Hello

[aligator]

Hope it's alright to be on this forum. I'm 87 years old,had to give up my hobbies such as archery, golf, showing cars ect. Though I could set up a model train setup in my garage to keep my mine active, this summer. I'm USAF retired.

 

[NorthBrit]

Welcome on board aligator. A good crew here

 

[Bruette]

Hope it's alright to be on this forum.

It's more than alright!

Welcome to the forums.

You could have a train on a shelf or ready to run train set or a master modeler's layout or just be dreaming of something in-between.

We are glad to have you with us!

And thank you for your service to our great country!

 

[migalyto]

Welcome to the group!

 

[aligator]

Thank you. I'm getting space ready to start, when the rain stops I'm California, trying to put together a steam set up for under $800. I don't know if I want to go used or new. Just learning.

 

[AirbrushNo5]

Welcome Aligator…

 

[trailrider]

Welcome, Aligator! Thanks for your service, comrade-in-arms. Prices for model railroad items aren't what they were when you and I were young. My suggestion, if you are going for steam would be to look on ebay for Mantua steam locomotives, and perhaps Athearn bluebox rolling stock. You will have to decide if you want to stick with DC or go to DCC, in which case the Mantua engines will have to have decoders installed. Not terribly difficult to do, but, as they say, "If all else fails, read the instructions!"

BTW, what was your AFSC and some of the places where you were stationed? I was Minuteman missile maintenance back in the '60's.

 

[aligator]

Was in from 1955 to 1975,security police, also 2 years Air National . Sampson afb, plattsburgh afb, osan Korea, France, Germany, Fairchild afb, malstrom afb, Montana ,1963 to 1965,minuteman site. Retired from Travis Afb, ca.

 

[PMW]

Welcome and I too thank you for your service. Sorry if I missed it but will this be your first layout?

 

[Smudge617]

Welcome to the forum from across the pond.

 

[Old 97]

Welcome on board aligator. A good crew here

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[aligator]

Welcome and I too thank you for your service. Sorry if I missed it but will this be your first layout?

Never even owned a train set except a small one around the Christmas tree a million years ago.

 

[trailrider]

Was in from 1955 to 1975,security police, also 2 years Air National . Sampson afb, plattsburgh afb, osan Korea, France, Germany, Fairchild afb, malstrom afb, Montana ,1963 to 1965,minuteman site. Retired from Travis Afb, ca.

Must have just missed each other at MAFB. I got there in November '65, and left January '69 (MacNamera gave us a six-month early out if we weren't going "career reserve". New Years Day 1969 it hit -52 F. in Great Falls!
Again, welcome to the hobby!

 

[PMW]

Never even owned a train set except a small one around the Christmas tree a million years ago.

You'll love it!!! And hate it!!! Yelling at the little buggers helps me cope

If someone hasn't already mentioned it....we love pictures!!!

 

[Smudge617]

You'll love it!!! And hate it!!! Yelling at the little buggers helps me cope

That's no way to talk about your kids you know.

 

[PMW]

That's no way to talk about your kids you know.

Well, it would be worse to say I yell at my layout and not my kids because I care how my layout turns out Too far?

 

[trailrider]

One thing about model railroading, you won't have time or money for likker, drugs or wild, wild (or tame ones, for that matter) women!

 

[PMW]

One thing about model railroading, you won't have time or money for likker, drugs or wild, wild (or tame ones, for that matter) women!

True, with the possible exception of fellow modeler Rod Stewart back in the day

 

[aligator]

I learned once thing already. I need to up my budge.

 

[PMW]

I learned once thing already. I need to up my budge.

Everyone asks me how much have I spent on my (relatively small) layout. I tell them that I kept track of that early on but that took all the fun out of it and left me asking myself; What am I doing!?