you a great start!
 
Jon-P said:
So I took the plunge and ordered the starter set, it's due to turn up tomorrow with a bit of luck. I intend to play about and start to explore what I can do with the various options for digital control. Also want to see if I can get my wife interested in a bit of engineering with it......
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How are you getting on with the starter set? Have you extended it yet?
 
Strangely enough, I just bought a second loco, 3 carriages and a load of track today..... going to play with a revised layout tomorrow.. See what its like to run two train at the same time..
 
Hi from another Jon, JonD. If you ever get to Glendale I am on the way near the Black Cat in St.Neots. You are welcome to stop off and see my feeble efforts if I am around.
 
I once managed to walk out of GRS without purchasing anything, can anyone improve on that? I suppose I use it because of my proximity but I did have a very pleasant interaction with Glendale Junction on the phone the other day as I was looking for something that appeared to be out of stock for some time at GRS, and it was a quid cheaper! G scale is a wonderful passtime with unlimited possibilities but 15 years after I started and the decrepitude of older age kicking in I am finding it increasingly frustrating not being able to get towards my aim of just getting it all to run seamlessly whilst I sit at my GWR table on my GWR bench quenching my thist with a few bottles of Hooky Gold!
 
So I bought an LGB 22801, on the basis that the seller said is was digital. however doing a little research makes me wonder, will I be able to run this on my digital layout? The box says DC... Have I got myself a problem here?
 
Jon-P said:
So I bought an LGB 22801, on the basis that the seller said is was digital. however doing a little research makes me wonder, will I be able to run this on my digital layout? The box says DC... Have I got myself a problem here?
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It may well be that it was an analogue DC model as supplied from the factory, but a subsequent owner has fitted a DCC decoder? Did you buy it from a private seller or a trader?

Jon.

Edit: look underneath the loco, and tell us (or better still, post a pic) about any stickers on the underside...... there should be a small round gold one, but there may also be others that might help with identifying whether the loco was factory-chipped for DCC, whatever the box says....
 
Bought from a private seller so buyer beware...

I guess I have two questions. Can I run it as is on my digital railway? Is it possible to fit a digital decoder and how would I do that?
 
Jon-P said:
Bought from a private seller so buyer beware...

I guess I have two questions. Can I run it as is on my digital railway? Is it possible to fit a digital decoder and how would I do that?
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If the seller actually told you that it had a DCC decoder fitted, then it probably does. The tricky thing to watch out for is when a loco is advertised as "DCC Ready" - that usually does NOT mean that it is actually DCC-equipped, but simply that it is "ready" to have a DCC decoder fitted.
If it proves NOT to have a decoder already fitted, then I don't know if you could run it at all on your new CS2 (someone with more knowledge of the CS2 will have to advise there) - but the good news is that if it hasn't already got a decoder, you should definitely be able to fit one to it.

Was it an eBay purchase - if so, could you post a link to the original listing, that might give us some clues to help you better....?

Jon.
 
Zerogee said:
If the seller actually told you that it had a DCC decoder fitted, then it probably does. The tricky thing to watch out for is when a loco is advertised as "DCC Ready" - that usually does NOT mean that it is actually DCC-equipped, but simply that it is "ready" to have a DCC decoder fitted.
If it proves NOT to have a decoder already fitted, then I don't know if you could run it at all on your new CS2 (someone with more knowledge of the CS2 will have to advise there) - but the good news is that if it hasn't already got a decoder, you should definitely be able to fit one to it.

Was it an eBay purchase - if so, could you post a link to the original listing, that might give us some clues to help you better....?

Jon.
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It was an estate sale, the original owner had died. I suspect he had analog initially and then upgraded to digital. I'm happy with the track and carriages I also got, just don't want to risk damaging the loco if it is DC rather than DCC.

I suggestions for a thread or source of info as to where do I start taking it apart to look fo/fit a DCC decoder?
 
You won't damage it..

If you put it on the track, and it makes a 'buzzing' sound, then it is analogue (DC).. it will run on address zero, on most DCC systems, to prove it runs but don't run it for any length of time or leave it sitting on the track as the motor can get hot..

If it is DCC, there may be a sticker, from the previous owner, telling you what address it is set to.
 
PhilP said:
You won't damage it..

If you put it on the track, and it makes a 'buzzing' sound, then it is analogue (DC).. it will run on address zero, on most DCC systems, to prove it runs but don't run it for any length of time or leave it sitting on the track as the motor can get hot..

If it is DCC, there may be a sticker, from the previous owner, telling you what address it is set to.
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Thanks, ill give that a go
 
chasaitch said:
I once managed to walk out of GRS without purchasing anything, can anyone improve on that? I suppose I use it because of my proximity but I did have a very pleasant interaction with Glendale Junction on the phone the other day as I was looking for something that appeared to be out of stock for some time at GRS, and it was a quid cheaper! G scale is a wonderful passtime with unlimited possibilities but 15 years after I started and the decrepitude of older age kicking in I am finding it increasingly frustrating not being able to get towards my aim of just getting it all to run seamlessly whilst I sit at my GWR table on my GWR bench quenching my thist with a few bottles of Hooky Gold!
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Not sure what your problems are but may I suggest you look at the answers that many of us have been giving Sarah. There is a wealth of knowledge that has been imparted to this lady and she does ask all the right questions!
 
PhilP said:
You won't damage it..

If you put it on the track, and it makes a 'buzzing' sound, then it is analogue (DC).. it will run on address zero, on most DCC systems, to prove it runs but don't run it for any length of time or leave it sitting on the track as the motor can get hot..

If it is DCC, there may be a sticker, from the previous owner, telling you what address it is set to.
Click to expand...

I was going to suggest that, but I'm not sure if the OP's new CS2 system still supports the "analogue on address 0" running or not? Since I'm not familiar with the operation of the CS2/CS3, somebody else will have to advise on that......

Jon.
 
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